Green Neighbour: Climate News and Analysis

In this episode of Dubunk the Debunkers ( originally published as a video at: https://youtu.be/7TVoyh_JJak ) Uncle Gomer takes issue with Rosh Salgado D'Arcy's Debunking of Dr. William Happer's theory of CO2 saturation. The specific video that Uncle Gomer debunks in this episode is entitled, "The Science of CO2: Debunking the Saturation Myth," from Rosh's channel, All About Climate. For anyone who is genuinely curious about the notion of CO2 saturation and how it impacts the Earth's climate, I highly recommend that you watch this video. It can be found at the following URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVBDMeuHq_U&t=294s CONTENTS OF THIS PODCAST: 00:00 - Introduction 00:25 - CO2 Saturation of the Atmosphere 01:24 - CO2 Saturation for Plant Life 03:26 - CO2 Concentration in the Earth's Atmosphere has been Much Higher in the Past 04:38 - Uncle Gomer Debunk's Rosh Salgado D'Arcy's Debunk of Dr. William Happer 06:43 - Thanks for Watching! SOURCES: The Science of CO2: Debunking the Saturation Myth (All About Climate, August 17, 2021): https://youtu.be/TVBDMeuHq_U?si=g2J1JF1E0sUHvJLE Ask the Experts: Does Rising CO2 Benefit Plants? (Scientific American, January 23, 2018): https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ask-the-experts-does-rising-co2-benefit-plants1/ How much CO2 can trees take up? (Grantham Institute, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015) https://granthaminstitute.com/2015/09/02/how-much-co2-can-trees-take-up/ Eocene paleontology and geology of western North America (Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, April 29, 2016) https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/cjes-2016-0043 Is the current level of atmospheric CO2 concentration unprecedented in Earth’s history? (The Royal Society, Last updated March 2020): https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/climate-change-evidence-causes/question-7 High CO2 levels cause plants to thicken their leaves, which could worsen climate change effects, researchers say (University of Washington News, October 1, 2018) https://www.washington.edu/news/2018/10/01/thick-leaves-high-co2/ Leaf Trait Acclimation Amplifies Simulated Climate Warming in Response to Elevated Carbon Dioxide (Global Biogeochemical Cycles, October 1, 2018): https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2018GB005883 x Don't plants do better in environments with very high CO2? (MIT Climate Portal, Updated January 8, 2024): https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/dont-plants-do-better-environments-very-high-co2 Forests Are Losing Their Ability to Hold Carbon (Scientific American, July 26, 2023): https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/forests-are-losing-their-ability-to-hold-carbon/ SOCIAL MEDIA: • Web: www.green-neighbour.com • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GreenNeighbour • Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArtLightstone • Twitter: https://twitter.com/GreenNeighbour • TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@GreenNeighbour • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenneighbour • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artlightstone

If you live in Canada, and you’ve looked at your bank account recently, you’ll likely see that, at some point on January 15th, you received your quarterly Climate Action Incentive Payment, or what is colloquially referred to as the carbon tax rebate. Will the rebates be enough to cover what most Canadian families spend on carbon tax each year? That's the question I'll be examining in this episode of Green Neighbour. CONTENTS OF THIS PODCAST: 00:00 - Introduction to the Question 02:15 - Scenario A (Upper-Middle Income) 03:38 - Estimating Expenditures on Natural Gas 10:53 - Scenario B (Middle-Middle Income) 13:34 - Scenario C (Lower-Middle Income) 16:08: Final Analysis 17:26 - Thanks for Watching! SOCIAL MEDIA: • Web: www.green-neighbour.com • Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArtLightstone • Twitter: https://twitter.com/GreenNeighbour • TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@GreenNeighbour • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenneighbour/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artlightstone/ SOURCES: Motor fuel prices (Ontario Provincial Government): https://www.ontario.ca/motor-fuel-prices/#:~:text=The%20federal%20carbon%20tax%20is%20now%2014.31%20cents%20per%20litre Fuel consumption ratings search tool (Natural Resources Canada): https://fcr-ccc.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/en Average Natural Gas Usage Per Month (Shrink that Footprint, 2023): https://shrinkthatfootprint.com/average-natural-gas-usage-per-month/ Average Natural Gas Usage Per Month – 2024 (Shrink that Footprint, Updated, 2024): https://shrinkthatfootprint.com/average-natural-gas-usage-per-month/ How Big is a House? (Shrink that Footprint) https://shrinkthatfootprint.com/how-big-is-a-house/ Federal Carbon Tax (Trans Gas): https://www.transgas.com/customer-central/federal-carbon-tax Federal Carbon Tax (Trans Gas): https://earth.org/carbon-tax-revenue-neutrality/ Canadians receiving first carbon tax rebate of 2024, here's when (CTV News, 2024): https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/canadians-receiving-first-carbon-tax-rebate-of-2024-here-s-when-1.6723609 Brace yourself for surging heating bills (Canadian Taxpayers Federation, 2023) https://www.taxpayer.com/newsroom/brace-yourself-for-surging-heating-bills Canada's budget watchdog troubled by spin around latest report on carbon pricing (CBC, 2023): https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/watchdog-spin-report-carbon-pricing-1.6805441 Gini Coefficients based on the adjusted family after-tax income, by province and territory, 2016 to 2021 (Statistics Canada, 2021): https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/230809/t007b-eng.htm Tax filers and dependants with income by total income, sex and age (Statistics Canada) https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1110000801 New analysis finds most Canadian households will save money in switch to electricity (Canadian Climate Institute, 2023): https://climateinstitute.ca/new-analysis-finds-most-canadian-households-will-save-money-in-switch-to-electricity ‘Great Canadian Class Study’ reveals strong belief in meritocracy despite low mobility across generations (University of Alberta, 2023): https://www.ualberta.ca/folio/2023/11/great-canadian-class-study-reveals-strong-belief-in-meritocracy.html

