@greenmusingsyyt.bsky.social
Reposted
Delighted to see @ketanjoshi.co doing the homework to measure what I see as the *real* AI energy problem - firehosed AI video from advertisers. Meta will likely be the worst offender, but if it works commercially (subsidised by VCs) you could end up sitting through more (climate-busting) video ads
Hey!! Here's my new piece for The New Republic!!
It's about how Meta is cramming generative video slop (the most energy-intensive of the gen systems) into its massive global advertising engine: a recipe for an order magnitude worsening of its already-huge harms 😱
newrepublic.com/article/2028...
It's about how Meta is cramming generative video slop (the most energy-intensive of the gen systems) into its massive global advertising engine: a recipe for an order magnitude worsening of its already-huge harms 😱
newrepublic.com/article/2028...
December 3, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Delighted to see @ketanjoshi.co doing the homework to measure what I see as the *real* AI energy problem - firehosed AI video from advertisers. Meta will likely be the worst offender, but if it works commercially (subsidised by VCs) you could end up sitting through more (climate-busting) video ads
Reposted
“Rather than reinvesting those profits in the Canadian economy, the four companies paid out $79.7 billion in dividends and share buybacks, nearly ¾ of which went to foreign shareholders, including 62% to American shareholders.”
www.theenergymix.com/u-s-owned-oi...
www.theenergymix.com/u-s-owned-oi...
U.S.-Owned Oil Sands Giants Send Profits Out of Canada Despite Public Support for Resource Sovereignty
Canada’s biggest oil sands producers are sending a large share of their profits out of the country to their shareholders in the United States, the CEO of the Trottier Family Foundation warns in an opi...
www.theenergymix.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:19 PM
“Rather than reinvesting those profits in the Canadian economy, the four companies paid out $79.7 billion in dividends and share buybacks, nearly ¾ of which went to foreign shareholders, including 62% to American shareholders.”
www.theenergymix.com/u-s-owned-oi...
www.theenergymix.com/u-s-owned-oi...
This is the outcome I have been quietly hoping for all along - ditch the economically dubious green hydrogen but keep building the wind turbines and use them to displace polluting electricity sources. Or serve energy intensive industries. Just not AI datacentres or bitcoin mining, please!
Pattern Energy executive Frank Davis says the company is ‘fully committed’ to Argentia Renewables, which will take the form of a wind-only project — for now
#nlpoli #wind #energy
theindependent.ca/news/lji/com...
#nlpoli #wind #energy
theindependent.ca/news/lji/com...
Company behind proposed wind-hydrogen project withdraws from environmental assessment, returning with ‘phased approach’ – The Independent
Pattern Energy executive says company is 'fully committed' to Argentia Renewables, which will take the form of a wind-only project — for now
theindependent.ca
November 25, 2025 at 7:34 PM
This is the outcome I have been quietly hoping for all along - ditch the economically dubious green hydrogen but keep building the wind turbines and use them to displace polluting electricity sources. Or serve energy intensive industries. Just not AI datacentres or bitcoin mining, please!
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I think @ketanjoshi.co first pointed me to the @iea.org claim AI-led energy efficiencies would more than compensate for the industry's actual usage. I just looked up the claim to find the justification behind the pretty graphs... and there doesn't seem to be any?! www.iea.org/reports/ener...
November 21, 2025 at 6:50 PM
I think @ketanjoshi.co first pointed me to the @iea.org claim AI-led energy efficiencies would more than compensate for the industry's actual usage. I just looked up the claim to find the justification behind the pretty graphs... and there doesn't seem to be any?! www.iea.org/reports/ener...
Freight transport was 14.7% of NL's emissions in 2023 and considered "hard to abate" (www.gov.nl.ca/eccc/files/2...). But we have lots of electricity and most travels along the TCH so maybe we should be examining how to support truck electrification if the Chinese are making it work?
Perhaps heavy trucks shouldn't be considered "hard to decarbonise" after all? In China in 1st half of 2025, battery-powered heavy trucks accounted for 22% of new purchases says Commercial Vehicle World. BMI forecasts nearly 46% of new sales this year and 60% next. finance.yahoo.com/news/chinas-...
November 19, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Freight transport was 14.7% of NL's emissions in 2023 and considered "hard to abate" (www.gov.nl.ca/eccc/files/2...). But we have lots of electricity and most travels along the TCH so maybe we should be examining how to support truck electrification if the Chinese are making it work?
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I just received a very interesting email from a reader who worked in nuclear power plant inspection and security for many years during the 1990s and 2000s. His basic point is that Microsoft's plan to revive the shuttered Three Mile Island nuclear plant is ludicrous on its face.
