🌱 The Grumpy Optimists #30
What is the role of the media in climate change, and why does it matter? Our take and top tips on how to stay informed with accurate news. That and everything else you need to know.
Happy Monday, 👋
Welcome all to another week. This week we cover the reconciliation bill in the US, why it matters to us. We'll also cover the rise of EVs, the blue wall turning green and how software is reducing aviation emissions (hint, it's not).
We're also on week 8 of our 'what can you do about climate change’ and we're covering the importance of the media. The whole newsletter shows the importance of the media and the influence they can have, from the BBC making the climate more prominent to the Koch brothers peddling fake news. What it does show is that the way we see the news on climate, or any topic for that matter, makes a huge difference.
Thanks for reading, and as ever if you haven't already, please subscribe here so we can share and spread the optimism.
🇺🇸 What's happening in the US right now and what does it mean for the climate?
In an era where Americans' concern about climate hits all-time highs, President Biden has had to deal with pushback and infighting to pass the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill. The bill, made up of social and climate policies, such as climate research, electrification and environmental justice campaigns (read more here) is critical for the US to cut carbon emissions and transform its energy system away from fossil fuels. According to Bernie Sanders, the fate of the planet is at stake.
The problem? Opponents of the bill are pushing back in any and every way they can. The Oil Industry is buying Facebook ads that claim the bill will wreck the economy and is anti-American (see below). It's a classic tactic that the Koch network has used for years and are increasingly looking to employ to gain political influence.
What it means for the climate. The bill was signalled as a shining light in the fight against climate change. Instead, it's stalling because of big corporates and political lobbyists framing climate action as a cost we cannot pay for. With COP26 only a matter of weeks away, having the US fail to pass a critical bill to tackle climate action is not the momentum that is needed.
The takeaway? Passing the reconciliation bill is crucial to reducing emissions, and while the figure of $3.5 trillion may seem like a lot, the consequences of climate action are significantly worse. To put the cost of the bill in perspective, the bailout of the US Banks was $16 trillion and the US military budget will be double the reconciliation bill over its duration.
Our take? We have reason to be optimistic, the bill is likely to pass and it will be a huge and much-needed investment into clean energy and social issues. Let’s hope there is more to come. Now, let’s get onto the news.
Articles to Read 👀
🛫 The FAA (US Aviation) have found the solution to climate change, make takeoff more efficient. The FAA is using software to make airport taxi and takeoff times more efficient (ps this is not the solution to climate change). For context, the software will help save the equivalent of 0.001% of the world aviation impact, it won't help reduce emissions, it will just make pumping out emissions more efficient.
📮 Tory voters want more climate action. A new study shows that Conservative voters want the government to do more on climate action, including taxing frequent flyers and phasing out gas boilers.
🚘 EVs hit an inflexion point. The world is shifting to an electric future and Norway is a great case study of where the world is going, electric vehicles making up 77.5% of all new vehicles in September. Norway's pro-electric policies such as free charging and no VAT highlights the role and importance of government intervention in tackling climate action.
📰 BBC go all-in on climate. The BBC has hired their first-ever climate editor, Justin Rowlatt. More importantly, they have made 'Climate' the third most important tab on their news section, taking it away from the science and technology section. This may not be much but it shows that Climate is increasingly at the forefront of everyone’s mind. 👇
What can you do about climate change?
It's week 8/10 of our top tips of what you can do about climate change.
This week we're talking about the news. When it comes to climate change, the news can be emotionally draining, and sometimes it's difficult to know what to trust, aside from coming to us of course (😉). We've pulled together some tips on how to make sure you're getting a good amount of well-balanced, accurate news on all things climate change.
📊 Go to the IPCC for the facts. If you're looking for the hardcore numbers on climate change, start with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. They're basically a group of scientists from around the world who are producing cutting-edge, peer-reviewed research on everything to do with climate change. They know what they're talking about.
😇 Use your Guardian Angel. You'll have noticed that a lot of the news articles we share with you here come from The Guardian, so this recommendation will come as little surprise. Without meaning to sound like too much of a tree-hugging lefty, The Guardian is a very well-acclaimed editor of environmental news - on everything from in-depth stories and commentaries from around the world on climate justice, to the blunt, straight-up truths coming out of the latest IPCC reports. Other news outlets are available, be sure to do your research.
📅 Build it into your day. An easy way to make checking out the latest climate news less of a task is to add it into your daily routine. Spice up your Instagram feed by following accounts such as Earthrise or Little Sun, which produce a constant flow of positive and optimistic content on climate justice. That way the next time you find yourself scrolling, you might end up reading something interesting.
❌ Question the facts on social media. Up to half of us now get our news from social media, but misinformation and fake news can be rife on these platforms, particularly when it comes to climate change. Facebook has been caught a number of times accepting money from Big Oil to spread fake news stories slamming renewable energy projects and lying about the negative impacts of burning fossil fuels (see above).
What are your tips on staying in the know about climate change? We’d love to know.
That's all for now folks! Have a great week and why not send this to one of your colleagues or friends to read on their lunch break? We'd appreciate it.
George, Ella, and Will 💚
So true! can trust the information just because its on the news!