[✔️] December 8, 2022 - Global Warming News Digest
Richard Pauli
Richard at CredoandScreed.com
Thu Dec 8 10:18:13 EST 2022
/*December 8, 2022*/
/[ Powerful force of disinformation - NYTimes audio and text ]/
* The Texas Group Waging a National Crusade Against Climate Action*
The Texas Public Policy Foundation is shaping laws, running influence
campaigns and taking legal action in a bid to promote fossil fuels.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/04/climate/texas-public-policy-foundation-climate-change.html
- -
/[ Big Tech is now bigger than Big Oil ]/
*Big Tech’s dirty secret*
How Big Tech’s toxic business model undermines action against climate
change.
- -
This paper should serve as a wake-up call to the
climate movement. While there is much good
work underway to expose and challenge climate
mis- and disinformation online, addressing Big
Tech’s multidimensional climate problem requires
climate activists to turn their attention to the
toxic business model that lies beneath: the twin
pillars of algorithmic recommender systems and
surveillance advertising...
- -
In the 21st century, Big Tech is outstripping oil and gas in terms of
global influence. Three tech
companies – Apple, Microsoft and Amazon – now have higher market
valuations than the entire oil and
gas sector in the US. And the environmental impact of Big Tech is no
less important. Tech companies like
to appear to be climate friendly, but Big Tech has a dirty secret at its
heart that the climate movement
cannot afford to ignore.
The information, communications and technology (ICT) sector overall
produces between 2 and 3.9% of
global emissions, more than the aviation industry’s emissions from fuel
worldwide. This is growing fast,
with some models predicting that the electricity use of ICT could exceed
20% of the global total in the
next 10 years.
The rapid rise of tech giants like Google, Facebook and Amazon is based
on their ability to extract and
monetise data from users. The direct climate cost of processing that
data is growing exponentially,
particularly with expansion of data hungry sectors like the Internet of
Things and machine learning.
However, the direct climate cost is dwarfed by the indirect impact of a
business model that drives
consumerism and division, simultaneously depleting the earth’s resources
and – crucially – undermining
our ability to have the constructive conversations and debate we need to
fix the climate crisis...
https://www.globalactionplan.org.uk/news/big-tech-s-toxic-business-model-is-turbo-charging-the-climate-crisis
https://www.globalactionplan.org.uk/files/big_tech_report.pdf
/[ video interview, break out of the trap of oil and gas ]/
*Why Scientists Must Rebel | Aaron Thierry*
Planet: Critical
153 views Dec 7, 2022
Aaron Thierry is an ecologist and environmental activist. After spending
years on the frontline of the climate crisis in the Arctic, Aaron now
researches the communication strategies of activist organisations,
examining the interplay between reason and emotion in the climate
emergency movement.
Aaron joins me to discuss his research, explaining the positive impact
of scientists rebelling against government inaction, and why all
academics must broaden their understanding of their role as educators to
warn their students of the realities of the crisis. Aaron explains the
benefits of a decentralised activist movement sharing one single
coherent message—and, in doing so, reveals the true sunken cost of
fossil fuel infrastructure that will likely send us well over the 1.5
degree limit.
🔴 Read Aaron's paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-022-01461-y
🔴 Aaron's Twitter: https://twitter.com/thierryaaron
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVf1KvrgJl0
- -
/[careful arguments urging strong activism -- from the journal *nature
climate change* ]/
*Civil disobedience by scientists helps press for urgent climate action*
Published: 29 August 2022
Stuart Capstick, Aaron Thierry, Emily Cox, Oscar Berglund, Steve
Westlake & Julia K. Steinberger
Nature Climate Change volume 12, pages773–774
8805 Accesses
1506 Altmetric
Metricsdetails
*Time is short to secure a liveable and sustainable future; yet,
inaction from governments, industry and civil society is setting the
course for 3.2 °C of warming, with all the cascading and catastrophic
consequences that this implies. In this context, when does civil
disobedience by scientists become justified?*
The scientific community is well aware of the grim trajectory on which
the Earth is headed; many of those working on climate change experience
anxiety, grief or other types of distress as a result. Increasingly
stark warnings and the gathering pace of climate impacts stand in
contrast to the persistent growth in global emissions. Some scientists
conclude that the discordance between the evidence and lack of response
constitutes a broken contract between science and society. Others point
to powerful vested interests and systemic inertia obstructing
significant emissions reduction.
