climatedepot--2020-11-28--Flashback 2014: ‘Why Secretary of State John Kerry Is Flat Wrong on Climate Change’

In a Feb. 16 speech in Indonesia , Secretary of State John Kerry assailed climate-change skeptics as members of the “ Flat Earth Society ” for doubting the reality of catastrophic climate change .
He said , But who are the Flat Earthers , and who is ignoring the scientific facts ?
In ancient times , the notion of a flat Earth was the scientific consensus , and it was only a minority who dared question this belief .
We are among today ’ s scientists who are skeptical about the so-called consensus on climate change .
Does that make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kerry suggests , or are we among those who defy the prevailing wisdom to declare that the world is round ?
Most of us who are skeptical about the dangers of climate change actually embrace many of the facts that people like Bill Nye , the ubiquitous TV “ science guy , ” say we ignore .
The two fundamental facts are that carbon-dioxide levels in the atmosphere have increased due to the burning of fossil fuels , and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is a greenhouse gas , trapping heat before it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a known fact is by how much the Earth ’ s atmosphere will warm in response to this added carbon dioxide .
The warming numbers most commonly advanced are created by climate computer models built almost entirely by scientists who believe in catastrophic global warming .
The rate of warming forecast by these models depends on many assumptions and engineering to replicate a complex world in tractable terms , such as how water vapor and clouds will react to the direct heat added by carbon dioxide or the rate of heat uptake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We might forgive these modelers if their forecasts had not been so consistently and spectacularly wrong .
From the beginning of climate modeling in the 1980s , these forecasts have , on average , always overstated the degree to which the Earth is warming compared with what we see in the real climate .
For instance , in 1994 we published an article in the journal Nature showing that the actual global temperature trend was “ one-quarter of the magnitude of climate model results.
” As the nearby graph shows , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real-world evidence has only grown in the past 20 years .
When the failure of its predictions become clear , the modeling industry always comes back with new models that soften their previous warming forecasts , claiming , for instance , that an unexpected increase in the human use of aerosols had skewed the results .
After these changes , the models tended to agree better with the actual numbers that came in—but the forecasts for future temperatures have continued to be too warm .
The modelers insist that they are unlucky because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warming .
They might be right , but when a batter goes 0 for 10 , he ’ s better off questioning his swing than blaming the umpire .
The models mostly miss warming in the deep atmosphere—from the Earth ’ s surface to 75,000 feet—which is supposed to be one of the real signals of warming caused by carbon dioxide .
Here , the consensus ignores the reality of temperature observations of the deep atmosphere collected by satellites and balloons , which have continually shown less than half of the warming shown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate-change-consensus community points to such indirect evidence of warming as glaciers melting , coral being bleached , more droughts and stronger storms .
Yet observations show that the warming of the deep atmosphere ( the fundamental sign of carbon-dioxide-caused climate change , which is supposedly behind these natural phenomena ) is not occurring at an alarming rate : Instruments aboard NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association satellites put the Mid-Tropospheric warming rate since late 1978 at about 0.7 degrees Celsius , or 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit , per 100 years .
For the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give 2.1 degrees Celsius , or 3.8 degrees Fahrenheit , per 100 years ( see graph ) .
The models also fail to get details of the past climate right .
For example , most of the observed warming over land in the past century occurred at night .
The same models used to predict future warming models showed day and night warming over the last century at nearly the same rates .
Past models also missed the dramatic recent warming found in observations in the Arctic .
With this information as hindsight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate models did manage to show more warming in the Arctic .
But the tweaking resulted in too-warm predictions—disproved by real-world evidence—for the rest of the planet compared with earlier models .
Shouldn ’ t modelers be more humble and open to saying that perhaps the Arctic warming is due to something we don ’ t understand ?
While none of these inconsistencies refutes the fundamental concern about greenhouse-gas-enhanced climate change , it is disturbing that “ consensus science ” will not acknowledge that such discrepancies are major problems .
From the Intergovernmental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that largely self-selected panel of scientists has embraced the notion that consensus on climate change is the necessary path to taking action and reducing man-made carbon emissions around the world .
The consensus community uses this to push the view that “ the science is settled ” and hold up skeptics to ridicule , as John Kerry did on Sunday .
We are reminded of the dangers of consensus science in the past .
For example , in the 18th century , more British sailors died of scurvy than died in battle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a lack of vitamin C , the body loses its ability to manufacture collagen , and gums and other tissues bleed and disintegrate .
These deaths were especially tragic because many sea captains and some ships ’ doctors knew , based on observations early in the century , that fresh vegetables and citrus cured scurvy .
Nonetheless , the British Admiralty ’ s onshore Sick and Health Board of scientists and physicians ( somewhat akin to the current Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ) dismissed this evidence for more than 50 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theory that putrefaction ( or internal decay ) caused scurvy , which they felt could be cured by fresh air , exercise and laxatives .
“ Consensus ” science that ignores reality can have tragic consequences if cures are ignored or promising research is abandoned .
The climate-change consensus is not endangering lives , but the way it imperils economic growth and warps government policy making has made the future considerably bleaker .
The recent Obama administration announcement that it would not provide aid for fossil-fuel energy in developing countries , thereby consigning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is all too reminiscent of the Sick and Health Board denying fresh fruit to dying British sailors .
We should not have a climate-science research program that searches only for ways to confirm prevailing theories , and we should not honor government leaders , such as Secretary Kerry , who attack others for their inconvenient , fact-based views .
Messrs. McNider and Christy are professors of atmospheric science at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and fellows of the American Meteorological Society .
Mr. Christy was a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Peace Prize with former Vice President Al Gore .
Mr. Christy was a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Vice President Al Gore .
This essay originally appeared in the Wall Street Journal on Feb 19th .
TRANSCRIPT : ( long , I know , but recorded here in case it “ disappears ” ) .
Remarks of : John Kerry US Secretary of State , Jakarta , Indonesia , February 16 , 2014 SECRETARY KERRY : Thank you , Robert .
Thank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t know .
I think some of you were cheering twice for the same university .
I don ’ t know .
( Laughter . )
It seemed to come from the same place anyway .
What a pleasure to be here at America , where we are looking at all of the air conditioning pipes running right through here .
I love it .
The spirit and feel of this place is very special and it ’ s wonderful to see our friends up here from Kalimantan and also everybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for being with us .
Can you hear me ?
Yeah !
Wave !
( Laughter . )
Do a few selfies , everybody will – ( laughter . )
Anyway , it ’ s really a pleasure to be here .
I see a lot of iPads up in the air sort of flashing away .
This is special .
Ambassador Blake , thank you for doing this .
Thank you all for coming here today .
I want to welcome all of those of you who are tuning in elsewhere , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a home webcast , and we ’ re delighted to have you here .
It ’ s really a pleasure for me to be able to be back in Jakarta , back in Indonesia , where you have one of the richest ecosystems on Earth .
And you live in a country that is at the top of the global rankings for both marine and terrestrial biodiversity , and you have a human ecosystem that includes some 300 ethnic groups , speaking at least 700 languages – extraordinary place .
But because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that today , Indonesia is also one of the most vulnerable countries on Earth .
This year , as Secretary of State , I will engage in a series of discussions on the urgency of addressing climate change – particularly on the national security implications and the economic opportunities .
And I want you to think about those .
But I wanted to start right here , in Jakarta , because this city – this country – this region – is really on the front lines of climate change .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the entire way of life that you live and love is at risk .
So let ’ s have a frank conversation about this threat and about what we , as citizens of the world , need to be able to do to address it .
Some time ago I travelled to another vibrant city – a city also rich with its own rich history – Rio de Janeiro , Brazil .
And I was there , sitting in a big room , surrounded by representatives from about 170 countries .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ described the growing threat of climate change and what it would mean for the world if we failed to act .
The Secretary General of the conference was – he was an early leader on climate change , a man by the name of Maurice Strong , and he told us – I quote him : “ Every bit of evidence I ’ ve seen persuades me that we are on a course leading to tragedy.
” Well , my friends , that conference was in 1992 .
And it is stunning how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then .
When I think about the array of global climate – of global threats – think about this : terrorism , epidemics , poverty , the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction – all challenges that know no borders – the reality is that climate change ranks right up there with every single one of them .
And it is a challenge that I address in nearly every single country that I visit as Secretary of State , because President Obama and I believe it is urgent that we do so .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ science of climate change is leaping out at us like a scene from a 3D movie .
It ’ s warning us ; it ’ s compelling us to act .
And let there be no doubt in anybody ’ s mind that the science is absolutely certain .
It ’ s something that we understand with absolute assurance of the veracity of that science .
No one disputes some of the facts about it .
Let me give you an example .
When an apple separates from a tree , it falls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the basic laws of physics .
No one disputes that today .
It ’ s a fact .
It ’ s a scientific fact .
Science also tells us that when water hits a low enough temperature , it ’ s going to turn into ice ; when it reaches a high enough temperature , it ’ s going to boil .
No one disputes that .
Science and common sense tell us if you reach out and put your hand on a hot cook stove , you ’ re going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t imagine anybody who would dispute that either .
So when thousands of the world ’ s leading scientists and five reports over a long period of time with thousands of scientists contributing to those reports – when they tell us over and over again that our climate is changing , that it is happening faster than they ever predicted , ever in recorded history , and when they tell us that we humans are the significant cause , let me tell you something : We need to listen .
When 97 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to listen , and we need to respond .
Well , 97 percent of climate scientists have confirmed that climate change is happening and that human activity is responsible .
These scientists agree on the causes of these changes and they agree on the potential effects .
They agree that the emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide contributes heavily to climate change .
They agree that the energy sources that we ’ ve relied on for decades to fuel our cars and to heat our homes or to air condition our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that provide us electricity like oil and coal – that these are largely responsible for sending those greenhouse gases up into the atmosphere .
And the scientists agree that emissions coming from deforestation and from agriculture can also send enormous quantities of carbon pollution into our atmosphere .
And they agree that , if we continue to go down the same path that we are going down today , the world as we know it will change – and it will change dramatically for the worse .
So we know this is happening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same certainty that we understand that if we reach out and touch that hot stove , we ’ re going to get burned .
In fact , this is not really a complicated equation .
I know sometimes I can remember from when I was in high school and college , some aspects of science or physics can be tough – chemistry .
