Ecological, environmentally-friendly, and green… these are just some of the pretty words we use to paint a positive image out of renewable energy. Doing so is not wrong; after all, if we want to combat the adverse effects of fossil fuel use, framing renewables as something positive will only make us prefer it over other... Continue Reading →
Lost Ice, Found Riches
As the ice in the Arctic gets thinner, resource opportunities are thicker and competition fiercer. Ice is melting at record high rates in the Arctic, and what used to be inaccessible areas are becoming primary targets for some of the world’s superpowers. Countries including Russia, Canada, the US, Greenland (Denmark), Iceland and Norway are fighting... Continue Reading →
The US Lifts Iran Oil Sanction Waiver
A new order in the works Since May 2018, when president Donald Trump backed out of the Iran nuclear deal and shifted to reimpose sanctions, it was assured by US officials that he would not provide exemptions allowing allies to import oil from Iran. Eventually, the tight market required some damage control for the US... Continue Reading →
The Environmental Cost of our Amazon Prime Subscriptions
The carbon footprint of online shopping highly depends on the actions of consumers. A 2013 MIT study, “Environmental Analysis of US Online Shopping”, shows shoppers can be divided into a number of different categories that span from a “traditional retail shopper” to what the study calls a “cybernaut” shopper who exclusively shops online. The highest... Continue Reading →
“The Windy City Getting Windier”
In 2018, the state of Illinois announced the enactment of the Illinois Clean Energy Jobs Act, with the highly ambitious aim of producing 100% clean energy by 2050. However, this past week, the mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emmanuel signed a resolution taking the act one step closer, passing legislation committing to run the city on... Continue Reading →
The New New Deal: Environmental Justice in 21st Century America
The Green New Deal is being hailed as a revolution in US environmental policy. But, a non-binding resolution that suggests the creation of systems that have existed in most other developed countries is far from novel and far from adequate to address the concerns of 21st century America. The key to a greener and more... Continue Reading →
The Green New Deal: Energy Transition vs Energy Dominance?
For the 2020 US Presidential Elections, most democratic candidates have supported the “Green New Deal”, described by the Green Party as a plan to “convert the old, gray economy into a new, sustainable economy that is environmentally sound, economically viable and socially responsible”. This includes achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and 100% renewable energy by... Continue Reading →
Pacific Gas and Electric: Wildfires, Bankruptcy, and the Future of California’s Energy
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States, provides gas and electricity to more than 16 million people throughout California, has been under fire as evidence points to them for being at fault for the latest two large wildfires in Northern California. The... Continue Reading →
Will China Launch an Oil War for the South China Sea?
If China wanted to, it could build Australia out of a rock in the sea. China’s militarisation in the South China Sea has been so rapid and blatant that it has resulted in an ICJ case brought by the Philippines, as well as many “freedom of navigation” missions by countries keen to remind the world... Continue Reading →
Venezuela: “From an Oil Powerhouse to Poorhouse”
The current events in Venezuela have unprecedented consequences on Venezuela seen as an oil power and an influential country. With the protests spreading across the country, the US recognition of Juan Guaido, the situation was yet unstable. But it became more insecure with the possible U.S. sanctions on imports of Venezuelan crude oil announced on... Continue Reading →