Although scientists are not to blame for the lack of an adequate
societal response, it is reasonable to ask what more can be done to
accelerate desperately needed change, beyond the further accumulation
and communication of evidence.
Many already accept a role for scientists in advocacy; around two-fifths
of IPCC authors have signed petitions or letters calling for action, and
a quarter report having taken part in protests. To press for more
meaningful efforts, and to push back against the negligence and bad
faith tactics that frustrate this, a legitimate next step for scientists
is to participate in peaceful civil disobedience.
We argue that this is justified on the basis that it is effective as a
strategy for change, it strongly communicates the urgency of the climate
crisis, is a reasonable and ethical activity for scientists to
undertake, and is revealing of the barriers to climate action.
*Civil disobedience works*
Civil disobedience involves public acts of conscience that seek to
disrupt and resist business as usual and/or to effect changes in laws
and practices; examples in relation to climate action include the bodily
obstruction of investment banks enabling new fossil fuel exploration and
the pasting without permission of scientific papers to government
buildings. In concert with international movements such as youth
strikes, a growing number of scientists are becoming involved with this
type of protest
Practitioners of civil disobedience often refer to important historical
precedents such as the suffragettes or the civil rights movement; its
use within contemporary climate activism is based on the linked claim
that it is more effective than conventional protest. In some cases,
civil disobedience has prompted a direct response from decision-makers;
for example, following the 2019 Extinction Rebellion protests in London,
the UK parliament supported a motion to declare a climate emergency that
called on the government to increase its ambition9. More often,
disruptive protests are part of broader politics, such as campaigns
against coal extraction in South Africa and by indigenous-led coalitions
resisting new fossil fuel infrastructure in the United States.
The IPCC concludes with ‘high confidence’ that collective action
connected to social movements has played a substantial role in
pressuring governments to create new laws and policy, noting that the
more confrontational tactics of civil disobedience and direct action
have become increasingly common in recent years. Meta-analysis of social
movements worldwide contesting fossil fuel projects finds that civil
disobedience makes a demonstrable difference to their chances of
success, over and above the use of other tactics10.
*
**Civil disobedience needs scientists*
The trusted position of scientists in society affords a respected
standpoint from which to demand change; for this reason alone, their
participation is valuable as part of social movements. At the same time,
the credibility of scientists is influenced by whether they are seen to
be acting in line with shared values and promoting the well-being of
others and, in the context of climate change, according to whether their
actions clearly align with their message. More generally, studies on
social influence and leadership show that particular meaning and purpose
tends to be ascribed to conduct that incurs personal costs (for example,
risk or discomfort) when carried out with the intention of advancing
collective goals.
Civil disobedience by scientists has the potential to cut through the
myriad complexities and confusion surrounding the climate crisis in a
way that less visible and dispassionate evidence provision does not,
sending a clear signal that scientists believe strongly in the evidence
and its implications. When those with expertise and knowledge are
willing to convey their concerns in a more uncompromising manner than
through papers and presentations, this affords them particular
effectiveness as a communicative act. This is the insight of Greta
Thunberg when she calls on us to “act as you would in a crisis”.
*
**Civil disobedience is justifiable*
As an ‘ethical crisis’, the climate emergency warrants civil
disobedience under certain specific conditions. These include that
fundamental rights to life and well-being are being undermined in an
unjust manner; that the action has the potential to be effective and
avoids harm; and that such action is undertaken as a last resort, other
avenues having been pursued. More long-standing scholarship has argued
that civil disobedience is justified in the context of a broader
‘fidelity to law’ that contests specific policies or practices but not
the legitimacy of the state in general terms; central to this is the
separation of the legal from the legitimate, siding where necessary with
the latter.
