Climate change: EU law

[Devil]

The EU are passing a law making mandatory the 55% reduction of gases causing climate change by 2030. This is a radical change from a recommendation to an obligation.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56828383

It remains to be seen how Cyprus will react as I cannot see any way how it can be done. It should make the demands for CNG or LNG non--sustainable.

[Firefly]

Certainly during the first lockdown in the UK, we had the most beautiful weather, the sky was a clear blue for weeks.

It seemed to me that the world was breathing at last.

[Devil]

Yes, heating, travelling and power are all pretty much the same thing and to eliminate 55% by the end of 2030 will be well-nigh impossible: at least, without tangible help. Furthermore, I am alarmed at the thought of hydrogen as a major conveyor of energy. Kaboom!

[Firefly]

TD

We managed somehow during lockdown.

None of us starved, people worked from home, children did their school work at home, not ideal, but it worked.

Jackie

[Firefly]

TD

Ah yes, I see what you mean.

A difficult one, things have to be thought through, and the necessary changes made.

The world needs much less pollution in every way.

Jackie

[Devil]

Jackie I was thinking longer term. Goods, food, people all have to move around the globe. It will all move by hydrocarbons in some form.

Not necessarily, although likely in the short term. For example, ships doing "island hopping" could charge their batteries in port and would generally be carbon free. It is possible that maritime transport will see some very radical changes, while air transport will be limited to perishable goods.

[trevnhil]

At one time in the UK the electricity Authority could hardly cope when for instance, it was half time in the cup final.. In their homes everyone got up and put the kettle on and electricity was in short supply..
How will they mage to supply all the extra electricity to charge all these cars every evening..

[jeba]

Jackie I was thinking longer term. Goods, food, people all have to move around the globe. It will all move by hydrocarbons in some form.

I'm not so sure. You could replace a lot of hydrocarbons by solar power and even use regenerative hydrocarbons like biodiesel. This winter I haven't switched on my diesel furnace but relied completely on my aircon for heating. My 4 kWp PV system generated more than enough for that. Also, while I'd never buy an electric car in Europe I might in Cyprus because distances here are so short that you don't have to worry about recharging your battery while on route.
Apart from that there is still the nuclear option.

[71 Trans Am]

This professor has tabled his opinion on electric vehicle's which is an interesting read - Especially the hidden emissions section and payback on every new electric vehicle manufactured - I read a similar report on end of life electric vehicles and the costs and emissions involved in re-cycling and disposal of the battery packs and it suggested that at this stage in life in 2021 the cost of charging the vehicle all of its life on a mixed power generation system and end of life recycling would create more global warming than using a petrol or diesel car.

https://theconversation.com/electric-ca ... ist-142765

[71 Trans Am]

I could well be wrong but if you take into account the extra copper rhodium and platinum that has to be mined and produced and refined to wire electric vehicles and the silicone diodes along with all of the earthing and insulation rubbers and silicones because of the fact most of these vehicles have 400volt battery packs and operate at 360volts - All of that extra manufacturing and production heat produced along with carbon and a multitude of noxious gasses - I would say the planet is safer with petrol and diesel vehicles - Yes your shiney new electric car has zero emissions but look at the damage done to get there and the cost and then more environmental damage and cost at the end of its life.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586- ... rigin=ppub

[Firefly]

Mouse

Here in the UK all modern vehicles seem to be twice the size they need to be.

A tradesman's vehicle used to be a modest, usually white, van. Now they pull up outside in what looks like a bus, ridiculous, which I hasten to add, do not even have the room to turn around in modern housing estates.

Jackie

[Devil]

A tradesman's vehicle used to be a modest, usually white, van. Now they pull up outside in what looks like a bus, ridiculous, which I hasten to add, do a

Jackie

There was me thinking that they used to be a wooden flatbed on steel rimmed wheels, drawn by a robust quadruped.

[Firefly]

In your day Devil, it probably was

[Devil]

In your day Devil, it probably was

Not probably, certainly. During the war, petrol was very severely rationed if available at all. Deliveries were often made as I described.