What I first noticed after reading these two articles is how much smaller nations get affected while trying to conform to the new expectations that come from climate change. These nations don't have the economies to afford to both change their power producing technologies to new, renewable technology which would help reduce emissions, but they then also have to deal with the consequences of climate change. These nations are forced to create retaining walls to protect their communities from storm surges caused by larger storms which occur more frequently due to the new, quickly intensifying climate. I think this whole situation causes a stalemate, and without help from outside forces, these nations will continue to spend the money they could use to change from fossil fuels to renewables into defensive measures to protect against the thing they are helping to cause. This isn't their fault in my opinion, as these nations really have no other options, and forced into this really difficult situation between trying to make a change to help prevent the one thing that they are forced to spend money to stop from effecting them.
I also really liked the article about China, as it really goes into something I've always argued, that all these new "environmentally friendly" alternatives to fossil fuels, tend to be worse for the planet than just using fossil fuels. The digging for the raw materials that are needed to make batteries and micro-chips and everything else that is needed is horrible for the climate, but people, from either purposeful or blissful ignorance, refuse to accept this fact and believe they are making a significant difference because they drive a tesla. I don't believe that as a singular individual you can make any significant change, as any difference you will make will just instantly be canceled by America bombing an oil facility in Iran, or Exxon spilling millions of barrels or oil into the ocean.
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