#SabinCenterForClimateChangeLaw

2025-06-20

Here's a recent article from @SkepticalScience on my "professional" speciality, electric vehicle charging:

skepticalscience.com/news.php?

Plus a picture of #BettyTheBuzz happily rapid charging on her recent road trip to the Netherlands, whilst I grabbed my first coffee of a long day:

#SabinCenterForClimateChangeLaw

A Volkswagen ID. Buzz charging at a Fastned charging plaza near Zwolle in the Netherlands.
2025-01-24

Surprisingly positive findings:

"Solar panels generate energy even in cloudy or cold conditions (Ramli et al. 2016). Although cloudy weather may reduce power generation by as much as 45%, substantial energy can still be generated during those conditions (Ramli et al. 2016 and Makrides et al. 2012)."

From our collaboratively adapted collection of #ClimateSolutionsMyths #debunkings, authored at the #SabinCenterForClimateChangeLaw.

One of 33 helpful treatments.

skepticalscience.com/do-solar-

Screen capture of Skeptical Science and Sabin Center for Climate Change Law collaborative debunking of a climate solutions myth, about solar panels and inclement weather. 

Text:

Do solar panels work in cold or cloudy climates?

What the science says...
Solar panels generate energy even in cloudy or cold conditions, with cold temperatures actually increasing solar panel efficiency by increasing voltage.

Climate Myth...
Solar panels don’t work in cold or cloudy climates. "A cloud goes over and solar plummets." (Atomic Insights)

Details:

Solar panels generate energy even in cloudy or cold conditions1 (also Ramli et al. 2016). Although cloudy weather may reduce power generation by as much as 45%, substantial energy can still be generated during those conditions (Ramli et al. 2016 and Makrides et al. 2012).

Furthermore, in most instances, cold temperatures do not reduce electricity output at all—and actually increase solar panel efficiency by increasing voltage2 (also Sarmah et al. 2023). Crystalline silicon cells, which comprise approximately 84% of the U.S. market, and cadmium telluride cells, which comprise approximately 16% of the U.S. market, actually perform better in colder weather2. Only amorphous silicon cells, which represent a negligible percentage of the U.S market, experience decreased performance in colder temperatures.
2025-01-02

Our last blast for 2024 was this collaborative output with the #SabinCenterForClimateChangeLaw, a #RenewableEnergyMythDebunking.

One of 33 compact but solidly sourced treatments authored by Sabin and adapted for easy individual access via Skeptical Science.

This particular set of currently accurate facts is highly vulnerable to changing circumstances. Will it need revising over the next few years? We shall see.

#ClimatePolicy
#EnergyPolicy
#EnergyModernization

skepticalscience.com/will-reli

Skeptical Science collaborative renewable energy myth debunking, "Will reliance on solar make the United States dependent on China?"

Text:

"Will reliance on solar make the United States dependent on China and other countries?

What the science says...
Although the United States still imports a majority of the solar panels it installs, domestic solar manufacturing is on the rise and likely to grow further as manufacturers open factories in the U.S.

Climate Myth...
Reliance on solar will make the United States dependent on China and other countries"
2024-12-30

We collaborated with the #SabinCenterForClimateChangeLaw to adapt their excellent rebuttals to 33 #RenewableEnergyMyths for easy granular access outside of the original single report, which was published as a PDF.

Commencing Nov. 5 we've been highlighting one of these #FossilFuelPropaganda #Debunkings per week. Here's the last for 2024. Stay tuned for more in 2025!

#EnergyModernization

skepticalscience.com/will-sola

Graph comparing energy employment from 2020 to 2050 under various U.S. net-zero GHG emissions scenarios.

The payload of the graph is that renewable energy is more labor-intensive than legacy fossil fuel modes.
2024-12-04

Whether we call it #EnergyModernization or #EnergyTransition or #RenewableEnergy, with #ClimateChange becoming undeniable the fossilized parts of our energy industry are adapting tactics to keep us locked in the past-- and ruin our chances for #ClimateMitigation.

