Independent Thinkers, "The Fate of Food" & Exxon Exposed
The newsletter for independent thinkers on carbon and climate.
(source: the Wire)
It’s Independence Day!
Issue No. 82
Welcome to the latest issue of Carbon Creed - the newsletter for independent thinkers on carbon and climate.
Yes, I changed the tagline on the newsletter.
No, this is not in response to any criticism. I believe that his newsletter, with nearly 1,500 weekly readers, continues to evolve as a reputable platform for carbon and climate ideas.
Carbon Creed was never designed to fit into the existing partisan echo chambers. We are unabashedly pro carbon and climate solutions. Most importantly, we view each of you as an independent thinker.
Sort of like this holiday weekend. Most of you, regardless of labels, will be grilling or watching fireworks today. You’ll come together as friends and family.
That’s the spirit of independence day.
That’s what we’re trying to do with this newsletter. Bring people together around a common theme - carbon and climate truth.
I hope you continue to find at least one nugget of value in each issue of the creed. We promise to keep you posted on the latest carbon intelligence and insights as they happen.
If you have an opinion on any topic covered in this newsletter, please feel free to send me an email at mcleodwl@carboncreed.com.
Thank you for your viewpoint and the value of your time.
FORWARDED THIS AND WISH YOU GOT IT EVERY WEEK? YOU CAN! POUND THE BURGUNDY BUTTON BELOW…
NOW, LET’S GO DEEP!
QUOTES
Climate quotes and sayings that will inspire you
(source: Axios/Getty Images)
The earth moves at different speeds depending on who you are. ~Nigerian Proverb
Reflection: The billionaire race to space (Branson vs Bezos) marks a new era in man’s connection to the earth.
“The relationship between Native nations and their environment is sacred. It is the foundation of their cultures and worldview.” - U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka
I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait 'til oil and coal run out before we tackle that. - Thomas Edison, Inventor
BOOKS
The Fate of Food
By Amanda Little
Climate models show that global crop production will decline every decade for the rest of this century due to drought, heat, and flooding. Water supplies are in jeopardy. Meanwhile, the world’s population is expected to grow another 30 percent by midcentury. So how, really, will we feed nine billion people sustainably in the coming decades?
Amanda Little, a professor at Vanderbilt University and an award-winning journalist, spent three years traveling through a dozen countries and as many U.S. states in search of answers to this question. Her journey took her from an apple orchard in Wisconsin to a remote control organic farm in Shanghai, from Norwegian fish farms to famine-stricken regions of Ethiopia.
The race to reinvent the global food system is on, and the challenge is twofold: We must solve the existing problems of industrial agriculture while also preparing for the pressures ahead. Through her interviews and adventures with farmers, scientists, activists, and engineers, Little tells the fascinating story of human innovation and explores new and old approaches to food production while charting the growth of a movement that could redefine sustainable food on a grand scale. She meets small permaculture farmers and “Big Food” executives, botanists studying ancient superfoods and Kenyan farmers growing the country's first GMO corn. She travels to places that might seem irrelevant to the future of food yet surprisingly play a critical role—a California sewage plant, a U.S. Army research lab, even the inside of a monsoon cloud above Mumbai. Little asks tough questions: Can GMOs actually be good for the environment—and for us? Are we facing the end of animal meat? What will it take to eliminate harmful chemicals from farming? How can a clean, climate-resilient food supply become accessible to all?
Throughout her journey, Little finds and shares a deeper understanding of the threats of climate change and encounters a sense of awe and optimism about the lessons of our past and the scope of human ingenuity.
Creed Comments: An interesting look at the global agriculture and industrial food complex. Little appears to be in the Prophet camp on this subject, however, a full-blown “natural” diet may require some food engineering akin to beyond meat (which, I tried on the grill and surprisingly, really liked). Anyway, I thought a book on food over the fourth of July weekend would be a good choice. Let me know what you think.
INSIGHTS
(source: Reuters)
Exxon officials exposed on video denouncing climate change
An Exxon government affairs official compared lobbying to catching lawmakers like fish and acknowledged that the company's carbon tax support is mainly for show, unlikely to produce results in a video captured by a Greenpeace UK activist posing as a corporate recruiter.
The comments Greenpeace published last week — while offered under false pretenses — provide an unfiltered look at two Exxon lobbyists' views. They also prompted a remarkable public apology from Exxon CEO Darren Woods, who insisted they don't reflect Exxon's positions.
In the videos, aired by the British broadcaster Channel 4, senior director of federal relations Keith McCoy told the Greenpeace activist who recorded the discussion that backing a carbon tax gives Exxon a "talking point," but that it's "not going to happen."
"[N]obody is going to, to propose a tax on all Americans...and the cynical side of me says yeah we kind of know that, but it gives us a talking point that we can say well what is ExxonMobil for, well we’re for a carbon tax," Ketith McCoy, Exxon Lobbyist.
McCoy discusses efforts to "reel them in" — referring to members of Congress — in ways that benefit both the company and the lawmakers.
He refers to Exxon's interactions with senators, including Joe Manchin (D) and Shelley Moore Capito (R), both from West Virginia, to try to influence ongoing infrastructure talks. He also mentions targeting other lawmakers for meetings, including Democratic Sens. Jon Tester (Mont.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), Scott Kelly (Ariz.) and Chris Coons (Del.).
In a separate interview with the Greenpeace activist who posed as a recruiter, former Exxon lobbyist Dan Easley discussed various Trump-era policy "wins" on trade, permits and the corporate tax reduction "probably worth billions to Exxon."
Darren Woods' statement said the two lobbyists were not involved in developing Exxon's policy positions discussed in the wide-ranging interviews.
"Comments made by the individuals in no way represent the company’s position on a variety of issues, including climate policy and our firm commitment that carbon pricing is important to addressing climate change," Darren Woods, Exxon CEO.
Exxon has for years supported a carbon tax. They're a member of the Climate Leadership Council, a coalition of companies and environmental groups that backs a tax that would see the revenues returned to the public.
[This post was adapted from the original written by Ben German for Axios]
Creed Comments: Those of us who support a carbon fee and dividend owe many thanks to Greenpeace and Keith McCoy for this stunning revelation. Like so many things today, the videos don’t lie. They keep us honest.
This now opens the door for the newly elected Exxon activist board members to leverage what was a mere “talking point” into public policy reality - make the carbon fee and dividend a federal law. Make Darren Woods live up to his words.
Also, a shout out to creed reader Stuart Smits for sharing this interview with an Exxon scientist who warned about climate change more than 40 years ago.
RESOURCES
The Keeling Curve a daily record of global atmospheric CO2 concentration.
Congressional Policy Tracker a summary of current federal energy legislation.
Click Clean your favorite apps and tech company clean power rankings.
Advancing Inclusion Through Clean Energy Jobs a report by the Brookings Institute.
Understanding ESG a series of ESG-focused thought leadership webinars for business and investors, presented by Baker McKenzie.
Temperature Check, a weekly podcast about climate, race, and culture hosted by Andrew Simon.
Matter of Fact, a weekly newsmagazine that focuses on socioeconomic and climate issues in America, hosted by veteran journalist Soledad O'Brien.
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