Reforestation drones in Rio de Janeiro, megabats welcomed to Adelaide, Biden pauses LNG export terminal approvals, offshore wind booming in Europe, hermit crabs using plastic shells, and more!
I would describe myself as a climate hawk and I think the Biden decision on LNG was a massive mistake. It will reduce natural gas prices in America which will slow the environmental transition. The extra supply to the international market would have helped out America's European and Asian partners in their decoupling from Russia. Additionally, despite the improvement of grid scale storage options natural gas is (for now) a necessary complement for renewable energy.
I don't know what the effects will be myself; we'll see. I do think that lower natural gas prices in America short-term is a feature, not a bug, as it may help Biden get re-elected and lock in Inflation Reduction Act victories.
Sorry to be so late to the party! You've provided us with great news from all over the world. I love Brazil's reforestation drones- what an excellent use of the technology. Also the rewilding of Europe is an unexpected but happy development. Finally the comfy little hermit crabs and swimming mega-bats!!
I think it's a difficult tradeoff. I strongly support the European/American alliance against Russia, but I think that Biden losing reelection to an openly pro-Russian candidate would be much worse than Europe needing to source more LNG from Qatar (renewables & heat pumps are booming in Europe too, gradually reducing the need). So I personally suspect that moves that inconvenience Europe in the short term but add some small additional chance towards helping Biden get re-elected are net very good for Europe and the alliance against Russia. You raise a very good point though, and it's an open question how this shakes out.
Yeah. Some of this is Europe's own fault. You'd imagine they'd introduce some wartime measures to speed up energy deployment (even if it's fracking which they banned) but you still see projects especially wind projects stuck by environmental policies to protect birds or something.
I totally agree with you that shortsighted attacks on clean energy from environmentalists are a problem (I've written about it before) but actually, the EU is doing pretty well on fact-tracking permitting of renewable energy!
I don't much stock on plans. Germany had 'plans' to remilitarise to help Ukraine and here we are.
On a more happy news Australia is doing well on renewables. But we're spoilt for choice. We can get offshore wind, we can get home solar and batteries, we can get solar parks on the desert. Permitting for stuff other than offshore wind have not been an issue so far.
I would describe myself as a climate hawk and I think the Biden decision on LNG was a massive mistake. It will reduce natural gas prices in America which will slow the environmental transition. The extra supply to the international market would have helped out America's European and Asian partners in their decoupling from Russia. Additionally, despite the improvement of grid scale storage options natural gas is (for now) a necessary complement for renewable energy.
I don't know what the effects will be myself; we'll see. I do think that lower natural gas prices in America short-term is a feature, not a bug, as it may help Biden get re-elected and lock in Inflation Reduction Act victories.
I mean I know the reason of why he did it. But he's weakening the European alliance against Russia if he keeps this up.
Sorry to be so late to the party! You've provided us with great news from all over the world. I love Brazil's reforestation drones- what an excellent use of the technology. Also the rewilding of Europe is an unexpected but happy development. Finally the comfy little hermit crabs and swimming mega-bats!!
Thank you!
I think it's a difficult tradeoff. I strongly support the European/American alliance against Russia, but I think that Biden losing reelection to an openly pro-Russian candidate would be much worse than Europe needing to source more LNG from Qatar (renewables & heat pumps are booming in Europe too, gradually reducing the need). So I personally suspect that moves that inconvenience Europe in the short term but add some small additional chance towards helping Biden get re-elected are net very good for Europe and the alliance against Russia. You raise a very good point though, and it's an open question how this shakes out.
Yeah. Some of this is Europe's own fault. You'd imagine they'd introduce some wartime measures to speed up energy deployment (even if it's fracking which they banned) but you still see projects especially wind projects stuck by environmental policies to protect birds or something.
I totally agree with you that shortsighted attacks on clean energy from environmentalists are a problem (I've written about it before) but actually, the EU is doing pretty well on fact-tracking permitting of renewable energy!
https://renewablesnow.com/news/ec-to-fast-track-166-energy-projects-supporting-climate-goals-841550/
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/infographics/fit-for-55-how-the-eu-plans-to-boost-renewable-energy/
I don't much stock on plans. Germany had 'plans' to remilitarise to help Ukraine and here we are.
On a more happy news Australia is doing well on renewables. But we're spoilt for choice. We can get offshore wind, we can get home solar and batteries, we can get solar parks on the desert. Permitting for stuff other than offshore wind have not been an issue so far.