1/?
It's a busy day, but I feel I ought to comment on this new story about the Trump administration predicting "the planet will warm a disastrous 7 degrees by the end of this century" as an excuse for lowering mileage standards.
Two things going on here
washingtonpost.com/national/healt…
It's a busy day, but I feel I ought to comment on this new story about the Trump administration predicting "the planet will warm a disastrous 7 degrees by the end of this century" as an excuse for lowering mileage standards.
Two things going on here
washingtonpost.com/national/healt…
2. The first is the Carbon Bubble. If we check climate emissions quickly enough to avoid rapid warming, then high-carbon industries are massively over-valued, and subject to a crash (as I explained here)
thenearlynow.com/trump-putin-an…
thenearlynow.com/trump-putin-an…
3. But the inverse holds true: In order for high-carbon industries not to be overvalued, you have to assume that the future is all about high emissions and rapid warming.
For high-carbon assets to be high value, you need high temperatures.
For high-carbon assets to be high value, you need high temperatures.
4. That means convincing the public that the world will do nothing on climate—indeed, that we will do LESS than we already are, and that clean technology will get worse and more expensive, and that competing industries will lose not gain clout.
5. These pronouncements, in other words, are propaganda.
Which is the best way to see Trump's many attacks on environmental protection, as a sort of "propaganda of the deed."
By themselves, completely insufficient to stem the tide of climate action, but they drive news cycles.
Which is the best way to see Trump's many attacks on environmental protection, as a sort of "propaganda of the deed."
By themselves, completely insufficient to stem the tide of climate action, but they drive news cycles.
There's a second play here: Induced despair.
We have tons of evidence showing that when people are made to feel that a problem in insurmountable, most simply stop caring about that problem.
Inducing climate despair is an effective tool for dampening demand for climate action.
We have tons of evidence showing that when people are made to feel that a problem in insurmountable, most simply stop caring about that problem.
Inducing climate despair is an effective tool for dampening demand for climate action.
7. There's also evidence that induced climate despair makes parts of the public more receptive to far-right agendas against immigration, refugees and global engagement.
