energy
Open Letter: Britain Can Make Its Own Energy. It Is Time to Start.
An open letter to the UK government regarding the current energy crisis and how we can avoid catastrophe.
The Weekly Planet #18. China Shock, Part 2: Renewable Energy
When Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrived at the COP30 climate summit in Belém this November, he stepped out of a Chevrolet - the lone American vehicle in a fleet of Chinese electric and hybrid cars assembled to shuttle world leaders through the Amazonian city. The symbolism was unmistakable. As delegates gathered to negotiate emissions reductions, Chinese EVs from BYD and Great Wall Motor hummed quietly through streets once choked with exhaust, while the United States, for the first time in three decades, sent no senior representative to the talks. The world's clean energy transition is accelerating, but it is increasingly being conducted in Chinese.
The Daily Planet #110: The China Shock, Part 11
It's clear that renewables will not lead to a common human goal of addressing climate change; in fact, renewables might be a better hedge against foreign sources of energy than for climate action. In this world, China is both a supplier of energy technologies and an adversary worth hedging against.
The Daily Planet #109: The China Shock, Part 10
China is the world's largest consumer of coal, burning nearly half of the global total in 2024. This massive use is driven by its huge economy, high electricity demand, and abundant domestic coal resources. China generates about a third of the world's electricity, with coal as the dominant source. Despite rapid growth in renewable energy, China's increasing electricity needs mean it is not on track to meet its carbon intensity targets set for 2030.
The Daily Planet #106: The China Shock, Part 7
A decade after the Paris climate accord was signed, political support in the West is weakening, with the U.S. having withdrawn again under President Trump and Europe and Canada hesitating due to the costs and political challenges of climate policies. Despite this, the global transition to clean energy is accelerating, largely propelled by China's emergence as a clean-tech powerhouse. China's massive investments in manufacturing solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles have dramatically lowered the costs of these technologies, making clean energy competitive with fossil fuels in many markets without heavy subsidies.
Adapters, Unplugged
They're big, clunky, and annoying, but AC adapters are a fact of life in consumer electronics. Why? Let's just say Thomas Edison's getting his comeuppance.
You Can't Drink Saltwater
We’re getting better at converting saltwater to drinkable freshwater, but the environmental costs of the desalination process aren’t cheap.
Plug It In, Plug It In
Want to charge your phone in a new country? Better bring an adapter with you. Why are power outlets so frustrating? Blame bad decisions made decades ago.