Planet Pollyanna

The word "growth" is a core term in the language of climate politics. As we just saw, climate economists estimate the costs of climate damages relative to the amount of economic growth they project into the twenty-first century, and by and large they assume that such growth will continue no matter how hot and chaotic the planet gets. Their belief in a future of continued economic growth enables another idea sometimes used to justify sustaining the fossil- fuel economy: the idea that economic growth is itself a climate-change solution, a form of environmental protection that will shield the prosperous from climate devastation. This belief is so bipartisan, so ubiquitous, that it's not quite accurate to call it propaganda. It's best understood as a *myth*. This myth is often taken for reality by both fossil-fuel partisans on the right and climate-conscious progressives on the center-left.

Today feels like a good day to remind everyone that there is literally no empirical evidence that economic growth will just continue if the world heats up to, say, 3°C by 2100.

Continued growth is just *assumed* in every economic model of the relationship between temperatures and growth.

🧵

Increasing number of women in politics leads to more diverse policies, NWC report finds National Women’s Council says female leaders advance women friendly policies

Increasing number of women in politics leads to more diverse (and progressive, even feminist (shock, horror 😁) policies, NWC report finds – #speirgorm www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

And hi to you too. Now let me sleep.

THE LANCET This journal Journals Publish Clinical Global health Multimedia Events About COUNTDOWN • Online first, October 28, 2025 The 2025 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change Marina Romanello, PhD &ª EJ . Maria Walawender, MSPH a • Shih-Che Hsu, PhD b • Annalyse Moskeland, MScC • Yasna Palmeiro-Silva, PhD a • Daniel Scamman, EngDo • et al. Show more Affiliations & Notes V Article Info V

In their 2025 report on #ClimateChange, @thelancet.com finds that millions of people are already dying every year from the causes & effects of climate change.

In the past decade, an average 546,000 people have died per year from increased heat alone — roughly one person every minute.

Hammersmith & Fulham’s first community-owned solar project just hit its £106,500 share offer target ☀️

Over 100 local investors helped fund 274 panels at Jack Tizard School, now fully owned by the community!

Local ownership is what community energy is all about🤝

www.lbhf.gov.uk/news/2025/10...

Uruguay’s Renewable Charge: A Small Nation, A Big Lesson For The World Uruguay built a power grid that runs 99% on renewables—at half the cost of fossil fuels. Here’s how its bold energy overhaul became a global model.

🔌🇺🇾 "Uruguay did what most nations still call impossible: it built a power grid that runs almost entirely on renewables—at half the cost of fossil fuels." #energytransition

Bear baiting, dog fighting, cock fighting, lots of other rural pursuits have been banned … just because it’s a so called ‘rural pursuit’ doesn’t make it untouchable and pure. #aras25 #speirgorm

A chart showing October temperatures from 1960 to 1999 58.1 61.1 57.4 61.8 55.0 57.3 56.2 57.2 60.5 57.7 58.9 62.7 53.5 60.2 54.1 59.2 52.9 54.9 54.9 57.3 55.2 54.4 58.5 57.9 618 59.5 58.0 53.8 52.8 58.2 61.9 58.4 54.5 56.0 58.0 616 56.4 568 57.6

I'm finding it low-key unbearable that people are still walking around in shorts in New York City in October.

In the first decades of my life, October temperatures were in the 50s.

What is 3°C going to look like?

Anyone who thinks 3°C heating won't be catastrophic is insane.

Balcony solar could cut bills for renters & apartment-dwellers — no roof needed.

The Greens want grants & rule changes so everyone can plug into clean, affordable energy - @smytho.bsky.social explains more here 👇

Jane Goodall with monarch butterfly scarf

“It actually doesn’t take much to be considered a difficult woman. That’s why there are so many of us.”
― Jane Goodall

💙 RIP to a real one. My childhood hero

We will regret not acting faster on climate change.

Shocked I am!

Not one single question on the existential threats of climate destruction & biodiversity loss.

#TonightVMTV #Aras25

The Meaning of Growth—Anti-Environmentalist Rhetoric and the Defence of Modernity | Book by Richard Douglas In this book, Richard Douglas uncovers the cultural roots of resistance to environmental action. Through a close reading of anti-environmentalist rhetoric, ...

This is a brilliant book: do read it.

The Meaning of Growth—Anti-Environmentalist Rhetoric and the Defence of Modernity | Book by Richard Douglas cusp.ac.uk/themes/m/rd-...

