Heather Short
@drshort.bsky.social
PhD Earth sciences, climate literacy educator, located near Tiohti:áke/Montreal, Quebec, Canada https://drheathershort.com/
Backstory here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/first-person-climate-change-education-support-young-people-1.6186611
Backstory here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/first-person-climate-change-education-support-young-people-1.6186611
Reposted by Heather Short
“The deranged idea—as Amitav Ghosh describes it—that we are safe, that things are under control, that bad things only happen to people who are far away, persists. Anticipating future ruin, we fail to act in the here and now.” -
@katemac.bsky.social & I:
phenomenalworld.org/analysis/global-boiling/
@katemac.bsky.social & I:
phenomenalworld.org/analysis/global-boiling/
Global Boiling | The Polycrisis
Stocks and flows, action and inaction in the planetary impasse
phenomenalworld.org
November 25, 2025 at 11:12 PM
“The deranged idea—as Amitav Ghosh describes it—that we are safe, that things are under control, that bad things only happen to people who are far away, persists. Anticipating future ruin, we fail to act in the here and now.” -
@katemac.bsky.social & I:
phenomenalworld.org/analysis/global-boiling/
@katemac.bsky.social & I:
phenomenalworld.org/analysis/global-boiling/
Quelle idée !
Québec exhorté à garder le cap sur l’ambition climatique. L’État québécois doit baser ses décisions sur les constats de «la science», dit le comité consultatif du gouvernement. www.ledevoir.com/actualites/e...
Québec exhorté à garder le cap sur l’ambition climatique
L’État québécois doit baser ses décisions sur les constats de «la science», dit le comité consultatif du gouvernement.
www.ledevoir.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Quelle idée !
Reposted by Heather Short
The perception of Canada has soured as news about fossil fuel subsidies, an LNG project, a gas pipeline and even reports about a new bitumen pipeline all landed during the climate negotiations. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/24/o...
A tough climate summit for Canada
Labeled the "Fossil of the Day" at COP30, Canada faces accusations of pulling back climate policies while pushing forward fossil subsidies and projects. But the committee seemed particularly stung by ...
www.nationalobserver.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM
The perception of Canada has soured as news about fossil fuel subsidies, an LNG project, a gas pipeline and even reports about a new bitumen pipeline all landed during the climate negotiations. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/24/o...
Reposted by Heather Short
Alright, whatever your view about the research, geo-engineering will never be a meaningful climate solutions because the only plausible case for geo-engineering is if we rapidly decrease our carbon emissions which we are not currently doing.
The risks of geoengineering have been pretty constant, as I felt deeply when I reported this last year. How to restate them again in a novel way for the gazillionth time? Moral hazard, rising geopolitical tensions, doesn't address ocean acid., termination shock!
thebulletin.org/2024/06/the-...
thebulletin.org/2024/06/the-...
The University of Chicago’s new climate initiative: brave research program or potentially dangerous foray into solar geoengineering?
The University of Chicago is attempting to position itself as the place for serious scientific consideration of the logistics and implications of Earth system interventions aimed at reversing or count...
thebulletin.org
March 28, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Alright, whatever your view about the research, geo-engineering will never be a meaningful climate solutions because the only plausible case for geo-engineering is if we rapidly decrease our carbon emissions which we are not currently doing.
Reposted by Heather Short
"ETH researchers estimate the cost of removing 1 tonne of CO2 from the air in the year 2050 to be between 230 and 540 US dollars. This is twice as high as previous estimates"
"The cost of removing large quantities of CO2 from the air will fall in the medium term, but not as much as previously hoped.
This is the conclusion reached by @ethz.ch researchers on the basis of new calculations. Efforts to reduce carbon emissions should therefore continue at pace"
This is the conclusion reached by @ethz.ch researchers on the basis of new calculations. Efforts to reduce carbon emissions should therefore continue at pace"
Cost of direct air carbon capture to remain higher than hoped
The cost of removing large quantities of CO2 from the air will fall in the medium term, but not as much as previously hoped. This is the conclusion reached by ETH researchers on the basis of new calcu...
ethz.ch
November 25, 2025 at 9:58 AM
"ETH researchers estimate the cost of removing 1 tonne of CO2 from the air in the year 2050 to be between 230 and 540 US dollars. This is twice as high as previous estimates"
Reposted by Heather Short
Epic take-down of Roger Pielke Jr's appallingly shoddy academic "work", which he's used--as an attack dog of the Koch Brothers-funded think tank AEI--to discredit the case for climate action:
In a 2024 paper criticizing the 'billion-dollar-disasters' database, Roger Pielke Jr. published analysis that is best described as a Russian-doll of errors.
