Plastic waste in seas/oceans

[Dudeofrude]

Moving on to electric cars doesn't solve anything... just passes the buck. They may not need fossil fuels but the rare earth metals used in the batteries are just another finite resource that will be mined to death until we 'realise' they're running out and will have to move onto the next thing.
Not to mention how much pollution is causeed in the mining and creation of these batteries. I'm sure I watched a documentary on it at some point that stated it was more damaging to the environment creating a single electric car than a normal car would cause in its whole lifetime

I personally say the future in in hydrogen atoms but as far as I've read the tech just can't get off the ground. There are a few companies than have done it successfully and can run cars on water with nothing but harmless vapour coming out the tail pipes..... but the big oil companies are bulldozing anyone that tries to make it into a commercial enterprise

[VNA]

Wind turbines will never kill anything like the number of birds say killed by cats each year, or killed on the roads, or pesticides etc etc.  Birds are also generally smart enough to avoid wind turbines.  Not saying there are no birds killed by wind turbines – but in the real world it just simple is not an issue.  I’m not aware of noise pollution issues relating to wind turbines, sure it’s talked about but it’s bull shit.


But anyway, conventional power station is about 40% efficient with a 15-20% transmission loss.  They are crap.  However, crap as they are, charging an electric (electric motors are extremely efficient) car from this energy source is still more efficient than some even more crappier in energy efficient terms – and that’s the cars and motorcycles we are running about in/on.  The internal combustion engine needs to become a thing of the past – it will become dinosaur technology.


Nuclear Power?  Have they sorted out the waste issues at Sellafield yet?  You know the stuff from the first generation of reactors.  Umm no.  It’s like getting power now and pay later. 



Look it doesn’t matter which way you look at it – all energy at some point in the relatively near future has to become renewable. 



Don’t forget that we only have one source of energy at the end of the day and that’s the sun. 



Wind turbines have evolved to become proven cheap technology.  Solar and battery technology is going through that process.  The next leap forward for battery technology should be graphene.  Some folks reckon commercial graphene batteries are just a few years away. It will also solve the range issue.



Slappy has a point. 

To be green it all has to be done using renewable power supplies, so massive wind farms and solar panel farms etc have to be built, where are they going to build them?  Sticking a few solar panels and a little wind turbine on your garage is not going to do it!

Tidal and wave power too.  All over the fucking place.  We need more hydro schemes and big batteries (graphene again)  to try and store energy.


We need more electricity, but we need energy efficiency just as much.  We all live in energy inefficient houses leading our energy inefficient lives. 



But yeah right now today.  A family wanting a second car?  Lots of people, I think, are going to go electric for the second car.

 
And if nothing happens, if there is no change.  Well forget saving the planet, it’ll be fine, but there will be no more human race.

[fazersharp]

Zero point energy

[agricola]

Energy sources are all in the control of companies that run for making profit, from generation to end use. Planning for the future is not going to happen while this remains the case. Same with the water industry. Unaccountable to anyone. National planning is required.

[VNA]

Agree.
Privatisation was a big mistake.

[mtread]

I think one factor being missed, is that 'ownership' of vehicles, as we know it, will dissappear. The 'Car Club' principle, together with driverless vehicles, will change things dramatically. You want to go somewhere, and you whistle up a driverless electric taxi. Whether it's just to go shopping, or on holiday, it'll drop you off and pick you up. It'll be a sad day for motorcycling. We might be the last generation to own and ride bikes.

[agricola]

I think one factor being missed, is that 'ownership' of vehicles, as we know it, will dissappear. The 'Car Club' principle, together with driverless vehicles, will change things dramatically. You want to go somewhere, and you whistle up a driverless electric taxi. Whether it's just to go shopping, or on holiday, it'll drop you off and pick you up. It'll be a sad day for motorcycling. We might be the last generation to own and ride bikes.

Unlikely. History has shown thus far that govts will use economic measures to change habits: i.e. taxation. Zones which you will have to pay to enter/use/drive through. Local taxation schemes to fund alternative transport infrastructure etc etc. Some areas already have theses schemes, others are sure to follow. They still want us to use the private motor car because it raises massive revenue, as does the oil industry which still wants us to burn fossil fuel, hence melting the ice caps to get at the reserves

[mtread]

Governments will tax whatever is being used. Tax on oil will be replaced by tax on mileage, electricity or whatever. The motorcar replaced the horse and cart in less than 20 years.

[VNA]

They still want us to use the private motor car because it raises massive revenue,

You'll be paying a subscription to have a car available.  As Mtread says anything can be taxed.  Or not taxed.

[YamFazFan]

For fear of being accused of racism and causing offence.

Absolute nonsense.  What evidence do you have for this?

The lack of evidence is the proof. No one dares to say anything.

[mtread]

If I don't have any Bananas, is that evidence that Bananas exist? ?

[VNA]

The lack of evidence is the proof.

Guilty as charged your honour! :eek

[VNA]

If I don't have any Bananas, is that evidence that Bananas exist? ?

Hang on a minute - what about God? 
   

[mtread]

Of course God exists. I've seen the paintings.

[VNA]

I have a painting of a Yeti.

[mtread]

Andy Warhol painted a banana

[fazersharp]

I have a painting of a Yeti.

Are you sure it is a yetti or were you mistaken because of Gods long flowing yetti-like white beard

[YamFazFan]

The lack of evidence is the proof.

Guilty as charged your honour! :eek

But when anyone does provide a link to such an article, or ones on similar issues, even if they're by a recognised publication, you dismiss them as fabrications if they don't support your version of reality :lol

[YamFazFan]

True or false?


https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sam-g...-x28jx85fc

[VNA]

The European Parliament has voted for a complete ban on a range of single-use plastics across the union in a bid to stop pollution of the oceans.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-45965605