It really just hit me reading this that the “climate change religion” line is another case of projection from the right. Climate change is science, it’s the fossil fuel capitalists that are worshipping a false god.
Thanks for another great summary of climate news. The absurdity of the T administration seems to have no limits. I can't believe they want to shut down the CO2 monitor on Mauna Loa!!
About 8 years ago, in Ghana, I was chatting with a fellow who was involved with energy management. We agreed that developing nations in Africa and SE Asia were desperate for power, and I mentioned that there were something like 500 new coal fired power plants at some stage of construction around the world, because coal was the cheapest and fastest way to produce electricity. He said that was no longer true; that solar panels were faster and cheaper as a source of electricity. That was 8 years ago. I'm guessing things have improved a bit since then.
This is what I don't get: how can anyone be so incredibly short-sighted? Scientists and politicians and business people and corporations all over the world are aware of climate change and are, to one degree or another, working to mitigate its effects. This means new technology and new investments - all over the world. Dt shutting them down in the US will only prevent us from succeeding in this worldwide race and will set us back decades.
He won't be making America Late Again; when it comes to technological advancement, he'll be making us late for the first time while the rest of the world surges ahead.
Not much hope here, with or without the unprecedented distractions, lies, subterfuge, misinformation, disinformation, etc. that swirl relentlessly like an Anthropocene Hurricane—I won’t even allude to the culprits—we have lost focus on the true target as it slips not just out of focus but out of our peripheral vision: <350 ppm.
<350 ppm is now a casualty along with 2°C (remember that from the turn of the century?) and the “1.5°C aspiration” negotiated just a handful of COPs ago. Jim Hansen nailed the coffin shut on “deader than a door nail” 1.5°C and laid 2°C “on its deathbed” last year.
No matter the share value of Tesla, the bankruptcy of Elon Musk, federal judges blocking DOGE illegal activities, the amount of egg on DJT’s face or his likely Amendment 25 demise, or what have you, the removal of the legacy CO2 blanket does not appear to be on anybody’s agenda and achieving Net Zero is questionable as to cooling capability, due to weakening oceanic and land carbon sinks’ tipping and reversal to be net carbon sources.
The efforts of those dedicated souls who take the measures on Mauna Loa seems to be in vain as they report and we observe and fret.
The following excerpt illustrates to me how numb we have become to the horrific tragedy that lurks in the shadow of our delusions:
<<"It has already become very difficult to continue our global greenhouse gas monitoring network," an atmospheric scientist involved in NOAA's measurements said,asking not to be named.
<<"It requires continuous shipping of sampling equipment black and forth all over the world. Suddenly, we cannot use our government-issued credit cards anymore ... It looks like our monitoring program will soon be dead," the scientist said.
“But even if they stop monitoring carbon it will continue accumulating—in fact, the instrument at Mauna Loa showed that CO2 passed the 430 parts per million mark for the first time this week. And even if the federal government does all that it can to shut down renewable energy, the embarrassing numbers will keep piling up—Texas, world capital of hydrocarbons, set remarkable records this week for renewable energy generation.”
It’s a conundrum that begs serious deliberation.
Sadly, if we stay this course, <350 ppm and Holocene temperatures won’t be in the cards.
Check out the Richard Attenborough movie streaming on the net showing the return of dramatically reduced pollution and wild animals finding homes in cities during the COVID lockdowns and the dramatic reduction in fossil fuel burning. We have met the enemy, and he is us. As for Tramp and his Muskrat running a Tesla dealership at OUR WH, they have no shame and should both be expelled ASAP. As for the renewable energy revolution, waste heat is driving global heating, the source is irrelevant and the alternative sources (wind and sun) use as much energy and produce as much heat in their manufacture/installation/upkeep/replacement as the current fossil fuel generation. McKibben has lost his way and his daughter will not forgive him when the GAST keeps increasing 0.2 degC annually, as it is now, reaching 3 degC by 2032 and the extinction level 6 degC by 2047.