There is no doubt that climate change is ramping up. We’re seeing more dramatic impacts of global warming every day, all around the world, but, do Canadians need to take any responsibility for all of this?

After all, the population of Canada is quite small compared to many other countries. In fact, Canada is only responsible for about 2% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions, so do Canadians get a free pass on our responsibility to take swift and decisive action on climate change?

This is the question that we’ll be exploring today on Green Neighbour.

Please Note: A video version of this episode can be found at: https://youtu.be/xSm5-iZVx4s

After hearing about Tesla’s recent worldwide price cuts, I thought I would share this news and discuss why this is such an important development with respect to sustainable transportation and, indeed, climate change. In addition, in the Analytical Tools and Resources segment, we look at a tool that can quickly and easily help you distinguish fact from disinformation. Finally, in the Taking Action segment, we look at a number of different ways anyone can reduce their personal transportation emissions.

Analytical Tools and Resources:

• https://www.snopes.com
• https://www.factcheck.org
• https://www.npr.org/sections/politics-fact-check
• https://www.politifact.com/

Taking Action:

• https://newmarketcycles.ca/
• https://cyclenewmarket.ca/
• https://www.bicycling.com/culture/

Resources:

• Tesla, Canadian Government Incentives (Tesla.com): https://www.tesla.com/en_ca/support/incentives
• Government of Canada, iZEV eligible vehicles (Government of Canada): https://tc.canada.ca/en/road-transportation/innovative-technologies/zero-emission-vehicles/light-duty-zero-emission-vehicles/eligible-vehicles
• Tesla's Massive Price Cuts Send Shockwaves Across Auto Industry (InsideEVs): https://insideevs.com/news/632699/tesla-massive-price-cuts-shocks-auto-industry
• Tesla’s Price Cuts Are Roiling the Car Market (Wall Street Journal): https://www.wsj.com/articles/teslas-price-cuts-are-roiling-the-car-market-11674327793
• Tesla Price Cuts Are Already Disrupting The Industry (Autospies): https://autospies.com/news/index.aspx?submissionid=114117
• US Car Market Shrunk In 2022 But EV Sales Went Up By Two Thirds (InsideEVs): https://insideevs.com/news/631980/us-ev-market-share-increased-2022/#:~:text=EVs%20accounted%20for%205.8%20percent,to%2065%20percent%20in%202022
• Tesla Model 3 becomes best-selling premium sedan in the world (Electrek): https://electrek.co/2021/04/26/tesla-model-3-becomes-best-selling-premium-sedan-in-the-world
• Tesla Model Y and Model 3 post impressive sales in UK’s December auto market (Teslarati): https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-model-y-model-3-dominate-uk-auto-market-december/#:~:text=In%20the%20UK's%20battery%20electric,saw%2019%2C071%20sales%20in%202022
• Carbon dioxide emissions from passenger cars worldwide from 2000 to 2020 (Statista): https://www.statista.com/statistics/1107970/carbon-dioxide-emissions-passenger-transport
• Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (EPA): https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions#:~:text=Total%20Emissions%20in%202020%20%3D%205%2C981,of%20these%20greenhouse%20gas%20emissions
• Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (EPA - Transportation): https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions#transportation
• What will it cost to cut the carbon footprint of cars sold in the U.S? (Argonne National Laboratory): https://www.anl.gov/article/what-will-it-cost-to-cut-the-carbon-footprint-of-cars-sold-in-the-us#:~:text=A%20new%20study%20led%20by,the%20lifetime%20of%20the%20vehicle
• Here’s every electric vehicle that qualifies for the current US federal tax credit (Electrek): https://electrek.co/2023/01/03/which-electric-vehicles-still-qualify-for-us-federal-tax-credit
• Tesla Growth and Production Statistics: How Many Vehicles Are Sold Across the Globe? (investing.com) https://www.investing.com/academy/statistics/tesla-facts
• Could the Tesla Model Y be the best selling vehicle of 2023? (Teslarati): https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-model-y-best-selling-2023
• Tesla Production Sites By Model Assignment, Capacity, October 2022 (InsideEVs): https://insideevs.com/news/617854/tesla-production-sites-model-assignment-october2022
• Were These Electric Cars Abandoned Because

