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<font size="+2"><i><b>October 1, 2021</b></i></font><br>
<br>
<i>[subtleties of information ]</i><br>
<b>In Your Facebook Feed: Oil Industry Pushback Against Biden
Climate Plans</b><br>
The messages take aim at Democrats by name as part of a broad effort
to undermine landmark climate legislation that now hangs in the
balance in Congress.<br>
- -<br>
API ads laud Sen. Manchin, meanwhile, for his opposition to the
plan. Sen. Manchin has received more campaign donations from the
oil, coal and gas industries than any other senator. “Help us thank
Senator Joe Manchin,” reads one recent ad, “for being a champion of
American made energy.”<br>
<br>
Megan Bloomgren, an API spokeswoman, said the industry group was
working with policymakers on both sides of the aisle on climate
policy, and that it continued to support carbon pricing. “Policies
embedded in the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package that limit
American energy access and impose punitive taxes are the wrong way
to address our shared goal for emissions reductions and would only
lead to more imports and higher costs for Americans,” she said.<br>
<br>
Exxon Mobil, the largest oil and gas producer in the United States,
has spent about $1.6 million on political and issue ads over that
same time period, the data show. That is the company’s highest daily
spend on Facebook ads since the presidential election.<br>
<br>
While many of the ads speak generally about the oil industry, others
urge voters to call their representatives: “Tell Congress that
American businesses can’t afford a tax increase,” one recent Exxon
ad reads.<br>
<br>
Casey Norton, an Exxon spokesman, said the company’s efforts were
“fully transparent and reported to the appropriate agencies.” He
said the company’s efforts were “related to a tax burden that could
disadvantage U.S. businesses, and we have made that position known
publicly.” Exxon continues to support climate action, including
regulating methane, a particularly potent greenhouse gas, as well as
a price on carbon, and backs the climate goals of the Paris
agreement, he said.<br>
<br>
Jake Carbone, a senior analyst at InfluenceMap, said the ads had
enormous reach and potential impact...<br>
- -<br>
The industry lobby group in recent months said that it supports
strong action on climate, including putting a price on carbon
pollution. Both API and Exxon are the target of an investigation by
the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on their past efforts to
block climate policy. API has said it “welcomes the opportunity to
testify.”<br>
<br>
Much of the industry’s effort has focused on protecting special tax
breaks that benefit producers. But experts say the subsidies are
unnecessary for a profitable and mature industry like oil.<br>
<br>
Furthermore, the burning of fossil fuels has driven climate change,
a link highlighted in a landmark scientific report released by the
United Nations this year. In a separate report, the International
Energy Agency said that nations around the world need to immediately
stop approving new oil and gas fields if they want to avert the most
catastrophic effects of climate change.<br>
<br>
“Subsidies can make the difference between a field going ahead or
not,” said Pete Erickson, Climate Policy Program director at the
Stockholm Environment Institute...<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/30/climate/api-exxon-biden-climate-bill.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/30/climate/api-exxon-biden-climate-bill.html</a><br>
<p>- -</p>
<i>[Notice the opinion manipulation]</i><br>
<b>Big Tech and Climate Policy</b><br>
An InfluenceMap Report<br>
January and September, 2021<br>
<b>Are the Technology Giants Deploying Political Capital on Climate
Change?</b><br>
Please use this link when referring to this content.<br>
<br>
The following is an update of InfluenceMap's January, 2021 report on
Big Tech and Climate Policy.<br>
<br>
InfluenceMap’s January 2021 Big Tech and Climate Policy report
analyzed the five Big Tech companies – Apple, Alphabet (Google),
Microsoft, Amazon, and Facebook – for their engagement with climate
policy. It found that while Big Tech holds positive positions on
climate policy, its support is not backed up by strategic advocacy.
In addition, the companies’ direct influence is overshadowed by the
highly strategic and anti-climate advocacy of their industry
associations in the US and abroad.<br>
<br>
The September 2021 update analyzes Big Tech’s climate policy
influence since January 2021. Following the inauguration of a new,
climate-focused administration in the US, alongside new warnings
from the IPCC and IEA on the need for drastic climate action, one
might expect to see an increase in US corporate climate policy
engagement. This does not appear to be the case among Big Tech
companies, whose collective climate advocacy has fallen since the
start of the new year.<br>
<br>
Three of the five Big Tech companies have lower Engagement Intensity
scores than reported in InfluenceMap’s January 2021 report.
