There are around 500 cruise ships in operation globally carrying around 600,000 passengers, more than ever before and I bet a number on this forum go cruising. On average a cruise ship smokestack produces the emissions equivalent of 12000 automobiles a day, let's not get into the oil bilge water, human waste and damage to habitats.
Yes those figures are scary. It seems like a very environmentally unfriendly business. I remember reading another article saying that all the cruise ships in Southampton create more pollution while in port than everything else going on in Southampton, cars industry, etc.
Its funny how those analyzing Lithium mining and battery production costs often take the view that oil exploration / drilling / social costs of dealing with corrupt petro-states are sunk costs and not to be counted! For example, do you reckon that 75% of the 2nd Iraq war was because Iraq is a petrostate, and add those costs / CO2 expense to the ICE etc accounting sheet?
On the matter of "why bother with EVs... there will always be wars, volcanos, burning peat bogs etc" then we have to remember that CO2-encouraged global warming is an existential threat to our comfy western way of life. ANYTHING that can substantially change the game is worthy of trial and investment.
Yes, I feel the environmental cost of petrol is a lot more than the 2.3KG of CO2 when it is used in an ICE. I also feel you have a point about Iraq and that many wars over the decades have been oil related.
Also Yes we should do what we can, it just feels frustrating that some leaders do stupid things making our efforts feel like a grain of sand on the beach.
