COP28: Talk Green, Play Dirty – Patrick Bond

COP28: Talk Green, Play Dirty – Patrick Bond

Byiizuu

Patrick Bond, political economist, Professor of Sociology at the University of Johannesburg, and Director of the Centre for Social Change, expands on the first Global Stocktake produced at COP28. He criticizes the document’s weak language of “transitioning away” from fossil fuels, which he says is a distraction from the need to phase out fossil fuels outright. Sanctions such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to prevent carbon leakage were removed from the GST in the name of promoting global trade, another aspect Bond problematizes. He also addresses the BRICS+ divided approach toward Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

COP28: Hypocrisy and Climate Appeasement – Bruce Robertson

COP28: Hypocrisy and Climate Appeasement – Bruce Robertson

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Bruce Robertson, independent energy analyst, exposes the hypocrisies and lobbying taking place at COP28 and how talk of investing in a green transition is belied by increasing fossil fuel subsidies worldwide. He explains how the industry employs terms such as net zero and carbon capture and storage (CCS) to appease social opinion and pretend that emissions are being cut, while CCS technology has largely been a failure. Lastly, he tears into deceptive emissions accounting frameworks, which purport to reduce domestic emissions by exporting gas to other countries but, in fact, contribute to higher emissions globally.

Climate Lobbyists Hijack Progressive Climate Bills – Rebecca Burns
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Climate Lobbyists Hijack Progressive Climate Bills – Rebecca Burns

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Rebecca Burns, journalist at the investigative news outlet The Lever, discusses her reporting on extensive lobbying efforts to hold up legislation which would require companies to disclose all of their greenhouse gas emissions. In a recent report, she details how the same lobbyists who seek to derail progressive climate legislation in California are also getting paid by counties and cities along the California coast to deal with the impact of coastal erosion and fires.

Extraction, Destruction of Ecosystems, and Fires in North America – Éric Pineault
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Extraction, Destruction of Ecosystems, and Fires in North America – Éric Pineault

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Éric Pineault, professor of ecological economics at the Institute of Environmental Sciences at the University of Quebec in Montreal, explains how the fires raging in Canada are a corollary of the paradigm termed Extreme Oil. He discusses various oil and gas projects across North America, as well as the Canadian government’s support for the Trans Mountain Pipeline project, and how terms such as “net zero” and “carbon neutral” are misleading and conveniently serve Big Oil’s aims. 

His recent book A Social Ecology of Capital presents an empirical analysis of capitalist societies, which both builds on and enhances Marxist theories by accounting for the energy extraction and colonization of ecosystems, a characteristic of what he terms our “fossil-industrial” society. His conception of capitalist metabolism outlines extractivism, production, consumption, and waste dissipation, which leads to an absorption of surplus energy, capital accumulation, and profit maximization. Most importantly, how is this understanding of social ecology useful for furthering a project of emancipation?

Capitalism Has Never Been This Irrational – Paul Jay (pt 3/3)
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Capitalism Has Never Been This Irrational – Paul Jay (pt 3/3)

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Talia Baroncelli interviews Paul Jay; “The financial elites know how dangerous the climate crisis is, but they won’t acknowledge the only solution is central planning, government regulation, and intervention. They know market mechanisms won’t work within a time frame that matters, if at all. They’re not against central planning. What is the Pentagon if not central planning? What is the Fed and bank bailouts if not central planning? Central planning in their interests and under their control is okay. But government planning that transforms the economy and phases out fossil fuel, is unacceptable. They hate any form of socialism more than they hate risking the end of civilization.”

U.S. Interference in the Middle East – 20 Years Since the U.S. Invasion of Iraq – Col. Larry Wilkerson
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U.S. Interference in the Middle East – 20 Years Since the U.S. Invasion of Iraq – Col. Larry Wilkerson

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Col. Larry Wilkerson speaks about how the media’s portrayal of the U.S. invasion of Iraq barely encapsulates the damage wrought by the U.S.-led “coalition of the willing.” He also addresses recent developments in the Middle East, including Israel’s increasingly belligerent policy on Iran, how the Saudi-Iran deal might end the Saudi blockade of Yemen, and the military significance of Israel being moved from U.S. European Command to U.S. Central Command.

