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jonsymons.bsky.social
Jon Symons
@jonsymons.bsky.social
120 followers 200 following 48 posts
Assoc. Prof. Macquarie Uni. Writes about climate change, technology, international relations. 🌈 Sydney | Eora Nation
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jonsymons.bsky.social
Jon Symons @jonsymons.bsky.social · Jul 16
New paper!

Govand Khalid Azeez & I ask:
- What's a Marxist critique of ecomodernism?
- How should Marxists think about technological innovation & climate crisis?
- Why haven't they thought about this more?

Our proposition: seizing the means of innovation.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Seizing the means of innovation: On the relationship between Marxism and ecomodernism
Recent efforts to articulate a “socialist ecomodernist” politics have spurred debate over the relationship between Marxism and ecomodernism. Degrowth-…
www.sciencedirect.com
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jonsymons.bsky.social
Jon Symons @jonsymons.bsky.social · 17d
Alan Kohler's analysis of Australia's 2035 target: New CSIRO modelling suggests Australia's new targets are difficult to achieve, and even if they are, we won't be fine. #POIR3970
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...
Farmland for forests may be the net zero trade-off
The problem with an emissions reduction target is that its mere existence implies it is achievable and that if we do achieve it, we will be fine. The truth is more complex.
www.abc.net.au
jonsymons.bsky.social
Jon Symons @jonsymons.bsky.social · 23d
#poir3970 as promised, here’s conservative UK PM Margaret Thatcher speaking about Climate Change in 1989. youtu.be/aSrBO4_qPzo?...
Thatcher GlobalWarming
YouTube video by Uppsalainitiativet
youtu.be
Reposted by Jon Symons
hausfath.bsky.social
Zeke Hausfather @hausfath.bsky.social · Jun 30
Is global warming accelerating? Over at The Climate Brink I argue that the consilience of evidence from surface temperatures, climate models, forcing changes, ocean heat content, and earth energy imbalance all point toward yes: www.theclimatebrink....
The great acceleration debate
Why the consilience of evidence points toward acceleration
www.theclimatebrink.com
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Reposted by Jon Symons
kencaldeira.com
Ken Caldeira @kencaldeira.com · Aug 21
Grok showed up in my Tesla this morning, and started speaking to me without me trying to trigger it.

I saw a tab called "conspiracy theories", clicked it and asked Grok about climate change.

This is what Elon Musk is telling Tesla drivers about climate change.
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jonsymons.bsky.social
Jon Symons @jonsymons.bsky.social · 24d
Indonesia is not a major trade partner. Not even top 10 at this point. However it is a rapidly growing near neighbour of >280 million ppl. I think it’s the European languages that require explanation.
Reposted by Jon Symons
jacobinmag.bsky.social
Jacobin @jacobinmag.bsky.social · Aug 2
Abundance is the precondition of socialism, but socialism is also the precondition of abundance.
Abundance for the 99 Percent
Abundance is the precondition of socialism, but socialism is also the precondition of abundance.
jacobin.com
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Reposted by Jon Symons
tninstitute.bsky.social
Transnational Institute @tninstitute.bsky.social · Feb 13
In 2023, China installed more wind power than the rest of the world combined—yet Western media still portrays it as a climate laggard. @benwray1989.bsky.social on the geopolitics of the energy transition. www.tni.org/en/article/c...
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Reposted by Jon Symons
hollyjeanbuck.bsky.social
holly jean buck @hollyjeanbuck.bsky.social · Aug 1
new paper about US attitudes on solar geoengineering, para-environmentalism, and this idea that airborne atmospheric modification is already happening

rdcu.be/eyJX5
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Reposted by Jon Symons
danieldrisc.com
Daniel Driscoll @danieldrisc.com · Aug 21
Check out a new piece by @mkblyth.bsky.social and me: 'Trump’s Global War on Decarbonization'. The Strategy? BLOCK Chinese green tech, PUSH US fossil fuels. @projectsyndicate.bsky.social prosyn.org/RE8I5Ix
Trump’s Global War on Decarbonization
Mark Blyth & Daniel Driscoll conclude that the US is intentionally undercutting the global demand for green technologies.
prosyn.org
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Reposted by Jon Symons
mass-denialism.bsky.social
Eau-de Sources @mass-denialism.bsky.social · Jun 21
"Using heavy nets to scrape the ocean floor, bottom trawling is described as being "destructive for both ocean life and the climate," destroying an area of the ocean floor nearly as large as the Amazon rainforest every year."

Source: Ocean with David Attenborough (from National Geographic).
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Reposted by Jon Symons
benwray1989.bsky.social
Ben Wray @benwray1989.bsky.social · Jul 2
The geopolitics of the green transition in two NYT graphs: China is the world's major manufacturer of green energy infrastructure and the United States is the world's major fossil fuels producer.

But apparently it's China that presents the big risk to our future!
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Reposted by Jon Symons
johnmenadue.com
Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · Aug 27
While the world obsesses over individual carbon footprints, militaries — the elephant in the climate room — operate in the shadows, protected by the very institutions that have been charged with saving our planet. We must demand transparent reporting, genuine accountabi ...
Carbon bootprints: How war is fuelling climate catastrophe
The military-industrial complex’s vast carbon footprint is deliberately hidden from public view, while we get gaslit into using paper straws.
johnmenadue.com
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Reposted by Jon Symons
ezrakleinbot.bsky.social
Ezra Klein @ezrakleinbot.bsky.social · Aug 22
Today’s episode of The Ezra Klein Show.