July 11, 2025 at 8:20 PM
I just received a very interesting email from a reader who worked in nuclear power plant inspection and security for many years during the 1990s and 2000s. His basic point is that Microsoft's plan to revive the shuttered Three Mile Island nuclear plant is ludicrous on its face.
Never mind the economics - if h2 leaks 10-50% at filling stations, the future climate implications are staggering if not fixed (even if it's 3x less harmful than natural gas leaks news.mit.edu/2024/new-cli...). www.h2-view.com/story/boil-o...
Boil-off losses are a ‘threat’ to hydrogen refuelling’s commercial case: Taylor Wharton
“Hydrogen fuelling stations face boil-off losses of 10% to 50%, which, over a 20 year lifespan, can result in tens of millions of dollars in direct impact to the bottom line.”
www.h2-view.com
June 30, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Never mind the economics - if h2 leaks 10-50% at filling stations, the future climate implications are staggering if not fixed (even if it's 3x less harmful than natural gas leaks news.mit.edu/2024/new-cli...). www.h2-view.com/story/boil-o...
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🇳🇴 Norway is supporting the construction of potentially the world’s biggest electric container ships 🚢🔋, amongst other vessels. The two ships, which are capable of carrying 850 containers, will sail between Norway, Sweden and Germany with a 100 MWh battery.
Verdens største elektriske containerskip | Enova
Enova gir rundt 362 millioner kroner i støtte til sju elektriske fartøy og fire ladeanlegg. Blant prosjektene er det som kan bli verdens største batterielektriske containerskip, et gjennombrudd for ut...
kommunikasjon.ntb.no
June 13, 2025 at 12:53 PM
🇳🇴 Norway is supporting the construction of potentially the world’s biggest electric container ships 🚢🔋, amongst other vessels. The two ships, which are capable of carrying 850 containers, will sail between Norway, Sweden and Germany with a 100 MWh battery.
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Four trends to consider in relation to Canada’s wildfire situation:
1) The total number of fires per year is declining
2) The number of very large HUMAN-caused fires is declining
3) The number of arsons is declining
4) The total burn area is *increasing*
This suggests a strong climate influence.
1) The total number of fires per year is declining
2) The number of very large HUMAN-caused fires is declining
3) The number of arsons is declining
4) The total burn area is *increasing*
This suggests a strong climate influence.
June 5, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Four trends to consider in relation to Canada’s wildfire situation:
1) The total number of fires per year is declining
2) The number of very large HUMAN-caused fires is declining
3) The number of arsons is declining
4) The total burn area is *increasing*
This suggests a strong climate influence.
1) The total number of fires per year is declining
2) The number of very large HUMAN-caused fires is declining
3) The number of arsons is declining
4) The total burn area is *increasing*
This suggests a strong climate influence.
Reposted
Depressingly I suspect the underlying reason we don't see bigger rich world government action is in this map. Most of us will be less affected and can buy our way out of the crisis. The global South will be screwed (again) to allow us to keep profiting.
June 6, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Depressingly I suspect the underlying reason we don't see bigger rich world government action is in this map. Most of us will be less affected and can buy our way out of the crisis. The global South will be screwed (again) to allow us to keep profiting.
Curves are pointing the right way, but absolute numbers of EVs remain worryingly small. We need to move more aggressively to promote EV purchases and take measures to boost transit and active transportation use so that the huge existing fleet of ICE vehicles is used less and retired faster!
Share of cars currently in use that are electric
Electric cars include fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrids.
ourworldindata.org
June 2, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Curves are pointing the right way, but absolute numbers of EVs remain worryingly small. We need to move more aggressively to promote EV purchases and take measures to boost transit and active transportation use so that the huge existing fleet of ICE vehicles is used less and retired faster!
David Attenborough, a world-famous science educator, has made a bestselling movie exposing the waste and harms from #BottomTrawling... But are fish harvesters still allowed to use it off Newfoundland's shores? @justinbrake.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzG9...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzG9...
OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH | BOTTOM TRAWLING OFFICIAL CLIP | IN CINEMAS NOW | Altitude Films
YouTube video by Altitude Films
www.youtube.com
June 2, 2025 at 9:49 AM
David Attenborough, a world-famous science educator, has made a bestselling movie exposing the waste and harms from #BottomTrawling... But are fish harvesters still allowed to use it off Newfoundland's shores? @justinbrake.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzG9...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzG9...
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A HISTORIC MILESTONE: For the first time, solar power generated more electricity globally than nuclear, making it the world’s 4th largest power source.
In just 5 years, solar output nearly tripled—from 79 TWh (Apr 2020) to 233 TWh (Apr 2025). The energy transition is speeding up.
@ember-energy.org
In just 5 years, solar output nearly tripled—from 79 TWh (Apr 2020) to 233 TWh (Apr 2025). The energy transition is speeding up.
