Tag: 2014

April 24, 2004 – Launch of the Climate Group

Post author By drmarchudson
Post date April 23, 2024
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Twenty-years ago, on this day, April 24th, 2004, the business outfit the “Climate Group” was launched, with a speech by Tony Blair.

24 April 2004 Launch of the Climate Group. Blair speaks at it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3662303.stm

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 377.7ppm. As of 2024 it is 425ppm, but check here for daily measures.

The context was that the UNFCCC process was potentially coming back on board with Kyoto moving towards ratification. Businesses were worrying. The Global Climate Coalition was dead. There was a space for new business activity. And along comes the Climate Group launched today but probably conceived a couple of years before.

What we learn is that the early 2000s mark a kind of shift, there is that split in business between what the headbangers have wanted and succeeded in destroying, i.e. destroying high ambition. And then there’s all the other companies, which might make money from the green transition, or can just read a bloody Keeling curve, and see that there’s trouble ahead.

What happened next, the Climate Group had its peak years probably in the run up to Copenhagen. It’s still going. I’m not quite sure why. There is now a coalition called “we mean business” as well. But there’s always a proliferation of these groups, I guess, representing slightly different interests and making work for well-meaning but fundamentally dim technocrats.

What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.

Also on this day:

April 24, 1980 – the climate models are sound…

April 24, 1994 – a carbon tax for Australia?

Tags 2014, Tony Blair

China Coal

April 11, 2014 – Greenpeace China releases coal report

Post author By drmarchudson
Post date April 10, 2024
No Comments on April 11, 2014 – Greenpeace China releases coal report

Ten years ago, on this day, April 11th, 2014 Greenpeace China releases report

6 things you should know about coal

Issuu https://issuu.com/greenpeace_eastasia/docs/the_end_of_china_s_coal_boom-_6_facts_you_should_k

Interview https://www.ecologic.eu/10568

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 398.8ppm. As of 2024 it is 425ppm, but check here for daily measures.

The context was that China was industrialising at warp speed. That of course meant coal and all that that entails, both in local air pollution and also carbon dioxide emissions.

What we learn from this is that outfits like Greenpeace China, my goodness, what a tough environment to be in…

What happened next? China then also overtook the US as number one emitter (but not per capita). And China has continued to be a Rorschach test. You can see whatever you want to see in it

What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.

Also on this day:

April 11th, 1987 – A matter of… Primo Levi’s death

April 11, 1989 – “Ark” sinks its credApril 11 – Interview with Sophie Gabrielle about memes vs Armageddon….

Tags 2014

Carbon Capture and Storage United Kingdom

February 4, 2014 – CCSA and TUC release Economic Benefits of CCS report

Post author By drmarchudson
Post date February 3, 2024
No Comments on February 4, 2014 – CCSA and TUC release Economic Benefits of CCS report

Ten years ago, on this dy, February 5th, 2014, the rather interesting trade association the Carbon Capture and Storage Association was busy throwing more words and evidence at policymakers, in a tie-in with the TUC.

RE: CCSA Additional Written Evidence to Energy and Climate Change Committee Inquiry into Carbon Capture and Storage

The Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA) submitted evidence to the Energy and Climate Change Committee’s Inquiry into Carbon Capture and Storage in September 2013. Since then, the CCSA and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) have published the joint report “The Economic Benefits of Carbon Capture and Storage in the UK” on the 4th February 2014 and we would like to bring this report to the attention of the Committee as additional evidence to the Inquiry into CCS.
https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/48637/pdf

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 398.2ppm. As of 2024 it is 422ppm, but check here for daily measures.

The context here was that CCS had already spent 10 years being a “yeah we’re definitely interested” technology in the UK. BP had given up on Miller field in 2007. And the first competition had fizzled out. But now the second competition was well underway. And people were beginning to look beyond the second competition to building an actual ecosystem of facilities, pipelines, storage. And the CCSA and the TUC, while their members probably fought like tooth and dog and cat and nail on issues such as well, wages and terms and conditions etc, they had a common interest in promoting CCS as the saviour of the coal industry and of heavy industry.

What we learn is that technology can have multiple meanings to different organisations, who realise that they have to make common cause.

What happened next. On 25th of November 2015,UK Chancellor George Osborne shat all over CCS. It then took a serious effort to revivify it. And despite that effort, here, we are still without any clarity.