Rachael Bedard and David Wallace-Wells on Covid disillusionment and the rise of the MAHA movement.
open.spotify.com/episode/6VhH...

youtu.be/VCaD4vh4XhI?...
MAHA Is a Bad Answer to a Good Question | The Ezra Klein Show
YouTube video by The Ezra Klein Show
youtu.be
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jonsymons.bsky.social
Jon Symons @jonsymons.bsky.social · Aug 25
The mystery I can't figure is why, in its second term, journalists are still so gentle on Bowen's shortcomings.
www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/defaul...
www.dcceew.gov.au
jonsymons.bsky.social
Jon Symons @jonsymons.bsky.social · Aug 25
Our other strategy: wishes.

Bowen's projections assume Australia achieves his 82% renewables by 2030 target. Believe that, and yes, we're 'on track' to meet the Paris Goal.

Unfortunately, progress to date tells another story.
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jonsymons.bsky.social
Jon Symons @jonsymons.bsky.social · Aug 25
🌲 How do we claim to be "on track"?: First answer, trees.
Most emissions reductions are from land use change/ forestry. Modest falls in electricity emissions area are offset by increases in transport. The result: outside of forestry emission reductions total about 5% reduction in 20 years.
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jonsymons.bsky.social
Jon Symons @jonsymons.bsky.social · Aug 25
⚡ Here's the kicker: Remember how Minister Bowen promised 82% renewable electricity by 2030.

In 2022 Bowen's department projected electricity emissions would drop to 97 Mt CO₂-e by 2025? The reality 149.8 Mt CO₂-e. That's not a small miss. 3/5
www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/defaul...
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jonsymons.bsky.social
Jon Symons @jonsymons.bsky.social · Aug 25
🧵 THREAD: Australia's new emissions data is out, and the headlines say we're "on track" for our climate goal (a 43% emissions cut against 2005 levels by 2030). But dig deeper and the Albanese government is falling way behind ... #POIR3970 1/5
www.smh.com.au/environment/...
As Coalition battles, government is on track for climate cuts
Australia’s national greenhouse emissions fell 1.4 per cent in the year to March 2025 and are sitting at 28 per cent below 2005 levels.
www.smh.com.au
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thecanaryuk.bsky.social
The Canary @thecanaryuk.bsky.social · Aug 17
Big polluter lobbyists and petro states sabotaged the global plastics treaty

Global plastics treaty has now ended in a utter failure - with countries unable to agree. And we know exactly who is to blame.
www.thecanary.co/global/world...
Big polluter lobbyists and petro states sabotaged the global plastics treaty
Global plastics treaty has now ended in a utter failure - with countries unable to agree. And we know exactly who is to blame.
www.thecanary.co
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Reposted by Jon Symons
formalistrussell.bsky.social
formalistrussell.bsky.social @formalistrussell.bsky.social · Aug 13
#poir3970
I was looking to catch up on the Inflation Reduction Act and the current status of climate legislation in the US. When I saw Ezra Klein's name (he was mentioned in lectures) I was drawn to this quite good discussion:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuW4PdhqKmo
Has Trump Doomed Progress on Climate Change? | The Ezra Klein Show
YouTube video by The Ezra Klein Show
www.youtube.com
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Reposted by Jon Symons
quentindempster.bsky.social
Quentin Dempster @quentindempster.bsky.social · Aug 12
Productivity Commission draws attention to Treasury increasing the petroleum resource rent tax on gas exporters. Ross Gittins (SMH/Age) says that currently gas exports, now up there with US/Qatar, are given a free ride by the Commonwealth, adding little to our nation’s productivity.
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jonsymons.bsky.social
Jon Symons @jonsymons.bsky.social · Aug 12
#POIR3970 :(
healthpolicy-watch.news/global-plast...
Global Plastics Treaty Talks Near Collapse With Days To Deadline - Health Policy Watch
GENEVA — The world's attempt to forge a plastics treaty billed as the most important environmental deal since the Paris climate accord is falling apart after
healthpolicy-watch.news
jonsymons.bsky.social
Jon Symons @jonsymons.bsky.social · Aug 5
#POIR3970 170 countries are gathering in Geneva, Switzerland, today in the hopes of finalising a global treaty limiting plastic.
pollutionhttps://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/radionational-breakfast/nations-gather-in-push-to-finalise-un-plastics-treaty/105610104
Nations gather in push to finalise UN Plastics Treaty - ABC listen
Representatives from 170 countries are gathering in Geneva, Switzerland, today in the hopes of finalising a global treaty limiting plastic pollution. December talks in South Korea collapsed after a s...
www.abc.net.au
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jonsymons.bsky.social
Jon Symons @jonsymons.bsky.social · Aug 2
Hi #POIR3970 Global Environmental Politics students - I'm excited that Macquarie Uni IT have created a Bluesky block for ilearn. For the next 14 weeks I'll be sharing content for our unit to this block. If you're on bluesky and want to post here please use #POIR3970.
Reposted by Jon Symons
mollytaft.com
molly taft @mollytaft.com · Jul 30
NEW: i spoke to nine (!) scientists across several disciplines whose work was cited in the new Department of Energy report that downplays the severity of climate change. all of them say their work was misrepresented, cherry picked, and/or lacked context —
Scientists Say New Government Climate Report Twists Their Work
A new Department of Energy report “fundamentally misrepresents” climate research and leaves out key context, multiple scientists cited in the report tell WIRED.
www.wired.com
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