We argue that the circumstances of the climate crisis more than fulfil
the ‘last resort’ criterion: for decades, scientists have tried to sound
the alarm through other means, but years of delay and obfuscation by
decision-makers mean that severe consequences are already unfolding
around the world, with little time remaining to avoid even more
far-reaching and long-lasting harm. The climate crisis is epitomized by
destructive impacts on large numbers of people; it is pervaded by
injustice, and exacerbated through obstruction by powerful institutions,
including the conditions set by legislators. Carefully targeted and
peaceful civil disobedience is able to align with overall fidelity to
law, where scientists accept the risk of arrest for conscientious but
potentially unlawful acts.
*The trouble with scientific neutrality*
A familiar counter argument to scientist involvement in civil
disobedience is that this risks undermining the integrity of science.
The legitimacy of scientists is said to rest on their status as
impartial, objective or ‘neutral’ observers, and the idea that science
and politics should remain separate. However, these ways of linking
science and society are not founded on absolute principles; rather, they
exist as partially applied assumptions based on historical precedent. We
need to ask how well these inherited norms are serving us in a time of
existential environmental crisis.
Moreover, no dialogue between science and society can ever be value
neutral, and it should not aim to be. The widespread notion that sober
presentation of evidence by an ‘honest broker’ to those with power will
accomplish the best interests of populations is itself not a neutral
perspective on the world; it is instead conveniently unthreatening to
the status quo and often rather naive.
Misgivings about how civil disobedience by scientists may be perceived
by the wider public may also be misplaced. In general terms, studies
have found the credibility of scientists is not undermined by advocacy;
on the contrary, many members of the public expect scientists to use
their knowledge to advocate for the public good.
*Think then act*
While historical evidence can offer pointers, there is no
one-size-fits-all approach to civil disobedience. With respect to
climate action, it entails an ongoing experiment; scientists might best
consider themselves participatory action researchers, fully cognisant
and transparent about the value-based concerns that enable their
involvement. At the same time, participation can lead to deeper
understanding of the social and political structures that surround the
climate crisis and the processes by which change can occur.
It is important to be clear that the personal risks associated with
civil disobedience vary dramatically with people’s circumstances. We
recognize that there are many frontline activists who have lost their
lives protesting and resisting in defence of people and planet. To be
able to engage in disruptive protest in relative safety is a privilege
held by citizens living in comparatively liberal societies. For those in
such a fortunate position, the opportunity exists to press for action,
while helping to shape the nature of protest activity and reducing the
barriers to participation by others.
By engaging with the subject matter of this article, the authors — and,
we hope, our readers — are pushed into difficult territory concerning a
fundamental question: are our traditional modes of research and
communication failing in the face of the climate crisis and, if so, what
can we do about it? An unflinching engagement with this question
requires us to move beyond our comfort zone, in ways which might
challenge but also energize the position of scientists in society.
In addition to documenting the climate crisis in ever greater detail, we
are obliged to consider how we might act in new ways to help bring about
a necessary and urgent transformation.
In the meantime, we have long since arrived at the point at which civil
disobedience by scientists has become justified.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-022-01461-y
/[ race for the great battery - audio interview ]/
*Working on the cheapest possible lithium-ion battery*
A conversation with scientist and entrepreneur Charlotte Hamilton
DEC 7
When I was working on my series about lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), one
thing I heard from several experts stuck in my head: As production of
LIBs scales up and costs continue coming down, eventually the cost of
batteries will fall to near the cost of the materials that compose them.
That means that the long-term winner of the LIB race will be the battery
chemistry composed of the cheapest materials that can perform adequately.
However, as Keynes reminded us, in the long run we are all dead. In
between now and that nebulous future are many challenges and uncertainties.
Currently, the leading battery chemistries involve cobalt, nickel,
magnesium, and lithium itself. All of those minerals are currently mined
and processed in socially, economically, and environmentally harmful
ways, and with demand rapidly expanding, supply chain shortages loom in
the short- to mid-term.