Thanks again for the newsletter this week! One thing about the SunDay event is it is difficult to find in google search. I'd recommend adding some more words like "SunDay for the Future," and a hashtag like #SunDayFuture so it isn't competing directly in search optimization with the day of the week 🙃
For more about how the Powell Memo connects to today and how corporate dark money gained the upper hand in politics, I recommend the investigative podcast "Master Plan," which came out last year with a ton of new revelations in it. https://www.levernews.com/masterplan/
About the toughest moment ever (so far) for anyone seeking to spread and sustain environmental quality. Thanks for summarizing the hammer blows but also making sure folks understand that, at least for clean energy, momentum can't be killed by presidential decree.
The ongoing assault on climate protections is a stark reminder of how deeply entrenched interests in the fossil fuel industry continue to dictate policy. As we read about deregulation, it's easy to feel helpless, but McKibben's reminder that the laws of physics and the costs of inaction are still at play is crucial. Renewable energy, despite the political storm, continues to advance at an unprecedented pace. If the fossil fuel magnates think they can 'turn back time,' they’re mistaken. We’ve reached a point where the clean energy transition is unstoppable, and it’s only a matter of how fast we can scale it
Thank you Bill for continuing to report on the environment even in the face of what looks like insurmountable odds. You are so right to start with the Powell memo because that's where this mess began..but it only formalized what many big polluters were after ever since the EPA appeared, it's dissolution. Its going to be a long slog and meanwhile the world moves on past us. We were on the precipice of turning the corner on green energy. Keep up the good work.
Do you have conspiracy laws in the the States, at either state or federal level? If so, could it be possible/plausible to initiate conspiracy charges against these malign, corrupt and murderous clowns, regarding their decisions to suppress climate science evidence and, directly and indirectly, cause mortal and environmental harm? Just a thought.
It really just hit me reading this that the “climate change religion” line is another case of projection from the right. Climate change is science, it’s the fossil fuel capitalists that are worshipping a false god.
yes. and in many cases also bound up in a millenarian religion that is more or less okay with apocalyptic scenarios
Hard to imagine a more Orwellian claim than that "Artificial intelligence will unleash humal potential. "
Thanks for another great summary of climate news. The absurdity of the T administration seems to have no limits. I can't believe they want to shut down the CO2 monitor on Mauna Loa!!
About 8 years ago, in Ghana, I was chatting with a fellow who was involved with energy management. We agreed that developing nations in Africa and SE Asia were desperate for power, and I mentioned that there were something like 500 new coal fired power plants at some stage of construction around the world, because coal was the cheapest and fastest way to produce electricity. He said that was no longer true; that solar panels were faster and cheaper as a source of electricity. That was 8 years ago. I'm guessing things have improved a bit since then.
This is what I don't get: how can anyone be so incredibly short-sighted? Scientists and politicians and business people and corporations all over the world are aware of climate change and are, to one degree or another, working to mitigate its effects. This means new technology and new investments - all over the world. Dt shutting them down in the US will only prevent us from succeeding in this worldwide race and will set us back decades.
He won't be making America Late Again; when it comes to technological advancement, he'll be making us late for the first time while the rest of the world surges ahead.
Thank you, Bill
Not much hope here, with or without the unprecedented distractions, lies, subterfuge, misinformation, disinformation, etc. that swirl relentlessly like an Anthropocene Hurricane—I won’t even allude to the culprits—we have lost focus on the true target as it slips not just out of focus but out of our peripheral vision: <350 ppm.
<350 ppm is now a casualty along with 2°C (remember that from the turn of the century?) and the “1.5°C aspiration” negotiated just a handful of COPs ago. Jim Hansen nailed the coffin shut on “deader than a door nail” 1.5°C and laid 2°C “on its deathbed” last year.
No matter the share value of Tesla, the bankruptcy of Elon Musk, federal judges blocking DOGE illegal activities, the amount of egg on DJT’s face or his likely Amendment 25 demise, or what have you, the removal of the legacy CO2 blanket does not appear to be on anybody’s agenda and achieving Net Zero is questionable as to cooling capability, due to weakening oceanic and land carbon sinks’ tipping and reversal to be net carbon sources.
