Joseph D. Ortiz
@earthsciinfo.bsky.social
NatGeo Explorer, Oceanographer, Climate Scientist; Env. Remote Sensing; Energy & Sustainability; husband, father #FirstGen, Views my own; Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=qMBuSe4AAAAJ
Reposted by Joseph D. Ortiz
Climate change is an affordability issue
Households face annual costs of roughly $400–$900 from climate change—mainly from disasters, higher insurance, and energy costs—with lower-income families and certain regions hit disproportionately, from @kclausing.bsky.social, Knittel, and @cwolfram.bsky.social www.nber.org/papers/w34525
December 7, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Climate change is an affordability issue
Here comes the sun! (And wind and storage…) 🎶 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 apnews.com/article/clim...
Solar and wind power has grown faster than electricity demand this year, report says
A new analysis of solar and wind power shows its generation worldwide has outpaced electricity demand this year.
apnews.com
December 7, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Here comes the sun! (And wind and storage…) 🎶 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 apnews.com/article/clim...
The negative impacts of fossil fuels far outweigh any societal benefits, particularly when compared with renewable alternatives for power generation. There is lots of detailed information in these threads. H/T to @pv-physicist.bsky.social 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋
I have written long threads about two coal power plants in Germany. Jänschwalde (in the East) and Neurath (in the West). Why did I do that? To highlight the impacts fossil fuel power plants have.
#1 bsky.app/profile/pv-p...
#2 bsky.app/profile/pv-p...
#1 bsky.app/profile/pv-p...
#2 bsky.app/profile/pv-p...
Let's talk about fossile fuel power plants for a moment. Shall we?
I'll start with one I was recently close to: Jänschwalde coal fired plant in Germany. It burns lignite coal from a close by open pit coal mine. This is the lowest grade of coal also called brown coal.
I'll start with one I was recently close to: Jänschwalde coal fired plant in Germany. It burns lignite coal from a close by open pit coal mine. This is the lowest grade of coal also called brown coal.
December 6, 2025 at 8:12 PM
The negative impacts of fossil fuels far outweigh any societal benefits, particularly when compared with renewable alternatives for power generation. There is lots of detailed information in these threads. H/T to @pv-physicist.bsky.social 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋
Fossil Fuel cars are #StrandedAssets. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋
The shift to EVs is happening—fast. Manufacturers can either embrace the long-term transition or chase short-term gains by clinging to petrol and diesel.
China is choosing the long view. Many in Europe aren’t. The risk? Ending up with cars no one wants, lost market share, and shuttered factories.
China is choosing the long view. Many in Europe aren’t. The risk? Ending up with cars no one wants, lost market share, and shuttered factories.
December 5, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Fossil Fuel cars are #StrandedAssets. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋
There’s lots of interesting detail in this article. But the gist is that Chinese short & medium haul BEV trucks beat western ones on cost even after regulatory upgrades. Long haul versions are cost competitive. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 🧵 cleantechnica.com/2025/11/26/c...
China’s BEV Trucks and the End of Diesel’s Dominance - CleanTechnica
China’s electric heavy truck boom signals a freight transition as low cost BEVs outpace diesel and gas across short haul markets. Exports are rising.
cleantechnica.com
November 30, 2025 at 5:16 PM
There’s lots of interesting detail in this article. But the gist is that Chinese short & medium haul BEV trucks beat western ones on cost even after regulatory upgrades. Long haul versions are cost competitive. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 🧵 cleantechnica.com/2025/11/26/c...
This is the way! 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋
"Don’t let the federal push for petroleum keep you from making the switch. Heat pumps keep you warm in winter, cool in summer — and are a lot better for the planet."
(switching to a heat pump will reduce its carbon emissions by nearly 3 tons a year -oil=6 tons)
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/28/m...
(switching to a heat pump will reduce its carbon emissions by nearly 3 tons a year -oil=6 tons)
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/28/m...
How a heat pump transformed my Rhode Island home - The Boston Globe
After relying on oil heat, switching to a heat pump cut heating bills and stopped polluting the air, writes Conservation Law Foundation Rhode Island attorney.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 30, 2025 at 12:00 PM
This is the way! 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋
Spread the word: Through Q3 2025, Solar & Wind have met *ALL* global demand growth to date. Get the details here. #FossilFuelsAreStrandedAssets 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 🧵 ember-energy.org/latest-insig...
Q3 Global Power Report: No fossil fuel growth expected in 2025 | Ember
Solar and wind power grew fast enough to keep up with rising electricity demand in the first three quarters of 2025, as fossil fuel growth should be stagnated. Ember forecasts no growth for fossil fue...
ember-energy.org
November 30, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Spread the word: Through Q3 2025, Solar & Wind have met *ALL* global demand growth to date. Get the details here. #FossilFuelsAreStrandedAssets 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 🧵 ember-energy.org/latest-insig...
Anthropogenic (human-induced) climate change is not a future problem. 🧪🔌☀️💨💧💧🔋
Our built environment isn't ready for the changes we've made to our natural environment.