But this is not tough .
This is simple .
Kids at the earliest age can understand this .
Try and picture a very thin layer of gases – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somewhere in that vicinity – that ’ s how thick it is .
It ’ s in our atmosphere .
It ’ s way up there at the edge of the atmosphere .
And for millions of years – literally millions of years – we know that layer has acted like a thermal blanket for the planet – trapping the sun ’ s heat and warming the surface of the Earth to the ideal , life-sustaining temperature .
Average temperature of the Earth has been about 57 degrees Fahrenheit , which keeps life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the so-called greenhouse effect .
But in modern times , as human beings have emitted gases into the air that come from all the things we do , that blanket has grown thicker and it traps more and more heat beneath it , raising the temperature of the planet .
It ’ s called the greenhouse effect because it works exactly like a greenhouse in which you grow a lot of the fruit that you eat here .
This is what ’ s causing climate change .
It ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of gases that has made life possible on Earth from the beginning now makes possible the greatest threat that the planet has ever seen .
And the results of our human activity are clear .
If you ranked all the years in recorded history by average temperature , you ’ d see that 8 of the 10 hottest years have all happened within the last 10 years .
Think about it this way : all 10 of the hottest years on record have actually happened since Google went online in 1998 .
Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change is happening .
And because the earth is getting hotter at such an alarming speed , glaciers in places like the Arctic are melting into the sea faster than we expected .
And the sea is rising – slowly , but rising – and will rise to dangerous levels .
Scientists now predict that by the end of the century , the sea could rise by a full meter .
Now , I know that to some people a meter may not sound like a lot , but I ’ ll tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to put half of Jakarta underwater .
Just one meter would displace hundreds of millions of people worldwide and threaten billions of dollars in economic activity .
It would put countries into jeopardy .
It would put countless – I mean , come to the local level – it would put countless homes and schools and parks , entire cities at risk .
Now , climate change also tragically means the end of some species .
The changing sea temperature and the increasing amount of acidity – the acidity comes from coal-fired power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the rain falls the rain spills the acidity into the ocean .
And it means that certain species of fish like cod or sardines can no longer live where they once lived .
This is devastating for the world ’ s fisheries .
And scientists predict that fisheries will be among the hardest hit .
Just think about the fishermen who sell their fish catches at Pasar Ikan .
Think about it .
There are some studies that say that Indonesia ’ s fisheries could actually lose up to 40 percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fisherman who usually has about a hundred fish to sell one day would suddenly only have 60 or so for sale .
The impact is obvious .
Climate change also means water shortages .
And if you have these enormous water shortages , then you have a change in the weather – because of the weather patterns , you ’ re going to wind up with droughts , the lack of water .
And the droughts can become longer and more intense .
In fact , this isn ’ t something around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We are seeing record droughts right now , and they ’ re already putting a strain on water resources around the world .
We ’ ve already seen in various parts of the world – in Africa , for instance – people fighting each other over water , and we ’ ve seen more conflicts shaping up now over the limits of water .
Back in the United States , President Obama just the other day visited California , where millions of people are now experiencing the 13th month of the worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
And no relief is in sight .
What used to be a 100-year or a 500-year event is now repeating itself within 10 years .
Furthermore , climate change means fundamental transformations in agriculture worldwide .
Scientists predict that , in some places , heat waves and water shortages will make it much more difficult for farmers to be able to grow the regular things we grow , like wheat or corn or rice .
And obviously , it ’ s not only farmers who will suffer here – it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on those crops that the farmers grow .
For example , the British government research showed that climate change may have contributed to the famine that killed as many as 100,000 people in Somalia just back in 2010 and 2011 .
And scientists further predict that climate change also means longer , more unpredictable monsoon seasons and more extreme weather events .
Now , I ’ ll tell you , I can ’ t tell you – no weatherman on TV or anybody is going to be able to look at you and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was absolutely the result of climate change .
But scientists do predict that many more of these disastrous storms will occur if we continue down the current path .
Ladies and gentlemen , I saw with my own eyes what the Philippines experienced in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan and I will tell you it would be absolutely devastating if that kind of storm were to become the normal thing that happens every single year in many places .
On top of the unspeakable humanitarian toll , the economic cost that follows a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t mean just the billions that it costs to rebuild .
We ’ ve seen here in Asia how extreme weather events can disrupt world trade .
For example , after serious flooding in 2011 , global prices for external computer hard drives rose by more than 10 percent .
Why ?
Because electronic manufacturing zones around Bangkok were out of commission , wiped out by the weather .
So it ’ s not just about agriculture – it ’ s also about technology .
It ’ s about our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potentially catastrophic effects on the global supply chain .
Now , despite all of these realities – despite these facts – much of the world still doesn ’ t see or want to see the need to pursue a significant response to this threat .
As recently as 2011 , a survey of city officials here in Asia found that more than 80 percent of the population said they did not anticipate climate change hurting their cities ’ economies .
And despite more than 25 years of scientific warning after scientific warning after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the call to arms that we heard back in Rio back in 1992 – despite that , we still haven ’ t globally summoned the urgency necessary to get the job done .
And as a result of this complacency , last year the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere reached the highest point in human history – despite all the warnings .
Now , I know that these are some dramatic scientific facts – statistics .
But think of it this way : If the worst-case scenario about climate change , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never materialize , what will be the harm that is done from having made the decision to respond to it ?
We would actually leave our air cleaner .
We would leave our water cleaner .
We would actually make our food supply more secure .
Our populations would be healthier because of fewer particulates of pollution in the air – less cost to health care .
Those are the things that would happen if we happen to be wrong and we responded .
But imagine if the 97 percent of those scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no are wrong .
Then the people who say no will have presented us with one of the most catastrophic , grave threats in the history of human life .
That ’ s the choice here .
Notwithstanding the stark choices that we face , here ’ s the good thing : there is still time .
The window of time is still open for us to be able to manage this threat .
But the window is closing .
And so I wanted to come to Jakarta to talk to you because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to raise their voices and to be heard .
There is still time for us to significantly cut greenhouse emissions and prevent the very worst consequences of climate change from ever happening at all .
But we need to move on this , and we need to move together now .
We just don ’ t have time to let a few loud interests groups hijack the climate conversation .
And when I say that , you know what I ’ m talking about ?
I ’ m talking about big companies that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t want to change , and spend a lot of money to keep you and me and everybody from doing what we know we need to do .
First and foremost , we should not allow a tiny minority of shoddy scientists and science and extreme ideologues to compete with scientific fact .
Nor should we allow any room for those who think that the costs associated with doing the right thing outweigh the benefits .
There are people who say , “ Oh , it ’ s too expensive , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No .
No , folks .
We certainly should not allow more time to be wasted by those who want to sit around debating whose responsibility it is to deal with this threat , while we come closer and closer to the point of no return .
I have to tell you , this is really not a normal kind of difference of opinion between people .
Sometimes you can have a reasonable argument and a reasonable disagreement over an opinion you may have .
This is not opinion .
This is about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The science is unequivocal .
And those who refuse to believe it are simply burying their heads in the sand .
Now , President and I – Obama and I believe very deeply that we do not have time for a meeting anywhere of the Flat Earth Society .
One of the arguments that we do hear is that it ’ s going to be too expensive to be able to address climate change .
I have to tell you , that assertion could not be less grounded in fact .
In fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Serious analysts understand that the costs of doing nothing far outweigh the costs of investing in solutions now .
You do not need a degree in economics or a graduate degree in business in order to understand that the cost of flooding , the cost of drought , the cost of famine , the cost of health care , the cost of addressing this challenge is simply far less – the costs of addressing this challenge are far less than the costs of doing nothing .
Just look at the most recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which estimates that by 2050 , losses – excuse me one second – losses from flood damage in Asian ports – fishing ports , shipping ports – the losses in those ports alone could exceed $ 1 trillion annually unless we make big changes to the infrastructure of those ports .
Finally , if we truly want to prevent the worst consequences of climate change from happening , we do not have time to have a debate about whose responsibility this is .
The answer is pretty simple : It ’ s everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries – and I will say this very clearly , some countries , including the United States , contribute more to the problem and therefore we have an obligation to contribute more to the solution .
I agree with that .
But , ultimately , every nation on Earth has a responsibility to do its part if we have any hope of leaving our future generations the safe and healthy planet that they deserve .
You have a saying , I think , here in Indonesia , “ Luka di kaki , sakit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) I – for those that don ’ t speak as well as I do – ( laughter ) – it means “ when there ’ s a pain in the foot , the whole body feels it.
” Well , today in this interconnected world that we all live in , the fact is that hardship anywhere is actually felt by people everywhere .
We all see it ; we share it .
And when a massive storm destroys a village and yet another and then another in Southeast Asia ; when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer turn a profit for farmers in South America ; when entire communities are forced to relocate because of rising tides – that ’ s happening – it ’ s not just one country or even one region that feels the pain .
In today ’ s globalized economy , everyone feels it .
And when you think about it , that connection to climate change is really no different than how we confront other global threats .
Think about terrorism .
We don ’ t decide to have just one country beef @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relax their standards and let bags on board without inspection .
No , that clearly wouldn ’ t make us any safer .
Or think about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction .
It doesn ’ t keep us safe if the United States secures its nuclear arsenal , while other countries fail to prevent theirs from falling into the hands of terrorists .
We all have to approach this challenge together , which is why all together we are focused on Iran and its nuclear program or focused on North Korea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is this : it is the same thing with climate change .
And in a sense , climate change can now be considered another weapon of mass destruction , perhaps the world ’ s most fearsome weapon of mass destruction .
Now I mentioned earlier , a few minutes ago , that last December I went to Tacloban in the Philippines , not long after Typhoon Haiyan .
I have to tell you : I ’ ve seen a lot of places in war and out of war and places that have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of my life , I don ’ t think I ’ ve ever seen devastation like .
We saw cars and homes and lives turned upside-down , trees scattered like toothpicks all across a mountainside .
And most devastating of all , so quickly , that storm stole the lives of more than 5,000 people – women , and children who never saw it coming .
The fact is that climate change , if left unchecked , will wipe out many more communities from the face of the earth .
