David Babson

Engineer, husband, father, @XPRIZE Climate & Energy EVP. Promoting technologies that build resilience to and mitigate climate change. Views/tweets mine.

[Al Gore @algore]

For decades, the world’s scientists and governments have worked together to tackle the most significant challenge of our lifetimes: the climate crisis. The ongoing work of the IPCC, UNFCCC, and other global institutions remains essential to safeguarding humanity’s future. The Trump Administration's decision to remove the United States from these vital organizations sends the wrong message to our allies abroad and fails to protect Americans from increasingly dangerous impacts of the climate crisis at home.

The Trump Administration has been turning its back on the climate crisis since day one, removing the United States from the Paris Agreement, dismantling America’s scientific infrastructure, curbing access to greenhouse gas emissions data, and ending essential investments in the clean energy transition. They've done this at the behest of the oil industry, so that billionaires can rake in even more money while polluting our planet and endangering people in America and around the world.

By withdrawing from the IPCC, UNFCCC, and the other vital international partnerships, the Trump Administration is undoing decades of hard-won diplomacy, attempting to undermine climate science, and sowing distrust around the world.

Fortunately, 198 minus one does not equal zero. While the U.S. federal government sits on the sidelines, world leaders, local and state governments, and the private sector will continue to move forward with the clean energy transition and uphold the goals set forth in the Paris Agreement because it is in their best interest to do so. Clean energy remains the most affordable, scalable, and sustainable solution to meet the energy demands of the future and with this reckless decision the United States will only be left behind.

[David Babson @realDavidBabson]

Clearly, I was stupid and wrong to think they wouldn’t destroy it all.

I wrongly believed they’d let progress stand. And I had hoped they would act in the public interest.

They’re not interested in building anything—only burning it down.

And we’re all going to pay the price.

[David Babson @realDavidBabson]

🧵 When Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, I thought we were turning a corner and felt hopeful for my kids, our economy, and the planet.

[David Babson @realDavidBabson]

Passage of the climate legislation today is monumental. It will transform our economy’s use of energy and decouple carbon intensity from our energy system. It will make ambitious climate action cheaper for us and the world. It gives our kids a chance to address climate change.

[David Babson @realDavidBabson]

I’ve spent my career working on addressing climate change and promoting clean energy. This isn’t just a political fight— this is a deliberate sabotage of America’s future, and a burden our children will have to bear.

[David Babson @realDavidBabson]

There is absolutely no affirmative case for this Republican bill. I am at a loss identifying ANY elements that would be good for our country. In fact, it is easier to appreciate what it does from the perspective of an adversary to our country. This is repulsive and unAmerican.

[Jesse D. Jenkins @JesseJenkins]

This is unbelievably bad. I am astonished that the Senate language got WORSE overnight than even the House version. This One Big Horrible Bill will raise energy costs, kill $100s of billions of new investment in energy & manufacturing, make our grid less reliable, increase pollution, and constrain our ability to compete with China for the future or AI. Total loser stuff.

[Jane Flegal @JaneAFlegal]

🚀Huge day for innovation in carbon removal. The Carbon Dioxide Removal Investment Act, introduced by @SenatorBennet & @lisamurkowski, ensures *all* promising solutions can qualify for a $250 tax credit for each high-quality ton removed from the atmosphere & permanently stored.🚀

[Erin Burns @erinmburns]

Things I know:

1. Carbon removal is essential for climate.
2. It can bring enormous economic + social benefits.
3. The work must go on.

Carbon removal has been — and should continue to be — an issue that has robust support across the political spectrum. 🧵

[David Babson @realDavidBabson]

Warren M. Washington, used computers to probe climate change, dies at 88 - The Washington Post https://t.co/8775mSuwvP

[David Babson @realDavidBabson]

Now, already beyond 1.5 °C…….

[Leon Simons 🌍 @LeonSimons8]

🌎🌡📈 It's official:

2023-2024 was the first year with a global temperature anomaly above +1.65°C in one or more data sets!

@BerkeleyEarth:

[David Babson @realDavidBabson]

And well, oh dear…

[Leon Simons 🌍 @LeonSimons8]

🌎🌡️📈
For those in the back:
Global warming isn't linear any more!

We have to adapt to accelerated warming and climate change.

[John Raymond Hanger  @johnrhanger]

Good morning with good news: US coal production peaked in 2005, falling 49% by 2023. It will fall ~17% in 2024 and be less than 1950 level. Wow!

7-Month (Jan-July) Total in Million Short Tons
2024 282
2023 338
2022 343

[Jack Andreasen Cavanaugh @AndreasenJack]

Canada is quickly becoming DACanada

In Alberta, 72% of capital costs are covered for direct air capture projects. 60% in the rest of the country.

A race to the bottom of emissions is on!
https://t.co/eNbsFRbzN9

[Emil Dimanchev @EmilDimanchev]

Incorrect conclusions are being drawn from this recent Science paper on the effectiveness of climate policies around the world.

What does the paper actually show?

https://t.co/e15JhsdJ5i 1/20+ 🧵

[David Babson @realDavidBabson]

Good stuff here. Important work highlighting the opportunities for cost effective nature-based and land management strategies to mitigate climate change.

[Jacob J. Bukoski @JacobBukoski]

New study out today! This was a wonderful collaboration, led by @jonahbusch.

"Cost-effectiveness of natural forest regeneration and plantations for climate mitigation"

https://t.co/wE5TpBoedX

[David Babson @realDavidBabson]

Not great, folks.

[Bill McKibben @billmckibben]

Just noting, Sunday was the hottest day ever recorded on this planet we call home https://t.co/qdpdwJyToZ

[David Babson @realDavidBabson]

Thanks to @ufhorticulture for inviting and hosting me for the Big Issues Seminar Series! #UFIFAS. I enjoyed the great conversations with UF students and faculty on accelerating innovation for global climate change solutions this week.

[Andrew D Hanson Lab @ADHansonLab]

We are looking forward to these seminars on crucial issues from @realDavidBabson!

[David Babson @realDavidBabson]

@Freudlab Bother!