VIDEO: 🇹🇭 🇲🇾 Tens of thousands displaced by floods in Thailand and Malaysia
Tens of thousands of people in Thailand and neighbouring Malaysia have been displaced by widespread flooding, with streets submerged, homes inundated and at least 34 people dead, officials said
Tens of thousands of people in Thailand and neighbouring Malaysia have been displaced by widespread flooding, with streets submerged, homes inundated and at least 34 people dead, officials said
November 26, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Anthropogenic (human-induced) climate change is not a future problem. 🧪🔌☀️💨💧💧🔋
The European Copernicus Sentinel 5-A satellite is now operational and has delivered its first images. 🧪🛰️🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 www.copernicus.eu/en/media/ima...
November 26, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The European Copernicus Sentinel 5-A satellite is now operational and has delivered its first images. 🧪🛰️🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 www.copernicus.eu/en/media/ima...
Alas! Victory was fleeting. I had a make a dreaded *second trip* to the hardware store to purchase a 1 1/2” to 1 1/4” reducing slip washer and slip nut to stop a slow leak on my recent plumbing repair. @palaeo3d.com called it! 😂
Achievement unlocked 🔓 - Plumbing repair with just one trip to the hardware store. 💪 ifykyk.
November 26, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Alas! Victory was fleeting. I had a make a dreaded *second trip* to the hardware store to purchase a 1 1/2” to 1 1/4” reducing slip washer and slip nut to stop a slow leak on my recent plumbing repair. @palaeo3d.com called it! 😂
The decisions we make in public policy have consequences. And when regional decisions intersect with global ones, climate change can exacerbate poor choices. The converse is true as well poor global decisions can have negative impacts on regional & local conditions. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋
Amid a deepening ecological crisis and acute water shortage, Tehran can no longer remain the capital of Iran, the country’s president has said. www.scientificamerican.com/article/iran...
Iran’s Capital Is Moving. The Reason Is an Ecological Catastrophe
The decision to move Iran’s capital is partly driven by climate change, but experts say decades of human error and action are also to blame
www.scientificamerican.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:08 PM
The decisions we make in public policy have consequences. And when regional decisions intersect with global ones, climate change can exacerbate poor choices. The converse is true as well poor global decisions can have negative impacts on regional & local conditions. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋
Loki’s 🐈⬛ favorite toy is his mouse friend. He carries mouse around the house and sings to announce that he’s found him 🐁!
Lately, he’s taken to putting mouse on the bed so that it can share the sunspot.
Lately, he’s taken to putting mouse on the bed so that it can share the sunspot.
November 23, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Loki’s 🐈⬛ favorite toy is his mouse friend. He carries mouse around the house and sings to announce that he’s found him 🐁!
Lately, he’s taken to putting mouse on the bed so that it can share the sunspot.
Lately, he’s taken to putting mouse on the bed so that it can share the sunspot.
Achievement unlocked 🔓 - Plumbing repair with just one trip to the hardware store. 💪 ifykyk.
November 23, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Achievement unlocked 🔓 - Plumbing repair with just one trip to the hardware store. 💪 ifykyk.
#COP30 has ended (perhaps) with a fizzle. #ClimateBrief provides this comprehensive summary. Let's hope the COP30 fire 🔥 was not a metaphor 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 www.carbonbrief.org/cop30-key-ou...
COP30: Key outcomes agreed at the UN climate talks in Belém - Carbon Brief
A voluntary plan to curb fossil fuels, a goal to triple adaptation finance and new...
www.carbonbrief.org
November 23, 2025 at 5:28 PM
#COP30 has ended (perhaps) with a fizzle. #ClimateBrief provides this comprehensive summary. Let's hope the COP30 fire 🔥 was not a metaphor 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 www.carbonbrief.org/cop30-key-ou...
As an #environmental #earthsystem #scientist, I've traveled the world studying climate & environmental issues. Hear about some of it on this #AmericaView #SpatialSignals podcast 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 americaview.podbean.com/e/stuck-in-t...
Stuck In The Ice On An Icebreaker with Joe Ortiz | Spatial Signals
Joe Ortiz from Kent State University joins us to talk about using micro-fossils to learn about how climate changes over time, the Beaver-SCAT instrumentation, spending two months at sea in the North A...
americaview.podbean.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:21 PM
As an #environmental #earthsystem #scientist, I've traveled the world studying climate & environmental issues. Hear about some of it on this #AmericaView #SpatialSignals podcast 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 americaview.podbean.com/e/stuck-in-t...
As @mzjacobson.bsky.social says, there are no miracles needed. We have almost all the tech required to address human-caused climate change. But @doctorvive.bsky.social is right. We need the courage to deploy those technologies as rapidly as possible. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 www.iea.org/reports/worl...
