Here's my "p!$$!^& into the wind" letter to my Senators, inspired by your nice encapsulation of the conclusions of the scientific community, which I included in the body of my emails to them. Don't expect any serious answer from either one of them, but it's what the heck?
Dear Senator __________
Hello,
In coming weeks/months, it is the responsibility of the Senate to query nominees for the Cabinet, and assuming that this occurs again this time around, I would hope that there is an opportunity to ask questions to the nominees from your position as Senator from Kansas. Specifically, I am concerned about the nominees so far having a history of downplaying or outright denying that climate change is an important topic that needs addressing, and any delays in taking those measures to mitigate its impact will only increase its severity and make it more difficult to reduce its impact on Kansans in our lifetime. Specifically, I think it is important to ask if each nominee agrees or at least does not outright deny that there is an overwhelming scientific consensus on each of the following points:
That climate change is real;
That climate change is a serious, existential threat;
That climate change is caused by greenhouse gas emissions;
That greenhouse gas emissions are driven primarily by fossil fuels; and
That solving climate change requires transitioning away from fossil fuels.
For that matter, since these conclusions, backed by virtually all the data and scientific analyses of that data, is of utmost important to the future of Kansas citizens, I sincerely hope that you, too acknowledge these conclusions and will do everything in your power to decarbonize the Kansas economy in a way that is effective in reducing the threats and at the same time do so in a timely way soas to reduce the economic toll that will only increase the longer we wait.
Loved the podcast with Rachel Donald. So glad you can laugh, it’s healthy and helps so much with both keeping confident and keeping perspective. On a positive note here is a recent article from Speed&Scale discussing electrification and how Trumps election, while a huge setback, can’t stop the energy transition. I work in the battery industry and I’ve said for years now the economics are driving it, it can’t be stopped , not by Trump , not by any one. Keep up the fight ! /Roger
The U.S. is in dire straits and all we can do is watch it all burn while we do our best to take care of what we can within our reach. All we can do anymore is individual actions to mitigate our personal carbon footprint. The new government only cares about making money for the wealthy corporations. We will have to endure this for at least a couple of years or longer, depending on the mid-term elections.
If you live in one of the extreme weather impact zones, get ready as the new government will not be there to help you anymore, not that they have offered much to anyone lately.
Take care of yourselves as best as you can as we no longer have a government for the people. It is a government for the rich elites until the people decide to vote in a different direction.
Some of these people even *used* to be Democrats. Now they're a shell of the promise they once offered as politicians and activists. To say it's disappointing would be an understatement.
Thank you again for detailing this. The next two years will be critical - mid terms are likely to be a further referendum on their agenda. Their positions on climate policy are predictable, but mostly because of political polarization than any real "belief system" (ok, the oil exec excepted). Looking at this through the eyes of "American Exceptionalism", and moreover the MAGA sense that "they're trying to destroy our way of life", there is a way to counter what is admittedly a really bad set of actors. Clean energy jobs are also just jobs for electricians, utility workers, manufacturing labor, construction workers, etc... and I would expect a full rebranding. Shouldn't we try to wrap the clean energy transition policies in American first (counter the Chinese), wrap the jobs in our exceptionalism as a creative and dynamic economy, wrap the tax policies in giving benefits to the average American family who wants a new roof, heat pump, new electrical panel. While a part of the climate movement must keep working on climate justice, getting the science funded, and global solidarity, there is a role for keeping the momentum going by fitting into a different frame; Not contorting, but merely stripping away some of the language and branding that gets in the way.
Be the chameleon. Find the cracks and exploit the disunity. Magnify the winning messages. Don't give up.
Its very clear that climate activists and alarmists are going to get a strong dose of Climate realism in the next year as many major western governments realign away from NetZero that is now being proved to be unnecessary, technologically unattainable, economically unviable and extremely foolish.
Many of these new western governments are going to be rolling back carbon taxes and other limits to prosperity placed on their citizens by a NetZero agenda.
This reset is due to new scientific data from more independent scientific groups that clearly shows that there is no climate emergency on this planet.
This means Trump and his team are correct to place climate change low on the priority for government policy and action, other than focused adaptation to a slightly warming planet.
Agree that going to 0% fossil is not realistic nor practical in the short term for a variety of reasons (national security— need to keep fossil infrastructure for things like the military, by-products like asphalt etc). Maybe we go to 10% fossil and see if the CO2 parts per million starts to descend from 420. You don’t seem to be informed on climate science, to say things like a “ slightly warming planet” just displays your ignorance and you need to go back and just do some google searching for a week and get informed. I’d type here and explain it to you , but it’s 2024 and I’m done explaining it to anyone over the age of 30. You’re biased, that’s very clear.
