I have always maintained that the most effective way to protect our environment is to use LESS stuff! Buy less. Drive less. Use less electricity. And, etc. The demand for electricity is escalating at a shocking rate. Just AI draws mammoth amounts. As you have written here the materials used to maintain this extraordinary modern life we feel is a 'right', are terribly destructive to extract, effecting the very earth, her population, the soil, let alone the climate. Are we promoting our own ignorance so that we don't feel the guilt? It is complex and scary. I get that. However when I work with families and households to reduce their negative impact on our environment we start with consumption. 'Do you really really need that? How was it made? And where does it go when you are done with it?' Three simple questions before purchase.
You are doing good work with essays like this. I will share! Thank you so much.
That's a great point. We try to do the same in reducing consumption. It's crazy how much we have these days and crazier how much we throw away! Thanks for the reminder!
19 hrs ago·edited 18 hrs agoLiked by Michael Woudenberg
Here are my 2 cents and observations:
1. I do not believe ICE vehicles and other human activities are the only reasons for climate change. Earth has gone through these kinds of cycles in the past. Climate change is happening in a very complex system, and trying to pick only human activities as the reason is like looking for a simple explanation for a complex problem, even though we may be one of the top reasons for this change. We also do not know what our planet will do with climate change. We see some indications that hurricanes are becoming stronger and contain more water. CNN:
In the past eight years, eight Category 4 or 5 hurricanes have made landfall on US soil.
That’s as many as the entire 57 years that came before it.
2. We will not reduce CO2 emissions without lowering consumption. I have noticed that people who buy EVs and install solar panels drive more and use more electricity than others.
3. When we say we have reduced pollution in developed countries, we should consider that in several cases, we have increased pollution in other parts of the world by the same amount or more as we moved manufacturing to other countries, so I am not sure if I can call it an absolute reduction.
4. We should be ready for the unintended consequences of these technologies, which will emerge over several decades.
5. My other fear is that we may prematurely lock into these technologies as we did with ICE and stop looking for alternatives or developing better technologies.
6. Also, we have not spent much time considering about the job losses these technology transition will cause and their consequences.
7. Current green technologies require a significant initial outlay to install or procure. Even with the subsidies, I do not think it is a long-term sustainable option. Norway will be a great place to look for the long-term challenges with a subsidy model.
8. I have also noticed that people buying solar panels and battery backups to install on their roofs do not account for the cost of solar panel maintenance/replacement, and the battery will also eventually die and require replacement. I know a little about construction, so I do not know how much it would cost to reinstall solar panels if you need to replace the roof. I spoke to a few people I know, but their reaction was more like, "I may not be in this house when it will be needed."
9. The critical minerals for these technologies are primarily in politically unstable countries, like Congo, which can make obtaining the minerals challenging if the geopolitical situation worsens. China will play a significant role, and I am unsure if any developed country has a good relationship with them.
10. Adapting these technologies will require behavior changes, such as reduced consumption and lifestyle changes, but asking people not to do something they are used to is much more complicated.
“ There is clearer evidence that human-caused warming has heightened the destructiveness of hurricanes by amplifying their rainfall, researchers said. Scientists have long known that air can hold twice as much moisture for every 10 degree Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit) increase in temperature.”
Good article Michael. I had read about negative environmental impacts of solar, wind, EVs, and electrification more broadly, but it’s good to see a comprehensive article that also addresses social impacts.
Which negative impact most surprised or shocked you?
I think the craziest from a pollution perspective is the windmills shedding material and forever chemicals directly into the water. The most shocking was how bad the slavery for lithium is.
I have always maintained that the most effective way to protect our environment is to use LESS stuff! Buy less. Drive less. Use less electricity. And, etc. The demand for electricity is escalating at a shocking rate. Just AI draws mammoth amounts. As you have written here the materials used to maintain this extraordinary modern life we feel is a 'right', are terribly destructive to extract, effecting the very earth, her population, the soil, let alone the climate. Are we promoting our own ignorance so that we don't feel the guilt? It is complex and scary. I get that. However when I work with families and households to reduce their negative impact on our environment we start with consumption. 'Do you really really need that? How was it made? And where does it go when you are done with it?' Three simple questions before purchase.
