I found it to be inspiring rather than heavy in that so many places around the world are making so much progress (even if it is not us at the moment).
This is because many on the other side would often use bizarre arguments like..."but China, and coal" etc. and claim any efforts here would be in vain.
Now, they will no longer be able to do so, and in addition, the low cost of clean energy means that China will have an economic advantage, as well.
This economic argument could light a fire even among some who are deniers or who care more about short term financial gains rather than our future and our children's future. Low cost energy can be attained by solar and wind and this lower cost can lead to economic dominance (cost of production) which also means dominance as a superpower. So, businesses will want it to compete and our politicians had better wake up.
These facts and realities about the lower cost and abundance of this energy and China's dominance, can bulldoze through all the BS and even create unexpected allies, one would hope. We need to be yelling about China's dominance in this from the rooftops, in my opinion.
That said, I do agree about the value of this work, 100%.
That the developing world is opting for clean energy makes profound economic sense: it's cheaper, simpler to install, easier to maintain, and it doesn't poison the population. Smart politicians don't sicken their voters, while dopey ones take bribes from Big Oil. I suggest it's notable that Saudi Arabia's "Line" depends on massive solar and wind energy, as it cannot exist otherwise.
Please take a look at the revolutionary breakthrough in Consentrated Solar Power being developed by SunDraco Power in Edmonton Alberta Canada. It is now patented and close to the stage of building the prototype. When proven as this technology promises it will become the answer to low cost easy to store energy that the world needs urgently. It will be much more efficient and require less land than present systems. This may become the answer to how best to fight climate change. This will become humanity harnessing the power of the sun more efficiently than we ever thought possible. I am a member of the Seniors for Climate Action Now Education Committee and I recommend everyone take a close look at this exciting breakthrough.
The window to avert the worst is now very much in doubt, with the orange menace, who at every twist and turn, does his very best to help the oil cartel, at the expense of the young people of today and tomorrow
He seeks to soak the world in🛢️ oil, on his way out the door
I think 🤔 that's from the Dylan song, " Subterranean homesick blues", circa 1966❓❓ The late 60s violent protest 🪧 group The Weathermen said they got their name from it. 🤞😎
This is, I believe, the fourth iteration of my statement that US is no longer the wealthiest, most powerful nation in the world, China is. 1) January 21, 2025, t is sworn in as president. 2) April, 2025, Liberation Day (t installs tariffs). 3) September, 2025, t's speech to the UN. 4) November 12, 2025, McKibben's essay on China's solutions to replace fossil fuels. In response to his comments about t's actions against clean energy, all I can say is, what did you expect Putin to order t to do? Between t's idiocy and policy stupidity, t is doing everything Putin wants. And all this happened since I was born in 1950. Until this year, I lived my entire life, as most of you did, when the US was the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the world. That ship has sailed...and we watched it float away.
The story of this country is the story of every empire. Why do we suppose that is? If we consider it the same way we would analyze any such repeating phenomenon it's clear there is an inherent defect in human behavior that brings it about. This is certainly what Peter Turchin found in his research, and he even identified what that limiting behavior is. The eventual concentration of wealth in the hands of a ruling minority. Across history, cultures and social and economic conditions, the pattern is consistent. Ideology, which is always blamed, is not relevant. So China, an authoritarian country, takes the lead over a democracy which has undercut itself at every turn.
Well, this is a little philosophical (?) for me, but I did think that our form of government might derail the concentration of wealth. In the Twenties, we saw a concentration of wealth, then a great depression, then Roosevelt came in with social legislation. We saw the concentration of wealth in France, and now, 200 years later, we see less wealth concentration and a lot of provisions for a decent quality of life for everybody. I don't mind not being the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the world, if everyone has good food, housing and medical care, not to mention environmental protection. But given that, in my opinion, the real crisis that faces us is the climate collapse, and, despite China's great strides, I don't think that will save the planet. The fact that we're doing so little gives me no hope. Take care.
Thanks, Ellen. I agree that a steady state economy with shared prosperity is preferable and even possible... for a time. Yet it never lasts. Even in France now there are deep disparities that are being exploited. Turchin points out that the ending is a result of fighting among elites when there is not enough room at the top. I fully agree that none of this will matter in the face of climate change.
Dear Ellen, I think we shall all overcome. I certainly hope so. I have followed His Holiness the Great XIV Dalai Lama since 1980, and Pope Leo gives me hope. So, fourteen may be a lucky number for our planet. The population of Asia is massive, and so it makes sense that the economies will grow. It's even more vital that we start using different parameters to measure the economy and look at our quality of life and the quality of our relationships as the treasures they are.