Fossil Fuel Industry Phase-Out: Three Critical Worker Guarantees for a Just Transition

Fossil Fuel Industry Phase-Out: Three Critical Worker Guarantees for a Just Transition

ByLynn Fries

Robert Pollin says PERI research findings published in Fossil Fuel Industry Phase-Out and Just Transition demonstrate Just Transition policies are easily affordable in all high-income countries & imperative for any serious prospect of success in climate stabilization plans. Lynn Fries interviews Pollin on GPEnewsdocs.

Net Zero Commitments Dangerously Misleading – Peter Carter

Net Zero Commitments Dangerously Misleading – Peter Carter

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Why net zero commitments are empty and dangerously misleading if we continue to burn fossil fuels. Talia Baroncelli speaks to retired physician and IPCC climate expert Peter Carter about how ongoing wars, illegal mineral wealth extraction in active conflict zones, and the plunder of resources by transnational corporations are literally killing the planet.

Is China Socialist or State Capitalist? – Hudson and Bond pt 1/2
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Is China Socialist or State Capitalist? – Hudson and Bond pt 1/2

ByPaul Jay

Will China resist financialization and lead the way on climate policy, or is it a form of capitalism that will not reduce inequalities much further and isn’t serious about phasing out fossil fuel? Michael Hudson and Patrick Bond in a discussion about what we can expect from the CCP. Note: this was recorded before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Nationalize Fossil Fuel to Fight Climate Change and Inflation – Bob Pollin
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Nationalize Fossil Fuel to Fight Climate Change and Inflation – Bob Pollin

ByPaul Jay

By purchasing controlling interest of the major American fossil fuel companies, the federal government can phase out fossil fuels, transition to sustainable energy, and enforce a lower price of oil which will alleviate inflationary pressures. Bob Pollin joins Paul Jay on theAnalysis.news.

Kazakhstani Chessboard – Part 1 – The Setting
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Kazakhstani Chessboard – Part 1 – The Setting

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Were the events in Kazakhstan a popular workers uprising, a “Colored Revolution”, or a manifestation of power struggles within the Kazakh establishment? Or all of the above? The Barricade’s Boyan Stanislavski and Maria Cernat discuss the general political realities in Kazakhstan today, as well as the fundamental premises for such violent events to have occurred.

House Committee Chairwoman Maloney Nails Oil Executives

House Committee Chairwoman Maloney Nails Oil Executives

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House of Representatives Oversight Committee held hearings with the CEOs of the largest oil companies where Chairwoman Maloney read quotes from internal Exxon documents, which exposed that Exxon knew for years that fossil fuels were causing global warming and that it would lead to catastrophic consequences. She attempted to get the CEOs to acknowledge having lied, which they refused to do. This is an excerpt from the House of Representatives Oversight Committee held on October 28, 2021.

Many Russians Think Climate Change is Propaganda to Weaken Their Economy – RAI with Aleksandr Buzgalin (11/12)
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Many Russians Think Climate Change is Propaganda to Weaken Their Economy – RAI with Aleksandr Buzgalin (11/12)

ByPaul Jay

On Reality Asserts Itself, Prof. Aleksandr Buzgalin says Russian oligarchs find an oil-based economy too profitable to consider transitioning away from it – with host Paul Jay. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced July 27, 2018.

The Rich Have an Escape Plan – RAI with Rana Foroohar Pt 5/6
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The Rich Have an Escape Plan – RAI with Rana Foroohar Pt 5/6

ByPaul Jay

On Reality Asserts Itself, Ms. Foroohar says many wealthy people understand that the climate crisis, deep recession, and war are real threats, but they believe “apres moi le deluge [after me comes the floods];” the Financial Times columnist and author of “Makers and Takers” said many of the rich have escape plans thinking “they can avoid the apocalypse” – with host Paul Jay. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced May 9, 2018.

