An interesting comment in the New York Times looks at why the two US parties are still neck-and-neck – and suggests it’s because they are “more like quasi-religions, where power lies with priesthood — the dispersed array of media figures, podcast hosts and activists who run the conversation, define party orthodoxy and determine the boundaries of acceptable belief.”
And this affects climate policy:
Most members of the Democratic clerisy are properly alarmed by climate change and believe we should rapidly shift from fossil fuels. Liberal white college graduates favor eliminating fossil fuels by two to one. It’s no skin off their teeth; they work on laptops. But if you live in Oklahoma or work in an industry that runs on oil, coal or natural gas, this idea seems like an assault on your way of life, which, of course, it is. An overwhelming 72 percent of Americans favor an all-of-the-above approach, relying on both renewables and traditional energy sources.
It’s probably the case everywhere – and as keyboard warriors, activists need to be aware of the huge amount of not-so ‘clean energy’ their online activity is draining. And indeed, the internet consumes extraordinary amounts of energy – although others would say we shouldn’t worry about the Internet’s rising electricity consumption.

CAPS has just been sent an excellent, up-to-date overview of the issues with the report on the Worldwide Internet Carbon Footprint: An Exploration. Here are a couple of excerpts:
It might not be one of the first things we think about when it comes to carbon emissions, but our online presence directly contributes to global emissions. In this guide we delve into the digital landscape, uncovering the extensive environmental impact of internet usage (and more) across the globe. From vast data centres to individual users’ digital habits, we examine the environmental implications of our interconnected world and highlight the challenges and opportunities in reducing the internet’s carbon footprint. And we explore what steps can be taken to foster a more sustainable digital future...
We rely on digital services more and more as technology develops. For example, we’ve moved from cash payments, to card payments, to contactless card payments, to mobile payments — theoretically you could leave your home with just a smartphone and make your way around without issues. But these developments mean the carbon footprint of the internet is only going to increase.
World events can also have an impact on the digital carbon footprint. In 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, global internet traffic increased by over 40%. This isn’t a surprise when you consider how most of us were sheltering at home, turning to streaming, gaming and social media for distraction and using video calls to keep up with our loved ones and our careers. However, the lack of travel meant other emissions decreased dramatically. The UK’s greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 9.5% in 2020 compared to the previous year, and were a staggering 49.7% lower than the 1990 figures...
There’s so much information about climate change that you might not know where to start. The good news is there are things you can do to reduce your own impact, including your digital carbon footprint…
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