Covid has slowed down the economy, slowed humanity down a bit, by how much?
Has it slowed down greenhouse gases?
Has COVID been beneficial to the environment?
Good question.
Initially I thought that Covid would be beneficial to the environment, but that is not how things are working out. Sure, there are fewer cars on the road with people driving to work, but everyone is now working and schooling from home, heating or cooling their houses. Office spaces and classrooms filled with office workers and students are, I think, a much more efficient use of energy.
As for ‘the environment’, I’m confident that it has suffered much more than it would have without Covid. In Australia, governments at all levels have injected incredible sums into (often unnecessary) infrastructure to try to stimulate their economies. We have also seen the fast-tracking of countless private developments which would never have been approved pre-Covid. The usual environmental protections are being thrown out the window, and I assume the same is happening all around the world.
Surely they could have sunk that investment into future focused stuff like renewable…
(yeah corruption coalition, they couldn’t, but we mean, in general)
We’ll know in a couple of years. Certainly it would appear there has been less unnecessary road transport…
Speedy said:
Good question.
We have also seen the fast-tracking of countless private developments which would never have been approved pre-Covid. The usual environmental protections are being thrown out the window, and I assume the same is happening all around the world.
Got some examples?
The Rev Dodgson said:
Speedy said:
Good question.
We have also seen the fast-tracking of countless private developments which would never have been approved pre-Covid. The usual environmental protections are being thrown out the window, and I assume the same is happening all around the world.
Got some examples?
https://www.mirvac.com/investor-centre/property-portfolio/Residential/55-coonara-avenue
https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/-/media/Files/DPE/Other/fast-tracked-assessments-tranche-three-2020-06.pdf?la=en
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-14/scott-morrison-jobmaker-fast-track-major-projects-coronavirus/12354094
Speedy said:
The Rev Dodgson said:
Speedy said:
Good question.
We have also seen the fast-tracking of countless private developments which would never have been approved pre-Covid. The usual environmental protections are being thrown out the window, and I assume the same is happening all around the world.
Got some examples?
https://www.mirvac.com/investor-centre/property-portfolio/Residential/55-coonara-avenue
https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/-/media/Files/DPE/Other/fast-tracked-assessments-tranche-three-2020-06.pdf?la=en
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-14/scott-morrison-jobmaker-fast-track-major-projects-coronavirus/12354094
Thanks, I’ll have to read them properly later.
On the last one, I don’t have any problems with inland rail or undersea cables, but I only read the first few lines.
The Rev Dodgson said:
Speedy said:
The Rev Dodgson said:Got some examples?
https://www.mirvac.com/investor-centre/property-portfolio/Residential/55-coonara-avenue
https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/-/media/Files/DPE/Other/fast-tracked-assessments-tranche-three-2020-06.pdf?la=en
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-14/scott-morrison-jobmaker-fast-track-major-projects-coronavirus/12354094
Thanks, I’ll have to read them properly later.
On the last one, I don’t have any problems with inland rail or undersea cables, but I only read the first few lines.
I’m not saying that these projects should not have been approved eventually, but the cutting of green tape to fast-track projects, bypassing the usual processes, cannot be beneficial for the environment. It takes time to, for example, complete another environmental survey when it is deemed necessary, but fast-tracking is unlikely to allow for it.
Speedy said:
The Rev Dodgson said:
Speedy said:https://www.mirvac.com/investor-centre/property-portfolio/Residential/55-coonara-avenue
https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/-/media/Files/DPE/Other/fast-tracked-assessments-tranche-three-2020-06.pdf?la=en
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-14/scott-morrison-jobmaker-fast-track-major-projects-coronavirus/12354094
Thanks, I’ll have to read them properly later.
On the last one, I don’t have any problems with inland rail or undersea cables, but I only read the first few lines.
I’m not saying that these projects should not have been approved eventually, but the cutting of green tape to fast-track projects, bypassing the usual processes, cannot be beneficial for the environment. It takes time to, for example, complete another environmental survey when it is deemed necessary, but fast-tracking is unlikely to allow for it.
