This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Wednesday, 11 May 2022
Carbon 'Bombing'
BP, Chevron, ExxonMobile and Shell made almost $2tn in profits over the last 30 years. The role of their 'greenhouse gases' has been known for this period of time. Because prices are currently high, oil and gas are extraordinarily profitable. In spite of widespread concerns about climate change, these colossal payouts are apparently proving irresistable to big oil and their backers (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2022/may/11/fossil-fuel-carbon-bombs-climate-breakdown-oil-gas). The biggest fossil fuel firms are quietly planning almost 200 gigantic oil and gas projects. Each of these 200 so-called 'carbon bombs', will result in at least 1bn tonnes of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. Many, of course, will also liberate methane, an even more potent 'greenhouse gas'. In total, these projects will produce as much carbon dioxide as can be currently generated by the entire planet over 18 years. Sixty percent of these projects are already pumping. Catastrophic climate breakdown looks inevitable, if these developments continue. Bizzarely (given the expressed concerns of their populations and 'pledges' by their politicians), Australia, Canada and the US have the biggest expansion plans. These countries also give the biggest per capita subsidies for fossil fuels. The behaviour of the oil giants (and their financial and political backers) is reminiscent of that of a drug addict. Profits before survival?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Improving the Country's Health?
An Imperial College London study notes substantial UK health gains to be made from net zero carbon actions. These are largely a consequenc...
-
It's necessary, where possible, to replace diesel and petrol-fueled vehicles by electrical equivalents. Electric vehicles (EVs) don...
-
Seagrasses are the only flowering plants growing in marine environments. Seagrass meadows (large accumulations of these plants) provide vit...
-
Zonal pricing is a proposed change to the UK energy market. It would result in energy consumers paying less for electricity, if they are ba...
No comments:
Post a Comment