Tag Archives: Energy

27.5.2022 – What is good in life, on feedback loops possibly leading to collapse

In early 2002, I had an epiphany. I had been depressed for months and queried whether there is even any point in living any more: in the long run, we are all dead, and whatever we achieve will crumble in … Continue reading

Posted in Notes in process | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

I’m no longer advocating for clean energy; here’s why.

My Finnish readers will already know that I announced some time ago that I’m done with energy/climate change discussions. I’ve been following the debate actively since about 2007 and have been writing about it since late 2010. I’ve written two … Continue reading

Posted in Ecomodernism, Energy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 30 Comments

Why I support almost all measures to reduce CO2 emissions – in one graph

(Click here for a larger version of the image. Feel free to re-use as well.) Climate change is not the only environmental problem we’re facing, but it’s the most critical. Many people agree, but as we’ve tried to explain in … Continue reading

Posted in Ecomodernism, Energy, Infographics, Nuclear energy & weapons, What they aren't telling you about nuclear power | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Two fallacies that explain A LOT about energy discussions

I’ve been following the energy discussions actively for a decade now. Despite some incremental improvements, the debate goes round and round much the same way as it did in 2007: everyone agrees in public that we need to quit fossil … Continue reading

Posted in Ecomodernism, Energy, History of technology | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Energy transitions: is everything different this time?

The debate about whether transition to low-carbon energy would be faster or slower than previous energy transitions somewhat misses the point. The real problem is whether this time everything is different and whether the low-carbon energy revolution will be complete … Continue reading

Posted in Ecomodernism, Energy, History of technology | Tagged , , , , | 20 Comments

Songs from the Hungerland: reflections on Ecomodernism, history, and Nature

Songs from the Hungerland in response to 21.10.15 The Guardian opinion piece: The Brave New World of Ecomodernism During spring and summer 2014, I spent many nights under the Finnish sky. Early the next morning where the picture above was taken, I … Continue reading

Posted in Ecomodernism, Economy and the Environment, Energy, History of technology | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Finnish version of “Climate Gamble” now out!

A shortish treatise on climate change and nuclear power, Uhkapeli ilmastolla – vaarantaako ydinvoiman vastustus maailman tulevaisuuden? (Climate Gamble – is anti-nuclear movement endangering the world’s future?) is now in press and can be pre-ordered here. The book discusses the state of climate … Continue reading

Posted in Economy and the Environment, My publications, Nuclear energy & weapons | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Graphic of the Week: How fast has low-carbon energy been built?

This data, and other evidence, make it puzzling how one of the most common refrains against using nuclear power to combat climate change is still that it is too slow. Surely, those people cannot be saying that renewables are by implication far too slow? Continue reading

Posted in Economy and the Environment, Energy, Infographics, Nuclear energy & weapons, What they aren't telling you about nuclear power | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Graphic of the Week: Estimates of world energy consumption to 2100, and renewables generation to 2050

The question, therefore, is this: should we gamble literally everything on the off chance that the most optimistic renewable energy proposal has it right, and that the most optimistic energy demand estimate is also correct? Continue reading

Posted in Economy and the Environment, Energy, Infographics, Nuclear energy & weapons | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Graphic of the Week: Having too much and too little renewables – at the same time

One of the benefits of renewable energy is that it pushes down the price of electricity when the wind blows or the sun shines. Besides lowering energy bills, that kills the profitability of traditional “baseload” power plants – i.e. those … Continue reading

Posted in Ecomodernism, Infographics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments