Tag Archives: fossil fuels

Gold-plated gardening tools? How the energy revolution could affect the elite

The elite of a society likes to gather wealth and symbols of that wealth.  In order to accrue significantly more wealth than other people and thereby join or stay in the elite, someone has to have some particular advantage and … Continue reading

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No incentive to innovate?

Industry glibly says: “The low carbon price means there is no incentive to innovate.” Hell no, there really isn’t an incentive to innovate.  How about solving a really big problem called “how does man live comfortably without smashing up the … Continue reading

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Exxon: the cow’s best friend

51% of greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to animal husbandry.  Here is the original paper (http://www.worldwatch.org/files/pdf/Livestock%20and%20Climate%20Change.pdf) and an update (http://www.chompingclimatechange.org/uploads/8/0/6/9/8069267/a_fresh_look_at_livestock_ghg_emissions_published.pdf).  Even if the guys are a bit off, it’s a very big number. Climate policy people talk a lot about … Continue reading

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The unbearable fragility of climate regulations

Someone who loves nature can only be angry at this.  In June of last year the President Obama called for international lending institutions to stop funding coal-fired plants overseas.  The World Bank and the US Export-Import bank both agreed not … Continue reading

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Lobbying in perspective

From Reuters: “Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government wants to water down draft car emissions legislation agreed in June by introducing the phase-in period, under a proposal circulated by German diplomats and seen by Reuters.  Renault and PSA Peugeot Citroen have broken … Continue reading

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