Pardon my much-delayed comment—the past several weeks I’ve been focused on a) Our Future Putney’s Housing Solutions needs assessment committee, and b) “getting our ducks in a row” so to speak with cohorts spread from Canberra and Sydney to various corners of UK, including Sir David King’s Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge (CCR) to define and pitch research funding proposals.
Serendipitous that you mention “there will be a gathering outside the White House on June 8” in DC.
June 6 (tomorrow) Sir David King’s CCR co-founder Dr. Shaun Fitzgerald, Dr. Hugh Hunt and CCR staff are hosting “Climate Repair, Workshop on Albedo Enhancement and Refreezing the Arctic” 9:00-4:00 in London and on zoom to our international colleagues.
The prognosis for eliminating carbon emissions—let alone Net Zero—and removing trillions of tons of past legacy CO2 and CH4 emission from the atmosphere and oceans to achieve Holocene norms leads us to see the need for extraordinary albedo intervention with a wide variety of nature based oceanic, terrestrial and atmospheric restoration measures.
We are working the problem 24/7 around the globe ... gives “tag team” new meaning.
Excellent post! The short-term fix to methane is political will to enforce leak regulations from the US to Turkmenistan and beyond; capturing methane from ag, rice, cows, CAFOs and introducing new asparagopsis feed. See https://hotglobe.substack.com/p/a-young-entrepreneur-addresses-methane
A YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR ADDRESSES METHANE, THE BIG PICTURE AND--BURP-- COWS, TOO
Hot Globe Looks at Turkmenistan from Space and Then Travels to Kona, Hawaii
Thanks for all you do & have done all these years. I do have one beef, which is with any narrative about renewables that doesn't address fundamental, problematic issues. You may have spoken about them without my being aware.
One is of course the considerable environmental damage from minerals mining & processing and the toxic pollution caused by manufacturing the steel, aluminum, glass, plastics, cement, chemicals, copper, etc. that turbines, solar panels, EVs and batteries require. This is accompanied by a considerable carbon footprint as all these processes are entirely dependent on burning FFs.
Another issue is depletion of mineral resources that Simon Michaux's research has shown to be a serious problem in the near future. This often ignored factor belies the claim that renewables are renewable and sustainable as advertised.
Finally, the narrative that wind & solar can replace FFs in our industrial universe is simply not true. The power sector provides 20% of total energy in the US and globally. The other 80% of total primary energy is from FFs that do the heavy lifting that can't economically be electrified. Without oil, gas & coal there is no steel, cement, plastic, glass, mining for minerals, asphalt, chemicals production, shipping, roads, bridges, planes, trains or the vast global fleet of heavy-hauling trucks that make supply chains possible.
And yet the message from 350 is “We know exactly what we have to do — keep fossil fuels in the ground and quickly transition to 100% renewable energy. The science says it’s still possible to stay under 1.5˚C – but we’ll need to halve emissions by 2030, and increase the share of solar, wind and hydro energy dramatically in that time.” Many other influential climate/enviro NGOs headline the same message. But "the science" does not say it is still possible to stay under 1.5C, nor is there any confidence that "we" will be halving emissions by 2030 or any other year.
Energy will only become more scarce and expensive. And FF production is only growing. The false premise that there will be a 100% clean energy economy based on renewables really needs to be withdrawn and replaced by a new conversation about what is and isn't possible.
Thanks very much Bill. I signed the jetport petition, and it so happens we are driving to DC on June 9th (in an electric car) so I've RSVP'd to the protest outside the WH. I had joked with my husband that I'd like an invitation to meet the President, but this will do... haha
Please dig into the Hanscom Airport issue a bit deeper. Sure, corporate jets are bad and the uber rich and big corporations are easy targets. But before you give unconditionally your valuable name, time, and prestige to this particular not-in-my backyard action, consider this:
- Save Our Heritage successfully fought a FedEx expansion at Hanscom Airport years ago.. The expansion instead went to Boston where less monied and connected people now suffer the noise and air pollution. It's not a stretch to believe that Amazon Prime air deliveries and the bulk of commercial air travel out of Boston airport serve those who can afford to live in suburbs where schools are great but housing is limited and expensive, and zoning reforms are voted down to preserve the status quo.
- If indeed this is about reducing transportation carbon emissions in our wealthier suburbs, then remind your audience there is clear NIMBYism and hypocrisy when people vote against eco-friendly alternative transportation projects that would serve the region. Both Concord and Bedford voters decisively rejected rail trail projects last year that are listed as 'high priority' by the state as ways to reduce transportation emissions.
In Sudbury, another nearby wealthier suburb, NIMBY voters ("Save Sudbury", i.e., save the status quo) have spent thousands of dollars to stop two rail trail projects. So NIMBYism is not unique to Lexington (e.g., Flag, Cross, Stationwagon) nor to Bedford and Concord. When you speak next week, please include the importance of climate justice as well as we must support all climate actions not just the ones that suit our (selfish) needs.
2 . Yes we need to stop the oil / gas piplines !! bubt we need the Hydropower of Quebec power line, again get them to shift investments !! Work on it we have way to ;m;any stoppagages of the necessary infrastucture, whlile the fossil fuel infrastructure keeps getting go aheads.
We don't need private fossil fuel jets, !Of course , however we need massive new airports for electric evOTLS, and hydrogen powered jets, ! Get them to switch !! Get redy for the future , make them get the new flight vehicles sooner ! Stop the fossil fuels not the air travel .
