Summary of Bruce Everett: Six Myths about Climate | Tom Nelson Pod #168

00:00:00 - 00:40:00

In this YouTube series, Bruce Everett discusses six myths commonly associated with climate change. These myths include the idea that there is a climate emergency, that carbon dioxide is pollution, that greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are causing significant harm, that massive temperature increases will result from putting CO2 into the atmosphere, that disaster predictions are based on scientific evidence, and that renewable energy is less expensive than fossil fuels. Everett argues that while these myths have been perpetuated by media and scientific elites, they are not necessarily true. He emphasizes that complex factors, such as deforestation and volcanic eruptions, contribute to climate change, and that predicting the future remains a challenging task. Everett also notes that while renewable energy is becoming increasingly important, it is not yet a practical solution to climate change.

• 00:00:00 In this section, the speaker Bruce Everett discusses six myths about climate change that are generally known but not necessarily true. The first myth is that there is a climate emergency, but Everett argues that a robust debate is necessary to solve a serious problem. The next myth is that carbon dioxide is pollution, but Everett claims that it is a beneficial and benign molecule essential for all life. Everett also highlights the misleading use of the term "carbon pollution" to describe CO2. The third myth is the vast amounts of greenhouse gases put into the atmosphere, but Everett shows that CO2 concentration in the 1800s was about 0.03% today, so it's not a significant issue. Everett also notes that CO2 increases plant crop yields and helps plants grow, as seen in satellite photos. The fourth myth is that massive temperature increases will result from putting CO2 into the atmosphere, but Everett shows that predicted increases have not materialized. Everett emphasizes that climate is too complex and requires understanding of all factors and their interaction to make accurate predictions. The fifth myth is that disaster predictions are based on empirical science, but Everett claims that these predictions are artifacts of computer models that have not been able to make useful predictions. Finally, Everett stresses that science is only one thing and its only goal is to compare ideas against empirical evidence.
• 00:05:00 In this section of the excerpt, the argument is made that despite the increased number of natural disasters that cost over a billion dollars from 1980 to 2020, the actual harm caused by these disasters is overstated. The chart used to demonstrate this is also criticized for not accounting for inflation and the increase in property value. The scientist's research suggests that there is actually no evidence that "carbon dioxide has made natural disasters worse", as commonly claimed.
• 00:10:00 In this section of the speech, Bruce Everett addresses the myth that renewable energy is less expensive than fossil fuels. According to Everett, this myth is based on a misunderstanding of the costs and complexities involved in generating and distributing electricity. Drawing on data from the Department of Energy, Everett compares the costs of a natural gas combined cycle plant and an onshore wind facility of the same size, finding that the wind facility is less efficient and more expensive than the natural gas plant. Everett argues that wind power does not produce electricity when it is needed, and that the system flexibility in the fossil fuel industry makes it easier to manage demand than in the renewable energy sector. Everett suggests that one solution to the problem of renewable energy generation is to use a combination of renewable and fossil fuel sources, with a backup natural gas plant to ensure that energy is available when it is needed. He uses Germany's experience with renewable energy as an example to illustrate the challenges of managing a renewable energy system.
• 00:15:00 In this section of the transcript, Bruce Everett discusses two myths about renewable energy and climate change. Firstly, he argues that we do not need a lot of renewable energy now, as we can manage with the current levels. Secondly, he claims that renewable energy is not competitive with traditional fossil fuels and is expensive. Everett also discusses the Paris climate Accord, arguing that while the US and Western Europe have been working to reduce CO2 emissions, other countries such as China and India have been increasing their emissions. He also criticizes the conference of parties organized by the UN, arguing that they are not effectively dealing with the issue of CO2 emissions.
• 00:20:00 In this section of the excerpt, the speaker Bruce Everett discusses the limited progress of countries in decarbonizing their economies. Despite making promises at international conferences, many developing countries continue to make carbon reduction promises in exchange for large flows of money from the West, but fail to keep these promises. The United Arab Emirates is an example of this trend, with an estimated 70,000 attendees but no significant reduction in carbon emissions as a result. President Biden's push for electric vehicles and the Inflation Reduction Act may increase the number of electric vehicles in the US, but according to Everett, only around 25% of cars by 2050 will be electric or hybrids, with 75% still being gasoline or diesel. The source of CO2 emissions is predominantly located in developing countries, such as China and India. Fossil fuels are the only economically viable source of plentiful and secure energy, making it difficult for countries to decarbonize without significant costs. The speaker argues that while there are efforts to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, the world is still predominantly based on fossil fuels, and the growth of alternative energy sources has been slow. The absolute amount of fossil fuel used by the world has been steadily increasing, and the reduction in the share of fossil fuels is not enough to offset the overall increase in use.
• 00:25:00 In this section of the video, Bruce Everett debunks the myth that grandchildren will continue to base their energy use primarily on fossil fuels due to their affordability and reliability. He argues that this is the "moonshot fallacy," which emphasizes the idea that accomplishing a technically difficult feat is enough to solve a problem. Everett points out that while Apollo was definitely a great accomplishment, it only achieved a difficult feat a few times at a great cost. Energy technologies, on the other hand, need to be scaled up to become accessible and affordable for everyday use. Everett also challenges two other corollary fallacies to the moonshot fallacy: that R&D can produce any technology and that scaling up inferior technologies makes them good. He uses examples such as nuclear power, synthetic fuels, fusion, cellulosic ethanol, and hydrogen fuel cells to illustrate how these technologies were hyped but ultimately failed to deliver on their promises.
• 00:30:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "Bruce Everett: Six Myths about Climate", the speaker Bruce Everett discusses two myths about climate change: the first is that commercially affordable batteries will solve the problem, and the second is that carbon captured technology is the solution. According to Everett, while research on batteries has improved over the years, they are not yet good enough to solve the problem of climate change. Similarly, carbon captured technology is still in its infancy, and it's not clear how to implement it on a large scale. Everett suggests that we should focus on other more practical solutions to the problem, such as increasing energy efficiency and encouraging the use of renewable energy sources.
• 00:35:00 in this section of the video, Bruce Everett discusses the issue of climate change and the role that individuals and institutions, such as corporations and academia, have played in addressing the issue. Everett argues that corporations are motivated by commercial interests and are unlikely to take drastic action to address climate change, but this does not excuse them from contributing to the issue. In academia, Everett notes that people who believe in climate change narrative are more likely to get hired, making it difficult for those who do not believe in the narrative to find work or have their voices heard. Everett also points out that the US government has spent billions of dollars on climate research in the past 30 years, but this research is often designed to support a particular narrative, rather than to be an unbiased assessment of the issue.
• 00:40:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the need to teach children the scientific method and how it is important to be skeptical and not blindly believe in the consensus of experts. The speaker also talks about the scuttling of offshore wind plans due to the high costs and local opposition, and how it is a problem that people should consider both the science and economics when discussing climate change. The speaker emphasizes that climate change is not only a scientific problem but also an economic one and that people should be mindful of the cost and benefits of different solutions.