InfluenceMap’s Engagement Intensity metric captures the full picture
of a company’s engagement with climate policy, including top-line
communications as well as detailed lobbying on specific legislation.
Conversely, Big Oil’s overall Engagement Intensity has collectively
increased since the start of the new year.<br>
<br>
On federal legislation in particular, this report finds that an
average of only 6% of Big Tech’s lobbying between Q3 2020 and Q2
2021 is related to climate, roughly the same as the figures reported
in InfluenceMap’s January 2021 report, which analyzed data from Q1
2019 to Q2 2020.<br>
<br>
Using the same “climate relevance” methodology, this report finds
that over 50% (on average) of Big Oil’s reported legislative
lobbying between Q3 2020 and Q2 2021 is on climate policy, a
significant increase from 38% between Q1 2019 to Q2 2020. All five
Big Oil companies lobbied on bills such as the CLEAN Future Act,
where all five Big Tech companies were absent.<br>
<br>
Big Tech’s direct engagement with climate policy pales in comparison
to the activity of its cross-sector industry associations, which
continue to oppose ambitious climate policy in the US. Industry
groups such as the US Chamber of Commerce, National Association of
Manufacturers, and Business Roundtable appear to be playing a
leading role opposing the US budget reconciliation plan, among other
recent cases of climate policy advocacy.<br>
<br>
Apple and Microsoft are performing better than their peers on
climate policy advocacy. While Apple’s Engagement Intensity is lower
than that achieved by other corporate leaders in climate policy
engagement, the company is the only one among the five to have left
the US Chamber of Commerce (the Chamber) over its climate positions
in 2009. Microsoft appears marginally more engaged than Apple but
retains close links to the Chamber and National Association of
Manufacturers without clearly distancing itself from either group.<br>
<br>
Quotes provided for InfluenceMap's January, 2021 report. See
coverage of that report in ANSA, edie, GreenIT, La Repubblica,
Grist, BusinessGreen, computing.co.uk, Greenbiz.com.<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://influencemap.org/report/Big-Tech-and-Climate-Policy-afb476c56f217ea0ab351d79096df04a">https://influencemap.org/report/Big-Tech-and-Climate-Policy-afb476c56f217ea0ab351d79096df04a</a><br>
<p> <br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<i>[didn't we already know?]</i><br>
<b>Joe Manchin, America’s climate decider-in-chief, is a coal baron</b><br>
Mark Hertsgaard<br>
The pivotal Democratic senator owns millions of dollars in coal
stocks. Shouldn’t he recuse himself from US climate talks?<br>
- - <br>
It turns out that the Senator wielding this awesome power –
America’s climate decider-in-chief, one might call him – has a
massive climate conflict of interest. Joe Manchin, investigative
journalism has revealed, is a modern-day coal baron.<br>
<br>
Financial records detailed by reporter Alex Kotch for the Center for
Media and Democracy and published in the Guardian show that Manchin
makes roughly half a million dollars a year in dividends from
millions of dollars of coal company stock he owns. The stock is held
in Enersystems, Inc, a company Manchin started in 1988 and later
gave to his son, Joseph, to run.<br>
Coal has been the primary driver of global warming since coal began
fueling the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain 250 years ago.
Today, the science is clear: coal must be phased out, starting
immediately and around the world, to keep the 1.5C target within
reach.<br>
<br>
Scientists estimate that 90% of today’s coal reserves must be left
in the ground. No new coal-fired power plants should be built.