Good to see this fight against billionaire jetport expansion and hope folks in Nevada/ Las Vegas will rise to the level of Massachusetts opposition : https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/private-jet-companies-look-to-expand-las-vegas-presence-with-casino-customers
Bill,
Pardon my much-delayed comment—the past several weeks I’ve been focused on a) Our Future Putney’s Housing Solutions needs assessment committee, and b) “getting our ducks in a row” so to speak with cohorts spread from Canberra and Sydney to various corners of UK, including Sir David King’s Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge (CCR) to define and pitch research funding proposals.
Serendipitous that you mention “there will be a gathering outside the White House on June 8” in DC.
June 6 (tomorrow) Sir David King’s CCR co-founder Dr. Shaun Fitzgerald, Dr. Hugh Hunt and CCR staff are hosting “Climate Repair, Workshop on Albedo Enhancement and Refreezing the Arctic” 9:00-4:00 in London and on zoom to our international colleagues.
The prognosis for eliminating carbon emissions—let alone Net Zero—and removing trillions of tons of past legacy CO2 and CH4 emission from the atmosphere and oceans to achieve Holocene norms leads us to see the need for extraordinary albedo intervention with a wide variety of nature based oceanic, terrestrial and atmospheric restoration measures.
We are working the problem 24/7 around the globe ... gives “tag team” new meaning.
Doug
Excellent post! The short-term fix to methane is political will to enforce leak regulations from the US to Turkmenistan and beyond; capturing methane from ag, rice, cows, CAFOs and introducing new asparagopsis feed. See https://hotglobe.substack.com/p/a-young-entrepreneur-addresses-methane
A YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR ADDRESSES METHANE, THE BIG PICTURE AND--BURP-- COWS, TOO
Hot Globe Looks at Turkmenistan from Space and Then Travels to Kona, Hawaii
Thanks for all you do & have done all these years. I do have one beef, which is with any narrative about renewables that doesn't address fundamental, problematic issues. You may have spoken about them without my being aware.
One is of course the considerable environmental damage from minerals mining & processing and the toxic pollution caused by manufacturing the steel, aluminum, glass, plastics, cement, chemicals, copper, etc. that turbines, solar panels, EVs and batteries require. This is accompanied by a considerable carbon footprint as all these processes are entirely dependent on burning FFs.
Another issue is depletion of mineral resources that Simon Michaux's research has shown to be a serious problem in the near future. This often ignored factor belies the claim that renewables are renewable and sustainable as advertised.
Finally, the narrative that wind & solar can replace FFs in our industrial universe is simply not true. The power sector provides 20% of total energy in the US and globally. The other 80% of total primary energy is from FFs that do the heavy lifting that can't economically be electrified. Without oil, gas & coal there is no steel, cement, plastic, glass, mining for minerals, asphalt, chemicals production, shipping, roads, bridges, planes, trains or the vast global fleet of heavy-hauling trucks that make supply chains possible.
And yet the message from 350 is “We know exactly what we have to do — keep fossil fuels in the ground and quickly transition to 100% renewable energy. The science says it’s still possible to stay under 1.5˚C – but we’ll need to halve emissions by 2030, and increase the share of solar, wind and hydro energy dramatically in that time.” Many other influential climate/enviro NGOs headline the same message. But "the science" does not say it is still possible to stay under 1.5C, nor is there any confidence that "we" will be halving emissions by 2030 or any other year.
Energy will only become more scarce and expensive. And FF production is only growing. The false premise that there will be a 100% clean energy economy based on renewables really needs to be withdrawn and replaced by a new conversation about what is and isn't possible.
You forgot the home of Bob Massie, another great Massachusetts activist, and like you, a kind, good person. I truly love you both.
Thanks very much Bill. I signed the jetport petition, and it so happens we are driving to DC on June 9th (in an electric car) so I've RSVP'd to the protest outside the WH. I had joked with my husband that I'd like an invitation to meet the President, but this will do... haha
Thanks Bill. Another valuable contribution.
Bill,
Please dig into the Hanscom Airport issue a bit deeper. Sure, corporate jets are bad and the uber rich and big corporations are easy targets. But before you give unconditionally your valuable name, time, and prestige to this particular not-in-my backyard action, consider this:
- Save Our Heritage successfully fought a FedEx expansion at Hanscom Airport years ago.. The expansion instead went to Boston where less monied and connected people now suffer the noise and air pollution. It's not a stretch to believe that Amazon Prime air deliveries and the bulk of commercial air travel out of Boston airport serve those who can afford to live in suburbs where schools are great but housing is limited and expensive, and zoning reforms are voted down to preserve the status quo.
- If indeed this is about reducing transportation carbon emissions in our wealthier suburbs, then remind your audience there is clear NIMBYism and hypocrisy when people vote against eco-friendly alternative transportation projects that would serve the region. Both Concord and Bedford voters decisively rejected rail trail projects last year that are listed as 'high priority' by the state as ways to reduce transportation emissions.
In Sudbury, another nearby wealthier suburb, NIMBY voters ("Save Sudbury", i.e., save the status quo) have spent thousands of dollars to stop two rail trail projects. So NIMBYism is not unique to Lexington (e.g., Flag, Cross, Stationwagon) nor to Bedford and Concord. When you speak next week, please include the importance of climate justice as well as we must support all climate actions not just the ones that suit our (selfish) needs.
Sincerely,
Terry Gleason, Bedford MA
2 . Yes we need to stop the oil / gas piplines !! bubt we need the Hydropower of Quebec power line, again get them to shift investments !! Work on it we have way to ;m;any stoppagages of the necessary infrastucture, whlile the fossil fuel infrastructure keeps getting go aheads.
We don't need private fossil fuel jets, !Of course , however we need massive new airports for electric evOTLS, and hydrogen powered jets, ! Get them to switch !! Get redy for the future , make them get the new flight vehicles sooner ! Stop the fossil fuels not the air travel .