U.S. Refuses to Accept Iran as a Regional Power – RAI with Trita Parsi Pt 1/3
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U.S. Refuses to Accept Iran as a Regional Power – RAI with Trita Parsi Pt 1/3

ByPaul Jay

From Afghanistan to Iraq, the Trump administration, leading Democrats, and much of the foreign policy and military establishment believe the U.S. should be more aggressive towards Iran. That’s a very dangerous situation that can lead to war, noted Iran expert Trita Parsi tells Paul Jay on Reality Asserts Itself. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced August 21, 2017, with Paul Jay.

Time to Buy Out Fossil Fuel Corporations – Gar Alperovitz on Reality Asserts Itself (pt 2/2)
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Time to Buy Out Fossil Fuel Corporations – Gar Alperovitz on Reality Asserts Itself (pt 2/2)

ByPaul Jay

This interview was originally released on April 28, 2017. The Next System Project’s Gar Alperovitz tells Paul Jay that the Federal Reserve should use quantitive easing, i.e. create money, to take Big Oil companies out of the equation and finance a massive green infrastructure program.

Time to Buy Out Fossil Fuel Corporations – Gar Alperovitz on Reality Asserts Itself (pt 1/2)
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Time to Buy Out Fossil Fuel Corporations – Gar Alperovitz on Reality Asserts Itself (pt 1/2)

ByPaul Jay

This interview was originally released on April 28, 2017. The Next System Project’s Gar Alperovitz tells Paul Jay that the Federal Reserve should use quantitive easing, i.e. create money, to take Big Oil companies out of the equation and finance a massive green infrastructure program.

Towards a Green Economy: Private or Public? – Robert Pollin on RAI (8/8)
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Towards a Green Economy: Private or Public? – Robert Pollin on RAI (8/8)

ByPaul Jay

On Reality Asserts Itself, Mr. Pollin says if we let the market operate on its own without some form of major public sector intervention, there’s no chance whatsoever that we’re going to achieve climate stabilization. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced January 14, 2015.

Towards a Green Economy: Tax, Trade, Cap, Deny? – Robert Pollin on RAI (7/8)
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Towards a Green Economy: Tax, Trade, Cap, Deny? – Robert Pollin on RAI (7/8)

ByPaul Jay

On Reality Asserts Itself, Mr. Pollin says the politics around climate change has deteriorated; a few years ago even President Bush and Senator McCain were both talking about measures to increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced January 13, 2015.

Towards a Green Economy: Fighting at the Local Level – Robert Pollin on RAI (6/8)
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Towards a Green Economy: Fighting at the Local Level – Robert Pollin on RAI (6/8)

ByPaul Jay

On Reality Asserts Itself, Mr. Pollin says no-GDP growth is unrealistic and unnecessary as the way to achieve carbon emission targets – green economists must be advocates of job creation. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced January 11, 2015.

Towards a Green Economy: Green Growth or no Growth? – Robert Pollin on RAI (5/8)
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Towards a Green Economy: Green Growth or no Growth? – Robert Pollin on RAI (5/8)

ByPaul Jay

On Reality Asserts Itself, Mr. Pollin says no-GDP growth is unrealistic and unnecessary as the way to achieve carbon emission targets – green economists must be advocates of job creation. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced January 11, 2015.

Towards a Green Economy: Is Clean Coal and Carbon Capture an Option? – Robert Pollin on RAI (4/8)
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Towards a Green Economy: Is Clean Coal and Carbon Capture an Option? – Robert Pollin on RAI (4/8)

ByPaul Jay

On Reality Asserts Itself, Mr. Pollin says there’s no evidence technology will make fossil fuel clean, and it’s more cost-effective to achieve energy efficiency and produce alternative energy. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced January 9, 2015.