Another excellent article. Thank you! As a climate and democracy activist/organizer with Third Act Maryland, I have conversations all the time about whether it's more important to focus on climate or on democracy. I tell people fighting for the climate and fighting for democracy are really the same thing, and I point out that nothing pisses off Trump more than windmills and solar panels (with the possible exception of black and brown people standing up for their rights).
So we're working to pass state-level climate legislation, pressuring grid operator PJM, campaigning for redistricting, organizing Tesla Takedown rallies (still!), getting trained up to be ICE observers, organizing GOTV events, and on and on.
All are great points, but last connection is the strongest I think for helping myself and others understand the unique value of climate journalism in the current moment, precisely because it seems so unimportant and invisible.
Deaths due to lack of methane regulations or other EPA regulations or climate change itself still matter too. And if that doesn't get covered then I do think people forget about them. It is worth remembering that even things like asthma hospitalizations are not just a statistic but real people whose lives could be made better and there are people in power preventing that, just like they are preventing any accountability to ICE or making immigrant lives better.
All to say don't feel embarrassed, because it is all connected, and the work you do is awesome.
Corporate polluters don't care about the environment. They live in the present, not the future. For them, and any who are wannabe rich people, living in the present is the only thing that matters. Make lot's of money and spend it today. It might not be there tomorrow.
Then we have the gold plated wannabe king in the white house who only live vicariously around his donors and sycophants. Once he's gone, we may be able to turn things around again. The difference now, is we'll have to play catchup to undo all of the damage the gilded king is doing. I don't see any good outcome for many years to come. China is so far ahead of the U.S. when it comes to green energy now, at great cost to their environment and the people. For them, not being dependent on imported oil is more important than any environmental concerns. Which will eventually catch up to them. The planet is pretty unforgiving. It just takes a while before revenge for wrongdoings kicks in.
Global warming is just one of those revenge tactics. Slow to get going but packs a serious punch once it gets up to speed.
In the end, the destruction of the planet is not possible to avoid regardless of how rich one becomes promoting it. You might delay the personal affects, but eventually your offspring are going to also pay the price. This is one of the more insipid aspects of the continuing extraction and acceleration of carbon release. Maybe they are all single with no offspring or family they care about!
Years ago I started a blog focused on supporting climate-aligned workers and people entering the field. Reading your piece, it struck me that another way to influence the arc of this assault is to move many more people into climate and green careers—especially by actively recruiting from extraction and adjacent industries. I know there are many people who hate that their source of income is part of destroying our future.
Many of the most consequential climate decisions won’t be made only by activists or policymakers, but by the people doing the work every day inside energy, finance, infrastructure, land use, and technology roles.
I’ve recently finished a 300 page book that I’m giving away free to help people explore and transition into climate-related careers. If it’s okay, I’d like to share the link here (no email collection or follow required—this is simply my contribution to the climate movement):piano-tangerine-38a7.squarespace.com.
You are totally right, this is one single big fight, everything is linked. Climate justice and social justice can only be achieved together. The reign of big money, of those making money because they have money, and are not taxed on those profits, must come to an end. They contribute so much to the problem considering their demographics. Corporations act like soulless entities, aiming for profit for shareholders, without any consideration for common good.
Rachel Maddow explains very well in “Blowout” how oil has always been a strong disputer in politics.
I think power – in the thermodynamic sens, measured in Watts or HP – was always linked to political power. It was true with coal during the Industrial Revolution, slavery in southern parts of USA, before and after independence. It is now true with Big Oil, worldwide. Those controlling large amount of energy and power can produce goods and make populations dependent.
Information is the other important aspect of political power. State and big corp controlled media are bad for democracy. And now information about citizens is a growing issue, as it can lead to control of populations.
Independent media, covering all aspects of society, are essential. This is especially true in the field of environment. By cutting the link we have with Nature, big corporations and totalitarian states separate us from our humanity. This is why your work is important and appreciated.
This is awesome Emily. I feel like it would be remiss not to cross pollinate with a link to Amy Westervelt’s latest on Drilled. I think we’re all grappling with these feelings right now.
I agree with both of your essays. I have not written my Substack in months because I do not know where to begin with this onslaught of state violence and lies. I wrote about the destruction of Trump’s policies on clean tech, science, and US competitiveness. But, would I just write about Trump’s destructive actions? I have long ago come to the same conclusion as you. We must cut oil and gas demand with superior technologies to cut off their super pac funds to force their agenda on us.
It's pretty galling hearing about the historical precedent of charges of "domestic terrorism" and cries of "insurgency" and "jihadism" levied against indigenous defenders of tribal lands and the planet in general. They're not the invaders, the colonizers. It's a deliberate distortion of the record.
Yeah, my profile pic is from the time and place of the Treaty People Gathering. The fusion of state law enforcement and corporate power over the people, the environment, and democratic process is the cornerstone of fascism. The Line 3 law enforcement funding structure was known or strongly suspected at the time. It happened under Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, too, and they did nothing material to investigate and stop it. Thus, while MAGA republicans were actively strengthening and institutionalizing corporate "law enforcement" for profit then and going gangbusters now, the democrats are probably not going to save us. The party is compromised by business ties and the perverse need to finance campaigns through corporate and PAC donations. This makes them (and I am one so, us) or any major political party that wants to win elections under the current campaign finance system an unlikely entity to organize and lead a successful movement to change course.
Another excellent article. Thank you! As a climate and democracy activist/organizer with Third Act Maryland, I have conversations all the time about whether it's more important to focus on climate or on democracy. I tell people fighting for the climate and fighting for democracy are really the same thing, and I point out that nothing pisses off Trump more than windmills and solar panels (with the possible exception of black and brown people standing up for their rights).