Here's my in-depth take down of his appallingly bad work.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/10/26/r...
Here's my in-depth take down of his appallingly bad work.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/10/26/r...
Roger Pielke Jr.’s Appallingly Bad Analysis of Billion Dollar Disasters – Economics from the Top Down
In a recent paper called Scientific integrity and U.S. “Billion Dollar Disasters”, Roger Pielke Jr. published a chart that's so bad I've devoted a whole essay to debunking it.
economicsfromthetopdown.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Epic take-down of Roger Pielke Jr's appallingly shoddy academic "work", which he's used--as an attack dog of the Koch Brothers-funded think tank AEI--to discredit the case for climate action:
Reposted by Heather Short
One of the creepier geology papers I've read was about how in the end-Permian mass extinction (which is characterized by extreme volcanic CO2 outgassing and warming) the actual kill mechanism might have been when pulses of sulfur aerosols masking the warming rained out and the temperature spiked
A lot of people are going to lose money on this. Solar radiation modification only makes sense if followed by large-scale carbon dioxide removal, and we ain't got that.
A 25-person startup is developing technology to block the sun and turn down the planet’s thermostat.
The stakes are huge — and the company and its critics say regulations need to catch up.
Read more: politi.co/4iaojIc
The stakes are huge — and the company and its critics say regulations need to catch up.
Read more: politi.co/4iaojIc
November 24, 2025 at 8:08 PM
One of the creepier geology papers I've read was about how in the end-Permian mass extinction (which is characterized by extreme volcanic CO2 outgassing and warming) the actual kill mechanism might have been when pulses of sulfur aerosols masking the warming rained out and the temperature spiked
Reposted by Heather Short
🌳 If you are aged 18-25 and would like to build resilience while living in the knowledge of the climate crisis, join our listening circle to spend time with others who get it.
Facilitated by trained CPA facilitators.
Free but booking essential: www.eventbrite.com/e/174813...
Facilitated by trained CPA facilitators.
Free but booking essential: www.eventbrite.com/e/174813...
November 24, 2025 at 3:57 PM
🌳 If you are aged 18-25 and would like to build resilience while living in the knowledge of the climate crisis, join our listening circle to spend time with others who get it.
Facilitated by trained CPA facilitators.
Free but booking essential: www.eventbrite.com/e/174813...
Facilitated by trained CPA facilitators.
Free but booking essential: www.eventbrite.com/e/174813...
Reposted by Heather Short
Climate change is bad.
Our Almost-Apocalyptic Climate Future
By shooting for 3 degrees Celsius of warming, the world could slide toward a more cataclysmic 4 degrees.
www.theatlantic.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Climate change is bad.
Reposted by Heather Short
Biotic marine CO₂ removal relies on export of organic carbon from the surface ocean to the deep sea, where CO₂ will be kept out of the atmosphere even if the organic matter is remineralized.
Deep-sea mining will bring this carbon to the ocean surface and release CO₂ to the atmosphere. Not awesome.
Deep-sea mining will bring this carbon to the ocean surface and release CO₂ to the atmosphere. Not awesome.
Deep-sea mining risks harming one of the last pristine ecosystems--but if it goes ahead under Trump, it could at least be done more sustainably by smelting the metal nodules with hydrogen plasma www.newscientist.com/article/2505...
Have we found a greener way to do deep-sea mining?
There are widespread concerns that deep-sea mining for metals will damage fragile ecosystems. But if mining ever goes ahead, hydrogen plasma could shrink the carbon footprint of smelting the metal ore...
www.newscientist.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Biotic marine CO₂ removal relies on export of organic carbon from the surface ocean to the deep sea, where CO₂ will be kept out of the atmosphere even if the organic matter is remineralized.
Deep-sea mining will bring this carbon to the ocean surface and release CO₂ to the atmosphere. Not awesome.
Deep-sea mining will bring this carbon to the ocean surface and release CO₂ to the atmosphere. Not awesome.