“Fast tracking”, LOL. Inland rail was being worked on in CSIRO when I joined back in 1988. Fast tracking relative to the speed of plate tectonics, perhaps. Undersea cables much the same.
mollwollfumble said:
“Fast tracking”, LOL. Inland rail was being worked on in CSIRO when I joined back in 1988. Fast tracking relative to the speed of plate tectonics, perhaps. Undersea cables much the same.
Inland rail appears to be another one of those projects like an Olympics, where the end product is not the important thing, it’s more about the years and years of gravy-train (pun not necessarily intended) that precede it.
As it is, the inland rail project has consumed who knows how many tens/hundreds of millions of dollars, provided quite well-paid employment to some people, given them a variety of lurks and perks, and the number of sleepers and rails laid so far is….
…zero.
It’s not about building a railway, it’s about how long the preparations to build one can be strung out.
captain_spalding said:
mollwollfumble said:“Fast tracking”, LOL. Inland rail was being worked on in CSIRO when I joined back in 1988. Fast tracking relative to the speed of plate tectonics, perhaps. Undersea cables much the same.
Inland rail appears to be another one of those projects like an Olympics, where the end product is not the important thing, it’s more about the years and years of gravy-train (pun not necessarily intended) that precede it.
As it is, the inland rail project has consumed who knows how many tens/hundreds of millions of dollars, provided quite well-paid employment to some people, given them a variety of lurks and perks, and the number of sleepers and rails laid so far is….
…zero.
It’s not about building a railway, it’s about how long the preparations to build one can be strung out.
But like Badgery’s Creek, they’ll fuck around for years and apart from wasting heaps of dinero, ending up with yet another place stripped of its natural beauty and diversity for the sake of naught.
The economy’s growth has faltered. Let’s go out and carve up some more of the environment.
roughbarked said:
But like Badgery’s Creek, they’ll fuck around for years and apart from wasting heaps of dinero, ending up with yet another place stripped of its natural beauty and diversity for the sake of naught.
The economy’s growth has faltered. Let’s go out and carve up some more of the environment.
Large construction projects have several advantages for governments.
As already noted, the preparation process can be strung out for anything up to several decades, especially if it’s not immediately vital and maybe not universally popular.
This avoids having to actually do anything, but gives you something to point to when asked what you are doing about it. As well, it’s good for providing well-paid jobs to people to whom you might owe favours, or who you plan to ask for favours in the future. And there’s bound to be some good free-drinks occasions along the way.
When you do get to the building stage (even if you get there quickly, without a protracted lead-up) it’s a great chance to have big construction firms from all over begging and pleading at your door. You can do some of them big favours, for which you can expect recompense later on.
It gives you lots of hard hat/hi-vis photo opps, you can point to the work as proof that your government ‘gets things done’, there’s pork-barreling to be had with sub-contracting, and it can all be made to happen pretty quickly which can provide fairly immediate boosts to some economy sectors and maybe help distract from less glamorous dealing of your government.
captain_spalding said:
roughbarked said:But like Badgery’s Creek, they’ll fuck around for years and apart from wasting heaps of dinero, ending up with yet another place stripped of its natural beauty and diversity for the sake of naught.
The economy’s growth has faltered. Let’s go out and carve up some more of the environment.
Large construction projects have several advantages for governments.
As already noted, the preparation process can be strung out for anything up to several decades, especially if it’s not immediately vital and maybe not universally popular.
This avoids having to actually do anything, but gives you something to point to when asked what you are doing about it. As well, it’s good for providing well-paid jobs to people to whom you might owe favours, or who you plan to ask for favours in the future. And there’s bound to be some good free-drinks occasions along the way.
When you do get to the building stage (even if you get there quickly, without a protracted lead-up) it’s a great chance to have big construction firms from all over begging and pleading at your door. You can do some of them big favours, for which you can expect recompense later on.