So we're working to pass state-level climate legislation, pressuring grid operator PJM, campaigning for redistricting, organizing Tesla Takedown rallies (still!), getting trained up to be ICE observers, organizing GOTV events, and on and on.
Awesome article!! I hope a lot more people read it!!
Boom - dropping that dynamite (wait, is that not climate-friendly to say anymore?) 💪
Hmmm this seems a question for another article 😂
Absolutely!! Well said.
All are great points, but last connection is the strongest I think for helping myself and others understand the unique value of climate journalism in the current moment, precisely because it seems so unimportant and invisible.
Deaths due to lack of methane regulations or other EPA regulations or climate change itself still matter too. And if that doesn't get covered then I do think people forget about them. It is worth remembering that even things like asthma hospitalizations are not just a statistic but real people whose lives could be made better and there are people in power preventing that, just like they are preventing any accountability to ICE or making immigrant lives better.
All to say don't feel embarrassed, because it is all connected, and the work you do is awesome.
Corporate polluters don't care about the environment. They live in the present, not the future. For them, and any who are wannabe rich people, living in the present is the only thing that matters. Make lot's of money and spend it today. It might not be there tomorrow.
Then we have the gold plated wannabe king in the white house who only live vicariously around his donors and sycophants. Once he's gone, we may be able to turn things around again. The difference now, is we'll have to play catchup to undo all of the damage the gilded king is doing. I don't see any good outcome for many years to come. China is so far ahead of the U.S. when it comes to green energy now, at great cost to their environment and the people. For them, not being dependent on imported oil is more important than any environmental concerns. Which will eventually catch up to them. The planet is pretty unforgiving. It just takes a while before revenge for wrongdoings kicks in.
Global warming is just one of those revenge tactics. Slow to get going but packs a serious punch once it gets up to speed.
In the end, the destruction of the planet is not possible to avoid regardless of how rich one becomes promoting it. You might delay the personal affects, but eventually your offspring are going to also pay the price. This is one of the more insipid aspects of the continuing extraction and acceleration of carbon release. Maybe they are all single with no offspring or family they care about!
I appreciate this analysis, Emily.
Years ago I started a blog focused on supporting climate-aligned workers and people entering the field. Reading your piece, it struck me that another way to influence the arc of this assault is to move many more people into climate and green careers—especially by actively recruiting from extraction and adjacent industries. I know there are many people who hate that their source of income is part of destroying our future.
Many of the most consequential climate decisions won’t be made only by activists or policymakers, but by the people doing the work every day inside energy, finance, infrastructure, land use, and technology roles.
I’ve recently finished a 300 page book that I’m giving away free to help people explore and transition into climate-related careers. If it’s okay, I’d like to share the link here (no email collection or follow required—this is simply my contribution to the climate movement):piano-tangerine-38a7.squarespace.com.
You are totally right, this is one single big fight, everything is linked. Climate justice and social justice can only be achieved together. The reign of big money, of those making money because they have money, and are not taxed on those profits, must come to an end. They contribute so much to the problem considering their demographics. Corporations act like soulless entities, aiming for profit for shareholders, without any consideration for common good.
Rachel Maddow explains very well in “Blowout” how oil has always been a strong disputer in politics.
I think power – in the thermodynamic sens, measured in Watts or HP – was always linked to political power. It was true with coal during the Industrial Revolution, slavery in southern parts of USA, before and after independence. It is now true with Big Oil, worldwide. Those controlling large amount of energy and power can produce goods and make populations dependent.
Information is the other important aspect of political power. State and big corp controlled media are bad for democracy. And now information about citizens is a growing issue, as it can lead to control of populations.
Independent media, covering all aspects of society, are essential. This is especially true in the field of environment. By cutting the link we have with Nature, big corporations and totalitarian states separate us from our humanity. This is why your work is important and appreciated.
This is awesome Emily. I feel like it would be remiss not to cross pollinate with a link to Amy Westervelt’s latest on Drilled. I think we’re all grappling with these feelings right now.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drilled/id1439735906?i=1000747911525
Oh nice, I hadn’t seen this. Thank you for linking
I agree with both of your essays. I have not written my Substack in months because I do not know where to begin with this onslaught of state violence and lies. I wrote about the destruction of Trump’s policies on clean tech, science, and US competitiveness. But, would I just write about Trump’s destructive actions? I have long ago come to the same conclusion as you. We must cut oil and gas demand with superior technologies to cut off their super pac funds to force their agenda on us.
This is brilliant, Emily. You've connected dots in a way I've not seen before, and it's helped rouse me from my year-long futility slump. Thank you.
It's pretty galling hearing about the historical precedent of charges of "domestic terrorism" and cries of "insurgency" and "jihadism" levied against indigenous defenders of tribal lands and the planet in general. They're not the invaders, the colonizers. It's a deliberate distortion of the record.
Yeah, my profile pic is from the time and place of the Treaty People Gathering. The fusion of state law enforcement and corporate power over the people, the environment, and democratic process is the cornerstone of fascism. The Line 3 law enforcement funding structure was known or strongly suspected at the time. It happened under Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, too, and they did nothing material to investigate and stop it. Thus, while MAGA republicans were actively strengthening and institutionalizing corporate "law enforcement" for profit then and going gangbusters now, the democrats are probably not going to save us. The party is compromised by business ties and the perverse need to finance campaigns through corporate and PAC donations. This makes them (and I am one so, us) or any major political party that wants to win elections under the current campaign finance system an unlikely entity to organize and lead a successful movement to change course.