Energy

A group of conservative Vancouver city councillors have reversed the city's pioneering pro-climate measures restricting the use of natural gas in new buildings. Implemented in 2020, the rules made Vancouver the first Canadian municipality to restrict gas for climate reasons and inspired dozens of other local governments to do the same.

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British Columbia

Feeling the Heat: Capitalism and Global Warming

21/07/24

Author:

Marty Hart-Landsberg

Link:

The Bullet

July 21, 2024

We are in real trouble. Global carbon dioxide emissions (the main cause of global warming) continue to rise, hitting a new high in 2023. Last year was also the hottest in recorded history and, year by year, more Americans are feeling the consequences. Yet, we have seen only modest attempts to bring emissions down.

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'Alternative' energy and less energy

A.I.’s Insatiable Appetite for Energy

11/07/24

Author:

David Gelles

Link:

The New York Times

July 11, 2024

The soaring electricity demands of data centers and A.I. are straining the grid in some areas, pushing up emissions and slowing the energy transition.

A few weeks ago, I joined a small group of reporters for a wide-ranging conversation with Bill Gates about climate change, its causes and potential solutions. When the topic turned to the issue of just how much energy artificial intelligence was using, Gates was surprisingly sanguine.

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'Alternative' energy and less energy

Government now expecting hydrogen market to be worth 16% of 2020 estimate

10/07/24

Author:

John Woodside

Link:

National Observer

July 8, 2024

Four years ago, Canada crafted a plan to capitalize on a global hydrogen market the government expected to be worth up to $11.7 trillion by mid-century. Billions of dollars of public money has been provided to seize the country’s share of the pie.

But there’s a problem: the global market is shrinking before their eyes.

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Renewable transition or global US empire? You can’t have both

03/07/24

Author:

Nick Gottlieb

Link:

Canadian Dimension

American fighter planes in formation at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany. It serves as the headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) and NATO Allied Air Command (AIRCOM). Photo by Roland Balik/US Air Force/Flickr.

Jun. 27, 2024

There is no path to a renewable future which leaves American hegemony in place

The United States has a material, vested interest in obstructing progress on climate change. This argument, laid out by Amitav Ghosh in his 2021 book The Nutmeg’s Curse, is crucial for understanding the politics not just of climate change, but of the world: everything from the American trade war against Chinese renewable technologies to the ongoing genocide in Gaza can be linked to it.

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'Alternative' energy and less energy

Is Carbon Capture Just Climate Delusion?

07/06/24

Author:

Basav Sen, Jim Walsh

Link:

Common Dreams

Officials pose with shovels for a photo opportunity for the groundbreaking ceremony for Oxys Direct Air Capture facility called Stratos in West Texas on Friday, April 28, 2023. (Photo: Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

Jun. 5, 2024

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When Cities Hit ‘Day Zero’ with No Water

23/05/24

Author:

Crawford Kilian

Link:

The Tyee

The Capilano reservoir in North Vancouver is contained by the Cleveland Dam. Despite appearances of plentiful water supply, journalist Tim Smedley warns many places in the world are headed for extreme scarcity. Photo via Shutterstock.

May 23, 2024

Tim Smedley’s new book documents the growing global crisis and ways to stave off the worst.

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Hot air and hyperbole? New player joins B.C.’s gas wars

06/05/24

Author:

Max Fawcett

Link:

National Observer

Bill Tieleman is the director of the BC Coalition for Affordable Dependable Energy, a new lobby group fighting against municipal rules phasing out natural gas in new buildings. Photo provided by Bill Tieleman

May 6, 2024

For months, Canada's natural gas utilities have mustered lobbying efforts and funded online misinformation campaigns to fight efforts by municipalities to phase out the climate-warming fuel. And now they have a new ally with deep ties to the province's NDP to push the pro-gas message in the province's lefty media.

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'Alternative' energy and less energy