It gives you lots of hard hat/hi-vis photo opps, you can point to the work as proof that your government ‘gets things done’, there’s pork-barreling to be had with sub-contracting, and it can all be made to happen pretty quickly which can provide fairly immediate boosts to some economy sectors and maybe help distract from less glamorous dealing of your government.
Fair assessment.
mollwollfumble said:
Speedy said:
The Rev Dodgson said:Thanks, I’ll have to read them properly later.
On the last one, I don’t have any problems with inland rail or undersea cables, but I only read the first few lines.
I’m not saying that these projects should not have been approved eventually, but the cutting of green tape to fast-track projects, bypassing the usual processes, cannot be beneficial for the environment. It takes time to, for example, complete another environmental survey when it is deemed necessary, but fast-tracking is unlikely to allow for it.
“Fast tracking”, LOL. Inland rail was being worked on in CSIRO when I joined back in 1988. Fast tracking relative to the speed of plate tectonics, perhaps. Undersea cables much the same.
Oh dear, I’m agreeing with moll again.
These things are more a case of giving governments something to announce, rather than actually doing anything.
Especially for rail infrastructure.
Lisa Wilkinson on Gladys: She keeps talking about the light at the end of the tunnel, we can all see it, it’s an absolute binfire.
The Rev Dodgson said:
mollwollfumble said:
Speedy said:I’m not saying that these projects should not have been approved eventually, but the cutting of green tape to fast-track projects, bypassing the usual processes, cannot be beneficial for the environment. It takes time to, for example, complete another environmental survey when it is deemed necessary, but fast-tracking is unlikely to allow for it.
“Fast tracking”, LOL. Inland rail was being worked on in CSIRO when I joined back in 1988. Fast tracking relative to the speed of plate tectonics, perhaps. Undersea cables much the same.
Oh dear, I’m agreeing with moll again.
These things are more a case of giving governments something to announce, rather than actually doing anything.
Especially for rail infrastructure.
You mean, like announcables?
I think this is the appropriate thread.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8A03ZC2wZg
CoalKeeper: Securing baseload donations
Speedy said:
I think this is the appropriate thread.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8A03ZC2wZg
CoalKeeper: Securing baseload donations
27 views!
It must be good!
(and how did you find it?)
The Rev Dodgson said:
Speedy said:
I think this is the appropriate thread.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8A03ZC2wZg
CoalKeeper: Securing baseload donations
27 views!
It must be good!
(and how did you find it?)
Give it a chance, it was posted only this morning, besides, since when does number of views indicate whether something is good?
(I searched YouTube for it after seeing it elsewhere)
Speedy said:
The Rev Dodgson said:
Speedy said:
I think this is the appropriate thread.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8A03ZC2wZg
CoalKeeper: Securing baseload donations
27 views!
It must be good!
(and how did you find it?)
Give it a chance, it was posted only this morning, besides, since when does number of views indicate whether something is good?
(I searched YouTube for it after seeing it elsewhere)
No, seriously, it is well known that the quality of a Youtube video is inversely proportional to the number of views.
I have personally verified this on numerous occasions.
The Rev Dodgson said:
Speedy said:
The Rev Dodgson said:27 views!
It must be good!
(and how did you find it?)
Give it a chance, it was posted only this morning, besides, since when does number of views indicate whether something is good?
(I searched YouTube for it after seeing it elsewhere)
No, seriously, it is well known that the quality of a Youtube video is inversely proportional to the number of views.
I have personally verified this on numerous occasions.
Well, it now has 32 views, so :p
The Rev Dodgson said:
Speedy said:
The Rev Dodgson said:27 views!
It must be good!
(and how did you find it?)
Give it a chance, it was posted only this morning, besides, since when does number of views indicate whether something is good?
(I searched YouTube for it after seeing it elsewhere)
No, seriously, it is well known that the quality of a Youtube video is inversely proportional to the number of views.
I have personally verified this on numerous occasions.
your channel not doing so well?