Taking Action:

Take the Pledge for Climate Action (Ontario Green Party petition to Doug Ford to stop funding oil and gas projects): https://gpo.ca/climate/take-the-pledge/?source=C22.TTP.E.BTN

Resources:

Doug Ford government spent $231M to scrap green energy projects: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/doug-ford-green-energy-wind-turbines-cancelled-230-million-1.5364815

Why all of Canada will pay for Doug Ford’s choice to cancel Ontario’s cap-and-trade program: https://thenarwhal.ca/koch-sues-canada/

Ontario could be entering an energy supply crisis. Here’s what you need to know: https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-electricity-grid/

Ontario’s Coal Phase out: Lessons from a massive climate achievement: https://www.cleanairalliance.org/ontarios-coal-phase-out-lessons-from-a-massive-climate-achievement/

Costing the Cancellation of Cap and Trade: https://youtu.be/0y0nXLwQDJk

Metrolinx removes electric vehicle chargers from GO station parking lots: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/metrolinx-ev-charging-stations-1.4972890

Electricity Systems Operator’s 2021 outlook: https://www.ieso.ca/en/Sector-Participants/Planning-and-Forecasting/Annual-Planning-Outlook

Ontario’s Electricity Options: A Cost Comparison: https://www.cleanairalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/options2022nov.pdf

Does Ontario Need New Gas Plants? https://www.cleanairalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/New-Gas-fact-or-fiction-sheet-oct-18-v_02.pdf

Ontario’s Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Potential Study (The Dunsky Report): https://www.ieso.ca/-/media/Files/IESO/Document-Library/engage/derps/derps-20220930-final-report-volume-1.ashx

IESO Annual Planning Outlook (Ontario’s electricity system needs: 2023-2042): https://www.ieso.ca/-/media/Files/IESO/Document-Library/planning-forecasts/apo/Dec2021/2021-Annual-Planning-Outlook.ashx

IESO Recommends Shift to Grid-Scale Storage in Ontario, Relying on Natural Gas Expansions to Ensure Reliability in Near-Term: https://www.ieso.ca/Corporate-IESO/Media/News-Releases/2022/10/Grid-Scale-Storage-in-Ontario-Natural-Gas-Expansions-to-Ensure-Reliability-in-Near-Term

Distributed Energy Resources: https://www.ieso.ca/en/Learn/Ontario-Electricity-Grid/Distributed-Energy-Resources

Why is Ontario spending billions on nuclear energy when cheap renewables are available? https://sppga.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/10/Why-is-Ontario-spending-billions-on-nuclear-energy-when-cheap-renewables-are-available_-%E2%80%93-Canadian-Dimension.pdf

Written and narrated by Art Lightstone

Music:

Feels, by Patrick Patrikios
As Time Passes, by Zapsplat
Atmospheria, by Francis Preve
Investigations, by Kevin MacLeod
Movement, by Dave Miles
Half Cool, by Gemini
Dulce Reggaeton, by An Jone
Cryogenic, by Zapslat
No pressure, by Zapsplat
Rapid Turnaround, by Zapsplat
Deep in Thought, by Zapsplat
Still Learning, by Dave Miles
Exploring, by Zapsplat
Make You Move, by Ofshane

In preparation for the upcoming Global Climate Strike, I thought I would go over six key steps that one might like to consider before heading out to demonstrate on behalf of the climate. 

CONTENTS OF THIS PODCAST:

00:00 - Introduction

00:30 - Step 1: Logistics 

02:02 - Step 2: Make Your Sign

04:27 - Step 3: Tell Your Friends

04:50 - Step 4: Spread the Word on Social Media

06:02 - Step 5: Learn About Climate Change

06:55 - Step 6: Share the Action on Social Media

07:33 - Thanks for Watching!

RESOURCES: 

• https://350.org

• https://www.youtube.com/c/GlobalWeird...

• https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/

• https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/resources/

SOCIAL MEDIA:

• Web: www.green-neighbour.com

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArtLightstone

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/GreenNeighbour

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenneighbour

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artlightstone

I got the crazy idea of putting together a quick, freestyle, Christmas episode wherein I could give, perhaps, a few folks out there a simple Green Neighbour Christmas gift, AND give some folks an opportunity to give each other a Christmas gift as well.

As my gift, I thought I would share the secret to a filling, satisfying vegan breakfast.

Notes and Resources:

The truth about fats: the good, the bad, and the in-between: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-truth-about-fats-bad-and-good

When it comes to the environment, we are all neighbours.