MenuCOP 28 was a roller coaster for environmentalists. Going into the conference, despite tensions, breakthrough climate agreements between the U.S. and China gave the forum a sense of hope – if geopolitical rivals could unite behind going green, perhaps the future would be bright after all. However, a lack of real progress on Article 6
Category Archives: Climate Change
The Overlooked National Innovators At COP28
COP28, the United Nations climate change conference, has convened under an atmosphere of scandal. The conference, aimed at curbing manmade climate change, has been marred by controversies. Hosted by the UAE, the conference raised eyebrows by dismissing the necessity of eventually transitioning away from fossil fuels while it simultaneously sought oil deals with multiple nations
Undersea Strategic Minerals Mining : Huge Upside, Environmental Peril
Environmental advocates made an impassioned plea to the UN for a novel request: a moratorium on deep-sea mining. This call comes amid both forthcoming international meetings on the subject scheduled for 2024 and the rapid, albeit quiet, explosion of interest in deep-sea mining. Once a topic for science fiction, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has
Germany’s Infrastructure Spending Spree Won’t Solve Its Energy Problems
In one of the most important energy deals in its history, Germany is purchasing its single largest power grid thus far. It plans to acquire Dutch state-owned operator TenneT Holding BV for $20 billion Euros. In doing so, it hopes that this will help it realize its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2045 through
Earth’s Greener Cities: The Next Frontier Of Geoengineering
In the quest to go green, geoengineering has long been an attractive idea at the periphery of climate policy discussion. The tempting notion of engineering humanity’s way out of a putative environmental catastrophe using the same tools that helped generate our global climate crisis, is attractive to many. These proposals also often conveniently sidestep notions
Who Wins & Loses The New Sino-American Green Trade War?
In a bold move, the US has announced sweeping tariffs on Chinese solar cells and modules, intensifying the Sino-American trade war in the renewable energy sector. Like electric vehicles, U.S. will use the full power of its trade regulatory apparatus to stymie China’s unfair competition. This latest announcement came after a Department of Commerce probe
Sinking Permafrost Sinks Pipelines In Russia And Canada
2023 is defined by a string of depressing climate records. Wildfires in Malibu, a strong El Niño that may last through the winter, and many more showcase the perilous state of the climate. Amongst these record highs, it’s not surprising that one of the world’s most unstable environmental resources is literally melting: permafrost. Permafrost is
Will China’s Electric Vehicle Dominance End?
Amidst Hangzhou’s modern skyline are scores of weed-infested lots filled with the remains of thousands of abandoned electric vehicles (EVs). China’s EV revolution soared to prominence, generating envy and fear from Western competitors. Like the Greek mythological hero Icarus, however, it may have flown too close to the sun. As China now confronts intense deflationary
Nuclear Fusion: Energy Breakthrough or Ballyhoo?
After scientists worldwide dispelled the false promises surrounding the purported superconductor LK-99, another scientific breakthrough in nuclear fusion naturally drew scrutiny. Nuclear fusion has been “10 years away” for decades – why should this be any different? This narrative and accompanying headlines mean fusion advances are sometimes lost in technobabble. The latest developments in nuclear
The Inconvenient Truth: When Green Energy Pollutes
While the most cited downside of the green energy transition is its financial and technological costs, it is crucial to remember that green energy also bears environmental costs. These costs are far more localized and immediate than the dispersed and global benefits they bring. In a purely philosophical and utilitarian consideration, green energy is an overwhelming