Beyond Extinction — INSURGE intelligence
In Margaret Atwood’s powerful essay on the reality of climate change — and its implications for the future of oil-dependent industrial civilization — she tells two vastly distinct stories of our future. The first is a tale of dystopia — a future so bleak, it would make Hollywood moguls looking for the next science fiction blockbuster of action-packed (post)apocalypse salivate with anticipation. Here, Atwood tells a story of human failure: of short-sighted choices based on fatal addiction to business-as-usual, and an egoistic hubris rooted in centuries of globalisation. In this scenario, we largely ignore the overwhelming evidence of climate change, and the result is that industrial civilization enters a period of protracted collapse, fuelled by accelerating war, famine, and natural disasters. Crossroads Of course, both these scenarios are extremes, but there is a purpose to such extremes. And Atwood is spot on when she notes that this is not just about climate change. Collapse Extinction Dr.
Berlin’s Renewable Energy Fiasco… Revisited
Although the Wall Street Journal has called the German energy transition a “fiasco,” Javier López Prol argues that renewables are clearly a success. Fossil fuels only seem cheaper as they externalize costs onto the environment, and that higher electricity costs are not the economic catastrophe that critics claim. A few days ago The Wall Street Journal published an opinion article about “Berlin’s renewable energy fiasco”, whose main message, as you can guess, is the failure of Germany’s pioneering Energiewende (energy transition). 1. 1.1. Figure 1 shows the evolution of Photovoltaic module prices. Figure 1 : Photovoltaic module prices and projection to 2035 based on learning curve ($/Watt; note that the axes are in logarithmic scale) (Source: IEA, 2014) 1.2. Assuming the €200 billion figure in 16 years and ignoring discounting, that is €12.5 billion a year. 1.3. Again, it is the most expensive only because fossil fuels have externalized environmental costs. Figure 3.
Liberation from Civilization!
(this article is an attempt to shorten, personalize and update my signature post A Framework for Personal Action) third chart in my collapse scenario for civilization For many years the thesis of this blog has been: Our civilization is in its final century, and there is nothing we can do to prevent its collapse. When I began writing this, I was largely dismissed as a defeatist and a depressed ‘doomer’ (or worse). This acknowledgement tends to come from people fortunate enough to have the intellectual curiosity, critical thinking ability, undiminished instincts, and time to study and learn how the world really works (not how we are told it works by those powerful and moneyed interests best served by denying the extent and potential impact of these crises and prolonging as long as possible the current unsustainable way we live). If the collapse of industrial civilization cannot be prevented, what should we do now? Here’s what I’m doing to that end: 1. Full House, by Stephen J. 2. 3. 4. 5.
how to save the world | Dave Pollard's chronicle of civilization's collapse, creative works and essays on our culture. A trail of crumbs, runes and exclamations along my path in search of a better way to live and make a living, and a better understanding
Why Oil Prices Might Never Recover
Submitted by Arthur Berman via OilPrice.com, Two years into the global oil-price collapse, it seems unlikely that prices will return to sustained levels above $70 per barrel any time soon or perhaps, ever. That is because the global economy is exhausted. The current oil-price rally is over as I predicted several months ago and prices are heading toward $40 per barrel. Oil has been re-valued to affordable levels based on the real value of money. Meanwhile, a global uprising is unfolding. The U.K. vote to exit the European Union is part of it. The uprising seems to be about immigration and borders but it’s really about hard times in a failing global economy. Energy Is The Economy Energy is the economy. The oil-price collapse that began in July 2014 followed the longest period of unaffordable oil prices in history. (Click to enlarge) Figure 1. That was more than 3.5 times longer than the period from September 2007 through September 2008 just before the financial collapse. Figure 2. Figure 3.
Effetto Risorse: La crescita anti-economica
Da "Uneconomic growth in theory and in fact" (traduzione d Jacopo Simonetta) Prolusione di Herman E. Daly. tenutasi al Trinity College, Dublino, 26/04/1999 Ciò di cui voglio parlarvi oggi è un concetto che ritengo importante, anche se non se ne sente parlare molto. Si tratta dell’idea della crescita anti-economica. Sentiamo anche troppo parlare di crescita economica, ma la crescita anti-economica è possibile? Questo pomeriggio, il testo per la mia presentazione è preso da John Ruskin: “Ciò che sembra essere ricchezza in verità potrebbe essere soltanto una dorata indicazione verso la sopravveniente rovina”. In seguito discuterò quello che potrei definire “il problema del paradigma”, anche se utilizzerò un termine economico. Quindi, se vi avrò convinti della possibilità che la crescita anti-economica abbia forse un senso in teoria, esiste la crescita anti-economica nei fatti? Bene, prima di rispondere, penso che sia bene porsi una domanda simile in micro-economia. Che cos’è l’ecosistema?
Per chi non crede al clima che cambia ecco i nuovi dati sull'Italia
Il rapporto Ispra “Gli indicatori del clima in Italia”, appena pubblicato, mostra i dati su temperature, precipitazioni ed eventi meteo al 2015. Le tendenze sono preoccupanti. Come a livello globale, anche nel nostro paese l'ultimo anno è stato il più caldo di sempre. Qualche grafico dà l'idea dei mutamenti in atto. Se ancora pensate che il global warming sia un problema meno urgente di altri o se addirittura, come alcuni quotidiani nazionali di destra hanno riportato in questi giorni, credete sia “una bufala”, vi invitiamo a sfogliare il rapporto Ispra “Gli indicatori del clima in Italia”, uscito ieri (in allegato in basso). Il rapporto si limita a registrare i dati su temperature, precipitazioni ed eventi meteo in Italia fino a tutto il 2015. L’Italia ha sete, in calo le precipitazioni al Nord e al Centro. Il grafico qui sotto, mostra la serie delle anomalie di temperatura media globale sulla terraferma e in Italia, rispetto ai valori climatologici normali 1961-1990:
Arctic News: Climate Plan
An Effective and Comprehensive Climate Plan At first glance, one might think that, given the lack of action on climate change, any regulatory action may seem welcome. Nonetheless, if we do have a say in the matter, why not advocate what we believe are the best policies? The Climate Plan blog offers opportunities for people to join the calls for effective and comprehensive action. Feebates typically are the most effective way to achieve the necessary shifts, and they generally are best implemented locally. Importantly, for a climate plan to be both comprehensive and effective, these different parts and each of their associated lines of action should be implemented simultaneously. Why local feebates? A carbon tax is more straight forward and effective than cap-and-trade or standards. How are local feebates best implemented? Local feebates, is that all we need? Will it work internationally? Why this Climate Plan should be supported Why the Climate Plan must be supported
