Majbo

Majbo t1_j9yd8vu wrote

Reply to comment by rdtthoughtpolice in New cohort study of 3.7 million adults finds that long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with an increased risk of having a heart attack or dying from heart disease — associations more pronounced in low socioeconomic status communities by marketrent

I agree that on a country scale, Australia could do it. It is a lithium rich country. On a world wide scale, we need new tech. And I'm optimistic that in 10-15 years there won't be anything holding us back on electrifying transportation except for policy making and greed.

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Majbo t1_j9ycvzj wrote

Reply to comment by Ok-Beautiful-8403 in New cohort study of 3.7 million adults finds that long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with an increased risk of having a heart attack or dying from heart disease — associations more pronounced in low socioeconomic status communities by marketrent

We are already. There are many technologies being developed. Battery storage, new fission technology, fusion technology, more efficient infrastructure and devices, lab grown meat, new shipping technologies, more efficient planes. I'm optimistic on that side. What I'm afraid of are conservative policies and people's unwillingly to adapt.

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Majbo t1_j9yc5q5 wrote

Reply to comment by rdtthoughtpolice in New cohort study of 3.7 million adults finds that long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with an increased risk of having a heart attack or dying from heart disease — associations more pronounced in low socioeconomic status communities by marketrent

Great in theory, but there is only so much lithium. There is only ~50M tons of lithium somewhat easily available. That is not enough to replace all cars. Maybe enough for 40% of all cars. Just cars. And that is if we put all lithium into cars. We still need it for other kinds of power storage and for other industries.

We need new tech before we can even discuss it as an option.

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Majbo t1_j9yaxuj wrote

Reply to comment by fractiousrhubarb in New cohort study of 3.7 million adults finds that long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with an increased risk of having a heart attack or dying from heart disease — associations more pronounced in low socioeconomic status communities by marketrent

Yes. But it is not as simple as that. Coal is extremely bad. Oil and wood are much better for different reasons, but they are still bad for health. Natural gas is pretty neutral for health reasons, but you could argue that global warming caused partially by gas burning is killing millions.

There should be a list of priorities as we can't handle it all at once.

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Majbo t1_j9yadyc wrote

Reply to comment by rdtthoughtpolice in New cohort study of 3.7 million adults finds that long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with an increased risk of having a heart attack or dying from heart disease — associations more pronounced in low socioeconomic status communities by marketrent

It is impossible with current battery technologies and energy infrastructure. There is only so much lithium in areas in which we are willing to devastate the environment to mine it.

We should definitely invest in electrification, but priority should be more efficient transportation (public transport, biking infrastructure, and walkability).

And in the end, traffic is not even close to the top of the air pollution causes. Burning coal is much worse, and burning wood is also pretty bad in regard to PM10 particles. Not to mention industrial pollution. Cars are pretty bad for co2 emissions, but a modern car emits 100x less nox and particulants than a gas-powered lawn mower or a chainsaw per minute.

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