Year: 2017


Marginalizing the “strict-father” camp

In two recent posts, Craig Morris shed light on US linguist George Lakoff’s proposal for environmentalists to frame their issues properly. Today, he sums up why framing is too America-centric. He wishes everyone would copy Germany’s Vergangenheitsbewältigung – a faithfulness to the truth in combating alt-facts. And if you ever wondered how feminism benefits men, read on.

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Selling the energy transition based on values

In a recent post, Craig Morris took a critical look at US linguist’s recommendations for “framing” the energy transition better. Today, he sheds light on how he, perhaps unintentionally, followed George Lakoff’s advice nonetheless for years to change perceptions about the Energiewende. It started with this website.

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Netherlands: A silver lining for renewables?

Despite its beautiful windmills, the Netherlands doesn’t rank that high for renewable energy production, and might miss its 2020 target. The good news is that it has launched an ambitious campaign for zero-emission public transport by 2025. Henning Twickler and Kathrin Glastra explain how the Netherlands could help pave the way for a transportation transition.

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Twinterview with rogue US environmental accounts

On Monday, Feb 6, our Craig Morris held an interview on Twitter (#twinterview) with Alice Stollmeyer, who created the #Twistance list for rogue US accounts from environmental agencies who have been told to stop tweeting for the time being under the current US president. Below are some excerpts from the conversation (also Storified by Alice), which included the rogue Environmental Protection Agency, US National Parks, and PEER.org, a non-profit for environmental whistleblowers. Craig already has one clear conclusion that freedom fighters elsewhere understood long ago: the anonymity of Twitter, which drove him crazy up to now, can be a benefit for a resistance movement.

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Renewable sector calls for stable energy policy environment

This year, the South African government has the chance to set in place the kind of policy environment that will incubate local manufacturers and encourage foreign investment in the renewable energy sector here. But if the current draft policy is approved, it will create market uncertainty and drive investors away, writes Leonie Joubert.

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Bioeconomy prospects and cases in the rural arctic areas of Lapland

The whole of Finland is now buzzing about bioeconomy. The Finnish bioeconomy strategy defines bioeconomy as an economy which uses renewable natural resources when producing food, energy, products and services. The strategy also states that through developing bioeconomy, Finland will create economic growth and new jobs while also securing the diversity of the natural ecosystem. Tanja Häyrynen explains.

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Wyoming bill would all but outlaw clean energy by preventing utilities from using it

Coal supporters are pushing a bill that would bar utilities from using the state’s abundant wind power to provide electricity within the state. While many U.S. states have mandates and incentives to get more of their electricity from renewable energy, Republican legislators in Wyoming are proposing to cut the state off from its most abundant, clean resource—wind—and ensuring its continued dependence on coal. Zahra Hirji of InsideClimate News has the details.

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Germany to complete yet another coal plant

The plant could have been abandoned. It may still be. But Uniper, formerly Eon, now says it will put the nearly completed Datteln 4 into operation after getting a final permit. The market for its electricity doesn’t look good, Craig Morris says.

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