Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · May 10

Recent research estimates that the aid cuts of the Trump administration will cost millions of lives.

The New York Times @nytimes.com · May 9

In a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times, the billionaire Bill Gates discussed Elon Musk’s “stunning” reductions to USAID. He also spoke about his decision to accelerate the end of his foundation’s giving and his plans for his personal fortune. nyti.ms/3Si2WJ7

A card reads: "The world's richest man has been involved in the deaths of the world's poorest children." Bill Gates, discussing Elon Musk's cuts to USAID, in an interview with The New York Times

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · May 4

Can't agree more - very similar here in Vienna :)

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · May 2

Huge recommendation: Historian @timothysnyder.bsky.social in a remarkable interview in Austrian public television about the first 100 days of the second Trump administration (*English audio version*).

Zu Gast: Timothy Snyder, (American historian) / englische Langfassung

ZIB2-Podcast · Episode

open.spotify.com

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · Apr 14

What a great success story - Must-read, must-share!

Paris said au revoir to cars. Air pollution maps reveal a dramatic change.

Air pollution fell substantially as the city restricted car traffic and made way for parks and bike lanes.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · Mar 31

Major news from France!

Le Pen Barred From French Presidential Run After Embezzlement Ruling (Gift Article)

The court decision barred the far-right leader Marine Le Pen from seeking office for five years, jeopardizing her plans for the 2027 election. She can appeal.

www.nytimes.com

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · Mar 30

As so often ... clear and easy to understand information on manmade climate change provided by Austrian meteorologist @marcuswadsak.bsky.social. Definitely recommend following!

Marcus Wadsak @marcuswadsak.bsky.social · Mar 30

hier kann man gut zusehen, wie es auf unserer Erde immer wärmer wird....
Der Klimawandel ist ein Fakt und die Zeit zu handeln jetzt.

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · Mar 25

Thank you very much for your insightful reply, @annieleymarie.bsky.social!

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · Mar 25

New data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association shows Tesla sales plummeting by almost 50%.

Tesla's February market share in Europe drops despite EV pickup

Tesla's market share in Europe continued to shrink year-on-year in February, data showed on Tuesday, as sales of the all-electric car maker dropped for a second consecutive month despite rising overall EV registrations on the continent.

www.reuters.com

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · Mar 22

Would you say that alpine pastures (as they are rather common in Austria, for example) would be an exception to that? At that altitude, there isn't much growing except gras, and fencing is at least limited.

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · Mar 21

Thank you for the super important post!!

What I wonder is: How straightforward is this? Glaciers will shrink no doubt, but could other sources of water make up for that (like more rainfall due to increased evaporation)?

So, with how much certainty can climate communicators talk about this risk?

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · Mar 20

Land of the free ...

French scientist denied US entry after phone messages critical of Trump found

France’s research minister said the scientist was traveling to Houston for a conference when his phone was searched

www.theguardian.com

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · Mar 19

Greenpeace has said that a $300 million judgment could force it to shut down its operations in the United States.

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · Mar 19

A North Dakota jury on Wednesday awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in damages to the Texas-based pipeline company Energy Transfer, which had sued Greenpeace over its role in protests nearly a decade ago against its Dakota Access Pipeline.

Jury Finds Greenpeace Liable for Hundreds of Millions in Damages (Gift Article)

A lawsuit by pipeline giant Energy Transfer claimed Greenpeace had played a major, costly role in protests nearly a decade ago. Greenpeace has said a loss could put it out of business.

www.nytimes.com

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · Mar 18

Norway on track to be first to go all-electric

Nine in 10 new cars in the country are now battery-powered, and it aims to hit 100% later this year.

www.bbc.com

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · Mar 18

Copenhagen has taken bicycle commuting to a whole new level

Cycling has been a part of that good life in Copenhagen for decades. In recent years, it has enjoyed yet another unfathomable surge in popularity — taken to the next level thanks to constantly improvi...

www.latimes.com

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · Mar 18

9 out of 10 cars sold in Norway are electric.

Copenhagen in Denmark has become one of THE biking cities worldwide.

Skandinavia as a whole leads in heat pump installations (thanks for sharing @janrosenow.bsky.social).

The northern countries of Europe show: There is no excuse for climate inaction.

Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · Mar 17

Did you know that the countries with the most heat pumps installed are also in some of the coldest climates?

Find out more in our article in Nature Energy 👇

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · Mar 17

I don't think it's a laughing matter. Newspapers like @theguardian.com or the @nytimes.com and public broadcasters like the @bbcbreaking-bot.bsky.social or the @orfnewsbot.bsky.social are important sources of information. While their reporting should always be improved, they are pillars of society.

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · Mar 17

As much as we agree that the climate crisis deserves more media attention, The New York Times already reports on climate change and energy transformation nearly daily. While feedback is important, I think we shouldn't forget how important high-quality news outlets like The Times are in all this.

2024 Brought the World to a Dangerous Warming Threshold. Now What? (Gift Article)

Global temperatures last year crept past a key goal, raising questions about how much nations can stop the planet from heating up further.

www.nytimes.com

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · Mar 17

The United States recorded $315 billion in clean energy investments last year.

About 80 percent of the investments tied to the "Inflation Reduction Act", the key climate bill of the Biden administration, have gone to Republican congressional districts.

Climate and economy CAN go hand in hand.

The Republicans Pushing Trump to Save Biden’s Clean Energy Tax Credits (Gift Article)

Despite President Trump’s rollback of climate policy, some Republicans and business leaders say clean energy can help his “energy dominance” agenda.

www.nytimes.com

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · Mar 15

Thank you for the insight!

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · Mar 15

Is there a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism in place or in planing (as the one that should take effect at the EU borders in 2026)?

Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · Mar 15

How do you see the move away from the consumer carbon tax (which many countries still have here in Europe)?

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · Mar 15

The richest man on earth taking food and medicine from the poorest of the poor:

"When you meet those dying children and look into their eyes and hold their hands and feel faint heartbeats flutter, you can’t bear the gleeful laughter. You see children just like your own and hang your head in shame."

Opinion | Musk Said No One Has Died Since Aid Was Cut. That Isn’t True. (Gift Article)

A journey through the front lines of global poverty shows that when the world’s richest men slash aid for the world’s poorest children, the result is sickness, starvation and death.

www.nytimes.com

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · Mar 15

(2/2) The move still faces legal challenges from both the far left and far right, as the vote is set to take place just days before the new parliamentary majorities from February's election take effect.

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Raphael Ofner @raphael-ofner.bsky.social · Mar 15

Some context for those less familiar with German politics (1/2):

Germany's constitution includes a so-called "debt brake", which has restricted investment for years. Loosening its rules requires a two-thirds majority.

SPD and CDU/CSU are currently negotiating a coalition government.

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