These statistics knock my socks off and take my breath away at the same time. The same happened to me when I listened to your interview on Miles O'Brien's substack Miles Ahead, as well. (I guess I'll need to buy more socks).
In fact, it is all so amazing and impressive, as well as uplifting, that if you add video imagery to what you guys have been pointing out, showing the massive scale of all these efforts globally (soaring over the wind and solar fields) it would be absolutely breathtaking. One might assume such a film this is already in the works, I hope so.
I'm glad you mentioned the space race, because what strikes me, is that under normal conditions, this information and how others are surging ahead of the USA, would, and should, inspire that kind of response from our own nation, to be #1.
Energy creation, and its cost, is tied to economics and economics is also tied to a nation's ability to remain a superpower. The energy emergency that should be declared in the USA right now, should be all about competing globally and that means with wind and solar, not fossil fuels as economist Paul Krugman also points out on his substack, as well.
Instead, as you and Miles pointed out, the USA is poised to become like a tourist attraction where people go to see how people once lived in the olden days using fossil fuels.
The contrast is striking and the impact of doing nothing is not only bad for the planet, but will leave our nation in the past, as a once great superpower, eating China's dust.
In order to inspire some of those in power in our nation to enter this fight on the scale that is needed to fight climate change, perhaps one needs to appeal to our nation's competitive nature and desire for dominance and the desire to remain #1. If we can't convince some with the reality of the threat that climate change poses, we can perhaps show them how this impacts everything else, as well.
I fear that the drumbeat of war with Venezuela is not about drugs but about crippling their capacity to produce oil for the world market. Less supply will mean increased profits for the US oil companies at a time when oversupply and reduced consumption has resulted in reduced profits and actual losses. Fatboy's gift to the oil oligarchs who helped get him elected.
Does Bill Gates not feel a twinge of shame that he carries water for Exxon Trump America abdicating on the clean energy transition, while secretly calculating that it’s all going to be okay because China’s massive heavy solar lift might well outweigh our backsliding? Shame on us. If we can save our democracy we need to right this treason to the planet as well.
Fressoz documents the way in which the use of raw materials, including those used to generate energy, has increased dramatically in recent decades. At the same time, talk of a ‘green energy transition’ has arisen, and an increase in the construction and use of non-fossil or ‘renewable’ energy sources has also occurred. (Wait a minute! What are these ‘renewable’ energy sources made of, how are they made, and how is the power they generate delivered?) Fressoz shows that while solar and wind power energy generation has indeed increased over the past few decades, so has energy derived from burning fossil fuels, so that the absolute contribution of fossil fuels to world energy use has not changed at all, and continues to sit at around 80%. ‘Transition’ is a fiction. Fressoz shows how this deception was achieved, by means of a switch from absolute to relative measuring techniques. In the book, Fressoz argues that each addition of energy sources to the global matrix in fact entails an increase of all others that preceded it. So-called renewables are built on the expansion of oil, coal and even wood. Fressoz argues that, in fact, this is not only a problem of addition, but a “symbiotic increase of all energy sources” needed to feed capitalism’s relentless demand for energy.
As soon as the fantasy of “renewables” and its shills are exposed and debunked we can get down to figuring what, if anything, can be done to curb the Machine that is ruining the world.
China's renewable technology is built with a carbon-intensive and coal-intensive energy system. Bill neglects to notice this when praising their efforts. It's possible that solar panels from China have a lot of uncounted carbon emissions embedded in them already before they are even deployed.
Everybody's everything was historically built with a carbon-intensive energy system. Ya gotta build the carbon-neutral capacity before you can get to zero fossil carbon emissions. Carbon-neutral capacity is growing, and already producing new capacity.
Never mind: Bill didn't write the post you wanted him to. Why don't you tell us just how the true cost of decarbonization stacks up against the true cost of transferring fossil carbon to the atmosphere by the gigatonnes annually, as carbon capitalists gain $trillions in profit by selling their product for all the traffic will bear while socializing the marginal cost of emissions out of the price.
This is heavy, but please know so many readers (including me!) continue to deeply value your work and your commitment to our beautiful planet!
I found it to be inspiring rather than heavy in that so many places around the world are making so much progress (even if it is not us at the moment).
This is because many on the other side would often use bizarre arguments like..."but China, and coal" etc. and claim any efforts here would be in vain.
Now, they will no longer be able to do so, and in addition, the low cost of clean energy means that China will have an economic advantage, as well.
