[Scarblac]

> But alot of the new non-fossil energy production is now added to the existing energy mix, not replacing fossil fuels

I agree completely. Global CO2 output is still increasing, afaik, despite all the work on alternatives so far.

We need much more emphasis on using less energy.

[ZeroGravitas]

I'm a fan of efficiency, but don't think "using less energy" is a particularly useful metric when that energy can come from sources with radically different costs and downsides.

Happily, the most effective way to use less energy is to electrify with renewables, which is a major part of the green transition

[Scarblac]

> I'm a fan of efficiency, but don't think "using less energy" is a particularly useful metric when that energy can come from sources with radically different costs and downsides.

That are often somewhat fungible. Using less is always good.

[hackerlight]

> We need much more emphasis on using less energy.

This might be self-sabotaging in that it helps climate change deniers get elected. Politicians have finite political capital and degrowth is unpopular. Better use political capital for sustainable growth and accelerating renewables. Win-win narratives are the only thing that work politically.

Plus I don't think degrowth is even necessary. There isn't a zero-sum tradeoff between growth and emissions.

https://twitter.com/MaxCRoser/status/1771162980954079621

[bryanlarsen]

2024 is predicted to be the first year with a decrease in CO2 emissions.

[slowmovintarget]

Good luck fighting the AI compute gold rush. It's going to be worse than bitcoin mining, as these compute cycles actually do something.