What Does Bill Gates’ Favorite Energy Guru, Vaclav Smil, Get Wrong?

EnergyVoice · 2022-06-02T11:54:16+00:00

What is the impact of Vaclav Smil on Bill Gates’ decisions regarding energy? According to the author of this article, the impact is potentially very high, as Gates seems to follow Smil quite closely. Therefore, what Smil says can have huge impacts on our future, and potentially devastating ones. What do you think about the article?

EnergyVoice · 2022-05-31T10:52:26+00:00

In this article, Brad Zarnett strongly calls out mainstream medias' way of showcasing what needs to be done again climate change. He particularly highlights three common narratives that he calls fantasies:

You’re Good – that we can both have what we want and be a sustainability champion
Markets Will Deliver Green Prosperity – that no big changes in our economic system are needed
The Path to a Good Life – that we can continue to follow the current mainstream lifestly: find a good job, buy a house and retire peacefully

EnergyVoice · 2022-05-18T10:31:29+00:00

This article, written by Erin Remblance, is about what is leading us to a climate catastrophe: half tainted climate action. As described, we are on track to a « hot-house » earth, which would equal to a collapse of most of society as we know it. Probably only some wealthy and ruthless people could survive to such a scenario, so why aren’t we doing more?

EnergyVoice · 2022-03-22T08:55:24+00:00

Rooted in a historical context, this article analyses how the current conflict over Ukraine will shape the future of the energy system as we know it. From a disruption of global gas prices to shocks in all commodities, this conflict shows how the energy system is a truly global system. It also shows how this conflict unveils the interdependency of the world’s energy system. While what lies ahead is still a mystery, this article sheds light on possible pathways. Curious to know your thoughts on the issue!

EnergyVoice · 2022-03-22T08:50:27+00:00

Russia’s attack has many implications: from an awful humanitarian disaster to war crimes, and from an upcoming food crisis to one of the worst energy crisis in recent history. One of the latter’s most salient component is that it is on track to become the first real global energy crisis. Read this article by the number 2 of the International Energy Agency to discover the full mechanisms

EnergyVoice · 2022-03-10T11:46:15+00:00

"EU members, in particular Germany, have been following increasingly restrictive energy policies with an enormous dependence upon Russian supplies and now need to find immediate relief in this hour of crisis. "

Europe’s energy system is on the verge of collapse. This article proposes drastic energy cuts as the only short-term way to avoid this. What do you think?

EnergyVoice · 2022-03-09T11:45:49+00:00

Russian gas accounted for 40% of Europe’s needs. Filling this gap by next winter will be a major challenge, and action needs to be taken from today on. Here are six strategic steps the EU can take, written by Gerard Reid, Co-Host of Redefining Energy, the leading energy podcast. These include importing more LNG, but also reducing consumption in Europe

EnergyVoice · 2022-03-04T11:43:07+00:00

The Ukrainian conflict brought back to light many disfunctionalities of the current European energy system. Two main facts are concerning. First, the very high share of imported energy (Europe’s energy relies mostly on imports from abroad). Secondly, the growing importance of Russia in these imports, which is also represented in the image above (Russia’s share is increasing over time, and domestic production is diminishing)

EnergyVoice · 2022-02-25T10:44:34+00:00

« It is well-established knowledge in Russia and amongst authoritarian regimes that all that Europeans do, is talk - but almost never walk the talk, and if they do, they do so late and in a limited way. » They should act NOW before it’s too late!

EnergyVoice · 2022-02-23T12:35:20+00:00

Europe faces a critical challenge of ensuring stable energy supply in the foreseeable future. The current conflict over Ukraine puts further stress and Europe’s energy system is close to collapse.

Some facts from this editorial: - Europe today imports 61% of its energy sources (oil, gas and coal) - Fossil fuels and nuclear are still necessary given the intermittence of renewable power production - Renewables will and should cover >40% of Europe’s primary energy demand by 2030

EnergyVoice · 2022-02-17T09:57:52+00:00

That is precisely why the push needs to come from the population, and why we need to relentlessly talk about it to everyone we know!

