Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
Today, Nate is joined by energy and technology historian Jean-Baptiste Fressoz for a lesson on the importance of understanding the historical trajectory of energy use for realistically navigating the unprecedented challenges humanity faces today – including the dominant narrative of a modern-day “energy transition.”
By expanding the prevalence of IUI programs, and making sure the specifics of these programs are tailored to the benefit of working people, it is possible to effectively tackle both the climate crisis and affordability crisis at once.
Trump, as promised, signed dozens of executive orders on Day 1. Included in the batch was the order Unleashing American Energy (EO). By energy is meant coal, oil, and gas. It’s telling that when this administration and too many Republican members of Congress talk about an “all of the above” strategy, they somehow leave out renewables, including efficiency.
In this Frankly, Nate explores seven potential macro-risks associated with AI, from the amplification of wealth inequality to the (literal) existential threat of superintelligence. Through the lens of ‘obligatory technology’ and Jevons paradox, he examines how AI could turbocharge the economic superorganism – accelerating its impact on resource extraction, ecosystem degradation, and human meaning – all while fragmenting our shared reality and concentrating power in dangerous ways.
A critical component strategy for creating a viable future energy system and addressing climate change, must surely be energy demand reduction (minimisation), e.g. through relocalisation, retrofitting buildings, local food growing, and reducing waste, to curb the size of resource [very much plural] demands, get us below overshoot and avoid collapse (if we can).
The adoption of renewable energy represents a glimmer of renewed hope for Tribes, illuminating a path forward despite the shadows cast by systematic subjugation.
Can you think of anything built by humans that you would expect to last 100,000 years? I can’t.
There is a battle for the role of the state, with democratic community movements worldwide — including citizens, students, the labour movement, grassroots organisations,, and a myriad of other diverse constituencies — demanding that the state act to overturn deregulation’s hegemony.
Canadians clearly want to turn the page on Trudeau’s image-infatuated tenure. However, it would be a grave mistake for the Liberal party to also assume they need to jettison climate policy under the mistaken assumption that being too progressive is what led to the party’s current decline.
As Malm and Carton explain, if firm policies were put in place to “leave fossil fuels in the ground”, stranding the assets of fossil fuel companies, there would be “layer upon layer” of value destruction.
When the University of Toronto’s School of the Environment announced in October that it will no longer accept donations from the fossil fuel industry, the news sent waves through the growing movement to get coal, oil and gas companies off campuses. Among other things, that means banning fossil fuel corporations from financing academic research.
The UK’s electricity was the cleanest ever in 2024, new Carbon Brief analysis shows, with carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per unit falling by more than two-thirds in a decade.