And that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even more unacceptable because we know what we can do and need to do in order to deal with this challenge .
It is time for the world to approach this problem with the cooperation , the urgency , and the commitment that a challenge of this scale warrants .
It ’ s absolutely true that industrialized countries – yes , industrialized countries that produce most of the emissions – have a huge responsibility to be able to reduce emissions , but I ’ m telling you that doesn ’ t mean that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They don ’ t have a right to go out and repeat the mistakes of the past .
It ’ s not enough for one country or even a few countries to reduce their emissions when other countries continue to fill the atmosphere with carbon pollution as they see fit .
At the end of the day , emissions coming from anywhere in the world threaten the future for people everywhere in the world , because those emissions go up and then they move with the wind and they drop with the rain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going around and around and they threaten all of us .
Now , as I ’ ve already acknowledged , I am the first one to recognize the responsibility that the United States has , because we have contributed to this problem .
We ’ re one of the number – we ’ re the number two emitter of greenhouse gas emissions .
The number one is now China .
The fact is that I recognize the responsibility that we have to erase the bad habits that we have , which we adopted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consequences .
Nobody set out to make this happen .
This is the consequence of the industrial revolution and the transformation of the world , and many of the advances that we made that have changed the world for the better came from these steps .
But now we do know the attendant consequences that are linked to these actions .
President Obama has taken the moral challenge head on .
Over the past five years , the United States has done more to reduce the threat of climate change – domestically and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – than in the 20 years before President Obama came to office .
Thanks to President Obama ’ s Climate Action Plan , the United States is well on our way to meeting the international commitments to seriously cut our greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 , and that ’ s because we ’ re going straight to the largest sources of pollution .
We ’ re targeting emissions from transportation – cars trucks , rail , et cetera – and from power sources , which account together for more than 60 percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The President has put in place standards to double the fuel-efficiency of cars on American roads .
And we ’ ve also proposed curbing carbon pollution from new power plants , and similar regulations are in the works to limit the carbon pollution coming from power plants that are already up and already running .
At the same time , Americans have actually doubled the amount of energy we are creating from wind , solar , and geothermal sources , and we ’ ve become smarter about the way we use energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A huge amount of carbon pollution comes out of buildings , and it ’ s important in terms of the lighting , in terms of the emissions from those buildings , the air conditioning – all these kinds of things thought through properly can contribute to the solution .
As a result , today in the United States , we are emitting less than we have in two decades .
We ’ re also providing assistance to international partners , like Indonesia .
This year the Millennium Challenge Corporation launched the $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address deforestation and support innovation and clean energy throughout the country .
We also implemented what we called “ debt for nature ” swaps , where we forgive some of the debt – and we have forgiven some of Indonesia ’ s debt – in return for investments in the conservation of forests in Sumatra and Kalimantan .
But the United States – simple reality : just as I talked about the scientific facts in the beginning , this is a fact – the United States can not solve this problem or foot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single American got on a bicycle tomorrow and carpooled – instead of – or carpooled to school instead of buses or riding in individual cars or driving , or rode their bike to work , or used only solar powers – panels in order to power their homes ; if we each , every American , planted a dozen trees ; if we eliminated all of our domestic greenhouse gas emissions – guess what ?
That still wouldn ’ t be enough to counter the carbon pollution coming from the rest of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one or two economies neglects to respond to this threat , it can counter , erase all of the good work that the rest of the world has done .
When I say we need a global solution , I mean we need a global solution .
That is why the United States is prepared to take the lead in bringing other nations to the table .
And this is something that President Obama is deeply committed to .
And as Secretary of State , I am personally committed to making sure that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of our diplomatic efforts .
This week I will be instructing all of the chiefs of our missions at American embassies all over the world to make climate change a top priority and to use all the tools of diplomacy that they have at their disposal in order to help address this threat .
Now I have just come here today , I arrived last night from China , where I met with government leaders and we discussed our cooperation , our collaboration on this climate change front at length .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous pollution can be .
I recently read that an 8-year-old girl was diagnosed with lung cancer because of all the air pollution that she was inhaling .
Eight years old .
And the devastating human toll pollution , it takes comes with a very hefty price tag : Air pollution already costs China as much as 8 percent of its GDP because two things happen as a result of the pollution : healthcare spending goes up and agricultural output goes down .
Now I am pleased to tell you that the leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pursue a cleaner path forward .
And China is taking steps , and we have already taken significant steps together through the U.S.-China Climate Change Working Group that we launched in Beijing last year .
Just yesterday , we announced a new agreement on an enhanced policy of dialogue that includes the sharing of information and policies so that we can help develop plans to deal with the UN climate change negotiation that takes place in Paris next year , in planning for the post-2020 limit to greenhouse gas emissions .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negotiations to develop a new global climate agreement , and we have hopes that this unique partnership between China and the United States can help set an example for global leadership and global seriousness .
Now make no mistake : this is real progress .
The U.S. and China are the world ’ s two largest economies .
We are two of the largest consumers of energy , and we are two of the largest emitters of global greenhouse gases – together we account for roughly 40 percent of the world ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about china and the United States .
It ’ s about every country on Earth doing whatever it can to pursue cleaner and healthier energy sources .
And it ’ s about the all of us literally treating the pain in the foot , so the whole body hurts a little less .
Now this is going to require us to continue the UN negotiations and ultimately finalize an ambitious global agreement in Paris next year .
And nations need to also be pursuing smaller bilateral agreements , public-private partnerships , independent domestic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s nothing to stop any of you from helping to push here , to pick things that you can do in Indonesia .
It ’ s time for us to recognize that the choices the world makes in the coming months and years will directly and substantially affect our quality of life for generations to come .
Now I tell you , I ’ m looking out at a young audience here .
All of you are the leaders of the future .
And what we ’ re talking about is what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave you .
I know that some of what I ’ m talking about here today , it seems awful big , and some of it may even like it ’ s out of reach to you .
But I have to tell you it ’ s not .
One person in one place can make a difference – by talking about how they manage a building , how they heat a school , what kind of things you do for recycling , transportation you use .
What you don ’ t – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear enough about today , unfortunately , and I ’ ve saved it for the end , because I want you to leave here feeling , wow , we can get something done .
There ’ s a big set of opportunities in front of us .
And that ’ s because the most important news of all : that climate change isn ’ t only a challenge .
It ’ s not only a burden .
It also presents one of the greatest economic opportunities of all time .
The global energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to climate change is energy policy .
And this market is poised to be the largest market the world has ever known .
Between now and 2035 , investment in the energy sector is expected to reach nearly $ 17 trillion .
That ’ s more than the entire GDP of China and India combined .
The great technology – many of you have your smart phones or your iPads , et cetera , here today – all of this technology that we use so much today was a $ 1 trillion market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The energy market is a $ 6 trillion market with , today , 6 billion users , and it ’ s going to grow to maybe 9 billion users over the course of the next 20 , 30 , 40 years .
The solution to climate change is as clear as the problem .
The solution is making the right choices on energy policy .
It ’ s as simple as that .
And with a few smart choices , we can ensure that clean energy is the most attractive investment in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this , governments and international financial institutions need to stop providing incentives for the use of energy sources like coal and oil .
Instead , we have to make the most of the innovative energy technology that entrepreneurs are developing all over the world – including here in Indonesia , where innovative companies like Sky Energy are building solar and battery storage and projects that can help power entire villages .
And we have to invest in new technology that will help us bring renewable energy sources like solar , wind , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where those resources are abundant –but to every community and to every country on every continent .
I am very well aware that these are not easy choices for any country to make – I know that .
I ’ ve been in politics for a while .
I know the pull and different powerful political forces .
Coal and oil are currently cheap ways to power a society , at least in the near term .
But I urge governments to measure the full cost to that coal and that oil , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as we go down the road .
You can not simply factor in the immediate costs of energy needs .
You have to factor in the long-term cost of carbon pollution .
And they have to factor in the cost of survival .
And if they do , then governments will find that the cost of pursuing clean energy now is far cheaper than paying for the consequences of climate change later .
Make no mistake : the technology is out there .
None of this is beyond our capacity .
I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we will meet this challenge .
Remember : we ’ re the ones – we , all of us , the world – helped to discover things like penicillin and we eradicated smallpox .
We found a way to light up the night all around the world with a flip of the switch and spread that technology to more than three quarters of the world ’ s population .
We came up with a way for people to fly and move from one place to another in the air between cities and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And we put the full wealth of human knowledge into a device we can hold in our hand that does all of the thinking that used to take up a whole room almost this size .
Human ingenuity has long proven its ability to solve seemingly insurmountable challenges .
It is not a lack of ability that is a problem .
It is a lack of political resolve that is standing in our way .
And I will tell you as somebody who ran for elected office , when you hear from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it clear what they want and what they think they need , then people in politics respond .
Today I call on all of you in Indonesia and concerned citizens around the world to demand the resolve that is necessary from your leaders .
Speak out .
Make climate change an issue that no public official can ignore for another day .
Make a transition towards clean energy the only plan that you are willing to accept .
And if we come together now , we can not only meet the challenge , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in every corner of the globe .
We can clean up the air , we can improve the health of people , we can have greater security ; we can make our neighborhoods healthier places to live ; we can help ensure that farmers and fishers can still make a sustainable living and feed our communities ; and we can avoid disputes and even entire wars over oil , water , and other limited resources .
We can make good on the moral responsibility we all have to leave future generations with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustainable for the future .
The United States is ready to work with you in this endeavor .
With Indonesia and the rest of the world pulling in the same direction , we can meet this challenge , the greatest challenge of our generation , and we can create the future that everybody dreams of .
Thank you all very much for letting me be with you .
Thank you .
( Applause . )