There is one alternative that's coming on strong lately, particularly in
China — lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, which use iron. However,
LFP batteries lack the energy density of their competitors and are not
suitable for the high-end electric vehicles that comprise most of the US
market today.
The true holy grail for LIBs is sulfur. As Purdue University’s Rebecca
Ciez told me for my battery story, “the true least-cost system for a
lithium-based, rechargeable battery is lithium metal [as the anode] and
a sulfur cathode.” Sulfur is cheap, ubiquitous, abundant, and already
produced to the tune of 77 million tons a year. The US is the world’s
second largest producer.
What’s more, sulfur’s “specific capacity” (energy it can hold per unit
of weight) is higher than its competitors’, so in theory it could
compete with or even best other LIBs in energy density. Of course, this
has been well known for a while, and people have been pursuing it, but
the engineering challenges remain substantial. Lithium-sulfur batteries
have not reached the market in any appreciable numbers. Is there a pot
of gold at the end of this rainbow?
Today I'm talking with someone who believes that there is. Charlotte
Hamilton is the CEO of Conamix, a company that is working to
commercialize lithium batteries with sulfur cathodes. The company was
founded in 2014 using technology from Cornell, Stanford, Berkeley Lab,
and elsewhere; last year it emerged from stealth, closed a B round of
funding, and secured an $8.6 million dollar contract from the federal
Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity.
I'm excited to talk to Hamilton about why lithium-sulfur batteries are
needed, how close they are to commercialization, how easily they could
fit into current LIB production infrastructure, and what kinds of
technological advances they could bring in their wake...
https://www.volts.wtf/p/working-on-the-cheapest-possible?utm_source=podcast-email%2Csubstack&publication_id=193024&post_id=88139857&utm_medium=email#details
/[ See this video, get your acreage, set up your solar power, plan for
decades ]/
*Solar Saves Soil: Experts Explain*
greenmanbucket
17 views Dec 7, 2022
Solar fields are in fact a primary path to save farmland, and farmers,
who are stewards of that land. Solar gives farmers a path to diversify
their income, to insure 30 years of drought-proof, recession-proof,
flood-proof income in uncertain times, pass their land on to their
children, and maintain an income while allowing soil to rebuild.
Solar racking has an extremely light footprint on the land, and
typically solar developers plant native grass species around panels,
which have deep roots, and bring water and nutrients deeper into the soil.
This helps revitalize soil, recharge aquifers, and store carbon and
other nutrients. It creates habitat for ground nesting birds and smaller
creatures at the bottom of the food chain.
At the end of a project's life, if the farmer chooses, he can return the
land to production, and it will be much more fertile and productive than
it formerly was.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR_Pfk-wU4E
/[The news archive - looking back]/
/*December 8, 2014*/
December 8, 2014:
• The Washington Post reports:
"Oil, gas and coal interests that spent millions to help elect
Republicans this year are moving to take advantage of expanded GOP power
in Washington and state capitals to thwart Obama administration
environmental rules.
"Industry lobbyists made their pitch in private meetings last week with
dozens of state legislators at a summit of the American Legislative
Exchange Council (ALEC), an industry-financed conservative state policy
group.
"The lobbyists and legislators considered several model bills to be
introduced across the country next year, designed to give states more
power to block or delay new Obama administration environmental
standards, including new limits on power-plant emissions.
"The industry’s strategy aims to combat a renewed push by President
Obama to carve out climate change as a top priority for his final two
years in office. The White House has vowed to continue using executive
authority to enact more environmental limits, and the issue is shaping
up to be a major flash point heading into the 2016 presidential election.
"With support from industry lobbyists, many Republicans are planning to
make the Environmental Protection Agency a primary political target,
presenting it as a symbol of the kind of big-government philosophy they
think can unify social and economic conservatives in opposition."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/fossil-fuel-lobbyists-bolstered-by-gop-wins-work-to-curb-environmental-rules/2014/12/07/3ef05bc0-79b9-11e4-9a27-6fdbc612bff8_story.html
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