"All of us must do our part and subject world leaders to extreme and relentless public pressure. The challenge of stranding potentially trillions of dollars in fossil capital and rebuilding the world is enormous."
and it will be worthwhile
and it will be worthwhile
My latest: #COP30, global climate politics, and what happens next — for @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
November 24, 2025 at 1:34 PM
"All of us must do our part and subject world leaders to extreme and relentless public pressure. The challenge of stranding potentially trillions of dollars in fossil capital and rebuilding the world is enormous."
and it will be worthwhile
and it will be worthwhile
Reposted by Heather Short
Researching this week's column, I stumbled across something that amazed me:
the near-absence of reliable data about climate impacts over most of the
world. Due to the rich world's failure to fund research. We don't know
because our governments don't care. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
the near-absence of reliable data about climate impacts over most of the
world. Due to the rich world's failure to fund research. We don't know
because our governments don't care. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
There’s a catastrophic black hole in our climate data – and it’s a gift to deniers | George Monbiot
Climate sceptics tell us that more people die of extreme cold than extreme heat. What’s the truth? asks Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Researching this week's column, I stumbled across something that amazed me:
the near-absence of reliable data about climate impacts over most of the
world. Due to the rich world's failure to fund research. We don't know
because our governments don't care. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
the near-absence of reliable data about climate impacts over most of the
world. Due to the rich world's failure to fund research. We don't know
because our governments don't care. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Heather Short
You ever just sit down and realize that the rise of 21st century fascism is capital's answer to climate change?
November 21, 2025 at 9:25 AM
You ever just sit down and realize that the rise of 21st century fascism is capital's answer to climate change?
Reposted by Heather Short
Canada is in "in principle" in favour of a global roadmap to transition off fossil fuels — a position hard to square with PM Mark Carney's fossil fuel expansion plans at home. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/21/n...
Canada talks oil and gas transition abroad while doubling down on industry back home
The Carney government has tipped its hand, revealing its position on a key diplomatic sticking point at this year's UN climate summit — and it's hard to square with the Liberals' latest domestic moves...
www.nationalobserver.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Canada is in "in principle" in favour of a global roadmap to transition off fossil fuels — a position hard to square with PM Mark Carney's fossil fuel expansion plans at home. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/21/n...
Reposted by Heather Short
Every time the shocking, perplexing tactic of “giving money to people who need it” is tried, it turns out to work.
And yet people who have more money than they could ever need remain baffled.
And yet people who have more money than they could ever need remain baffled.
An Oregon pilot program giving cash to homeless youths sees a staggering reduction in homelessness. The program gave participants $1,000 cash payments each month for two years, and at the end of the project's first phase, 91% of participants reported being in stable housing.
Oregon pilot program giving cash to homeless youths sees staggering reduction in homelessness
The state program gave participants $1,000 cash payments each month for two years. At the end of the project's first phase, 91% of participants reported being in stable housing.
www.streetroots.org
November 21, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Every time the shocking, perplexing tactic of “giving money to people who need it” is tried, it turns out to work.
And yet people who have more money than they could ever need remain baffled.
And yet people who have more money than they could ever need remain baffled.
Reposted by Heather Short
“History shows us that the right to literacy came at a heavy cost…those oppressed recognized that literacy is liberation. To my students & to anyone who might listen, I say: Don’t surrender to AI your ability to read, write & think when others once risked their lives & died for the freedom to do so”
I Set A Trap To Catch My Students Cheating With AI. The Results Were Shocking.
"Students are not just undermining their ability to learn, but to someday lead."
www.huffpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:26 AM
“History shows us that the right to literacy came at a heavy cost…those oppressed recognized that literacy is liberation. To my students & to anyone who might listen, I say: Don’t surrender to AI your ability to read, write & think when others once risked their lives & died for the freedom to do so”
Reposted by Heather Short
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 5:32 PM
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
Reposted by Heather Short
Canada now in the "Highly Insufficient" zone on GHG reductions climateactiontracker.org/countries/ca...
Canada
Policies and action against modelled domestic pathways
climateactiontracker.org
November 20, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Canada now in the "Highly Insufficient" zone on GHG reductions climateactiontracker.org/countries/ca...
Reposted by Heather Short
We are losing so much time fighting fights that should have been put to bed years ago.