climatedepot--2020-11-29--Are Face Masks Effective? Government’s ‘should not assume or suggest that cloth face masks will redu

Are Face Masks Effective? Government’s ‘should not assume or suggest that cloth face masks will reduce the rate or risk of infection’

An overview of the current evidence regarding the effectiveness of face masks .
1 .
Studies on the effectiveness of face masks So far , most studies found little to no evidence for the effectiveness of cloth face masks in the general population , neither as personal protective equipment nor as a source control .
• A May 2020 meta-study on pandemic influenza published by the US CDC found that face masks had no effect , neither as personal protective equipment nor as a source control .
( Source ) • A Danish randomized controlled trial with 6000 participants , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in November 2020 , found no statistically significant effect of high-quality medical face masks against SARS-CoV-2 infection in a community setting .
( Source ) • A July 2020 review by the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medince found that there is no evidence for the effectiveness of cloth masks against virus infection or transmission .
( Source ) • A May 2020 cross-country study by the University of East Anglia ( preprint ) found that a mask requirement was of no benefit and could even increase the risk of infection .
( Source @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two US professors in respiratory and infectious disease from the University of Illinois concluded that face masks have no effect in everyday life , neither as self-protection nor to protect third parties ( so-called source control ) .
( Source ) • An article in the New England Journal of Medicine from May 2020 came to the conclusion that cloth face masks offer little to no protection in everyday life .
( Source ) • An April 2020 Cochrane review ( preprint ) found that face masks didn ’ t reduce influenza-like illness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the general population nor in health care workers .
( Source ) • An April 2020 review by the Norwich School of Medicine ( preprint ) found that “ the evidence is not sufficiently strong to support widespread use of facemasks ” , but supports the use of masks by “ particularly vulnerable individuals when in transient higher risk situations.
” ( Source ) • A 2015 study in the British Medical Journal BMJ Open found that cloth masks were penetrated by 97 % of particles and may increase infection risk by retaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) • An August 2020 review by a German professor in virology , epidemiology and hygiene found that there is no evidence for the effectiveness of cloth face masks and that the improper daily use of masks by the public may in fact lead to an increase in infections .
( Source ) In many states , coronavirus infections strongly increased after mask mandates had been introduced .
The following charts show the typical examples of Austria , Belgium , France , Germany , Ireland , Italy , Spain , the UK , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more examples .
• There is increasing evidence that the SARS-2 coronavirus is transmitted , at least in indoor settings , not only by droplets but also by smaller aerosols .
However , due to their large pore size and poor fit , cloth masks can not filter out aerosols ( see video analysis below ) : over 90 % of aerosols penetrate or bypass the mask and fill a medium-sized room within minutes .
• The WHO admitted to the BBC that its June 2020 mask policy update was due not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ We had been told by various sources WHO committee reviewing the evidence had not backed masks but they recommended them due to political lobbying .
This point was put to WHO who did not deny.
” ( D. Cohen , BBC Medical Corresponent ) .
• An analysis by the US CDC found that 85 % of people infected with the new coronavirus reported wearing a mask “ always ” ( 70.6 % ) or “ often ” ( 14.4 % ) .
Compared to the control group of uninfected people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduce the risk of infection .
• Japan , despite its widespread use of face masks , experienced its most recent influenza epidemic with more than 5 million people falling ill just one year ago , in January and February 2019 .
However , unlike SARS-CoV-2 , the influenza virus is easily transmitted by children , too .
• Many states that introduced mandatory face masks on public transport and in shops in spring , such as Hawaii , California , Argentina , Spain , France , Japan and Israel , saw a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , indicating a low effectiveness of mask policies .
( More examples ) • Austrian scientists found that the introduction , retraction and re-introduction of a face mask mandate in Austria had no influence on the coronavirus infection rate .
• In the US state of Kansas , the 90 counties without mask mandates had lower coronavirus infection rates than the 15 counties with mask mandates .
To hide this fact , the Kansas health department tried to manipulate the official statistics and data presentation .
• Contrary to common belief , studies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a medical mask by surgeons during operations didn ’ t reduce post-operative bacterial wound infections in patients .
• During the notorious 1918 influenza pandemic , the use of cloth face masks among the general population was widespread and in some places mandatory , but they made no difference .
• Asian countries with low covid infection and death rates benefited not from face masks but mainly from early border closures .
This is confirmed by Scandinavian countries like Norway , Finland and Denmark , which didn ’ t introduce mask mandates but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covid infection and death rates , too .
• Researchers from the University of Minnesota found that the infectious dose of SARS-CoV-2 is just 300 virions ( viral particles ) , whereas a single minute of normal speaking may generate more than 750,000 virions , making cloth face masks unlikely to prevent an infection .
• To date , the only randomized controlled trial ( RCT ) on face masks against SARS-CoV-2 infection in a community setting found no statistically significant benefit ( see above ) .
However , three major journals refused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publication by several months .
Some recent studies argued that cloth face masks are indeed effective against the new coronavirus and could at least prevent the infection of other people .
However , most of these studies suffer from poor methodology and sometimes show the opposite of what they claim .
Typically , these studies ignore the effect of other measures , the natural development of infection numbers , changes in test activity , or they compare countries with very different conditions .
• A meta-study in the journal Lancet , commissioned by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could ” lead to a reduction in the risk of infection , but the studies considered mainly N95 respirators in a hospital setting , not cloth masks in a community setting , the strength of the evidence was reported as “ low ” , and experts found numerous flaws in the study .
Professor Peter Jueni , epidemiologist at the University of Toronto , called the WHO study “ essentially useless ” .
• A study in the journal PNAS claimed that masks had led to a decrease in infections in three global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the study did not take into account the natural decrease in infections and other simultaneous measures .
The study was so flawed that over 40 scientists recommended that the study be withdrawn .
• A German study claimed that the introduction of mandatory face masks in German cities had led to a decrease in infections .
But the data does not support this claim : in some cities there was no change , in others a decrease , in others an increase in infections ( see graph below ) .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ only because it simultaneously introduced the strictest quarantine rules in Germany , but the study did not mention this .
• A US study claimed that mandatory masks had led to a decrease in infections in 15 states , but the study did not take into account that the infection rate was already declining in most states at that time , and a comparison with other states was not made .
After the study was published , infections began to increase in states with mask mandates ( e.g .
in California , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canadian study claimed that countries with mandatory masks had fewer deaths than countries without mandatory masks .
But the study compared African , Latin American , Asian and Eastern European countries with very different infection rates and population structures .
• A small review by the University of Oxford claimed that face masks are effective , but it was based on studies about SARS-1 and in health care settings , not in community settings .
Wearing masks for a prolonged period of time is not harmless , as the following evidence shows : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side effects ” such as difficulty breathing and skin rashes .
• Tests conducted by the University Hospital of Leipzig in Germany have shown that face masks significantly reduce the resilience and performance of healthy adults .
• A German psychological study with about 1000 participants found “ severe psychosocial consequences ” due to the introduction of mandatory face masks in Germany .
• The Hamburg Environmental Institute warned of the inhalation of chlorine compounds in polyester masks as well as problems in connection with face mask disposal .
• The European rapid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask models because they did not meet EU quality standards and could lead to “ serious risks ” .
• In Germany , two 13-year-old children died suddenly while wearing a mask for a prolonged period of time ; autopsies couldn ’ t exclude CO2 intoxication or a sudden cardiac arrest .
• In China , several children who had to wear a mask during sports classes fainted and died ; the autopsies found a sudden cardiac arrest as the probable cause of death .
• In the US , a car driver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fainted and crashed into a pole .
Cloth face masks in the general population might be effective , at least in some circumstances , but there is currently little to no evidence supporting this proposition .
If the SARS-2 virus is indeed transmitted via indoor aerosols , cloth masks are unlikely to be protective .
Health authorities should therefore not assume or suggest that cloth face masks will reduce the rate or risk of infection .

