This post examines a correction to a seminal paper by Oxford University scientists Poore and Nemecek on the environmental footprints of food. It shows that, of all the products we make, including the massive amounts of cement and steel used for construction, beef is categorically responsible for the most GHGs, by a very wide margin. Continue reading A mammoth adjustment to beef’s carbon footprint
Globally, we produce way less beef compared to steel and cement and yet the beef industry’s total carbon footprint is as large* as that of the other two industries. This is because the carbon footprint of beef, per kg of product, eclipses virtually everything else on the planet. The “carbon footprint multiplier” for beef is 100 while for cement and steel it’s around 0.8 and 2, respectively. While plans are in progress to decarbonize cement and steel, we need to put beef in perspective.
*It’s actually a lot larger if we factor in carbon sequestration on land formerly used for beef.
Continue reading Perspective on the carbon footprints of steel, cement, and beef
I’m taking a look at Bill Gates’s 2021 book, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster. His book is full of useful information and hopefully has inspired changes in policy. Unfortunately, last week, Bill did the opposite of his own advice. My main issue with the book is that it downplays actions that we can take as individuals and consumers. Continue reading What Bill Gates missed in How to Avoid a Climate Disaster
Bill Gates published a blog post last week, titled Three tough truths about climate (A new way to look at the problem). He argues that we need to continue funding programs that tackle poverty and health (fine!) but that these funds should come at the expense of programs to mitigate climate change, which he claims won’t be so bad. I look into his motivation for such a misguided proposal that does nothing for the Global South. Continue reading Bill Gates’s new view on climate change is irrational
A group of writers and data scientists, nicknamed the New Optimists, have been communicating on how life has improved in many ways. Poverty and violence are down while longevity and health have improved significantly, especially in recent decades. Pros and cons of an optimistic perspective are discussed. Continue reading Should we listen to the New Optimists?
Last year, scientists from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab reported that the carbon footprint of plastic production is around 2.2 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalents. That’s more than double previous estimates, amounting to more than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. If the plastics industry continues to grow at the current rate, it will be one of the biggest drivers of climate change by 2050. Continue reading The astonishing carbon footprint of plastic production
Many of us are overwhelmed by the political situation in the US – feeling helpless on the sidelines, watching as new horrors unfold every day and wishing there was something we could do. Well there is! Don’t allow annoying, unstable people ruin our long-term plan of saving the only home we have. Continue reading The most vital action to take in America, right now
Pope Francis passed away yesterday morning. Two years into his papacy, Pope Francis published a book on climate change and inequality. He chose to tackle the most critical environmental issue and the most critical social issue that we face on Earth. Continue reading Pope Francis on climate change and inequality
I saw some graffiti in a local café last week and it seems like a good, if somewhat random, starting point for a discussion. On a sign by the bathroom sink with directions for hand-washing, someone had written this message: Stop the Nerd Work Orders. Fake NWO. “Science” Continue reading Nerd Woke Orders, or How the left was lost.
The term planetary boundaries comes from an international group of scientists who have defined nine major threats to life on planet Earth and metrics for each of them. Aren’t you curious about what made it onto the list? It’s like The Oscars for the planet! Continue reading Earth is beyond 6 of 9 planetary boundaries. (Wait, what?)
The Green Stars Project 