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
November 20, 2025 at 5:58 PM
We are losing so much time fighting fights that should have been put to bed years ago.
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Reposted by Heather Short
So much for "Canada is back!".
🇨🇦 now seen as a global pariah state when it comes to climate action.
Canada Receives Fossil of the Day Award at COP30 Climate Summit www.theenergymix.com/canada-recei...
🇨🇦 now seen as a global pariah state when it comes to climate action.
Canada Receives Fossil of the Day Award at COP30 Climate Summit www.theenergymix.com/canada-recei...
Canada Receives Fossil of the Day Award at COP30 Climate Summit
Canada received Tuesday’s Fossil of the Day award at the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil. The award, bestowed by Climate Action Network International, recognizes the country deemed to have done ...
www.theenergymix.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:55 PM
So much for "Canada is back!".
🇨🇦 now seen as a global pariah state when it comes to climate action.
Canada Receives Fossil of the Day Award at COP30 Climate Summit www.theenergymix.com/canada-recei...
🇨🇦 now seen as a global pariah state when it comes to climate action.
Canada Receives Fossil of the Day Award at COP30 Climate Summit www.theenergymix.com/canada-recei...
"“Truth number three is that the climate crisis, the biodiversity crisis, the land crisis, the ocean crisis, the plastic pollution crisis, they’re all the same crisis. They are the product of an economic system that favours unhinged production ...”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The two extraordinary young activists making me feel optimistic at Cop30
In today’s newsletter: Despite valid criticisms, the summits are filled with smart, passionate people dedicating their lives to fighting the climate crisis
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:49 PM
"“Truth number three is that the climate crisis, the biodiversity crisis, the land crisis, the ocean crisis, the plastic pollution crisis, they’re all the same crisis. They are the product of an economic system that favours unhinged production ...”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Heather Short
Instead of banning the use of the name “veggie burger”, the world would be a better place if meat burgers were banned. 🙃
Ban on veggie ‘burgers’: plant-based products may lose meaty names in UK under EU law
Exclusive: Trade agreement means UK is subject to some food labelling rules, with vote on vegetarian food terms this week
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Instead of banning the use of the name “veggie burger”, the world would be a better place if meat burgers were banned. 🙃
Reposted by Heather Short
We owe so much to the courage of past protestors.
Yet our so-called leaders decry those who protest to condemn injustice today and those who seek to defend our planet and protect our futures.
We must uphold our civil liberties and delegalize recent efforts to stifle descent!
Yet our so-called leaders decry those who protest to condemn injustice today and those who seek to defend our planet and protect our futures.
We must uphold our civil liberties and delegalize recent efforts to stifle descent!
This has to be one of of the most iconic photographs of the 20th century from March 1907. Sixteen years old suffragette Dora Thewlis. A poor mill worker from Honley in Huddersfield she was a member of the Women's Social and Political Union At a demonstration in London she is
November 20, 2025 at 9:24 AM
We owe so much to the courage of past protestors.
Yet our so-called leaders decry those who protest to condemn injustice today and those who seek to defend our planet and protect our futures.
We must uphold our civil liberties and delegalize recent efforts to stifle descent!
Yet our so-called leaders decry those who protest to condemn injustice today and those who seek to defend our planet and protect our futures.
We must uphold our civil liberties and delegalize recent efforts to stifle descent!
JFC
CDC has overhauled its website to assert that “the claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim”
November 20, 2025 at 12:14 PM
JFC
"Achieving the transition to a world in which vested interests no longer exert undue influence over political decisions will also require a critical mass of citizens. ....a ‘movement of movements’: an alliance of initiatives united by a shared vision of sustainable and inclusive well-being"
It's long past time to refocus economies around what actually matters - wellbeing and sustainability - rather than maximising financial transactions
Important new call to move beyond GDP in Nature
Important new call to move beyond GDP in Nature
Beyond growth — why we need to agree on an alternative to GDP now
The world needs to move towards an approach to measure well-being rather than economic growth. Here’s how that can happen.
www.nature.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:06 PM
"Achieving the transition to a world in which vested interests no longer exert undue influence over political decisions will also require a critical mass of citizens. ....a ‘movement of movements’: an alliance of initiatives united by a shared vision of sustainable and inclusive well-being"