Thank you for being patient. We are doing some work on the site and will be back shortly.


climatedepot--2020-11-29--UN Sec Gen’s ‘advice to India amounts to asking for its virtual de-industrialisation and stagnation’

The UN Secretary General António Guterres ’ s call for India to give up coal immediately and reduce emissions by 45 % by 2030 is a call to de-industrialise the country and abandon the population to a permanent low-development trap .
In an extraordinary move in climate diplomacy , Mr. Guterres , delivering the Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture on August 28 , at the Energy and Resources Institute ( TERI ) , in New Delhi , called on India to make no new investment in coal after 2020 .
Superficially framed as an even-handed appeal to all G20 nations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aside of the foundational principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ( UNFCCC ) that distinguish sharply between the responsibilities and commitments of developed countries vis-à-vis those of developing countries .
Delivered on Indian soil , at a premier climate institution in the country , and in the presence of India ’ s External Affairs Minister , the speech was an unmistakable ratcheting up of pressure on India in the climate arena .
Subsequently , at a press conference at the UN Headquarters on September 9 while releasing the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he has upped the ante even further by asking China and India too to reduce their emissions by 45 % by 2030 , on a par with the developed countries .
To add insult to injury , the advice was delivered after it was evident that India , with the lowest per capita income among the G-20 , is undergoing the worst economic contraction among them currently , whose long-term impact is still very unclear .
What is the state of India ’ s climate action today ?
The UN Secretary General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any yardstick of reckoning , is punching at least on a par , if not above , its weight in responsibility and economic capacity in climate action .
Its renewable energy programme is ambitious while its energy efficiency programme is delivering , especially in the domestic consumption sector .
India is one of the few countries with at least 2° Celsius warming compliant climate action , and one of a much smaller list of those currently on track to fulfilling their Paris Agreement commitments .
Despite the accelerated economic growth of recent decades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 0.5 tonnes per capita , are well below the global average of 1.3 tonnes , and also those of China , the United States and the European Union ( EU ) , the three leading emitters in absolute terms , whose per capita emissions are higher than this average .
In terms of cumulative emissions ( which is what really counts in determining the extent of temperature increase ) , India ’ s contribution by 2017 was only 4 % for a population of 1.3 billion , whereas the European Union , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was responsible for 20 % .
What then lies behind the UN chief ’ s call to India to set aside coal right away ?
The UNFCCC itself has reported that between 1990 and 2017 , the developed nations ( excluding Russia and east Europe ) have reduced their annual emissions by only 1.3 % .
This amounts to practically nil , given the inevitable errors in such accounting .
While talking about their phasing out of coal , which is often a decade or more into the future , the global North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dependence on oil and natural gas , both equally fossil fuels , with no timeline for their phaseout .
While it is amply clear that their commitments into the future set the world on a path for almost 3°C warming , they have diverted attention by fuzzy talk of “ carbon neutrality ” by 2050 , and the passage of resolutions declaring a climate emergency that amount to little more than moral posturing .
Also read | Cabinet nod for ordinance enabling FDI in coal mining Alongside , large sections of First World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the domestic political support required for climate action , have turned to pressure the developing countries to bear the brunt of climate mitigation .
Their strategies include the demonising of coal mining and coal-based power generation , promoting claims that immediate climate mitigation would miraculously lower domestic inequalities and ensure climate adaptation , promoting Third World natural resources as active sites of mitigation and not adaptation , and promoting theories of “ de-growth ” or the neglect of industrial and agricultural productivity for the pursuit of climate change mitigation .
All of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multilateral or First World financial and development institutions to force this agenda on to developing countries .
A section of concerned youth in the developing countries , fearful of their futures , but unsensitised to global and international inequalities , have also helped promote the undifferentiated rhetoric of a climate emergency for which all are held equally responsible .
The current incumbent of the post of UN Secretary General has embraced this strategy almost fully .
Tellingly , he has rarely , if indeed ever , called out the U.S. for its withdrawal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out the EU nations for their long-term reliance on gas and oil while hiding behind their overwhelming rhetorical focus on coal .
He has been promoting the agenda of carbon neutrality by 2050 as national level goals applicable to all , without any reference to global and international equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities in climate action .
With this wilful neglect of the core principles of the climate convention , and extreme demands that the developing world can not satisfy , the UN Secretary General risks unravelling even the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What will be the consequences if India indeed ceases all coal investment from this very year ?
Currently , roughly 2 GW of coal-based generation is being decommissioned per year , which implies that by 2030 , India will have only 184 GW of coal-based generation .
But meeting the 2030 electricity consumption target of 1,580 to 1,660 units per person per year , based on the continuation or a slight increase of the current decadal growth rate , will require anywhere between 650 GW to 750 GW of renewable energy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not substitute coal substantially by oil and gas and despite some wind potential , a huge part of this growth needs to come from solar .
None of this will really drive industry , particularly manufacturing , since renewables at best can meet residential consumption and some part of the demand from the service sector .
Currently , manufacturing growth powered by fossil fuel-based energy is itself a necessity , both technological and economic , for the transition to renewables .
Whether providing 70 % to 80 % of all generation capacity is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ development , including improvements in the efficiency of conversion of energy from its source into electricity , in the management of the corresponding electricity grids , as well as advance in storage technologies .
But since the Copenhagen Accord signalled the end of legally binding commitments to emissions reduction by the developed countries , technology development in climate change mitigation technologies has registered a significant fall .
Annual filing of patents shows a marked decline , ranging between 30 % to 50 % or more from 2009-10 to 2017 , across all subsectors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exception .
The exception is China which has a rising trend in select areas .
Regrettably , India ’ s presence in such patenting hovers between minimal to near-vanishing , a persistent trend over decades that is very difficult to reverse any time soon .
Lacking production capacity in renewable energy technologies and their large-scale operation , deployment on this scale will expose India to increasing and severe dependence on external sources and supply chains .
It is also a truism that renewables alongside coal will generate , directly and indirectly , far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the impossibility of India implementing a 45 % reduction in emissions by 2030 , the advice by the UN Secretary General , taken all together , amounts to asking for the virtual de-industrialisation of India , and stagnation in a low-development trap for the vast majority of its population .
India must unanimously reject the UN Secretary General ’ s call and reiterate its long-standing commitment to an equitable response to the challenge of global warming .
T. Jayaraman is with the M.S .
Swaminathan Research Foundation , Chennai .
Tejal Kanitkar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Studies , Bengaluru


climatedepot--2020-11-29--JunkScience.com’s collection of climate activists admitting climate is not about — the climate