Existing plants should quickly shift to solar and wind, augmented by
reducing electricity demand with better energy efficiency in
buildings and machinery (which also saves money and produces more
jobs).<br>
<br>
This is not a vision that gladdens a coal baron’s heart. The idea of
eliminating fossil fuels is “very, very disturbing”, Manchin said in
July when specifics of Biden’s climate agenda surfaced. Behind the
scenes, Manchin reportedly has objected to Biden’s plan to penalize
electric utilities that don’t quit coal as fast as science
dictates...<br>
- -<br>
It’s not illegal for Senator Manchin to own millions of dollars of
coal stock – indeed, it illustrates the old saw that the real
scandal in Washington is what’s legal – but it certainly raises
questions about his impartiality on climate policy. Should any
lawmaker with such a sizable financial conflict of interest wield
decisive influence over what the US government does about a
life-and-death issue like the climate emergency? Shouldn’t there be
public discussion about whether that lawmaker should recuse himself
from such deliberations?<br>
<br>
In the realm of law, a judge who had anything like this level of
financial conflict in a case would have to recuse and let a
different judge handle the proceedings. The legal profession’s code
of ethics dictates this approach not only because a judge’s
financial interest would tempt them to rule in their own favor. It’s
also because the two parties litigating the case and the broader
public could not have faith that justice had been done by a judge
with such a conflict.<br>
<br>
Why shouldn’t a similar standard apply to the American public’s
faith in government policy, especially when what’s at stake is, you
know, the future of life on earth? Manchin could still vote for the
budget bill; he just couldn’t touch its climate provisions.<br>
<br>
Joe Manchin is surrounded by a gaggle of reporters whenever he steps
outside his Senate office, and he frequently appears on the
agenda-setting Sunday morning TV shows. With votes on the budget
bill fast approaching and the Glasgow summit starting 31 October,
it’s high time that journalists press America’s climate
decider-in-chief about his glaring conflict of interest – and why he
shouldn’t step aside from US climate deliberations.<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/30/joe-manchin-climate-coal-baron-stocks">https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/30/joe-manchin-climate-coal-baron-stocks</a><br>
<p><br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<i>[Greta speaks. ]</i><br>
<b>Exclusive: Greta Thunberg accuses UK Government of being 'climate
villains'</b><br>
Sky News<br>
Greta Thunberg has told Sky News that members of the UK Government
are "climate villains".<br>
The environmental activist made the comments at the Youth4Climate
summit in Milan<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKC1sJvpKIg">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKC1sJvpKIg</a><br>
- -<br>
[famous blah blah speech]<br>
<br>
<b>Greta Thunberg questions world leaders’ climate talks: “30 years
of blah blah blah”</b><br>
Sep 28, 2021<br>
Global News<br>
Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg and fellow youth campaigners
struck a skeptical tone for this week's climate talks in Italy on
Tuesday, saying much has been promised but little done to tackle
global warming in almost three decades since the landmark Earth
Summit.<br>
<br>
Fears that climate change is worsening grew after a United Nations
report in August warned the situation was dangerously close to
spiraling out of control, with the world certain to face further
disruptions for generations to come.<br>
<br>
"Thirty years of blah, blah, blah," Thunberg told the opening
session of a Youth4Climate event.<br>
<br>
Thousands of young activists have converged on Milan this week with
some 400, from about 190 countries, due to engage with policymakers
to hammer out proposals for possible solutions.<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpo33oLne-Y">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpo33oLne-Y</a><br>
<p><br>
</p>
<br>
[ Art disturbs]<br>
<b>'It's a bit scary': Statue of drowning girl prompts visceral
reactions</b><br>
As the tide levels change, the head of a drowning girl appears, and
then disappears again. The statue's creators say it's a reflection
of the effects of a force that is unsettling for many around the
world.<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/drowning-girl-statue-fear-climate-change-discussion/1025696">https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/drowning-girl-statue-fear-climate-change-discussion/1025696</a><br>
<p><br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
[Activism]<br>
<b>Thousands of Climate Change Protesters Are Coming to DC on
October 11</b><br>
There are protests at the White House planned for the entire week.<br>
JANE RECKER -- SEPTEMBER 30, 2021<br>
- -<br>
Thousands of climate-change protesters are planning to come to DC
the week of Monday, October 11. Their aim: to demand that President
Biden take a stronger stance on restricting fossil fuel projects.