The efforts of those dedicated souls who take the measures on Mauna Loa seems to be in vain as they report and we observe and fret.
The following excerpt illustrates to me how numb we have become to the horrific tragedy that lurks in the shadow of our delusions:
<<"It has already become very difficult to continue our global greenhouse gas monitoring network," an atmospheric scientist involved in NOAA's measurements said,asking not to be named.
<<"It requires continuous shipping of sampling equipment black and forth all over the world. Suddenly, we cannot use our government-issued credit cards anymore ... It looks like our monitoring program will soon be dead," the scientist said.
“But even if they stop monitoring carbon it will continue accumulating—in fact, the instrument at Mauna Loa showed that CO2 passed the 430 parts per million mark for the first time this week. And even if the federal government does all that it can to shut down renewable energy, the embarrassing numbers will keep piling up—Texas, world capital of hydrocarbons, set remarkable records this week for renewable energy generation.”
It’s a conundrum that begs serious deliberation.
Sadly, if we stay this course, <350 ppm and Holocene temperatures won’t be in the cards.
CO2 monitoring will continue at Cape Grim in Tasmania and other sites around the world. America is big, but it isn't everything.
Check out the Richard Attenborough movie streaming on the net showing the return of dramatically reduced pollution and wild animals finding homes in cities during the COVID lockdowns and the dramatic reduction in fossil fuel burning. We have met the enemy, and he is us. As for Tramp and his Muskrat running a Tesla dealership at OUR WH, they have no shame and should both be expelled ASAP. As for the renewable energy revolution, waste heat is driving global heating, the source is irrelevant and the alternative sources (wind and sun) use as much energy and produce as much heat in their manufacture/installation/upkeep/replacement as the current fossil fuel generation. McKibben has lost his way and his daughter will not forgive him when the GAST keeps increasing 0.2 degC annually, as it is now, reaching 3 degC by 2032 and the extinction level 6 degC by 2047.
Thanks again for the newsletter this week! One thing about the SunDay event is it is difficult to find in google search. I'd recommend adding some more words like "SunDay for the Future," and a hashtag like #SunDayFuture so it isn't competing directly in search optimization with the day of the week 🙃
For more about how the Powell Memo connects to today and how corporate dark money gained the upper hand in politics, I recommend the investigative podcast "Master Plan," which came out last year with a ton of new revelations in it. https://www.levernews.com/masterplan/
About the toughest moment ever (so far) for anyone seeking to spread and sustain environmental quality. Thanks for summarizing the hammer blows but also making sure folks understand that, at least for clean energy, momentum can't be killed by presidential decree.
The ongoing assault on climate protections is a stark reminder of how deeply entrenched interests in the fossil fuel industry continue to dictate policy. As we read about deregulation, it's easy to feel helpless, but McKibben's reminder that the laws of physics and the costs of inaction are still at play is crucial. Renewable energy, despite the political storm, continues to advance at an unprecedented pace. If the fossil fuel magnates think they can 'turn back time,' they’re mistaken. We’ve reached a point where the clean energy transition is unstoppable, and it’s only a matter of how fast we can scale it
Thank you Bill for continuing to report on the environment even in the face of what looks like insurmountable odds. You are so right to start with the Powell memo because that's where this mess began..but it only formalized what many big polluters were after ever since the EPA appeared, it's dissolution. Its going to be a long slog and meanwhile the world moves on past us. We were on the precipice of turning the corner on green energy. Keep up the good work.
I wish this was a surreal column, but it isn't, it is spot on.
Do you have conspiracy laws in the the States, at either state or federal level? If so, could it be possible/plausible to initiate conspiracy charges against these malign, corrupt and murderous clowns, regarding their decisions to suppress climate science evidence and, directly and indirectly, cause mortal and environmental harm? Just a thought.
Filthy again? This implies that America's hands have been cleaned, after having been filthy.
If so, what cleaned rthem? When did this happen?
Or are you talking about America's mind?
I’ll have to try even harder to Make America Clean Again! https://open.substack.com/pub/adamcheklat/p/green-thumb-with-imperial-gold?r=4m50jk&utm_medium=ios