FutureProof: Tom's Tech & Sustainability Digest

Stories at the intersection of technology and sustainability

Author

Tom Raftery
February 20, 2024

Hi folks, welcome to another edition of my semi-occasional newsletter where I highlight stories at the intersection of tech and sustainability, but first a little humour - I saw this one on Twitter and it gave me a laugh. I hope it puts a smile on your face too 😀

Speaking of Twitter though, it has really gone downhill since Elon Musk bought it out and started dismantling all the safety systems there. It is a real shame. Twitter had its faults, no doubt, but what it has been replaced by it sooo much worse. I’m trying out several of the alternatives - Threads, Mastodon, and Bluesky. Of those three, I’m finding Threads to be the best for engagement, so far. Though I do have plenty of reservations using another billionaire owned platform! What do you think? Have you noticed Twitter’s descent? And if you are on one of the alternatives, which one, and why?

In the News: Technology Meets Sustainability

Some of the news stories that have caught my eye recently

  • Global support for climate action is ‘systematically underestimated’ - This is very heartening - a new study published in Nature Climate Communications finds that 86% of people “support pro-climate social norms” and 89% would like their governments to do more to tackle warming. Moreover, 69% say they would be willing to contribute 1% of their income to addressing climate change. Link.

  • Google joins mission to map methane from space - We all know methane gas is a major contributor to global warming as it traps 120 times more heat than CO2. Firms extracting oil and gas regularly burn or vent methane, and it is this source of emissions that Google wants to help identify with this project. Kudos to them. Link.

  • Wind and solar are closing in on fossil fuels in the EU - European electricity grids are getting cleaner, fast. In 2023, wind overtook gas generation, coal plummeted, renewables rose at a record rate — and as a result, electricity emissions fell. Excellent news. Link.

  • Dublin to Ban Driving Through Its City Center - Dublin will ban through-traffic from its city center, joining other EU cities in restricting private cars to reduce congestion and improve air quality. The plan involves reconfiguring central streets to allow access only to vehicles with a downtown destination, as well as creating new pedestrian areas. The proposal has garnered strong public support, marking a significant move for the city's urban policy. Not a ULEZ, but not a bad start. Link.

  • Copernicus Interactive Climate Atlas: a game changer for policymakers - The Copernicus Interactive Climate Atlas, launched by the Copernicus Climate Change Service, is a new web application that provides policymakers and users with access to authoritative climate change information. It allows for the visualization and analysis of past trends and projected future changes for a wide range of key climate variables, making it a valuable tool for formulating effective climate policy. Link.

Podcast Highlights

In case you were unaware, I publish two weekly podcasts:

  1. Climate Confident - every Wednesday I publish a new episode where I highlight successful climate emissions stories and strategies in order to educate and inspire more people to act, and

  2. Sustainable Supply Chain - this is a rebrand of my former Digital Supply Chain podcast. In this podcast, every Monday I publish a new episode where I talk to supply chain execs with a strong focus on thought leadership, best practices, and trends in supply chain sustainability

Latest episodes

In coming episodes of the podcasts I will be talking to companies like Siemens, HowGood, DutchX, Schneider Electric, and more. Follow the podcasts in your podcast app of choice to ensure you don’t miss any episodes.

  • Norway is the country with the highest penetration of electric vehicles, and this has had a significant impact on the amount of fossil fuels used in road transportation, with consequent knock-on benefits in air quality and a reduction in noise pollution from traffic.  

  • This is how the experience curve, and economies of scale work. You see similar results for lithium ion battery prices (as well as their energy density), as well as for solar energy, and wind prices, and generation capabilities.

  • And finally, 2024 looks set to be the year that wind and solar overtake coal and gas on the EU’s grid for % of electricity generation. And with the economics of solar and wind improving year on year, this is a non-reversible trend, thankfully!

This Edition’s Thought-Provoking Quote

  • "Twenty-five years ago, people could be excused for not knowing much, or doing much, about climate change. Today we have no excuse." - Archbishop Desmond Tutu

  • As the late, great Desmond Tutu so eloquently put it, we all have to act on climate change, in every way we can. There is no longer any excuse for inaction.

Engage

  • If you made it this far, well done! If you liked this newsletter, or learned something new, feel free to share this newsletter with family and friends. Encourage folks to sign up for it.
    Do please get in touch with me with your thoughts and suggestions on how I can improve the newsletter, or with any other suggestions you may have.

  • Finally, since being impacted by the tech layoffs, I'm currently on the market for a new role. If you know someone who could benefit from my tech savvy, sustainability, and strong social media expertise, I'd be grateful for a referral.

Remember, the only thing more sustainable than renewable energy is my hope that next month's technology won't make today's gadgets look like they belong in a museum. Until then, keep charging forward—preferably with solar power!

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