@ember-energy.org
June 2, 2025 at 8:09 AM
A HISTORIC MILESTONE: For the first time, solar power generated more electricity globally than nuclear, making it the world’s 4th largest power source.
In just 5 years, solar output nearly tripled—from 79 TWh (Apr 2020) to 233 TWh (Apr 2025). The energy transition is speeding up.
@ember-energy.org
In just 5 years, solar output nearly tripled—from 79 TWh (Apr 2020) to 233 TWh (Apr 2025). The energy transition is speeding up.
@ember-energy.org
Worth considering when our leaders talk about building "natural" gas (methane) production in NL and elsewhere in Canada for export to lower emissions in the developing world. The numbers don't add up.
FWIW, Australia's gas export to Asia displaces more renewable generation in the importing country at a rate of about 2:1.
According to Minister for Climate Change & Energy, Chris Bowen, Labor approved this (& other NEW/EXTENSIONS of Coal & Gas) cos if they didn't, Australian Coal & Gas would be replaced by fossil fuels from other countries anyway (Drug Dealer's Defence)
June 1, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Worth considering when our leaders talk about building "natural" gas (methane) production in NL and elsewhere in Canada for export to lower emissions in the developing world. The numbers don't add up.
Reposted
"climate realism" reading a lot like "sacrificing the global south and just shooting for 3 C"
www.cfr.org/article/our-...
www.cfr.org/article/our-...
Our Approach to Climate Policy Has Failed. It’s Time for Climate Realism
U.S. policymakers need a new strategy to confront the risks of climate change, compete in the global energy transition, and stay the course regardless of which political party is in power. A doctrine…
www.cfr.org
April 7, 2025 at 4:37 PM
"climate realism" reading a lot like "sacrificing the global south and just shooting for 3 C"
www.cfr.org/article/our-...
www.cfr.org/article/our-...
Reposted
shared EVs for social housing.
another area where social housing can provide a buoy against energy poverty
another area where social housing can provide a buoy against energy poverty
NEW: ‘Social leasing’ could provide affordable EVs to 3 mn households in Europe.
This type of scheme, which allows EVs under €25,000 to be leased for as little as €130 (and up to €215) per month, already exists in France and could be implemented by other EU countries.
🧵 on our latest analysis 👇
This type of scheme, which allows EVs under €25,000 to be leased for as little as €130 (and up to €215) per month, already exists in France and could be implemented by other EU countries.
🧵 on our latest analysis 👇
May 26, 2025 at 6:29 AM
shared EVs for social housing.
another area where social housing can provide a buoy against energy poverty
another area where social housing can provide a buoy against energy poverty
Encouraging - for all the posturing, particularly on the right, the British seem to understand the need for drastic changes to combat climate change and, crucually, to grasp that we can't just geoengineer or carbon capture our way out of the problem.
Most Britons (57%) say a drastic change is needed to avert the worst impacts of climate change
For now Britons prioritise reducing consumption to combat climate change (45%) over trying to come up with technological solutions to try and combat its effects (35%)
yougov.co.uk/health/artic...
For now Britons prioritise reducing consumption to combat climate change (45%) over trying to come up with technological solutions to try and combat its effects (35%)
yougov.co.uk/health/artic...
May 26, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Encouraging - for all the posturing, particularly on the right, the British seem to understand the need for drastic changes to combat climate change and, crucually, to grasp that we can't just geoengineer or carbon capture our way out of the problem.
Hard to overstate the significance of this Nature paper by Christopher W Callaghan & @jsmankin.bsky.social. It suggests Chevron caused US$791bn to $3.6 trillion in heat-related losses 1991–2020 and all emissions from the major oil and gas producers cost the world around $28 trillion rdcu.be/ei0T5
April 25, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Hard to overstate the significance of this Nature paper by Christopher W Callaghan & @jsmankin.bsky.social. It suggests Chevron caused US$791bn to $3.6 trillion in heat-related losses 1991–2020 and all emissions from the major oil and gas producers cost the world around $28 trillion rdcu.be/ei0T5
While the PCs are clearly worse, the real scandal here should be that clearly neither major 🇨🇦 party is serious about its climate goals. And here in NL our emissions reductions goal (which we won't meet) is only a 30% reduction by 2030. And we're pledging to double our oil production. Madness
April 23, 2025 at 2:56 PM
While the PCs are clearly worse, the real scandal here should be that clearly neither major 🇨🇦 party is serious about its climate goals. And here in NL our emissions reductions goal (which we won't meet) is only a 30% reduction by 2030. And we're pledging to double our oil production. Madness
The 🇨🇦 Tory platform is ludicrous. Eg shipping fossil gas to India to replace coal a) assumes they want it b) might produce more emissions than coal anyway and c) if effective can't be credited as an emissions reduction by us because it would "belong" to India www.nationalobserver.com/2025/04/23/n...
