Paasha Mahdavi
@paashamahdavi.com
UCSB prof, researching climate politics and the oil industry. EGAPE Lab Director and 2035 Initiative co-founder. Wrote a book on oil nationalization (https://tinyurl.com/2zyaf8bd). Working to transition from the fossil fuel era. Posts expire after 30 days.
From @theguardian.com (h/t Poolad Karimi for originally sharing it), map showing the geographic diffusion of protests in Iran these past two weeks.
January 11, 2026 at 10:38 PM
From @theguardian.com (h/t Poolad Karimi for originally sharing it), map showing the geographic diffusion of protests in Iran these past two weeks.
Chevron & Exxon may spend $10 bn/yr just to revitalize Venezuela’s oil. Compare that to their global spend on “low-carbon solutions” of $4 bn/year.
Simplifying a bit, but the reality is this: money spent on expanding oil is money directly not spent on decarbonization.
My thoughts for @apnews.com
Simplifying a bit, but the reality is this: money spent on expanding oil is money directly not spent on decarbonization.
My thoughts for @apnews.com
January 9, 2026 at 9:14 PM
Chevron & Exxon may spend $10 bn/yr just to revitalize Venezuela’s oil. Compare that to their global spend on “low-carbon solutions” of $4 bn/year.
Simplifying a bit, but the reality is this: money spent on expanding oil is money directly not spent on decarbonization.
My thoughts for @apnews.com
Simplifying a bit, but the reality is this: money spent on expanding oil is money directly not spent on decarbonization.
My thoughts for @apnews.com
Great to be on @cbcnews.ca's The National last night talking about the carbon footprint of Venezuela's oil production and the "muddy footprints" of the U.S. oil industry in this whole fiasco.
January 5, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Great to be on @cbcnews.ca's The National last night talking about the carbon footprint of Venezuela's oil production and the "muddy footprints" of the U.S. oil industry in this whole fiasco.
Not always — lifting costs vary substantially based on geology and tech (and financing)
Eg, see this cost curve based on break-even prices around the world (from www.nature.com/articles/s41...)
Eg, see this cost curve based on break-even prices around the world (from www.nature.com/articles/s41...)
January 3, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Not always — lifting costs vary substantially based on geology and tech (and financing)
Eg, see this cost curve based on break-even prices around the world (from www.nature.com/articles/s41...)
Eg, see this cost curve based on break-even prices around the world (from www.nature.com/articles/s41...)
The real kicker here is that if US companies do succeed in ramping up Venezuela’s oil, it’s some of the dirtiest and most carbon intensive in the world. And it’s cheap to produce (PdVSA says $5/barrel, probably closer to $25).
ociplus.rmi.org/supply-chain
ociplus.rmi.org/supply-chain
January 3, 2026 at 6:55 PM
The real kicker here is that if US companies do succeed in ramping up Venezuela’s oil, it’s some of the dirtiest and most carbon intensive in the world. And it’s cheap to produce (PdVSA says $5/barrel, probably closer to $25).
ociplus.rmi.org/supply-chain
ociplus.rmi.org/supply-chain
Is fentanyl the new WMD?
January 3, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Is fentanyl the new WMD?
Fox News (!!) poll showing Climate Change is a top 10 concern for voters — slightly more than illegal immigration.
www.foxnews.com/politics/fox...
www.foxnews.com/politics/fox...
December 21, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Fox News (!!) poll showing Climate Change is a top 10 concern for voters — slightly more than illegal immigration.
www.foxnews.com/politics/fox...
www.foxnews.com/politics/fox...