This economic argument could light a fire even among some who are deniers or who care more about short term financial gains rather than our future and our children's future. Low cost energy can be attained by solar and wind and this lower cost can lead to economic dominance (cost of production) which also means dominance as a superpower. So, businesses will want it to compete and our politicians had better wake up.
These facts and realities about the lower cost and abundance of this energy and China's dominance, can bulldoze through all the BS and even create unexpected allies, one would hope. We need to be yelling about China's dominance in this from the rooftops, in my opinion.
That said, I do agree about the value of this work, 100%.
<3
That the developing world is opting for clean energy makes profound economic sense: it's cheaper, simpler to install, easier to maintain, and it doesn't poison the population. Smart politicians don't sicken their voters, while dopey ones take bribes from Big Oil. I suggest it's notable that Saudi Arabia's "Line" depends on massive solar and wind energy, as it cannot exist otherwise.
Money talks!
Please take a look at the revolutionary breakthrough in Consentrated Solar Power being developed by SunDraco Power in Edmonton Alberta Canada. It is now patented and close to the stage of building the prototype. When proven as this technology promises it will become the answer to low cost easy to store energy that the world needs urgently. It will be much more efficient and require less land than present systems. This may become the answer to how best to fight climate change. This will become humanity harnessing the power of the sun more efficiently than we ever thought possible. I am a member of the Seniors for Climate Action Now Education Committee and I recommend everyone take a close look at this exciting breakthrough.
Robert Hicks
St. Catharines Ontario Canada
Speaking plainly is a gift. Bravo and thank you for your clarity and wisdom.
And for reminding us that of course the developing world will be stuck with whatever solutions/innovations will have to be tackled.
The window to avert the worst is now very much in doubt, with the orange menace, who at every twist and turn, does his very best to help the oil cartel, at the expense of the young people of today and tomorrow
He seeks to soak the world in🛢️ oil, on his way out the door
Bob Dylan: " You don't need a ☁️🌡️ weathermen to know which way the wind 🌬️🍃 blows."
Wait! That's the line I always use!
I think 🤔 that's from the Dylan song, " Subterranean homesick blues", circa 1966❓❓ The late 60s violent protest 🪧 group The Weathermen said they got their name from it. 🤞😎
From the same song the wise 🎸 🦮 guidance, " Don't follow leaders, avoid parking meters‼️🖕👹" Well, it rhymes anyway...
This is, I believe, the fourth iteration of my statement that US is no longer the wealthiest, most powerful nation in the world, China is. 1) January 21, 2025, t is sworn in as president. 2) April, 2025, Liberation Day (t installs tariffs). 3) September, 2025, t's speech to the UN. 4) November 12, 2025, McKibben's essay on China's solutions to replace fossil fuels. In response to his comments about t's actions against clean energy, all I can say is, what did you expect Putin to order t to do? Between t's idiocy and policy stupidity, t is doing everything Putin wants. And all this happened since I was born in 1950. Until this year, I lived my entire life, as most of you did, when the US was the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the world. That ship has sailed...and we watched it float away.
The story of this country is the story of every empire. Why do we suppose that is? If we consider it the same way we would analyze any such repeating phenomenon it's clear there is an inherent defect in human behavior that brings it about. This is certainly what Peter Turchin found in his research, and he even identified what that limiting behavior is. The eventual concentration of wealth in the hands of a ruling minority. Across history, cultures and social and economic conditions, the pattern is consistent. Ideology, which is always blamed, is not relevant. So China, an authoritarian country, takes the lead over a democracy which has undercut itself at every turn.
Well, this is a little philosophical (?) for me, but I did think that our form of government might derail the concentration of wealth. In the Twenties, we saw a concentration of wealth, then a great depression, then Roosevelt came in with social legislation. We saw the concentration of wealth in France, and now, 200 years later, we see less wealth concentration and a lot of provisions for a decent quality of life for everybody. I don't mind not being the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the world, if everyone has good food, housing and medical care, not to mention environmental protection. But given that, in my opinion, the real crisis that faces us is the climate collapse, and, despite China's great strides, I don't think that will save the planet. The fact that we're doing so little gives me no hope. Take care.
Thanks, Ellen. I agree that a steady state economy with shared prosperity is preferable and even possible... for a time. Yet it never lasts. Even in France now there are deep disparities that are being exploited. Turchin points out that the ending is a result of fighting among elites when there is not enough room at the top. I fully agree that none of this will matter in the face of climate change.
Dear Ellen, I think we shall all overcome. I certainly hope so. I have followed His Holiness the Great XIV Dalai Lama since 1980, and Pope Leo gives me hope. So, fourteen may be a lucky number for our planet. The population of Asia is massive, and so it makes sense that the economies will grow. It's even more vital that we start using different parameters to measure the economy and look at our quality of life and the quality of our relationships as the treasures they are.