This compilation of my 2020 “ If you need more evidence that climate is about communism… ” tweets lets climate activists present their real goal in their own words .
Don ’ t just accept what climate skeptics have been saying for the past several decades .
But do take the activists at their word .
Keep in mind this small collection is merely what I have tweeted this year under this particular rubric .
There is a motherlode of similar sentiments and positions all over the Internet .
[ Last Update : November 20 , 2020 ] .
52 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advocacy group ) .
Get rid of capitalism to ‘ stop the climate crisis.
’ Twitter , November 17 , 2020 .
51 .
Howie Hawkins ( 2020 Green Party presidential candidate ) .
“ Capitalism is killing the planet : Why We Need an Eco-Socialist Green New Deal.
” Twitter , November 15 , 2020 .
50 .
Communist Party USA .
Marching in NYC for Joe Biden , Communist Party USA demands , ‘ PEOPLE & NATURE BEFORE PROFITS.
’ Peoples World , November 5 , 2020 .
49 .
Nafeez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The only way to avoid [ climate catrastrophe ] is by shifting to a new [ more equitable ] social & economic framework called ‘ degrowth ’ .
” Vice , Oct0ber 21 , 2020 .
48 .
Democratic Socialists of America .
“ Green capitalism ” is an “ empty hope.
” Twitter , November 5 , 2020 .
47 .
Ian Dunlop and David Spratt ( Breakthrough National Centre for Climate Restoration , Australia ) .
World ’ s remaining carbon budget should be equally redistributed among the global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 .
45 .
Klaus Schwab ( Founder and Executive Chairman , World Economic Forum ) .
“ The same economic system that created so much prosperity in the golden age of American capitalism in the 1950s and 1960s is now creating inequality and climate change.
” Time , October 22 , 2020 .
43 .
Ryan Knight ( Podcaster and @ ProudSocialist ) .
“ The fight against climate change is a fight against capitalism.
” Twitter.com , October 26 , 2020 .
42 .
Aaron Bastani ( UK leftist ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capitalism play in the climate crisis .
Novaramedia.com , October 26 , 2020 .
40 .
Michael D. Higgins ( President of Ireland ) .
“ Worldwide response to climate change should be framed around principles of “ redistribution , social consumption & social investment.
” The Times ( UK ) , October 21 , 2020 .
39 .
Glascow Marxists .
“ A World on Fire : Capitalism and the Climate Crisis ” , Twitter , October 20 , 2020 .
38 .
Akshat Rathi ( Bloomberg News reporter ) .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the way of tackling climate change.
” , Twitter , October 11 , 2020 .
37 .
Liberation ( Newspaper of the Party for Socialism and Liberation ) .
” “ But in the fight against climate change , shifting how we work is a step in the right direction .
We just need a new system — w/a socialist planned economy — that makes the shift equitable for all.
” LiberationNews.org , October 17 , 2020 .
36 .
Ireland .
“ Irish carbon tax to be redistributed to the poor.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 .
33 .
New York City-Democratic Socialists of America Eco-Socialist Working Group .
Any capitalism is excess capitalism .
Twitter , October 8 , 2020 .
32 .
Salon .
“ The candidates don ’ t get it : from pandemics to climate change , the real problem is capitalism itself ” Salon , October 11 , 2020 .
30 .
Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò and Beba Cibralic ( Georgetown University ) .
“ But to mitigate climate change effectively and fairly , the international community needs to broadly redistribute funds across states.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 .
29 .
Clover Hogan ( Youth climate activist ) .
“ The climate crisis is the symptom of broken systems… The bedrock of these broken systems is a system of capitalism… ” , New York Times , October 9 , 2020 .
28 .
David Stasavage ( NYU prof ) .
“ Constitutional checks and balances… make it far more difficult to respond to critical challenges that require collective action such as saving our climate.
” Washington Post , October 9 , 2020 .
27 .
Hans Christoph Hirt ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Companies should have a ‘ social license ’ to operate , including ‘ mothballing dividends ’ , because of climate.
” Reuters , April 15 2020 .
25 .
Sir David Attenborough ( Naturalist ) .
Calls for an end to democracy to fix climate .
iNews , January 26 , 2020 .
24 .
Sunny Hundal ( Leftist British journalist ) .
“ It ’ s controversial to say this on the left but we can tackle the climate crisis without socialism and we should.
” The Times ( UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Extinction Rebellion .
Climate activists march in solidarity with Marxist Black Lives Matter .
The Times ( UK ) , August 26 , 2020 .
21 .
French Socialist Party .
Moves its headquarters near the French Communist Party in order to integrate the French left for the “ climate revolution.
” New York Times , January 12 , 2020 .
20 .
Just Transition Commission ( Scottish government climate advisory group ) .
“ We simply will not succeed if justice for workers and communities is not at the core of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will transform all sectors of our economy and society.
” The Times ( UK ) , February 28 , 2020 .
19 .
Climate Assembly ( Citizens group established by the UK government ) .
“ Reaching Britain ’ s climate target must be fair for all.
” Reuters , September 15 , 2020 .
18 .
Edward Luce ( Financial Times columnist ) .
“ Democracies are ill-suited to deal with climate change.
” Financial Times , January 5 , 2020 .
17 .
Andreas Malm ( Research , Lund University ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we need an ecological Leninism.
” JacobinMag.org , June 16 , 2020 .
15 .
Rhiana Gunn Wright ( Activist ) .
“ Climate is moving from being seen as a raceless , ‘ scientific ’ issue to being recognized as another place where outcomes are shaped by legacies and systems of oppression.
” Rolling Stone , August 11 , 2020 .
14 .
Earth Day .
Culmination of 50th Earth Day celebration timed to end on May 1 , International Workers Day .
Washington Post , April 22 , 2020 .
13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greece ) .
“ Once the epidemic ends , we must demonstrate that a better , green , post-capitalist lifestyle can be fun !
” , Twitter.com , March 13 , 2020 .
12 .
Eric Holthaus ( Meteorologist ) .
“ The climate emergency is now inseparable from the broader struggle for justice in all its forms.
” Sept 5 , 2020 .
11 .
Jamie Henn ( Co-founder , 350.org ) .
“ Coronavirus has basically turned off the global economy .
Let ’ s install a new operating system before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , April 22 , 2020 .
10 .
Naomi Klein ( Canadian leftist and author ) .
“ We ’ re in the midst of a democratic socialist revival , which is breathing oxygen into the political imagination and made us think maybe we can [ take climate action ] .
” HuffPost.com , January 5 , 2020 .
9 .
The Nation .
“ We need to seriously question the ideal of private homeownership.
” The Nation , December 26 , 2019 .
7 .
Sunrise Movement .
( Green New Deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are ready to fight for Sanders… ’ The Democrats are planning their own funeral if they nominate Joe.
’ ” Washington Post , March 5 , 2020 .
6 .
Extinction Rebellion .
“ Extinction Rebellion plans to target an economic system that is “ causing cancer in our planet.
” The Times ( UK ) , May 4 , 2020 .
5 .
Pope Francis .
Coronavirus intersects with climate , which requires “ change , both in production and consumption patterns and in private and public actions .
It is time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Associated Press , May 18 , 2020 .
4 .
Greta Thunberg ’ s # SchoolStrike4Climate .
Make capitalism history .
From the Sep 25 , 2020 school strike in Aschaffenberg , Germany .
2 .
Sir David Attenborough .
Capitalism is the main driver of ecological breakdown .
BBC , October 8 , 2020 .
1 .
Pope Francis .
“ The current economic system [ of market capitalism has failed and ] is unsustainable.
” Associated Press , October 10 , 2020 .
Even media climate bedwetters like The Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been hijacked by communists .
The Times ( UK ) .
“ Extinction Rebellion has allowed a hard core of ideologues and Marxist infiltrators to dictate its agenda.
” Sept. 7 , 2020 .
In conclusion and as this non-communist observes : Melody McIntyre “ Their main objective is to bring down Democracy ” , January 11 , 2020 .


climatedepot--2020-11-29--Watch: Tucker Carlson explain the Great Reset

Watch the first 20 min .
of this link : On today ’ s episode of ‘ Tucker Carlson Tonight @ @ @ @ @ into the start of widespread lockdowns in America ; meanwhile , New York Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ admit their mistakes during the COVID crisis .


climatedepot--2020-11-29--Interview with Michael Shellenberger on renewable energy & nuclear

In Episode 105 of District of Conservation , Gabriella Hoffman spoke to Michael Shellenberger—bestselling author and founder & president of @ @ @ @ @ on to discuss his book , Apocalypse Never , his work with Environmental Progress , @ @ @ @ @ on renewable energy , why he advocates for nuclear energy , the truth about wildfires @ @ @ @ @ future of environmentalism looks like .


climatedepot--2020-11-29--Wash Post: ‘Joe Biden must be the climate change president’ – He should push carbon tax

THE DAY Joe Biden became president-elect , he listed climate change among his top priorities .
Last week , he @ @ @ @ @ John F. Kerry to be his climate czar .
It is crucial Mr. Biden and @ @ @ @ @ The United States has squandered too much time .
The world has almost none left @ @ @ @ @ generations living and those only just being born.The biggest looming problem is the likelihood that @ @ @ @ @ resistance in Congress and a conservative Supreme Court inclined to block executive branch initiatives .
@ @ @ @ @ Republicans acknowledged the threat of warming , while the fossil fuel industry funded campaigns to @ @ @ @ @ even major oil companies say that climate change is a severe problem and favor a @ @ @ @ @ , but Republicans have made denying scientific expertise , and the science on global warming @ @ @ @ @ of core identity .
Still , there is room for hope .