I recommend ignoring Nigel. He's a climate denier and he used to spam the comments section of every single HEATED newsletter. I thought he was gone, but just like Eminem, he's back, back again...
Ya, I stopped replying to trolls years ago because they’re mostly just idiots, but this guy Nigel seems to be a reasonably accomplished and intelligent person and is worth convincing I think, let’s see where it goes
Look … Try not to get defensive and abusive if the concept of the “science is settled” gets questioned, because many scientists are saying it is far from settled, and we don’t have a climate emergency on this planet. And that’s why many governments are moving on to far more important policy items. The best suggestion for you is to take a fresh look at the science before you get trapped in your own paradigm. I provided quite a lot of information on my Substack link…… I see you are in the Renewables business.. so this may be the motivation?
No, my 3 daughter’s future is the motivation. I was in the Semiconductor industry for 31 years, only started working in battery the last 5 years. I’ll read your Substack if you do some real research on climate change. And read this article as well on cognitive bias, we all have bias’s , including some of the greatest contributors in all of humanity , it’s human nature. The article is a bit long winded but it’s important to understand, especially in the climate debate, you need to learn more on climate..
O Please matey.. I am not going to read about this belief system stuff …Its more appropriate you read it as Its clear that you are the one in denial … 😊
Actually, I have a deep understanding of the science, and we now have solid facts that support climate realism.
Why don’t you review the information I have provided that shows that all climate history and impact trends show no risks and climate model projections continue to over state the risk outlook. Most of the “emergency” rhetoric from the UN political sources have been discredited.
But its academic as we now have new western governments who have reviewed the facts agree that we don’t have a climate emergency on this planet. (USA and Canada and a few in the EU and more soon)
If you have scientific questions…… I can try to respond to them…… but its up to you to reach a better state of reality.
Here's my "p!$$!^& into the wind" letter to my Senators, inspired by your nice encapsulation of the conclusions of the scientific community, which I included in the body of my emails to them. Don't expect any serious answer from either one of them, but it's what the heck?
Dear Senator __________
Hello,
In coming weeks/months, it is the responsibility of the Senate to query nominees for the Cabinet, and assuming that this occurs again this time around, I would hope that there is an opportunity to ask questions to the nominees from your position as Senator from Kansas. Specifically, I am concerned about the nominees so far having a history of downplaying or outright denying that climate change is an important topic that needs addressing, and any delays in taking those measures to mitigate its impact will only increase its severity and make it more difficult to reduce its impact on Kansans in our lifetime. Specifically, I think it is important to ask if each nominee agrees or at least does not outright deny that there is an overwhelming scientific consensus on each of the following points:
That climate change is real;
That climate change is a serious, existential threat;
That climate change is caused by greenhouse gas emissions;
That greenhouse gas emissions are driven primarily by fossil fuels; and
That solving climate change requires transitioning away from fossil fuels.
For that matter, since these conclusions, backed by virtually all the data and scientific analyses of that data, is of utmost important to the future of Kansas citizens, I sincerely hope that you, too acknowledge these conclusions and will do everything in your power to decarbonize the Kansas economy in a way that is effective in reducing the threats and at the same time do so in a timely way soas to reduce the economic toll that will only increase the longer we wait.
Very cool idea!
Loved the podcast with Rachel Donald. So glad you can laugh, it’s healthy and helps so much with both keeping confident and keeping perspective. On a positive note here is a recent article from Speed&Scale discussing electrification and how Trumps election, while a huge setback, can’t stop the energy transition. I work in the battery industry and I’ve said for years now the economics are driving it, it can’t be stopped , not by Trump , not by any one. Keep up the fight ! /Roger
https://speedandscale.com/newsletter/a-new-political-landscape/
"We're so deep in this damn hole I don't think we'll ever get out!"
"Just keep digging!!"
DJT said, "I don't think they know" when asked about the reasons for climate change.
Fealty to DJT is the overwhelmingly significant primary qualifier for serving in his cabinet.
Hence, every one of his cabinet picks is a de facto climate denier.
Tragically, the American people get the government they choose.
The U.S. is in dire straits and all we can do is watch it all burn while we do our best to take care of what we can within our reach. All we can do anymore is individual actions to mitigate our personal carbon footprint. The new government only cares about making money for the wealthy corporations. We will have to endure this for at least a couple of years or longer, depending on the mid-term elections.
If you live in one of the extreme weather impact zones, get ready as the new government will not be there to help you anymore, not that they have offered much to anyone lately.
