Emissions are rising fast despite clear physics showing temperature can only stabilize when annual greenhouse emissions fall to near zero. The piece opens with stark facts - about 57.8 billion tonnes emitted in 2025, the last 11 years as the warmest on record, and greenhouse gases persisting for centuries - and insists those tonnages make breaching two degrees Celsius effectively locked in unless emissions fall immediately. The question posed is not technical capacity but political will: technologies and pathways to deep decarbonization exist, yet global emissions keep climbing.
The central argument is that democratic politics, not just fossil incumbents, block action because voters do not elect costly climate policies. Surveys show strong abstract support for climate action, but when faced with electoral choices people prioritize immediate personal and financial costs - higher taxes, lost conveniences, job risks - over diffuse future climate harms. Clean-energy adoption so far is driven chiefly by dollars and returns, not emissions consciousness, which explains paradoxes like EV booms alongside fossil exports and data centers powered by onsite gas. The conclusion is blunt: reducing emissions requires aligning voter incentives and self-interest with decarbonization, because emissions permissions flow upward from citizens to politicians.
Summary generated by AI from the linked article. hn.today is not affiliated with Hacker News or Y Combinator.
Scott Bessent, once seen as a credible Treasury Secretary, has damaged his reputation by intervening in markets and making bold claims about influencing interest rates. Rising interest rates, driven by geopolitical tensions and inflation, have led to a market decline, highlighting his failed market strategies. (paulkrugman.substack.com)
The EU Kids Act aims to help children navigate the online world more safely by 2026. It is part of the European Commission's broader efforts to promote digital safety and protect young users. (commission.europa.eu)
Google, Apple, and Amazon hold more meetings with EU officials than any European companies. These meetings involve the European Parliament and European Commission. (ft.com)
AI borrowers are increasingly seeking credit in risky sectors of the US market. Lenders are cautious due to the rising risks associated with AI-driven borrowing activities. (reuters.com)
A rogue Wikipedia editor, Jagged_85, falsely credited Muslims with numerous inventions during the Islamic Golden Age, spreading exaggerated and fraudulent claims. These inaccuracies have been widely propagated, influencing both popular media and scholarly literature. (cremieux.xyz)
California has banned child marriage, requiring individuals to be at least 18 to marry, starting January 1. Governor Gavin Newsom called the law overdue, and advocate Courtney Stodden praised it as a victory. (bbc.com)
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