Many argue the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement is good news. Wind solar and batteries are so cheap that little fossil fuel electricity is being built even in fossil fuel states. The US risks falling behind China in green technologies, and with substantial reductions in oil consumption from EVs by 2030, fossil fuel exports will plummet,
BYD autonomous vehicle software and hardware were announced on Feb 10 2025 and demonstrate that autonomous driving is rapidly advancing and the majority of vehicles during the next 3 years will be capable of becoming robotaxis, enabling personal public transport to extend not just from 60 cities to globally.
AI is driving a rapid advances in robotaxis and autonomous driving. Like many new technologies this has taken 70 years, and in less than 5 years will see all cars with full autonomy with the advances in AI and with electric vehicles now cheaper than internal combustion engines
If California’s 340 billion light-duty vehicle miles went electric, consuming 200 watt-hours per mile, it would require an additional 68 TWh/year, 24% of 2023’s 281 TWh generation. There is 4 times unused natural gas capacity, currently not used. Charging during low-use night hours would utilize this excess, reducing pollution and improving efficiency, enhancing air quality and boost ROI on existing infrastructure.
The tone of Tesla’s earnings call for Q4-2024 and full year 2024 today was cautiously optimistic, with Elon Musk emphasizing a significant focus on autonomy and future growth. Despite some disappointing financial results, there was a bullish outlook on AI, FSD, and new vehicle launches, coupled with Musk’s characteristic confidence in Tesla’s future value.
Industrial-scale bioplastic production is being implemented in select regions globally, primarily for applications like packaging, as documented by case studies such as a Malaysian palm biomass biorefinery (20,000 tons/year) and Thailand’s cassava-based PLA and bioplastic bag production demonstrating localized cost and environmental advantages, but broader adoption is limited by high costs, scalability challenges, and performance trade-offs to the 480 million tonne market.
Nano-silicon anodes are a promising new technology for lithium-ion batteries. They offer 30% superior capacity, faster charging and longer life than traditional graphite anodes. Group 14 is a leading company in this field, and their technology is already being used in smartphones. They are now expanding their production to meet the growing demand for batteries in electric vehicles and other applications.
Most research shows Mistrust in science increasing over the past decades and primarily driven by political polarization, amplified by partisan media and social media algorithms that spread misinformation, with variation observed across age, rural vs. urban populations, and political affiliations. Was it the nuclear bomb, or Rachael Carson, but mistrust is increasing rapidly.
The scientific consensus is clear: human activity is causing dangerous climate change with potentially catastrophic consequences.
We have passed the point of avoiding some impacts, but immediate action can still limit the damage.
Climate change is a social justice issue, as wealthier nations contribute more to the problem but are less vulnerable to its effects.
Recent publications show a 3°C climate change costs 36% of GDP or $56 trillion. That is like the depression of […]
