Simon D. Donner | Lightnews

Simon Donner

@simondonner.bsky.social

15K followers 710 following 720 posts

Climate scientist, writer, speaker, dragger of sand into the house. Works at UBC, co-chair of Canada's Net-Zero Advisory Body.

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Environmental science 58%

Geography 17%

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Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · Dec 16

If you're looking for some positivity... my TED talk was about the overcoming doubts and embracing solutions to climate change. The final piece of advice comes from a friend in Kiribati.
youtu.be/CZ_MPbjA78I?...

Why our imaginations are the key to solving climate change | Dr. Simon Donner | TEDxSurrey

YouTube video by TEDx Talks

youtu.be

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 7h

Don't let perfect be the enemy of really good.

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 7h

Nice surprise to be quoted in the Clean BC review.

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 7h

Recommendations from a mandated review of British Columbia's energy and climate plan. engage.gov.bc.ca/app/uploads/...

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 12h

The name made me wonder if the folks involved were fans of the Wrath of Khan, with its "Project Genesis" plotline

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 1d

Attending COP is like going on a cleanse... the venues are hot, you burn energy walking miles between events, it's hard to find food. So it's like you spend a week or two sweating out all the toxins, literally and figuratively.

Katie Matthews, PhD @katieocean.bsky.social · 1d

hot, crowded and underfed sounds like what our planet is facing if we don't get our shit together

Reposted by Simon D. Donner

Katie Matthews, PhD @katieocean.bsky.social · 1d

hot, crowded and underfed sounds like what our planet is facing if we don't get our shit together

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 1d

Certainly, the news is not all good... my issue here is that much of what was on display at COP is not in the reporting.

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 1d

I know the CBC was live on the ground much of the time, and following all the proceedings. Can't speak for other organizations.

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 1d

Yes! It is a hot, crowded, underfed zoo! See my video...

My critique here is really that the coverage is obsessed with the letter of the agreements and the geopolitics of the negotiatons, and not paying nearly enough attention to the energy outside those rooms.
bsky.app/profile/simo...

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 9d

What happens at a UN climate summit? Here's a quick tour of the #COP30 venue to give a sense of the various meetings and activities.

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 1d

A few, though I was focused on work related to international climate councils advice and not near the media areas much

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 1d

Fair, though keep in mind the action of movers was on display at COP, it just isn't reflected on consensus based text that is driven by broader geopolitical issues. Focusing on the final cover text and missing the panels at the China, solar, etc. pavillions is missing much of the story.

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 1d

Bang on! Though it's been a problem with COP coverage for years now, it was more noticeable than ever this year. You've got dozens of pavilions talking about action on solar, batteries, adaptation, etc. and all the reporting is on telling but largely symbolic cover text weakened by a few parties.

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 1d

Media coverage of UN climate summits is stuck in the past. With Paris in effect, we need to drop the old "COP was a failure/success", and instead use COP, with all the panels, side events and hallway chatter, as way to gauge the state of global climate action. That leads to a very different story.

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 1d

I agree, I think we're saying the same thing, perhaps I could have worded it better. Basically Paris and the UNFCCC process helped seed the clean energy revolution. Now that Paris is in effect, the focus is implementation, and that is what is on display outside of the negotiations.

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 1d

This jumped out because it's a message one usually hears more outside of COP, not at COP. Granted, the focus was more national > international, though subnational came up in relation to the US.

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 2d

Yes, though strange bedfellows on CBAM though. Was fascinating to watch a EU representative argue that it isn't meant to penalize or take manufacturing from China at an event at the China Pavillion.

Reposted by Sangeeta Mangubhai

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 2d

5) Global divide: There is an emerging schism between countries clinging to a colonial and extractive past and those moving to the future. It extends beyond the fossil fuel vs clean energy divide to whether adaptation relies on top-down initiatives vs. local and Indigenous efforts and knowledge.

Reposted by Sangeeta Mangubhai

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 2d

4) US being left behind: The US absence was quickly normalized. Whether out of frustration or honest conviction, delegates spoke of the US declining in relevance. As an African govt rep said: “Americans should realize the world is moving on from them... other nations are this as an opportunity.”

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 2d

3) Unilateral trade measures: While the Trump tariffs came up, the bigger focus was the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism which will place a tariff on imports from countries without a C price. Some developing nations pushing for global climate action worry about the domestic economic impact.

Reposted by Katharine Hayhoe

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 2d

2) Carbon dioxide removal: With the planet poised to 1.5 °C warming in the next few years, talk of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and limit "overshoot" abounded. Unfortunately, events about technological and more nature-based approaches happened without enough cross pollination.

Reposted by Katharine Hayhoe

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 2d

1) Whither COP: With the Paris Agreement in place, many delegates I spoke with wondered whether the outside panels and conversations about the clean energy revolution and real-world adaptation were now more important than the geopolitics on display in the negotiating rooms.

Reposted by Katharine Hayhoe, Garry Peterson, Sangeeta Mangubhai

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 2d

UN climate summits are a strange hybrid of diplomatic negotiations and a sprawling climate change bazaar. You can learn a lot about the state of climate action from watching the negotiations and from the many concurrent panels and side events. Here are five themes that emerged frequently at #COP30:

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 2d

The playlist is missing two of my favorites, not available on Spotify:

Can't let a good man down: youtu.be/5Bl7L62S0Fc?...

This live cover of No woman, no cry: youtu.be/5Bl7L62S0Fc?...

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 2d

RIP to one of the legends. I've been listening to Jimmy Cliff for 40+ years. If you need a soundtrack for today: open.spotify.com/playlist/3SM...

Jimmy Cliff RIP

open.spotify.com

Simon Donner @simondonner.bsky.social · 3d

Between US funding cuts and very few Canadians travelling to US meetings, I'm not surprised.

Reposted by Simon D. Donner, Robert Wolfe

Kathryn Harrison @profkharrison.bsky.social · 5d

My latest with @simondonner.bsky.social: "As Canada scrambles to diversify its exports, fossil fuels are an increasingly risky bet, not least with taxpayers’ money. And we should not kid ourselves: it is also a bet on global failure to address climate change"
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/21/o...