Hugs Frances Scully
These statistics knock my socks off and take my breath away at the same time. The same happened to me when I listened to your interview on Miles O'Brien's substack Miles Ahead, as well. (I guess I'll need to buy more socks).
In fact, it is all so amazing and impressive, as well as uplifting, that if you add video imagery to what you guys have been pointing out, showing the massive scale of all these efforts globally (soaring over the wind and solar fields) it would be absolutely breathtaking. One might assume such a film this is already in the works, I hope so.
I'm glad you mentioned the space race, because what strikes me, is that under normal conditions, this information and how others are surging ahead of the USA, would, and should, inspire that kind of response from our own nation, to be #1.
Energy creation, and its cost, is tied to economics and economics is also tied to a nation's ability to remain a superpower. The energy emergency that should be declared in the USA right now, should be all about competing globally and that means with wind and solar, not fossil fuels as economist Paul Krugman also points out on his substack, as well.
Instead, as you and Miles pointed out, the USA is poised to become like a tourist attraction where people go to see how people once lived in the olden days using fossil fuels.
The contrast is striking and the impact of doing nothing is not only bad for the planet, but will leave our nation in the past, as a once great superpower, eating China's dust.
In order to inspire some of those in power in our nation to enter this fight on the scale that is needed to fight climate change, perhaps one needs to appeal to our nation's competitive nature and desire for dominance and the desire to remain #1. If we can't convince some with the reality of the threat that climate change poses, we can perhaps show them how this impacts everything else, as well.
Bill, you are officially irrelevant
I fear that the drumbeat of war with Venezuela is not about drugs but about crippling their capacity to produce oil for the world market. Less supply will mean increased profits for the US oil companies at a time when oversupply and reduced consumption has resulted in reduced profits and actual losses. Fatboy's gift to the oil oligarchs who helped get him elected.
You had a typo in there “porjects” instead of “projects”. I realized all new fossil projects should be called poorjects because they’re make us poor.
Does Bill Gates not feel a twinge of shame that he carries water for Exxon Trump America abdicating on the clean energy transition, while secretly calculating that it’s all going to be okay because China’s massive heavy solar lift might well outweigh our backsliding? Shame on us. If we can save our democracy we need to right this treason to the planet as well.
speaking of sports and long, one of Bill's best books is Long Distance, Testing the Limits of Body and Spirit in a Year of Living Strenuously
https://billmckibben.com/books/long-distance/
Simply thank you.
More,More and More by Jean-Baptiste Fressoz
Fressoz documents the way in which the use of raw materials, including those used to generate energy, has increased dramatically in recent decades. At the same time, talk of a ‘green energy transition’ has arisen, and an increase in the construction and use of non-fossil or ‘renewable’ energy sources has also occurred. (Wait a minute! What are these ‘renewable’ energy sources made of, how are they made, and how is the power they generate delivered?) Fressoz shows that while solar and wind power energy generation has indeed increased over the past few decades, so has energy derived from burning fossil fuels, so that the absolute contribution of fossil fuels to world energy use has not changed at all, and continues to sit at around 80%. ‘Transition’ is a fiction. Fressoz shows how this deception was achieved, by means of a switch from absolute to relative measuring techniques. In the book, Fressoz argues that each addition of energy sources to the global matrix in fact entails an increase of all others that preceded it. So-called renewables are built on the expansion of oil, coal and even wood. Fressoz argues that, in fact, this is not only a problem of addition, but a “symbiotic increase of all energy sources” needed to feed capitalism’s relentless demand for energy.
As soon as the fantasy of “renewables” and its shills are exposed and debunked we can get down to figuring what, if anything, can be done to curb the Machine that is ruining the world.
China's renewable technology is built with a carbon-intensive and coal-intensive energy system. Bill neglects to notice this when praising their efforts. It's possible that solar panels from China have a lot of uncounted carbon emissions embedded in them already before they are even deployed.
Everybody's everything was historically built with a carbon-intensive energy system. Ya gotta build the carbon-neutral capacity before you can get to zero fossil carbon emissions. Carbon-neutral capacity is growing, and already producing new capacity.
Never mind: Bill didn't write the post you wanted him to. Why don't you tell us just how the true cost of decarbonization stacks up against the true cost of transferring fossil carbon to the atmosphere by the gigatonnes annually, as carbon capitalists gain $trillions in profit by selling their product for all the traffic will bear while socializing the marginal cost of emissions out of the price.