“If there was one decision I would overrule, it would be Citizens United. I think the notion that we have all the democracy that money can buy strays so far from what our democracy is supposed to be.” ~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg, September 28, 2014
More information and a petition to sign are linked above.
We know a great deal about climate change, but there remains a great deal outside our grasp, of which the role of water vapor is an excellent example. As discussed in the article linked above, water vapor is the single most important greenhouse gas, but it has characteristics that the others (CO2, methane, NO2, etc.) do not; in particular, it condenses at the temperatures and pressures that are present in our atmosphere. (more…)
Often when we talk about Smart City, the focus falls on the role of technological factors: innovations in energy efficiency, communication and information platforms, and so forth. However, this list often omits the human factor: aspirations, interests and abilities of the people in an intelligent city, many of whom work for companies whose products help meet the global challenges of modern society. In this context, we’ll investigate the “smart citizens” who populate a Smart City, focusing on the human factors that characterize it. (more…)
With respect to my recent piece on climate science, a reader points out: What is today’s “consensus” may not be tomorrow’s.
Yes, the consensus can be wrong. In fact, it always is, in one way or another. (more…)
Frequent commenter/contributor Cameron Atwood asks: What are your thoughts on this? Here’s how much of the world would need to be covered in solar panels to power Earth.
There are three main issues that this analysis overlooks: (more…)
Frequent commenter MarcoPolo makes two interesting points in his recent post:
1) It’s hypocritical for some Americans to smugly claim a moral victory for less U.S. emissions, while exporting emissions-creating industries overseas, while as customers, re-importing the manufactured products of those high emissions industries, using borrowed money. (more…)
It’s been a while since I reminded readers of the broad capabilities of our “Associates” at 2GreenEnergy, i.e., the folks who fill the (numerous) gaps in my own personal skill-set as a cleantech business consultant, and enable me to make the claim that: “If you have a good idea in the cleantech space, we can categorically help you take it forward.”
This came to mind insofar as we’ve recently added two new gentlemen to the roster: (more…)
I just watched this 90-minute video that provides a good survey of the science behind global warming. The photo here is a bit misleading; the math and science isn’t ridiculously advanced.
From the notes on the website:
Professor Kerry Emanuel has been known for his “Show me the data!” approach to climate science. In this talk, he will present a long term, evidence-driven view of Earth’s climate change, culminating in a discussion of current risks and implications. An extensive audience Q&A will follow the presentation. (more…)
Writing on the significant level of success that our civilization is making in the migration from fossil fuels to clean energy, I noted recently: Btw, renewable energy is not the only progressive cause that is in the process of winning. Check out this article “The Tide of History Flows Left” that includes the following: “In his landmark book, ‘The Better Angels of Our Nature,’ Harvard University psychologist Steven Pinker concludes that all sorts of human evils — war, genocide, murder, rape, torture, dueling, wife-bashing, attacks on minorities, etc. — have faded enormously from the Western world….Pursuit of such humane goals lies at the heart of the liberal agenda.”
Coincidentally, this is the 15th birthday of the Human Rights Act. Here are 15 reasons to celebrate the Act, followed by one more: it’s Friday. I wish you a relaxing weekend, during which to take stock of the progress our civilization is making on all fronts and rest up for a renewed effort on Monday.
The US Navy has made the lucrative and energy-conscious decision to implement LED lighting in all future ships, including those currently under construction. Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus made this announcement as part of an ongoing initiative to streamline the Navy’s productivity, reduce its maintenance costs, improve safety, and help guide the branch to a greener future.
An Energy-Saving Plan Six Years in the Making (more…)