Take care of yourselves as best as you can as we no longer have a government for the people. It is a government for the rich elites until the people decide to vote in a different direction.
Some of these people even *used* to be Democrats. Now they're a shell of the promise they once offered as politicians and activists. To say it's disappointing would be an understatement.
Thank you again for detailing this. The next two years will be critical - mid terms are likely to be a further referendum on their agenda. Their positions on climate policy are predictable, but mostly because of political polarization than any real "belief system" (ok, the oil exec excepted). Looking at this through the eyes of "American Exceptionalism", and moreover the MAGA sense that "they're trying to destroy our way of life", there is a way to counter what is admittedly a really bad set of actors. Clean energy jobs are also just jobs for electricians, utility workers, manufacturing labor, construction workers, etc... and I would expect a full rebranding. Shouldn't we try to wrap the clean energy transition policies in American first (counter the Chinese), wrap the jobs in our exceptionalism as a creative and dynamic economy, wrap the tax policies in giving benefits to the average American family who wants a new roof, heat pump, new electrical panel. While a part of the climate movement must keep working on climate justice, getting the science funded, and global solidarity, there is a role for keeping the momentum going by fitting into a different frame; Not contorting, but merely stripping away some of the language and branding that gets in the way.
Be the chameleon. Find the cracks and exploit the disunity. Magnify the winning messages. Don't give up.
Climate Realism NOT Climate Alarmism
Its very clear that climate activists and alarmists are going to get a strong dose of Climate realism in the next year as many major western governments realign away from NetZero that is now being proved to be unnecessary, technologically unattainable, economically unviable and extremely foolish.
Many of these new western governments are going to be rolling back carbon taxes and other limits to prosperity placed on their citizens by a NetZero agenda.
This reset is due to new scientific data from more independent scientific groups that clearly shows that there is no climate emergency on this planet.
This means Trump and his team are correct to place climate change low on the priority for government policy and action, other than focused adaptation to a slightly warming planet.
See this Substack for more details.
https://nigelsouthway.substack.com/p/no-netzero
Agree that going to 0% fossil is not realistic nor practical in the short term for a variety of reasons (national security— need to keep fossil infrastructure for things like the military, by-products like asphalt etc). Maybe we go to 10% fossil and see if the CO2 parts per million starts to descend from 420. You don’t seem to be informed on climate science, to say things like a “ slightly warming planet” just displays your ignorance and you need to go back and just do some google searching for a week and get informed. I’d type here and explain it to you , but it’s 2024 and I’m done explaining it to anyone over the age of 30. You’re biased, that’s very clear.
I recommend ignoring Nigel. He's a climate denier and he used to spam the comments section of every single HEATED newsletter. I thought he was gone, but just like Eminem, he's back, back again...
Ya, I stopped replying to trolls years ago because they’re mostly just idiots, but this guy Nigel seems to be a reasonably accomplished and intelligent person and is worth convincing I think, let’s see where it goes
Look … Try not to get defensive and abusive if the concept of the “science is settled” gets questioned, because many scientists are saying it is far from settled, and we don’t have a climate emergency on this planet. And that’s why many governments are moving on to far more important policy items. The best suggestion for you is to take a fresh look at the science before you get trapped in your own paradigm. I provided quite a lot of information on my Substack link…… I see you are in the Renewables business.. so this may be the motivation?
No, my 3 daughter’s future is the motivation. I was in the Semiconductor industry for 31 years, only started working in battery the last 5 years. I’ll read your Substack if you do some real research on climate change. And read this article as well on cognitive bias, we all have bias’s , including some of the greatest contributors in all of humanity , it’s human nature. The article is a bit long winded but it’s important to understand, especially in the climate debate, you need to learn more on climate..
https://cleantechnica.com/2024/11/15/bevs-renewables-apparently-are-not-the-answer/
O Please matey.. I am not going to read about this belief system stuff …Its more appropriate you read it as Its clear that you are the one in denial … 😊
Actually, I have a deep understanding of the science, and we now have solid facts that support climate realism.
Why don’t you review the information I have provided that shows that all climate history and impact trends show no risks and climate model projections continue to over state the risk outlook. Most of the “emergency” rhetoric from the UN political sources have been discredited.
But its academic as we now have new western governments who have reviewed the facts agree that we don’t have a climate emergency on this planet. (USA and Canada and a few in the EU and more soon)
If you have scientific questions…… I can try to respond to them…… but its up to you to reach a better state of reality.
There’s no “believing” in climate change, you either understand it or you don’t, clearly you don’t.