climatedepot--2020-11-29--The ExxonKnew Lie Debunked

The ExxonKnew Lie Debunked

E & E News obtained hundreds of pages of documents on GM ’ s corporate history from the General Motors Heritage Center and Wayne State University in Detroit .
Documents on Ford ’ s climate research were unearthed by the Center for International Environmental Law .
The Climate Investigations Center provided additional material on both manufacturers .
The investigation reveals striking parallels between two of the country ’ s biggest automakers and Exxon Mobil Corp. , one of the world ’ s largest publicly traded oil and gas companies .
Exxon privately knew about climate change in the late 1970s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades , according to 2015 reporting by InsideClimate News and the Los Angeles Times that spawned the hashtag # ExxonKnew and fueled a wave of climate litigation against the oil major .
The E & E “ journalist ” has a 2016 BA in English… She probably didn ’ t take much in the way of science courses , and certainly not in the 1970 ’ s .
Note to Ms. Joselow : Everyone “ knew about climate change 50 years ago ” … On the influence of changes in the CO concentration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Earth ’ s surface and on the climate The numerical value of a temperature change under the influence of a CO change as calculated by Plass is valid only for a dry atmosphere .
Overlapping of the absorption bands of CO and H O in the range around 15 μ essentially diminishes the temperature changes .
New calculations give ΔT = + 1.5° when the CO content increases from 300 to 600 ppm .
Cloudiness diminishes the radiation effects but not the temperature changes because under cloudy skies larger temperature changes are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equal change in the downward long-wave radiation .
The increase in the water vapor content of the atmosphere with rising temperature causes a self-amplification effect which results in almost arbitrary temperature changes , e.g .
for constant relative humidity ΔT = +10° in the above mentioned case .
It is shown , however , that the changed radiation conditions are not necessarily compensated for by a temperature change .
The effect of an increase in CO from 300 to 330 ppm can be compensated for completely by a change in the water vapor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a change in the cloudiness of 1 per cent of its value without the occurrence of temperature changes at all .
Thus the theory that climatic variations are effected by variations in the CO content becomes very questionable .
In this case , we must distinguish between the assumptions that the water vapor content ( in cm l.e . )
remains unchanged in spite of heating ( cooling ) of the atmosphere and that it increases ( decreases ) .
Constant absolute humidity means that the relative humidity ( f ) decreases from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1° or lowered by 4.66 per cent per deg .
According to the above-mentioned calculations , an increase in CO from 300 to 600 ppm gives us a temperature change ΔT = +1.5° for Δf = -4.66 per cent per deg , and a temperature change ΔT = +9.6° for Δf = 0 .
We recognize that for Δf = 0.8 per cent per deg the temperature change becomes infinite .
Very small variations effect a reversal of sign or huge amplifications .
It is not too difficult to infer from these numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a changed CO concentration can be compensated for completely without any variation in the surface temperature when the cloudiness is increased by +0.006 or the water vapor content is decreased by -0.07 cm l.e .
These are variations in the cloudiness by 1 per cent of its value or in the water vapor content by 3 per cent of its value .
No meteorologist or climatologist would dare to determine the mean cloudiness or mean water content of the atmosphere with such accuracy ; much less can a change of this order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denied .
Because of these values the entire theory of climatic changes by CO variations is becoming questionable .
Möller , F. ( 1963 ) , On the influence of changes in the CO concentration in air on the radiation balance of the Earth ’ s surface and on the climate .
J. Geophys .
Res.
, 68 ( 13 ) , 3877–3886 , doi:10.1029/JZ068i013p03877 .
The atmosphere ’ s blanketing effect over the earth ’ s surface has been compared to the functioning of a greenhouse .
Short-wave sunlight passes as easily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the atmosphere .
Because glass is opaque to the long-wave radiation from the warm interior of the greenhouse , it hinders the escape of energy .
As a planet , the earth is not warming or cooling appreciably on the average , because it loses as much radiant energy as it gains .
FORECASTING THE FUTURE .
We can now try to decide if we are now in an interglacial stage , with other glacials to follow , or if the world has finally emerged from the Cenozoic Ice Age .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radiation of the type shown in Fig .
16-18 must continue and therefore future glacial stages will continue .
According to the theory just described , as long as the North and South Poles retain their present thermally isolated locations , the polar latitudes will be frigid ; and as the Arctic Ocean keeps oscillating between ice-free and ice-covered states , glacial-interglacial climates will continue .
Finally , regardless of which theory one subscribes to , as long as we see no fundamental change in the late Cenozoic climate trend , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indicates that no change has occurred , we can expect that the fluctuations of the past million years will continue .
Suggestion that changing carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere could be a major factor in climate change dates from 1861 , when it was proposed by British physicist John Tyndall .
Unfortunately we can not estimate accurately changes of past CO content of either atmosphere or oceans , nor is there any firm quantitative basis for estimating the the magnitude of drop in carbon dioxide content necessary to trigger glaciation .
Moreover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect is controversial , for the rate of ocean-atmosphere equalization is uncertain .
Dott , Robert H. & Roger L. Batten .
Evolution of the Earth .
McGraw-Hill , Inc. Second Edition 1976. p. 441 .
Get the picture yet ?
Everyone ( scientists ) knew that CO was a “ greenhouse gas.
” Everyone ( scientists ) knew that , all other factors held equal , an increase in the concentration of atmospheric CO would cause the bulk atmosphere to become somewhat warmer than it otherwise would be .
Everyone ( scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow for all other factors to be held equal .
No one knew how sensitive the Earth ’ s climate was to atmospheric CO .
To this day , no one knows .
Every sentient being should know that the benefits of fossil fuels to the well-being of the world have far outweighed any harm that ~1-2 °C of warming may have caused… Particularly since that warming began at the end of the Little Ice Age , the coldest climatic period of the Holocene Epoch .
There ’ s more evidence that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the whole , extremely beneficial than harmful .
Let this sink in This graph appears as Figure 3 in nearly every bogus climate lawsuit filed against oil companies over the past couple of years : Here ’ s the same graph with HadCRUT4 NH overlaid on it : HadCRUT4 tracks the bottom of the uncertainty range ( just like modern climate models ) and it is barely exceeding the “ approximate range of undisturbed climate in past few centuries.
” According to IPCC AR4 , all of the warming since about 1975 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Natural forcing alone ( as the IPCC understands it ) would have led to the climate being cooler now , than when “ the Ice Age Cometh ” …


climatedepot--2020-11-29--Pope Francis in TED talk: ‘We only have a few years’ to fix climate change

VATICAN CITY , October 23 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Pope Francis once again called for action to be taken on “ climate change , ” this time making the alarmist claim that there are less than 30 years to do so .
The Holy Father didn ’ t mention God , or Jesus Christ , at all in his 13-minute video .
The new video is part of TED ’ s “ Countdown ” series , which seeks “ to accelerate solutions to the climate crisis ” and has the goal of building “ a better future by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2030 , in the race to a zero-carbon world.
” Pope Francis opens by saying , “ Science tells us , every day , with more precision , that urgent action is needed … if we are to keep the hope of avoiding radical and catastrophic climate change.
” He reemphasizes the point , “ This is a scientific fact.
” He calls for radical change , declaring that a fundamental shift in the way we live was inevitable , but stops short of giving concrete examples of what would change .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come out the same — we can not come out the same : from a crisis , we never come out the same — and it will take time , and hard work , to overcome it.
” “ We will have to … persuade those in doubt ; imagine new solutions , ” he continues , referring to those sceptical of the climate change agenda .
He further states that the goal must be to build “ a world where we can meet the needs of the present generations , including everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generations.
” Pope Francis makes note of the concept of “ integral ecology , ” a chapter title and a dominant theme in his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si , which he characterizes as a common response to the “ cry of the Earth ” and “ the cry of the poor.
” This concept , according to the Pope , reminds us that we are “ interdependent on each other , as well as on our Mother Earth , ” and should be the guiding principle of future life .
The pontiff proposes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are drawn from his teaching in Laudato Si .
The first step is education which is centered on care of the earth , “ developing the understanding that environmental problems are linked to human needs.
” He praises the “ new ecological and social awareness ” as well as the fight which some wage for “ defense of the environment and for justice.
” As a second issue , the Pope mentions water and nutrition : “ Providing adequate nutrition for all , through non-destructive farming methods , should become the main purpose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and distribution.
” Thirdly , Pope Francis calls for the replacement of “ fossil fuels with clean energy sources.
” He states that scientist think there are less than “ 30 years ” in which to “ drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
” The globalist theme continues , as the Pope suggests “ excluding from investments those companies that do not meet the parameters of integral ecology ” whilst rewarding those that do .
In a decidedly environmentalist turn of phrase , the Pope states : “ In fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , cultivated and protected .
We can not continue to squeeze it like an orange .
And we can say that this — taking care of the Earth — is a human right.
” The Pope also attacks the current predominant economic system , stating that it is “ unsustainable.
” Consequently , we have a “ moral imperative , and the practical urgency , to rethink many things : the way we produce ; the way we consume ; our culture of waste ; our short-term vision ; the exploitation of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the growing inequalities and our dependence on harmful energy sources.
” Integral ecology is what the Pope identifies as being the foundation of a new relation between man and nature .
He continues by saying that it leads to a “ new economy , ” focused on “ integral well-being of the human being and to the improvement — not the destruction — of our common home.
” This system of life would also necessitate a revolution , or renewal in the political system , which is termed as “ one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ involves all peoples and it involves Nature.
” Pope Francis closes by stating that “ we must act with urgency.
” In the 13-minute video , the Pope never mentions God , or Jesus Christ , or even the importance of religion .
The only two paragraphs of the transcript containing the word “ faith ” do not refer to Catholicism , but simply ask people of any faith or none to commit to the climate change prevention effort .
The Pope is no stranger to promoting the climate change argument , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk , has been corrected by scientists who say the “ Pope is getting terrible advice from some exalted churchmen who are seriously deficient in scientific knowledge.
” In 2017 , Pope Francis appeared in a film warning of the dangers of climate change , and more recently encouraged climate change activist Greta Thunberg to continue her alarmist campaign for fighting climate change .
Pope Francis also sent a message to the United Nations 2019 conference on climate change , demanding political action to prevent climate change , as well as trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be protected from its effects .
Prior to that , in his message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation , the Pope said , “ We have caused a climate emergency that gravely threatens nature and life itself , including our own .
”


climatedepot--2020-11-29--Morano: Kerry as ‘climate envoy’ would solidify the COVID/Climate connection

Kerry , the former Secretary of State under Barack Obama , has been named “ climate envoy for national security ” by Biden and will focus on climate change as a member of the National Security Council , The Associated Press reported .
“ John Kerry now thinks that COVID-19 and climate require the same solution , ” warns Climate Depot spokesman Marc Morano , a skeptic of man-made climate change .
“ I would expect a climate issue under a Climate Envoy John Kerry to be either secondary or equal to the COVID-19 issue… ” If it sounds silly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate change , Kerry disagrees .
The parallels are “ screaming at us , ” Kerry told MSNBC on Earth Day earlier this year , and called it a “ tragically teachable moment ” for the planet .
Kerry signed the Paris Climate Agreement in 2016 on behalf of the Obama administration but the Trump administration announced in 2017 it was leaving on the grounds the agreement harmed U.S. jobs while heavy polluting countries such as China and India were not cooperating .
“ Under the agreement , ” President Trump said of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to increase these emissions by a staggering number of years—13 .
They can do whatever they want for 13 years.
” An article at Scientific American that criticized Trump ’ s decision at the time went on to parrot the argument from China and India : They are “ developing countries ” that need more time to improve their economies .
Also when he was Secretary of State , Kerry famously responded to gruesome terrorist attacks in France in 2015 by inviting James Taylor to sing “ You ’ ve got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That awkward performance came after the Obama administration failed to send a high-ranking official to a Paris march condemning the attacks .
More recently , Kerry was secretly meeting with Iranian officials in an effort to woo the regime after Trump pulled the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal .
Kerry acknowledged he had met with Iran ’ s foreign minister “ three or four times ” in a Fox News interview .
Kerry , who is ultra-wealthy , was mocked on social media last year over calling for a “ world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owns numerous homes around the world , as well as a yacht and a Gulfstream jet .
Morano recalls that Kerry signed the Paris agreement with his granddaughter next to him , using her to push the claim the U.S. was joining to save the planet for future generations .
“ Fast forward a few years , ” Morano says , “ and architects of that say it was inadequate , woeful , not enough , and we need several more — much more –restrictive UN Paris Agreement in order to save the @ @ @


climatedepot--2020-11-29--Fmr. Obama advisor Lawrence H. Summers on COVID lockdown’s impact: ‘$200,000 per family or 90% of a

