We hope that there will be no LNG terminal in Gibbstown on the Delaware River.
It is no longer allowed to transport the extremely flamable LNG by train. THe plan was to take LNG by train thru North Philadelphia to Gibbstown. Now this will not be done. And Ireland is not allowing an LNG import terminal either. The old, dead, plan would have precluded all other business in the Cork Estuary because of the risks of LNG.
Bill McKibben does a really impressive and vital job of getting climate change information into our hands which will help so much in our struggle to keep our planet livable.
I really enjoy the thoroughness of your report. I'm not so happy about the Orwellian media organizations that seem to promote destruction of the world by keeping people disinformed. Also people seem to have a harder time being heard by the power structure.
We'll need a lot of guidance to dance around this complex issue. We're accustomed to harvesting all the earth's resources. So how do we learn the discipline to behave responsibly? Today I read an article about "ecological" Uruguayan farmers who have traditionally practiced "nutritious" food practices but are now falling head over heels in love with CocaCola, which is new to their part of the world... I wonder how we'll have the wisdom to embrace the joys of healthy eating when fat/sugar/salt are so seductive. I also heard news that certain presidential politicians advocate cancelling gasoline taxes (which support road maintenance) to bring the price of travel down, at a time when we desperately need to decarbonize the planet's atmosphere. How can we avoid going over a cliff? How can we sell the virtue of restraint when the entire world is pushing toward the ease and debauche of more? Sounds like a bumpy ride!
The first part of this calls to mind an article last year in the Guardian by Douglas Rushkoff where he describes being hired to consult with the super-wealthy about the “future of technology” that was actually a secret meeting about how these folks could save themselves after the world as we know it ends (in large part due to their actions).
A key quote, but there are zillions: “What I came to realise was that these men are actually the losers. The billionaires who called me out to the desert to evaluate their bunker strategies are not the victors of the economic game so much as the victims of its perversely limited rules. More than anything, they have succumbed to a mindset where “winning” means earning enough money to insulate themselves from the damage they are creating by earning money in that way. It’s as if they want to build a car that goes fast enough to escape from its own exhaust.”
Your excellent story on America's LNG exports highlights the need to focus on the source, rather than emissions. The fossil companies are chuckling while everyone's squabbling over whose emissions are whose, which better and which worse. it comes from their damn holes in the ground, not people's footprints.
Private jets are much more polluting than commercial jets. Currently, Lexington's Hanscom (air) Field wants to expand in order to accommodate more private jets--a lose-lose for the planet, as well as for Lexington, additionally because of the increased noise, which has now been shown to cause heart disease. Flying by private jet can cause as much as 45 times the carbon emissions per person caused by flying by commercial jet.
Fantastic article, Bill. Following up again on a possible list of non-negotiable empirical evidence in climate change that "lay people" can reference and speak upon in climate discussions in our every day lives. I often wish I had a few key statistics to point towards to bolster arguments and was wondering what aspects of the climate crisis you think I should point to?
Aircompany.com -- is this for real? Or is it some sick attempt to distract? It is being advertised as the ‘solution to extinction’ on the Daily (NYTimes podcast) this am....
Bill et al - The green card guy. And the lawn sign "Our neighbors, etc." guy. sendnomoney.org. The question for 2024 is WHAT not who. The WHAT, a no-brainer here, is money out of politics. VOTE what not who. In NH, I aim to create a primary ballot line (my name) on which it will be clear that any vote cast there is a vote to send the US Congress a job order to get money out of politics (lobbying, dark money, Citizens United, etc., etc., etc). I am not suitable for the job, do not want the job, and one would be foolish to vote for me to have the job. . . all made clear on the website. VOTE what not who. We're looking for candidates to run similarly in other primaries and caucuses, get delegates, play a hand at the convention.