The weeklong protests—organized by the Build Back Fossil Free
coalition, which is composed of over 100 different justice
organizations from across the country—will happen daily in front of
the White House, and culminate in a march to the Capitol steps on
Friday, October 15.<br>
<br>
Organizers expect several coalitions to show up, especially those
representing Indigenous, Black and youth interests. As of now, there
are about 3000 RSVPs, with activists from as far as Alaska pledging
to attend. There will be an “outdoor action center” with a tent and
signs, banners, props, and other art that will run at McPherson
square from 8 AM to 6 PM October 11 through October 15. Protests
will begin with a gathering at the McPherson square base at 8 AM
each day, with a march to the White House at 9 AM. Here’s the slated
schedule of themes for each day.<br>
<blockquote><b>Monday, October 11: Indigenous Peoples Day.</b><b><br>
</b><b><br>
</b><b>Tuesday, October 12: “Fossil fuels are driving the climate
crisis.”</b><b><br>
</b><b><br>
</b><b>Wednesday, October 13: “Climate chaos is happening now.”</b><b><br>
</b><b><br>
</b><b>Thursday, October 14: “We need real solutions, not false
promises.”</b><b><br>
</b><b><br>
</b><b>Friday, October 15: “We did not vote for fossil fuels.
Youth-led action.”</b><br>
</blockquote>
The protests are being held in anticipation of the UN Climate Change
Conference in Glasgow, which kicks off on November 1. “...<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.washingtonian.com/2021/09/30/thousands-of-climate-change-protesters-are-coming-to-dc-on-october-11/">https://www.washingtonian.com/2021/09/30/thousands-of-climate-change-protesters-are-coming-to-dc-on-october-11/</a><br>
<p><br>
</p>
<p><i><br>
</i></p>
<i>[Serious dive into global issues, important for climate
understanding]</i><br>
<b>Time to Reimagine Sustainable Development?</b><br>
Sep 21, 2021<br>
YaleUniversity<br>
Time to reimagine sustainable development? On the eve of the UN
General Assembly"<br>
Event description: The 76th session of the United Nations General
Assembly opened on Tuesday, September 14, for leaders from around
the world to discuss progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, the SDGs marked
a move away from traditional economic measures of development to
account for broader issues such as just human rights, gender, and
the environment. Today they serve not only as standards by which to
judge progress, but also as focal points for new ideas on how to
solve the world’s greatest challenges.<br>
The eighth Yale Development Dialogue focused on how the SDGs hold
up in today’s world and how some of the best new ideas in global
development might advance progress on the goals. Panelists:
Catherine Cheney, Stefan Dercon, Shanta Devarajan, and Rory Stewart<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNRGt4QkVPc">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNRGt4QkVPc</a><br>
<p><br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<i>[video documentary ] </i><br>
<b>The End of Oil, Explained | FULL EPISODE | Vox + Netflix</b><br>
Sep 30, 2021<br>
Vox<br>
Oil led to huge advancements — and vast inequities. <br>
As the planet warms, why is it so hard to turn away from fossil
fuels, and can we do it in time? This is “The End of Oil, Explained”
an episode narrated by Ethan Hawke from the current season of our
Netflix series. <br>
Catch up on the rest of this season of Explained on Netflix at
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.netflix.com/explained">http://www.netflix.com/explained</a> and lookout for new episodes each
Friday.<br>
<br>
Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and
understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. <br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pafA-RU3q7U">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pafA-RU3q7U</a>
<p><br>
</p>
<i><br>
</i><i>[The news archive - looking back]</i><br>
<font size="+1"><b>On this day in the history of global warming
October 1, 2013</b></font><br>
Syndicated columnist Eugene Robinson writes:<br>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>"Skeptics and deniers can make all the noise they
want, but a landmark<br>
new report is unequivocal: There is a 95 percent chance that<br>
human-generated emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse
gases<br>
are changing the climate in ways that court disaster.<br>
<br>
"That's the bottom line from the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate<br>
Change, which Monday released the latest of its comprehensive,<br>
every-six-years assessments of the scientific consensus about
climate<br>
change. According to the IPCC, there is only a 1-in-20 chance
that<br>
human activity is not causing dangerous warming.<br>
<br>
"You may like those betting odds. If so, let's get together for
a<br>
friendly game of poker, and please don't forget to bring cash."<br>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/10/01/warm_enough_for_you_120159.html">http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/10/01/warm_enough_for_you_120159.html</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<p>/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------/</p>
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