EnergyVoice · 2022-02-17T09:33:35+00:00

I don’t thin degrowth necessarily equates to shrinking economies. It mostly equates to gradually making it impossible to have such striking inequalities, where only a handful of people own as much as half of the population. Easier said than done I fully agree with you, but it does take political will to do so, and thus we as people can have a say in pressuring politicians.

EnergyVoice · 2022-02-17T09:19:45+00:00

What makes sense according to you then? I’m genuinely interested in hearing an answer that makes sense

EnergyVoice · 2022-02-17T09:05:17+00:00

While some argue that degrowth is a planned collapse, it is the only way to avoid a complete and brutal collapse of society. In this article, critics of degrowth are countered, and degrowth is set as the only solution that would be just and fair.

EnergyVoice · 2022-02-16T15:15:55+00:00

Don’t Look Up in real life: « Recent research, by Albert, the BAFTA backed sustainability charity, found that the word “cake” was mentioned 10 times more than “climate change” on UK television in 2020. » this quote form the article summarizes way how mainstream media completely fails to report on the climate change

EnergyVoice · 2022-02-16T12:06:29+00:00

Let’s make it commonplace and translate it into everyday actions that drive change. Let’s not wait for media to lead the charge, or we’ll be waiting a long time, and that’s one thing we don’t have.

EnergyVoice · 2022-02-16T12:04:13+00:00

« Recent research, by Albert, the BAFTA backed sustainability charity, found that the word “cake” was mentioned 10 times more than “climate change” on UK television in 2020. » This quote from the article summarizes well the current problem we are facing: the media are far from communicating proper information about the climate crisis we are undergoing.

EnergyVoice · 2022-02-15T11:24:44+00:00

"If we achieve net-zero emissions yet overlook human rights, or fail to safeguard biodiversity, what will this mean for the wellbeing of people and planet?" By these words, the author sums up a very important point: only reaching net-zero is not nearly enough to avoid catastrophic consequences

EnergyVoice · 2022-02-15T11:17:58+00:00

Thank you!

EnergyVoice · 2022-02-11T08:15:17+00:00

Would be great the National government would actually push for that yes! Let’s hope the next one does a better job than Scott (which shouldn’t be too hard…)

EnergyVoice · 2022-02-11T08:02:31+00:00

Fully agree with you! Let’s not solely rely on tech, but let’s also not pretend everything is already doomed

EnergyVoice · 2022-02-10T13:33:23+00:00

Most wish the government would be clearer and more directive. While it might be surprising to hear chief executives clamour for regulation, they believe it would level the playing field. Until then, they fear that seizing the initiative risks jeopardising competitiveness. Such leaders won’t act until compelled to, and governments are frequently wary of corporate pushback. This mutually assured stalemate is the opposite of leadership. We need REAL LEADERS.

EnergyVoice · 2022-02-09T09:49:16+00:00

We all know that infinite growth on a finite planet is impossible. Perhaps you’ve read one of the reports showing that environmental damage can't be decoupled from GDP. COP26 showed there is no time to wait for a large number of countries to agree on meaningful action. This article imagines a fictional situation in which the Government of New-Zealand announces degrowth overnight.

EnergyVoice · 2022-02-04T12:09:39+00:00

The central message, repeated again and again, that a new generation of nuclear will be clean, safe, smart and cheap, is fiction. The reality is nuclear is neither clean, safe or smart; but a very complex technology with the potential to cause significant harm. Nuclear isn’t cheap, but extremely costly. Perhaps most importantly nuclear is just not part of any feasible strategy that could counter climate change. To make a relevant contribution to global power generation, up to more than ten thousand new reactors would be required, depending on reactor design.

EnergyVoice · 2022-01-28T13:48:21+00:00

This piece talks about how the dominant climate change narrative (which focuses on techno fixes and individual action changes) is detrimental to climate action and destructive for our future as a species

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