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0 pointsrpiguy6y ago0 comments

Plants require water. Yes we can solve the plastic problem by growing more plants, but then we will have a water problem as plants, heavy industry, chemical production, recycling (which uses a lot of water), power production (most use steam), live stock, and human water consumption all compete.

I mean I guess we could melt the ice caps for more water...

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soulofmischief6y ago

What an incredible false dichotomy. Which do you want, less fossil fuels, or melting the ice caps?

Oh wait! I forgot that burning fossil fuels is already melting the ice caps.

ryanmercer6y ago

>What an incredible false dichotomy.

I think their point is more "We're already running out of water, aquifer depletion is a thing on multiple continents and there are now cities that have officially run out of fresh water. Adding even more farming, which requires water input above and beyond natural rainfall, is just going to worsen another dire issue".

smileysteve6y ago

> adding even more farming, which requires water input above and beyond natural rainfall

Hemp (referenced in a sibling thread) is known as weed because it is drought tolerant and often requires less water than non invasive species. Kudzu and Bamboo are also invasive species that are drought tolerant when compared to most and even natural land uses.

You're missing the mass amounts of water to extract plastic from oil.

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