We collaborated with the #SabinCenterForClimateChangeLaw to adapt their comprehensive #debunking of #RenewableEnergyMyths for easier access. We're highlighting each of 33 articles, one per week.

skepticalscience.com/sabin33-0

Screen capture of Skeptical Science/Sabin Center for Climate Change Law debunking of an energy myth.

Text:

"What the science says...

The lifecycle emissions of solar energy are far lower than fossil fuel sources, with the emissions of coal being 23 times greater than solar PV while the emissions of natural gas are 11 times greater than solar PV.

Myth...

Solar energy is worse for the climate than burning fossil fuels

"It is likely that solar farms are making climate change worse."
2024-11-21

Our next "Sabin 33," one of 33 debunkings of myths and misunderstandings about energy modernization (aka "energy transition") scrupulously researched for correction by the #SabinCenterForClimateChangeLaw.

This week: "Are toxic heavy metals from solar panels posing a threat to human health?"

A good question-- but once answered to our satisfaction it shouldn't linger or be fostered as cause or excuse for paralysis.

skepticalscience.com/sabin33-0

Screen capture of Skeptical Science adaptation of Sabin Center for Climate Change Law article "Are toxic heavy metals from solar panels posing a threat to human health?"

Text:

What the science says...

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources has assessed that there is little, if any, risk of chemical releases to the environment during normal use, and that all materials in a solar panel are "insoluble and non-volatile at ambient conditions," and "don’t mix with water or vaporize into air."

Climate Myth...

Toxic heavy metals leach out from solar panels and pose a threat to human health

“Studies have shown the heavy metals in solar panels namely lead and cadmium, can leach out of the cells and get into groundwater, as well as affect plants.” (Emily Chantiri, 2023)
2024-11-11

Last week we "officially" launched our collaboration with the #SabinCenterForClimateChangeLaw.

Behind the scene and pre-launch, adapting Sabin's work was a process needing a lot of elbow grease. All of Sabin's #EnergyTransitionMythDebunkings are now available individually at our website.

Over the next few months we'll be highlighting each article individually, one per week.

Here's the first: "Are electromagnetic fields from solar farms harmful to human health?"

skepticalscience.com/sabin33-0

Screen capture of debunking of energy transition myth "Are electromagnetic fields from solar farms harmful to human health?"

Text:

"What the science says...

The electromagnetic fields generated at a solar farm are similar in strength and frequency to those of toaster ovens and other household appliances—and harmless to humans.

Myth...
Electromagnetic fields from solar farms are harmful to human health

"The EMF (electromagnetic field) from solar farms poses serious health risks especially to those who have electromagnetic hypersensitivity." "
2024-11-03

"Stronger together!"

Having just launched our collaboration with the #SabinCenterForClimateChangeLaw, we continue our work with #Gigafact.

"Are most glaciers growing?" Obviously not, but how is the average person to know, in an information environment crowded by fossil fuel funded #ClimateBunk?

One way is by providing news providers and consumers with concise, factual #ClimateMythDebunkings.

Here's the latest ready-to-serve treatment for newsrooms.

#ClimateMyths

skepticalscience.com/fact-brie

Skeptical Science and Gigafact collaborative fact-brief:

"Are most glaciers growing?

No.

The vast majority of glaciers have continued to shrink worldwide.

To maintain stability, snowfall must equal ice loss from processes like surface melt, wind erosion, and avalanches.

In most of the world, glaciers are shrinking due to warming and snowfall changes. By 1990, glaciers worldwide had lost 7% to 28% of their 1901 mass.

Glacier research dates back to the 1890s, while specific “reference glaciers” have been continuously tracked since 1950. 2010-2019 saw the highest loss since observations began. 2023 was the 36th year in a row that reference glaciers lost, rather than gained, ice.