I do see that the gap between Tweedledee and Tweedledum has opened, no comfort that. However, may I invite you to become hysterical about political money and corruption rather than being hysterical about Donald Trump. Our hysteria about the orange man contributes to his power. He cannot be elected again; the American electorate is not that bad. [NOTE, importantly, that Joe Biden does have it in him to lose. See H Clinton 2016] Am I not right to be certain that everyone in this chat thread understands fully, deeply, importantly that money out of politics is the difference between Bill McKibben banging on the door and Bill McKibben having a seat at the table, . . maybe even at the head.
If all this is only nuisance, I do see that you all have mechanism for banning a person's contributions; I would not object or be offended. Better than talking to a wall.
It is of course necessary to reduce fossil fuel burning as rapidly as possible. But part of defining possible also includes transitioning the ability of people to maintain some viable standard of living during the transition. Otherwise the resistance will be overwhelming, and the technological base required for the transition will be compromised. Thus exporting of natural gas to Europe is essential for geopolitical reasons-- reduce Europe's dependence on Russian gas. How much gas we produce depends on how much we and the countries within our friendship sphere need to make the transition without being beholden to geopolitical embarrassments.
It is really critical to look for solutions that are politically/economically viable. That includes ramping up renewables rapidly, controlling methane leaks, having projects that give significant carbon reduction for offsets etc etc etc.
The history of the hydrocarbon industries is certainly very bad, and there is no reason to believe that left to their own devices they will do better. But the evil in not in their income if it is producing a product that is necessary for strategic reasons. It is in extending that production longer than minimally necessary. One of the concerns now is to convince people to invest in the hydrocarbon production that will be needed in the short term when they know production will be ended before the investment is recovered.
It is so valuable to have you on the case. Thanks for investigating. Thanks for reporting.
We hope that there will be no LNG terminal in Gibbstown on the Delaware River.
It is no longer allowed to transport the extremely flamable LNG by train. THe plan was to take LNG by train thru North Philadelphia to Gibbstown. Now this will not be done. And Ireland is not allowing an LNG import terminal either. The old, dead, plan would have precluded all other business in the Cork Estuary because of the risks of LNG.
Bill McKibben does a really impressive and vital job of getting climate change information into our hands which will help so much in our struggle to keep our planet livable.
I really enjoy the thoroughness of your report. I'm not so happy about the Orwellian media organizations that seem to promote destruction of the world by keeping people disinformed. Also people seem to have a harder time being heard by the power structure.
We'll need a lot of guidance to dance around this complex issue. We're accustomed to harvesting all the earth's resources. So how do we learn the discipline to behave responsibly? Today I read an article about "ecological" Uruguayan farmers who have traditionally practiced "nutritious" food practices but are now falling head over heels in love with CocaCola, which is new to their part of the world... I wonder how we'll have the wisdom to embrace the joys of healthy eating when fat/sugar/salt are so seductive. I also heard news that certain presidential politicians advocate cancelling gasoline taxes (which support road maintenance) to bring the price of travel down, at a time when we desperately need to decarbonize the planet's atmosphere. How can we avoid going over a cliff? How can we sell the virtue of restraint when the entire world is pushing toward the ease and debauche of more? Sounds like a bumpy ride!
The first part of this calls to mind an article last year in the Guardian by Douglas Rushkoff where he describes being hired to consult with the super-wealthy about the “future of technology” that was actually a secret meeting about how these folks could save themselves after the world as we know it ends (in large part due to their actions).
A key quote, but there are zillions: “What I came to realise was that these men are actually the losers. The billionaires who called me out to the desert to evaluate their bunker strategies are not the victors of the economic game so much as the victims of its perversely limited rules. More than anything, they have succumbed to a mindset where “winning” means earning enough money to insulate themselves from the damage they are creating by earning money in that way. It’s as if they want to build a car that goes fast enough to escape from its own exhaust.”