Conservative platform is 'flipping the bird' at climate change, expert suggests
The platform signals a new direction for the Conservative Party, away from technological and market-based policies to mitigate emissions that were included in the platforms of previous party leaders l...
www.nationalobserver.com
April 23, 2025 at 2:49 PM
The 🇨🇦 Tory platform is ludicrous. Eg shipping fossil gas to India to replace coal a) assumes they want it b) might produce more emissions than coal anyway and c) if effective can't be credited as an emissions reduction by us because it would "belong" to India www.nationalobserver.com/2025/04/23/n...
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Industrial carbon pricing is Canada’s single most powerful tool to reduce emissions and protect competitiveness—and it costs next to nothing for households. That’s largely because it applies to large exporting industries. Learn more ⬇️ 440megatonnes.ca/insight/indu...
Industrial carbon pricing has negligible impacts on household costs – and in some cases is a benefit
Large-emitter trading systems help industry succeed and cost next to nothing for households.
440megatonnes.ca
April 17, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Industrial carbon pricing is Canada’s single most powerful tool to reduce emissions and protect competitiveness—and it costs next to nothing for households. That’s largely because it applies to large exporting industries. Learn more ⬇️ 440megatonnes.ca/insight/indu...
With this plus a mutually beneficial deal with Quebec, NL would finally be able to profit from its hydro and wind power potential. No need to turn our electricity into green hydrogen (inefficiently) to ship it to Germany...
🇨🇦 Ontario needs Made-in-Canada energy—NOT more U.S. gas & overpriced American reactors.
✅ Clean power from wind, solar & Quebec hydro
❌ Dirty gas & costly U.S. nukes
Tell Ford: Cancel the GE-Hitachi deal.
#TripleWindAndSolar #onpoli #RenewableEnergy
www.cleanairalliance.org/campaigns/ke...
✅ Clean power from wind, solar & Quebec hydro
❌ Dirty gas & costly U.S. nukes
Tell Ford: Cancel the GE-Hitachi deal.
#TripleWindAndSolar #onpoli #RenewableEnergy
www.cleanairalliance.org/campaigns/ke...
Keep Ontario strong with Made-in-Canada energy - Ontario Clean Air Alliance
Renewable energy sources like solar and wind have progressed rapidly since Ontario first embraced these zero emission sources in the early 2000s. Today, solar and wind are considered cost competitive ...
www.cleanairalliance.org
April 14, 2025 at 8:16 PM
With this plus a mutually beneficial deal with Quebec, NL would finally be able to profit from its hydro and wind power potential. No need to turn our electricity into green hydrogen (inefficiently) to ship it to Germany...
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Canada and 62 nations have agreed to price emissions from international shipping—a positive sign that coordinated action on climate is still possible. The new system will incentivize and fund cleaner fuels and technologies and support developing countries.
apnews.com/article/ship...
apnews.com/article/ship...
Major nations agree on first-ever global fee on greenhouse gases with plan that targets shipping
Many of the world’s largest shipping nations have agreed to impose a minimum fee on every ton of greenhouse gases emitted by ships above certain thresholds in what's effectively the first global tax o...
apnews.com
April 14, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Canada and 62 nations have agreed to price emissions from international shipping—a positive sign that coordinated action on climate is still possible. The new system will incentivize and fund cleaner fuels and technologies and support developing countries.
apnews.com/article/ship...
apnews.com/article/ship...
Getting the remaining homes in NL off heating oil needs the kind of all-out effort being shown in Europe - Denmark will ban natural gas heating in buildings by 2030. Swiss cities like Basel, Zurich, and Winterthur have announced full or partial gas grid shutdowns.
A future without gas: How German cities are managing the transition to climate-neutral energy
theprogressplaybook.com/2025/02/19/a...
theprogressplaybook.com/2025/02/19/a...
A future without gas: How German cities are managing the transition to climate-neutral energy
Mannheim plans to shut down its gas network by 2035, while transitioning to an expanded district heating network.
theprogressplaybook.com
April 11, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Getting the remaining homes in NL off heating oil needs the kind of all-out effort being shown in Europe - Denmark will ban natural gas heating in buildings by 2030. Swiss cities like Basel, Zurich, and Winterthur have announced full or partial gas grid shutdowns.
Reposted
EU policymakers are mulling over the idea of introducing international carbon credits as a solution to reaching the 2040 climate target, but our analysis shows that only one in every 27 is likely to represent real emissions reductions
April 11, 2025 at 12:22 PM
EU policymakers are mulling over the idea of introducing international carbon credits as a solution to reaching the 2040 climate target, but our analysis shows that only one in every 27 is likely to represent real emissions reductions