Setting the scene – World Energy Outlook 2025 – Analysis - IEA
World Energy Outlook 2025 - Analysis and key findings. A report by the International Energy Agency.
www.iea.org
November 23, 2025 at 11:47 AM
As @mzjacobson.bsky.social says, there are no miracles needed. We have almost all the tech required to address human-caused climate change. But @doctorvive.bsky.social is right. We need the courage to deploy those technologies as rapidly as possible. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 www.iea.org/reports/worl...
Hela is not having it. Happy Caturday!
November 22, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Hela is not having it. Happy Caturday!
Gas update: We've turned the gas back on for temps <20°F. We last used gas on 3/23/25 & deactivated our account on 4/9/25. Enbridge turned it back on 11/17/25. Our heat pump provided all our heating & cooling needs for 222 days with no gas backup (~60% of the year). 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋
November 22, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Gas update: We've turned the gas back on for temps <20°F. We last used gas on 3/23/25 & deactivated our account on 4/9/25. Enbridge turned it back on 11/17/25. Our heat pump provided all our heating & cooling needs for 222 days with no gas backup (~60% of the year). 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋
You may hear folks asking "What about India?" with respect to fossil fuel derived electricity. Well, for the 10 months of 2025 thus far, coal & gas use for electricity in India has decreased by 50 TWh, replaced by renewables & a *tiny* bit of nuclear. #FossilFuelsAreStrandedAssets 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋
An interesting snippet of information...
Electricity generation from coal in India has dropped in the first 10 months of 2025, with renewables covering for all the growth in electricity use.
Noting, growth in electricity use is rather low...
More figures: robbieandrew.github.io/india/
Electricity generation from coal in India has dropped in the first 10 months of 2025, with renewables covering for all the growth in electricity use.
Noting, growth in electricity use is rather low...
More figures: robbieandrew.github.io/india/
November 21, 2025 at 2:29 PM
You may hear folks asking "What about India?" with respect to fossil fuel derived electricity. Well, for the 10 months of 2025 thus far, coal & gas use for electricity in India has decreased by 50 TWh, replaced by renewables & a *tiny* bit of nuclear. #FossilFuelsAreStrandedAssets 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋
Fossil fuel cars are stranded assets. EVs are pulling ahead of internal combustion engine vehicles in the used market. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 www.carscoops.com/2025/11/evs-...
EVs Now Sell Faster Than Gas Cars In The Used Market | Carscoops
Used car prices are climbing again in 2025, and buyers are slowing down, though not when it comes to EVs
www.carscoops.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Fossil fuel cars are stranded assets. EVs are pulling ahead of internal combustion engine vehicles in the used market. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 www.carscoops.com/2025/11/evs-...
Electricity update - The cost of electricity is on the rise in our area. The reason here is because PJM has been slow to increase transmission & roll out new capacity for renewables as fossil fuel plants that are not competitive shut down. (Growth of data centers also contributes). 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 🧵
November 16, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Electricity update - The cost of electricity is on the rise in our area. The reason here is because PJM has been slow to increase transmission & roll out new capacity for renewables as fossil fuel plants that are not competitive shut down. (Growth of data centers also contributes). 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 🧵
Gas update: Seems I may be owing Kevin a dinner... It took us three phone calls & several week's wait to turn off our gas last spring. Then we had to dispute an estimated bill (from a smart meter!) that was 10x greater than our actual gas use. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 🧵
I'll wager a month's fixed gas fee that it's a helluva lot easier to start giving them money again than to stop!
though knowing utility websites and bureaucracy, that might be a risky bet...
though knowing utility websites and bureaucracy, that might be a risky bet...
November 16, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Gas update: Seems I may be owing Kevin a dinner... It took us three phone calls & several week's wait to turn off our gas last spring. Then we had to dispute an estimated bill (from a smart meter!) that was 10x greater than our actual gas use. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 🧵
Despite "vibe" reporting to the contrary, EV sales are growing at +8%. The *global* share of internal combustion vehicles continues to decline, replaced by hybrids, plug-in hybrids & BEVs. Car makers betting otherwise are selling buggy whips. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 electrek.co/2025/11/12/e...
EV sales *still* have not fallen, cooled, slowed or slumped. Media is lying to you.
After two years of headlines begging for failure, EV sales keep defying false media narratives that they are dropping, and continue to rise.
electrek.co
November 14, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Despite "vibe" reporting to the contrary, EV sales are growing at +8%. The *global* share of internal combustion vehicles continues to decline, replaced by hybrids, plug-in hybrids & BEVs. Car makers betting otherwise are selling buggy whips. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 electrek.co/2025/11/12/e...
Massive deployment of renewables are reducing emissions in China. Carbon emissions in China have been flat or falling for 18 months now from a peak in early 2024. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-chi...
Analysis: China’s CO2 emissions have now been flat or falling for 18 months - Carbon Brief
China’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions were unchanged from a year earlier in the third quarter of 2025, extending a flat or falling trend that started in March 2024.
www.carbonbrief.org
November 11, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Massive deployment of renewables are reducing emissions in China. Carbon emissions in China have been flat or falling for 18 months now from a peak in early 2024. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-chi...