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2022/sep/04/super-rich-prepper-bunkers-apocalypse-survival-richest-rushkoff
Your excellent story on America's LNG exports highlights the need to focus on the source, rather than emissions. The fossil companies are chuckling while everyone's squabbling over whose emissions are whose, which better and which worse. it comes from their damn holes in the ground, not people's footprints.
Thanks for a cool-headed briefing.
Private jets are much more polluting than commercial jets. Currently, Lexington's Hanscom (air) Field wants to expand in order to accommodate more private jets--a lose-lose for the planet, as well as for Lexington, additionally because of the increased noise, which has now been shown to cause heart disease. Flying by private jet can cause as much as 45 times the carbon emissions per person caused by flying by commercial jet.
https://simpleflying.com/just-how-polluting-is-flying-by-private-jet/
Are you aware of the planned AK LNG export project in Alaska's Cook Inlet?
Fantastic article, Bill. Following up again on a possible list of non-negotiable empirical evidence in climate change that "lay people" can reference and speak upon in climate discussions in our every day lives. I often wish I had a few key statistics to point towards to bolster arguments and was wondering what aspects of the climate crisis you think I should point to?
Aircompany.com -- is this for real? Or is it some sick attempt to distract? It is being advertised as the ‘solution to extinction’ on the Daily (NYTimes podcast) this am....
Bill et al - The green card guy. And the lawn sign "Our neighbors, etc." guy. sendnomoney.org. The question for 2024 is WHAT not who. The WHAT, a no-brainer here, is money out of politics. VOTE what not who. In NH, I aim to create a primary ballot line (my name) on which it will be clear that any vote cast there is a vote to send the US Congress a job order to get money out of politics (lobbying, dark money, Citizens United, etc., etc., etc). I am not suitable for the job, do not want the job, and one would be foolish to vote for me to have the job. . . all made clear on the website. VOTE what not who. We're looking for candidates to run similarly in other primaries and caucuses, get delegates, play a hand at the convention.
I do see that the gap between Tweedledee and Tweedledum has opened, no comfort that. However, may I invite you to become hysterical about political money and corruption rather than being hysterical about Donald Trump. Our hysteria about the orange man contributes to his power. He cannot be elected again; the American electorate is not that bad. [NOTE, importantly, that Joe Biden does have it in him to lose. See H Clinton 2016] Am I not right to be certain that everyone in this chat thread understands fully, deeply, importantly that money out of politics is the difference between Bill McKibben banging on the door and Bill McKibben having a seat at the table, . . maybe even at the head.
If all this is only nuisance, I do see that you all have mechanism for banning a person's contributions; I would not object or be offended. Better than talking to a wall.
Peace, John Vail john@sendnomoney.org
I always liked the name '4Q2' from the parody movie called 'Hardware Wars' better.
It is of course necessary to reduce fossil fuel burning as rapidly as possible. But part of defining possible also includes transitioning the ability of people to maintain some viable standard of living during the transition. Otherwise the resistance will be overwhelming, and the technological base required for the transition will be compromised. Thus exporting of natural gas to Europe is essential for geopolitical reasons-- reduce Europe's dependence on Russian gas. How much gas we produce depends on how much we and the countries within our friendship sphere need to make the transition without being beholden to geopolitical embarrassments.
It is really critical to look for solutions that are politically/economically viable. That includes ramping up renewables rapidly, controlling methane leaks, having projects that give significant carbon reduction for offsets etc etc etc.
The history of the hydrocarbon industries is certainly very bad, and there is no reason to believe that left to their own devices they will do better. But the evil in not in their income if it is producing a product that is necessary for strategic reasons. It is in extending that production longer than minimally necessary. One of the concerns now is to convince people to invest in the hydrocarbon production that will be needed in the short term when they know production will be ended before the investment is recovered.
Natural, cyclical changes, not manmade, on deck. A game-changer for all of the best laid plans of mice and men
https://substack.com/@ricardo5528/note/c-40710388?r=1s07lm&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action