What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.

Also on this day:

February 4, 1963 – A UN conference on technology for “less developed areas” starts

February 4, 1993 – Australian business versus the future (spoiler: business wins)

Feb 4, 2002- Global Climate Coalition calls it a day (“Mission accomplished”)

Tags 2014, CCSA

United Kingdom

January 20, 2014 – Gummer sledges “green extremists”

Post author By drmarchudson
Post date January 19, 2024
No Comments on January 20, 2014 – Gummer sledges “green extremists”

2014 years ago, on this day, January 20th, 2014, John Gummer calls some green extremists close to trotskyists” in a Guardian interview,

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 398ppm. As of 2024 it is 422ppm, but check here for daily measures.

The context was that environmentalists, especially with Paris coming up and the coalition government having “cut the green crap” were getting more outspoken about the need for serious action. And Gummer was pushing back against this.

What we can learn is that establishment greens like Deben, and so forth, have a problem when the physics and the reality start to show that their incrementalist measures haven’t worked, won’t work can’t work. They need to lash out at someone; they’re not going to lash out at themselves, they’re not going to lash out against capitalism or question further industrialization and economic growth, because there are psychological and career consequences for doing that. So they have to lash out at someone and lashing out at so-called green Trotskyists. is risk free and feels good. So they do it. The cost is of course, that they create a caricature, a straw man or woman – green straw, which is not healthy, and everyone’s screwed.

What happened next?

Gummer, or Lord Deben chaired the Climate Change Committee until 2022. And the emissions kept climbing and you know the rest.

What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.

Also on this day:

January 20, 1992 – Gambling on climate… and losing #auspol

January 20, 2011 – Shell tries to change the subject from its own emissions

Tags 2014, John Gummer, Lord Deben

Activism United States of America

September 8, 2014 – Lobster boat blockaders have charges dropped.

Post author By drmarchudson
Post date September 8, 2023
No Comments on September 8, 2014 – Lobster boat blockaders have charges dropped.

Nine years ago, on this day, September 8, 2014, some activists had their charges dropped.

2014 Bristol County DA Sam Sutter drops charges against the lobster boat blockade folks

https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2014/09/08/district-attorney-lessens-charges-lobster-boat-blockade-trial/

Press Release: All Criminal Charges Dropped!

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 401ppm. As of 2023 it is 423ppm, but check here for daily measures.

The context was a campaign of nonviolent direct action and resistance had culminated in this.

What I think we can learn from this is that campaigns of non-violent direct action but do not always lead to a victory with changes in the law or the ways that the law is is enforced but direct action in and of itself only a tactical set of behaviours but may also have deeper moral or political implications and consequences. But there’s also the question of just getting s*** done

What happened next I don’t know. I should see if the lobster people won – in the long-term or were they shat upon?

What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.

Tags 2014, Lobster Boat Blockade

United Kingdom

July 20, 2014- the “Green Blob” blamed

Post author By drmarchudson
Post date July 19, 2023
No Comments on July 20, 2014- the “Green Blob” blamed

Nine years ago, on this day, July 20, 2014, former Environment Secretary Owen Paterson blames sacking on “the Green Blob” – https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jul/20/owen-paterson-sacked-cabinet-appease-green-lobby

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 399.2ppm. As of 2023 it is 423ppm, but check here for daily measures.

The context was that Cameron, perhaps bruised by his “get rid of the green crap” comments getting reported in late 2013, and needing a scapegoat, had sacked Owen Paterson (there’s only so many bullets that a flak jacket can take before you need a new one.)

What I think we can learn from this is that nothing is ever your fault if you’re an old white entitled man. His genius has simply been disrespected by a bunch of lunatics. And communists.

What happened next

Cameron’s government continued to “cut the green crap.” And, for example, got rid of the house buildings zero carbon targets, made life incredibly difficult for onshore wind, supported tracking and nuclear etc. And Owen Patterson? He was ultimately really the beginning of the end for his political ally Boris Johnson. He was suspended from Parliament for breaching lobbying rules (but of course this must have been the fault of the green blob). Johnson’s attempt to defend Patterson caused significant unease and undermined what the little residual political capital Johnson had so that when shit went south he had far fewer friends, and ended up having to resign.

What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.