Climate Policy | The Complete Moderate's Guide

Climate and Environmental Policy in the United States is a complicated topic rife with decades of misinformation. Let's take a moment to understand it, so we can figure out what to do next.

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Thanks to Science Asylum for lending his voice!

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Video Credits -

Photo Credits -

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Intro/Outro and Background Music by Michael Cotten/Nomad

Intro Art and Channel Avatar by PoetheWonderCat

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Hashtags: #politics #climatechange #greennewdeal #globalwarming #climate #environment #climatepolict #environmentalpolicy #cleanenergy #renewables #climatecrisis #extinctionrebellion #climateemergency #manbearpig #parisclimateaccords

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This video was sponsored by CuriosityStream and Nebula.

[KnowingBetter]

Listen to my channel's music, written by Michael Cotten -

[MRKITTY]

As someone that works with nuclear, let me tell you about its negative effect on the environment:


A lot of trees are violently murdered for the paperwork involved.

[SaturnVDP]

This seems like a branding issue; when people hear "nuclear", they think of nuclear weapons, meltdowns, and waste.

Why don't we just rebrand modern nuclear power as something new with a new name?

There's been huge advancements in technology that make it unrecognizable to the unrefined 60's tech that most people associate with "nuclear energy".

It seemed to work for "natural gas", and they're certainly trying it for "clean coal"!

[Socrates]

Not gonna lie, I was practically shouting "For gods sake talk about Nuclear!" aaand then ya did. Good on you!

[aurrickan]

"the united states can and should be leading the way on slowing and reversing climate change" "even if you don't believe in climate change we should do it anyway"
FACTS

[dronesaur]

This was abrasive and unapologetically disrespectful toward climate deniers, ecofascists, and fence-sitters, and frankly, that's the kind of content I like to see. Good video.

[Dogwateraj]

I find it hilarious that the guy that said you could just drink a shot of pesticide, was then immediately offered a shot of it by the interviewer, you should have let that clip play out more. Lol

[fabbymarmol]

Ah, nuclear. The enemy of both environmentalists and climate change deniers. I personally blame The Simpsons.

[lordofspearton]

I'm sorry but "Kyoto Protocol" sounds like the title for some obscure but surprising fun PS1 game.

[itsjustnadia]

Knowing Better: the adults are talking now
also Knowing Better: 1969, *nice*

[Kyotosomo]

I've been waiting years for you to finally make a Moderate's Guide To Climate Change, and the fact that promoted nuclear energy as the clear answer; thank you so much.

[evmi]

“Feel free to leave a dislike on your way out, because the adults are talking” damn dude you killed em!

[ssun]

I was nuclear-pilled some time last year (two years ago I guess, in 2019), and honestly it was one of the biggest and yet most important ideology shifts I've ever had. Climate change was one of the very first political things I began caring about as a kid/teen and yet all throughout high school I was passionately against nuclear. Finding out how wrong I was was honestly important for me. One of those first instances where you realize everything that you've been told about politics, activism, etc. isn't necessarily correct. I'm now a strong proponent for nuclear energy and a better critical analyzer of information. Great vid.

[RipCityBassWorks]

This 25 minute video can be summed up in one sentence: 'moderates' should support nuclear energy.

[RockerTopper-hhru]

It has always astounded me how little we talk about the role of nuclear power in mitigating climate change, and what astounds new more is the extent to which organizations that are supposed to care about the environment end up shooting that cause in the foot with their determined opposition to nuclear power.

[donalny]

People look at me like I'm nuts when I bring up nuclear as an option. And not just because I am wearing a purple Batman outfit.

[benchoucroun]

I've dealt with a lot of climate change and when you said "if you're a climate change skeptic drop a dislike on your way out because the adults are talking" it was so satisfying.

[kejserrige]

4:02 Minor correction, but a molecule of oxygen IS O2 gas. What you're referring to is an oxygen atom. A molecule is a group of atoms bonded together.
Edit : Of course we all know what he meant though. No problem with it

[hannahb]

As an Energy Engineer who works in the Nuclear industry I really appreciate this video; I felt the same about being lied to by political groups about Nuclear when I learned about it.

However, I don't think you should discount Carbon Capture and Storage; and more rigorous cap and trade. If you put that cap low, the developed country needs to reduce its emissions somehow, CCS works quite well in conjunction with that and overall allows approaching closer to net zero.

C&T I think works better when restricted to necessary industries that can't avoid a lot of their emissions, particularly heavy industry: concrete and steel production for example... Even a 10% (a low estimate) capture of their emissions would significantly affect countries totals.

Renewables also obviously play a very important role, especially alternative storage technologies; solar heat storage (using a salt based steam cycle) and pumped water storage paired with wind; both already exist and are fairly effective at reducing the huge power variations.

Older technologies factor into that as well, like tidal barrages and hydroelectric which was touched on briefly, if it goes towards reducing dependence on fossil fuel emissions go for it; same goes for hydrogen electrolysis and fuel cells.

Overall the goal is in the future to have the vast majority of power come from renewable sources; wind farms, solar plants and hydroelectric dams, (hydrogen and tidal/wave power too maybe); but as you mention a strong base will be needed to support that and Nuclear can fill that niche and provide that...

The net emissions from nuclear are astonishingly low (including the whole mining to disposing fuel cycle) and Fusion and GenIV reactors show a lot of promise for deployment in 10-20 years... It also has one of the best work-in:work-out ratios of any energy source.

[nathanhay]

I really appreciate the recent trend of people recognizing that nuclear energy is low-key awesome, especially considering more modern advancements in safety, energy output, efficiency, and sustainability.


Plus, the atomic age is just cool.