Top public worries in the U.S. About three in ten Americans say they are “very worried” about global warming.

More Americans are very worried about climate change than are about crime.

@yaleclimatecomm.bsky.social

climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications...

Why Ireland's mild weather won't protect it from climate change Ireland's position on the edge of the Atlantic – the very reason for its mild climate – makes it especially vulnerable to extreme weather

Why Ireland's mild temperatures won't protect it from the climate change - RTE

Locally, nationally, globally - Ireland is facing huge Climate risks while saying little about it. Having a mid Government doesn't help us.

The Impact of Oil and Gas on American Life (SSIR) Progress on climate change seems closer than ever given rapid improvements in clean energy technologies. Yet the United States’ wealthy fossil fuel industry is determined to strengthen its g...

Real progress on climate change is more attainable than ever. Yet powerful forces are pulling the other direction.

Today we're launching a new series, sponsored by the Funder Collaborative on Oil and Gas, tackling the outsized influence of the oil and gas industry on American life

Joanna Donnelly seeking nomination for Áras race Former meteorologist Joanna Donnelly has confirmed that she is seeking a nomination to contest the upcoming Presidential Election.

Former meteorologist Joanna Donnelly has confirmed that she is seeking a nomination to contest the upcoming Presidential Election

“Daily driving” eh? Just a word from a different country: my daily (middle class, aging lady) travel is by public transport. Drive twice a week maybe? Public transport is a great thing to campaign for.

Reform UK, which has a grand total of four MPs, was just given an uninterrupted platform for an hour and a half on the BBC and Sky News channels, in order to talk about its plans for mass deportations

When was the last time the Greens (with four MPs) or the Lib Dems (with 72) were given the same?

Inner City fredge fruit! Despite the drought, harvested some lovely pears & apples from my fruit hedge ( fredge).
Using dwarf rooted fruit trees & slow pruning each year you can create a fruiting hedge even in small inner-city gardens.
UK imports 80% of our fruit!

The Failure of Mainstream Politicians and Media Organisations to Oppose This Violent Far-Right Movement Is a Disgrace The silence and complicity shown towards the anti-migrant movement on Britain's streets is pushing us towards a dark place, argues Adam Bienkov

🔴The Failure of Mainstream Politicians and Media Organisations to Oppose This Violent Far-Right Movement Is a Disgrace

The silence and complicity shown towards the anti-migrant movement on Britain's streets is pushing us towards a dark place, argues @adambienkov.bsky.social

Have volunteered to give talk on combining climate/nature activism and spiritual health at the Leela Live Festival 21-25th August.
Come if it calls to your spirit. #OshoLeela
tinyurl.com/vv9snast

Tovakuddas are coastal rock pools and clefts used by Shetlanders between the 12th to 17th century to shrink or waulk 'Wadmal' - a handwoven wool cloth. The cloth was secured in these protective pools and the motion of the sea strengthened and thickened it... (1/3)
#tovakudda #hessupported

Expensive rail? I guess you are in Britain . It’s not the case everywhere 🇮🇪

Mike Berners-Lee – A Climate of Truth Comprehensive works on how we may ensure the truth about climate change is communicated exist, but this book is outstanding

Mike Berners-Lee – A Climate of Truth
Comprehensive works on how we may ensure the truth about climate change is communicated exist, but this book is outstanding

westenglandbylines.co.uk/society/book...

It is worrying to see the attempted normalisation of the ‘we are doomed’ climate narrative.

Such narratives are tactics to facilitate the continuation of activities driving climate change.

It is never too late to act.

It is never too late to protect as many people and places as possible.

“A prayer for a new life” that’s the title of the paintin.

Major reversal in ocean circulation detected in Southern Ocean

What l, and I mean What, TAF is going on?

Beef: it's destroying the earth. You should eat less of it, or none.

This conclusion is backed by *mountains* of evidence, but man, people hate it.

www.usnews.com/opinion/arti...

U.K. Ad Agencies Call For Total Ban On Fossil Fuel Marketing British ad industry organizations have launched a campaign calling on the government to treat fossil fuels much as it treats tobacco products.

🚨NEW from me: more than 1,000 ad agencies have called on the British government to do for the fossil fuel industry what it did for tobacco: end all advertising of their products. From @cleancreatives.bsky.social and more.