Economic Outlook

Is The Internet Killing The Planet?

Posted by Alex Kimani

on Tuesday, 29 October 2019 8:47

Beyond the painfully obvious plight of a planet addicted to fossil fuels, climate change has another bogeyman that few–with the possible exception of Keanu Reeves–would be willing to give up.

Yet, it’s responsible for a huge chunk of our global greenhouse gas emissions.

In fact, by 2025, it could be responsible for a staggering 20 percent of global electricity consumption and up to 5.5 percent of all carbon emissions.

And you’re doing it right now.

That bogeyman is the Internet of Things (IoT) and the tsunami of data it must power.

Academics are challenging the notion that we can considerably reduce carbon emissions by increasing efficiency and cutting down on waste.

In fact, they warn that the internet explosion and increasing connectivity via the IoT and smart devices could increase global emissions by 3.5 percent by 2020 and up to 14 percent by 2040.

In an update to a 2016 peer-reviewed study, Swedish researcher Anders Andrae says the ICT industry’s power demand is likely to increase from 200-300 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity a year in 2017, to 1,200-3,000TWh by 2025…CLICK for complete article

Leading Renewable Energy Advocate Changes His Mind and Goes Nuclear

Posted by Michael Shellenberger, President of Environmental Progress

on Tuesday, 22 October 2019 12:51

Why Renewables Can’t Save the Planet

You can make solar panels cheaper and wind turbines bigger, but you can’t make the sun shine more regularly or the wind blow more reliably. I came to understand the environmental implications of the physics of energy. In order to produce significant amounts of electricity from weak energy flows, you just have to spread them over enormous areas. In other words, the trouble with renewables isn’t fundamentally technical—it’s natural… CLICK to read

Global Warning

Posted by Matthew Embry

on Wednesday, 16 October 2019 8:56

Investigative documentary filmmaker Mathew Embry takes on the energy industry and the apocalyptic claims of climate activists as the debate grows around the world, including putting the future of Canada at risk. BROADCAST PREMIERE: October 20, 2019 only on Super Channel.

The Bullish Case For Copper

Posted by Richard Mills

on Tuesday, 1 October 2019 8:05

Despite evidence of a slowing economy, shipments of raw materials are gliding across Chinese docks at a torrid pace, especially metals, which form the backbone of China’s industrial supply chain.

In fact a recent report shows that, while Chinese imports are down 5% compared to last year, and the trade war is hitting China’s manufacturing sector, imports of raw materials and ores “continue their seemingly perpetual upward trend.”

A blistering trade 

MINING.com quotes BMO Global Commodities Research, the report’s author, saying that “In our opinion, while the trade war has caused many problems for China, it has not shaken the overall commodity business model of importing raw materials, having enough process capacity and ideally exporting a small amount of finished product as an inflation hedge.”

Of course, a blistering trade in commodities is expected for China, which has ranked as the world’s biggest goods exporter since 2009; in 2013 the Asian country sped past the US as the largest trading nation on earth. It imports the most crude oil, and is the biggest buyer of iron ore by far, representing two-thirds of global iron ore imports. Its closes rival, Japan, only accounts for 8.5%….CLICK for complete article

Oil Under Fire At UN Summit

Posted by Nick Cunningham

on Friday, 27 September 2019 9:12

The oil industry came under fire from climate activists, investors and global leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York in recent days.

Oil executives went to lengths to describe what they are doing on climate change, which is arguably an indication that they are beginning to feel the heat as the world calls for an energy transition.

“We are doing all we can” to fight climate change, Equinor’s CEO Eldar Saetre said aboard a boat touring the Norwegian oil company’s offshore wind project in New York, according to the New York Times.

Some of the world’s largest oil companies have made commitments as part of the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI). The group consists of companies representing 30 percent of global oil production.

Coinciding with the UN meeting, the group announced new initiatives in several areas. First, OGCI members aim to develop carbon capture and storage, with the goal of doubling the amount of CO2 is that is stored by 2030.

Second, the industry also wants to cut methane emissions, an issue that has been highly controversial in the United States. Methane leaks occur along the entire process of natural gas – at the drilling site, in pipelines, in processing and throughout transmission and distribution – and there has been a years-long debate over whether or not methane leaks to such a degree that gas loses its climate benefit over coal in electricity generation. Because methane is vastly more powerful than CO2 in its warming potential, slashing methane emissions is vitally important…CLICK for complete article