Fmr. Obama advisor Lawrence H. Summers on COVID lockdown’s impact: ‘$200,000 per family or 90% of a year’s GDP’ – ‘4x output loss of Great Recession, 2x cost of all wars since 9/11, & roughly cost of climate change in next 50 years’

Some other metrics : this is 4x the output loss of the Great Recession , 2x the cost of all wars since 9/11 , and roughly the cost of climate change in the next 50 years .
Let me explain the estimates .
3/13 Conventional economic work values a statistical life at about $ 7 million per life .
Thus , economic loss from premature mortality = $ 4.4 trillion .
6/13 7/13 There will also be long-term health impairments .
The extent of this is not known entirely .
We use estimates from COVASIM by Kerr et al .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease to deaths .
Then use experience from SARS to get share of those who will suffer impairment.7/13 Assuming surviving COVID with complications is like having COPD , this is a loss of about one-third of QALY , or $ 2.6 trillion total 8/13 Finally , population mental health has been severely adversely affected .
Symptoms of anxiety & depression went from 11 % of the population pre-COVID to 41 % now .
This is 80 million people .
9/13 The fact that this number is so high implies that investments in reducing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the value of testing to be AT LEAST 30 times the cost .
12/13 Congress is currently debating a second economic support measure .
Our suggestion : at least 5 % of any such bill should be devoted to testing and contact tracing .
13/13


climatedepot--2020-11-30--‘No…EU emissions are not down 24% since 1990 — They have been exported to Asia in exchange for impor

‘No…EU emissions are not down 24% since 1990 — They have been exported to Asia in exchange for imported manufactured goods’

No… EU emissions are not down 24 % since 1990 .
They have been exported to Asia in exchange for @ @ @ @ @ In any event , global emissions ( what supposedly matters ) are up ~60 % @ @ @ @


climatedepot--2020-11-30--Here we go again: ‘Clean-tech boom 2.0’ – ‘The last clean-tech investment frenzy ended in disaster’

Here we go again: ‘Clean-tech boom 2.0’ – ‘The last clean-tech investment frenzy ended in disaster’ – ‘Investors plowed $25 billion into clean tech startups from 2006 to 2011—but they lost more than half their money’

How VCs can avoid another bloodbath as the clean-tech boom 2.0 begins The last clean-tech investment frenzy ended in disaster .
Investors insist they ’ ve learned their lessons .
Last decade ’ s clean-tech gold rush ended in disaster , wiping out billions in investments and scaring venture capitalists away for years .
But a new investment boom is building again , this time around a broader set of climate-related technologies .
Funding has soared more than 3,750 % since 2013 , according to a PwC report this fall , as numerous climate-focused venture firms emerge and established players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that got scorched the last time ) .
Investments are poised to rise further as market , policy , and technological forces align to make venture capitalists and entrepreneurs more confident .
One of these factors is President-elect Joe Biden ’ s pledge to push through climate-friendly legislation , regulations , and executive orders .
There are also rising hopes that Congress will pass stimulus bills that would funnel massive amounts of money into clean tech , much as the Obama administration did during the global financial crisis .
Regardless of what happens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers of states , nations , and corporations are committing to achieve net zero emissions in the coming decades .
Those targets alone promise to create significant demand for clean energy and other climate-related technologies .
“ Climate has many , many problems , with many different solutions—and that will create many opportunities to build big , valuable companies , ” Andrew Beebe , managing director of Obvious Ventures , which invests in clean-energy and transportation startups , said in an email .
“ From batteries to mobility to energy efficiency to carbon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fate of the next boom , however , could depend on how quickly and fully the economy recovers from the devastating covid-driven downturn—and how well investors learned their lessons from the last bust .
The original clean-tech boom was a bloodbath .
Investors plowed some $ 25 billion into startups from 2006 to 2011—but they lost more than half their money in the end , according to an MIT Energy Initiative analysis in 2016 .
In fact , more than 90 % of the companies funded after 2007 didn ’ t even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of factors were to blame .
The global recession dried up the market for new or follow-on investments .
The collapse of silicon prices as China scaled up solar panel production hammered thin-film startups and others pursuing alternative approaches .
And the advanced biofuel sector struggled to compete as the downturn undercut oil prices and the rise of fracking tapped into new domestic natural-gas reserves .
But the MIT analysis concluded that “ external economic trends ” weren ’ t the primary problem .
The bigger issue was that startups still deep in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the venture capital industry , which was counting on the sorts of high returns in three to five years that it enjoyed in software .
Clean-tech companies required too much money and time to demonstrate and scale up their technologies , says John Weyant , a professor of management science and engineering at Stanford , who coauthored a book examining what went wrong .
Advanced biofuels , thin-film solar companies , and all sorts of energy storage startups of the era were simply too immature and too expensive to be commercialized—and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Weyant ’ s book also concludes that while clean-tech founders may have had ample experience developing technologies , many had little in building manufacturing capacity and operating businesses .
That made it hard to compete in commodity fields with powerful incumbent players and ultra-thin margins .
A lot has changed since then .
Clean technologies themselves have gotten better and cheaper .
Renewables can now largely compete directly on cost with coal and natural-gas plants , following a massive buildout of manufacturing plants and solar and wind farms around the globe .
Likewise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lithium-ion batteries is making electric vehicles more attractive to consumers and automakers .
“ Despite the headwinds of the Trump administration , the march to clean energy and a clean economy is moving full speed ahead , ” says Nancy Pfund , founder and managing partner at DBL Partners .


climatedepot--2020-11-30--BOMBSHELL: U.N. Admits Emission Reductions Have Been Futile in War on ‘Climate Change’

BOMBSHELL : U.N .
Admits Emission Reductions Have Been Futile in War on Climate ChangeClimate Realism / From a World Meteorological Organization ( WMO ) press release titled “ Carbon dioxide levels continue at record levels , despite COVID-19 lockdown , ” comes this statement about the effects of carbon dioxide ( CO ) reductions during the COVID-19 lockdown : “ Preliminary estimates indicate a reduction in the annual global emission between 4.2 % and 7.5 % .
At the global scale , an emissions reduction this scale will not cause atmospheric CO to go down .
CO will continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slightly reduced pace ( 0.08-0.23 ppm per year lower ) .
This falls well within the 1 ppm natural inter-annual variability .
This means that on the short-term the impact [ of CO reduction ] of the COVID-19 confinements can not be distinguished from natural variability… ” Let this sink in : The WMO admits reduce carbon dioxide emissions are having no effect on climate that is distinguishable from natural variability .
The WMO acknowledges that after our global economic lockdown , where CO emissions from travel , industry , and power generation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t any measurable difference in global atmospheric CO levels .
Zero , zilch , none , nada .
Of course , we already knew this and wrote about it on Climate at a Glance : Coronavirus Impact on CO2 Levels .
An analysis by climate scientist Dr. Roy Spencer showed that despite crashing economies and large cutbacks in travel , industry , and energy generation , climate scientists have yet to find any hint of a drop in atmospheric CO levels .
The curve kept advancing in an upward trajectory despite the lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided by Dr. Spencer : Can you imagine the kind of extreme global economic lockdown that would be required to flatten the atmospheric CO curve ?
No nation or it ’ s people could tolerate the draconian reductions that would be required to significantly change the upward trajectory of global CO levels .
Climate alarmists have repeatedly suggested that the COVID-19 lockdown is a trial run for a climate lockdown .
I suspect they were hoping the CO curve would respond to the COVID-19 lockdown in a way they could present as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dramatically lower CO trajectory was within reach .
But the global experiment in economic reduction failed to produce any atmospheric CO change at all .
But now , with the WMO officially weighing in , we ’ ve seen proof that the kind of extreme lifestyle cutbacks climate alarmists are proposing won ’ t make any measurable difference at all .
Clearly , despite the belief that we can “ manage global climate just by changing our lifestyles , ” the Earth continues unabated on its path of natural variability without a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ ve said before that Reversing Trump ’ s Commonsense Climate Policies Would Be a Nightmare for America , and this is the strongest indicator yet that economic misery in the name of “ saving the planet ” is a pointless exercise in futility .
The post BOMBSHELL : U.N .
Admits Emission Reductions Have Been Futile in War on Climate Change appeared first on Climate Realism .
Chart showing the futility of climate agreements to slow CO2 rise :