March | 2021 | Stephen Leahy, International Environmental Journalist

Base Economics, Finance and Governance on Reality says UN

Welcome to the latest issue of Need to Know: Science & Insight, a new form of personal journalism that looks at what we Need-to-Know at this time of pandemic, existential crisis of climate change and unravelling of nature’s life supports.

Making Peace With Nature is a new United Nations blueprint on how to tackle climate change, loss of biodiversity and pollution. It’s based on a year-long synthesis of several major UN scientific assessment reports. I asked co-author Sir Robert Watson, former chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) AND Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), to sum up our situation here on planet Earth.

“As scientists the more we learn about what is happening, the more worried we’ve become,” said Watson.

“The risks humanity faces are far worse than they were 20 or even 10 years ago.”

Ok so things aren’t great and getting worse.

Humanity’s to do list

What’s to be done to end the multiple threats to civilization? Just achieve these three things:

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How to improve your BS detector about Texas Blackout lies and other distortions

Thunderstorm with lightning above the sea at sunset

We’re in the middle of a storm of lies, distortions and misinformation. It’s going to get worse when it comes to vaccines, climate change, alternative energy, and other solutions to bring about a transition to a sustainable, zero-carbon future.

I’ve been navigating through this mire for 25 years, including the recent Texas blackout. A subscriber prompted me to share with you some Need-to-Know tools I use to keep my BS detector robust and well tuned

Recently a subscriber asked me about an “intriguing and somewhat disturbing” video from Prager University about renewable energy.

That set my BS detector tingling.

First rule: Find out who is behind the curtain

Second rule: Find out if they have an agenda

Here’s two primary tools from my BS detector kit that has a dozen more.

Sourcewatch identifies who is behind and who funds various think tanks, institutes and other organizations. They document their research and I’ve found them to be reliable.

DeSmogBlog maintains an extensive database of both individuals and organizations who try to confuse the public and stall action on climate change. International in scope. There are far more than you think — I use the search function a lot.

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