You are doing good work with essays like this. I will share! Thank you so much.
That's a great point. We try to do the same in reducing consumption. It's crazy how much we have these days and crazier how much we throw away! Thanks for the reminder!
Here are my 2 cents and observations:
1. I do not believe ICE vehicles and other human activities are the only reasons for climate change. Earth has gone through these kinds of cycles in the past. Climate change is happening in a very complex system, and trying to pick only human activities as the reason is like looking for a simple explanation for a complex problem, even though we may be one of the top reasons for this change. We also do not know what our planet will do with climate change. We see some indications that hurricanes are becoming stronger and contain more water. CNN:
In the past eight years, eight Category 4 or 5 hurricanes have made landfall on US soil.
That’s as many as the entire 57 years that came before it.
2. We will not reduce CO2 emissions without lowering consumption. I have noticed that people who buy EVs and install solar panels drive more and use more electricity than others.
3. When we say we have reduced pollution in developed countries, we should consider that in several cases, we have increased pollution in other parts of the world by the same amount or more as we moved manufacturing to other countries, so I am not sure if I can call it an absolute reduction.
4. We should be ready for the unintended consequences of these technologies, which will emerge over several decades.
5. My other fear is that we may prematurely lock into these technologies as we did with ICE and stop looking for alternatives or developing better technologies.
6. Also, we have not spent much time considering about the job losses these technology transition will cause and their consequences.
7. Current green technologies require a significant initial outlay to install or procure. Even with the subsidies, I do not think it is a long-term sustainable option. Norway will be a great place to look for the long-term challenges with a subsidy model.
8. I have also noticed that people buying solar panels and battery backups to install on their roofs do not account for the cost of solar panel maintenance/replacement, and the battery will also eventually die and require replacement. I know a little about construction, so I do not know how much it would cost to reinstall solar panels if you need to replace the roof. I spoke to a few people I know, but their reaction was more like, "I may not be in this house when it will be needed."
9. The critical minerals for these technologies are primarily in politically unstable countries, like Congo, which can make obtaining the minerals challenging if the geopolitical situation worsens. China will play a significant role, and I am unsure if any developed country has a good relationship with them.
10. Adapting these technologies will require behavior changes, such as reduced consumption and lifestyle changes, but asking people not to do something they are used to is much more complicated.
Great points.
Do you have data on the hurricanes? I've been thinking about digging into that a bit more.
Start here as hurricanes are also complex, and there is no definitive answer yet. It mentions a few studies in the article:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/09/28/helene-storms-climate-change/
“ There is clearer evidence that human-caused warming has heightened the destructiveness of hurricanes by amplifying their rainfall, researchers said. Scientists have long known that air can hold twice as much moisture for every 10 degree Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit) increase in temperature.”
Wow! I did not know it was this bad. I guess I never really stopped to think about it. This is eye-opening!
Let's just go nuclear. I wanna see more hippies hugging reactors.
I agree completely. Its smart.
I am encouraged by the rise in SMRs this decade.
And we can go much much further with them. If we can overcome our fear.
Good article Michael. I had read about negative environmental impacts of solar, wind, EVs, and electrification more broadly, but it’s good to see a comprehensive article that also addresses social impacts.
Which negative impact most surprised or shocked you?
I think the craziest from a pollution perspective is the windmills shedding material and forever chemicals directly into the water. The most shocking was how bad the slavery for lithium is.
Oh, I thought by slavery you referred to “artisanal” cobalt mining. I must have missed the part about lithium mining.
Sorry, I mistyped. Lithium is the crapshow in Mongolia. Cobalt was the slavery, you're right.