Draft:Solutions summary 1: Difference between revisions

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(Created page with "<pre class="levels"> Most of the world's energy today comes from fossil fuels. To change this, the following tech is needed: Energy storage, especially Sodium-ion batteries Reason: Because lithium-ion is too mineral-intensive to scale up. To be used for mid-range electric vehicles and smoothing out the day-night cycle of solar panels. They don't even have to be as energy dense as lithium-ion. [...")
 
(Removed the links wikitext for now, but i rly need to find a way to make it compatible with Levels)
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Most of the world's [[energy]] today comes from [[fossil fuels]]. To change this, the following tech is needed:
Most of the world's energy today comes from fossil fuels. To change this, the following tech is needed:
  [[Energy storage]], especially
  Energy storage, especially
   [[Sodium-ion batteries]]
   Sodium-ion batteries
       Reason: Because lithium-ion is [[lithium-ion#battery minerals|too mineral-intensive to scale up]].
       Reason: Because lithium-ion is lithium-ion#battery minerals|too mineral-intensive to scale up.
   To be used for mid-range [[electric vehicles]] and smoothing out the day-night cycle of [[solar panels]].
   To be used for mid-range electric vehicles and smoothing out the day-night cycle of solar panels.
   They don't even have to be as energy dense as [[lithium-ion]].
   They don't even have to be as energy dense as lithium-ion.
  [[Energy sources]] - some combination of
  Energy sources - some combination of
   [[Solar panels without scarce minerals]]
   Solar panels without scarce minerals
       Reason: Most of today's [[solar panels]] on the market are [[solar panel minerals|too mineral-intensive to scale up]].
       Reason: Most of today's solar panels on the market are solar panel minerals|too mineral-intensive to scale up.
   To be installed on as many [[rooftop solar|rooftops]] as possible.
   To be installed on as many rooftop solar|rooftops as possible.
       This could provide enough "general-purpose" electricity for homes, buildings and [[EVs]], but not enough for [[heating]] in cold parts of the world.
       This could provide enough "general-purpose" electricity for homes, buildings and EVs, but not enough for heating in cold parts of the world.
   [[Wind turbines]]
   Wind turbines
   Mostly for producing [[hydrogen gas]]
   Mostly for producing hydrogen gas
     Can later be burned for [[heating]] buildings and in [[hydrogen combustion vehicles|vehicles]]
     Can later be burned for heating buildings and in hydrogen combustion vehicles|vehicles
         [[Fuel cell vehicles]] are too platinum/palladium-intensive to scale up, but hydrogen production [[hydrogen gas#platinum-group metals|is not]].
         Fuel cell vehicles are too platinum/palladium-intensive to scale up, but hydrogen production hydrogen gas#platinum-group metals|is not.
   During local windy seasons, can also be used for electricity directly.
   During local windy seasons, can also be used for electricity directly.
   [[Thorium power]]
   Thorium power
     Note that other forms of [[nuclear]] are not viable to scale up
     Note that other forms of nuclear are not viable to scale up
       [[Conventional nuclear power]] uses too much uranium-235 (too scarce)
       Conventional nuclear power uses too much uranium-235 (too scarce)
       Uranium-238 [[breeder reactors]] have too many weapons proliferation concerns
       Uranium-238 breeder reactors have too many weapons proliferation concerns
       [[Nuclear fusion]] probably won't be viable soon enough, even though it'll ultimately be the best option in the distant future.
       Nuclear fusion probably won't be viable soon enough, even though it'll ultimately be the best option in the distant future.


Until the above tech is ready, developed countries must reduce [[energy demand]] - most effectively by...
Until the above tech is ready, developed countries must reduce energy demand - most effectively by...
  Driving less
  Driving less
   Individual action: Walk, bike, or use [[public transit]].
   Individual action: Walk, bike, or use public transit.
   Collective action: Making neighborhoods more [[walkabile]] and improving [[public transit]].
   Collective action: Making neighborhoods more walkabile and improving public transit.
  Buying less new "stuff"
  Buying less new "stuff"
   Individual action: [[Frugalism]]
   Individual action: Frugalism
   Collective action: Fight against [[planned obsolescence]]
   Collective action: Fight against planned obsolescence
  Yes, these actions would have the most impact - see [[:File:energy-demand-pie1.png|this pie chart]].
  Yes, these actions would have the most impact - see :File:energy-demand-pie1.png|this pie chart.


Note that [[climate change]] isn't the ''only'' major environmental problem. There's also [[habitat loss]]. The most effective way to stop this is via [[food]]:
Note that climate change isn't the ''only'' major environmental problem. There's also habitat loss. The most effective way to stop this is via food:
     Reason: Because agriculture uses more [[land]] than any other human activity.
     Reason: Because agriculture uses more land than any other human activity.
  Stop [[food waste]]
  Stop food waste
   (both personal ''and'' business food waste)
   (both personal ''and'' business food waste)
  Make food more [[plant-based]]
  Make food more plant-based
   (both personal choices ''and'' systemic changes make a difference here)
   (both personal choices ''and'' systemic changes make a difference here)
  Yes, these actions make the biggest difference, both for the environment and for ending [[global hunger]].
  Yes, these actions make the biggest difference, both for the environment and for ending global hunger.
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Revision as of 01:44, 24 December 2023

Most of the world's energy today comes from fossil fuels. To change this, the following tech is needed:
 Energy storage, especially
  Sodium-ion batteries
       Reason: Because lithium-ion is lithium-ion#battery minerals|too mineral-intensive to scale up.
   To be used for mid-range electric vehicles and smoothing out the day-night cycle of solar panels.
   They don't even have to be as energy dense as lithium-ion.
 Energy sources - some combination of
  Solar panels without scarce minerals
       Reason: Most of today's solar panels on the market are solar panel minerals|too mineral-intensive to scale up.
   To be installed on as many rooftop solar|rooftops as possible.
      This could provide enough "general-purpose" electricity for homes, buildings and EVs, but not enough for heating in cold parts of the world.
  Wind turbines
   Mostly for producing hydrogen gas
    Can later be burned for heating buildings and in hydrogen combustion vehicles|vehicles
        Fuel cell vehicles are too platinum/palladium-intensive to scale up, but hydrogen production hydrogen gas#platinum-group metals|is not.
   During local windy seasons, can also be used for electricity directly.
  Thorium power
     Note that other forms of nuclear are not viable to scale up
      Conventional nuclear power uses too much uranium-235 (too scarce)
      Uranium-238 breeder reactors have too many weapons proliferation concerns
      Nuclear fusion probably won't be viable soon enough, even though it'll ultimately be the best option in the distant future.

Until the above tech is ready, developed countries must reduce energy demand - most effectively by...
 Driving less
  Individual action: Walk, bike, or use public transit.
  Collective action: Making neighborhoods more walkabile and improving public transit.
 Buying less new "stuff"
  Individual action: Frugalism
  Collective action: Fight against planned obsolescence
 Yes, these actions would have the most impact - see :File:energy-demand-pie1.png|this pie chart.

Note that climate change isn't the ''only'' major environmental problem. There's also habitat loss. The most effective way to stop this is via food:
    Reason: Because agriculture uses more land than any other human activity.
 Stop food waste
  (both personal ''and'' business food waste)
 Make food more plant-based
  (both personal choices ''and'' systemic changes make a difference here)
 Yes, these actions make the biggest difference, both for the environment and for ending global hunger.