A few have grown where precipitation exceeds melt, attributable to unusual weather due to climate change. However, studies indicate other glaciers that once exhibited growth succumbing to warming; another 2023 paper suggested the weakening stability of presently-growing glaciers.

Glaciers provide freshwater vital to entire ecosystems—their loss would spell serious consequences for humanity and nature.?
2024-08-13

"A new Sabin Center white paper reviews reports and studies that propose a range of policy reforms aimed at accelerating the development of renewable energy infrastructure while maintaining rigorous environmental and community protections. Through this extensive research, several key themes and recommendations emerged as critical to reforming the permitting process."

Suggestion: background checks for opponents.

#SabinCenterForClimateChangeLaw
#EnergyModernization

blogs.law.columbia.edu/climate

2024-07-11

"Cities’ autonomy and ambition propel them to legislate when Congress is logjammed, regulate when the EPA is legally constrained, and implement when the federal government is too unwieldy to make a real difference in communities on the ground. It is time to move on from the outdated notion that they play only a limited role in the federalist system; on climate, they are the leaders."

#ClimateMitigationPolicy
#SabinCenterForClimateChangeLaw

blogs.law.columbia.edu/climate

2024-06-27

"The Sabin Center has recently published two reports on the connection between climate change, health impacts, and State obligations under international law...States must uphold refugee and human rights law, refrain from returning people to danger, offer safe mobility pathways, and guarantee non-discriminatory access to resources and services essential to protect human and public health."

#SabinCenterForClimateChangeLaw
#ICJ
#GeopoliticalClimatology

blogs.law.columbia.edu/climate

2024-05-02

"A key and underrated aspect of the recent triad of climate rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) is that the ECtHR has brought to the fore the role of trade-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in states’ carbon footprints...As I will argue, the ruling all but requires Switzerland to adopt a climate-oriented trade policy."

#ExternalCosts
#ClimateMitigationPolicy
#SabinCenterForClimateChangeLaw

blogs.law.columbia.edu/climate

2024-04-18

"Today, the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) jointly published a new report titled Building a Cleaner, More Resilient Energy System in Cuba: Opportunities and Challenges.

The report provides detailed information on the current state of Cuba’s electricity sector and recommends reforms to advance the transition to a lower emission, reliable, and more climate resilient system."

#EnergyModernization
#SabinCenterForClimateChangeLaw

blogs.law.columbia.edu/climate

2024-04-10

"In a transformative moment for European and global climate litigation, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled today [04/09/2024] that the state has a positive duty to adopt, and effectively implement in practice, regulations and measures capable of mitigating the existing and potentially irreversible future effects of climate change."

Implications thereof queued for discussion. Should be quite interesting.

#ClimateLitigation
#SabinCenterForClimateChangeLaw

blogs.law.columbia.edu/climate

2024-03-20

Why is #ClimateProgress so slow?

Here's what dealing with our mess looks like down in the weeds, microscopic details of sand in the gears.

Grating friction at #SEC with #CDR rulemaking. And every single similar process must overwhelm an entrenched army of myopically self-interested resistance.

#SabinCenterForClimateChangeLaw

blogs.law.columbia.edu/climate

2024-02-14

"Litigation against major corporate greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters has proven extremely tough. Even as successful cases against governments have blossomed, private suits face significant barriers. A civil law breakthrough came in 2021, with the ruling of a Dutch court against Shell. In Smith v Fonterra, decided by New Zealand’s Supreme Court this week, we have perhaps the biggest common law breakthrough."

#ClimateOffendersInCourt
#SabinCenterForClimateChangeLaw

blogs.law.columbia.edu/climate

2023-10-26

For folks wanting an update on what's being planned for our future, including the specific path to "no you're not allowed to do that, it's too risky."

Leading to more questions, such as how this unpacks in the context of the "nine-dash line" and other currently emerging nose-thumbings at maritime law?

#MarineCloudBrightening
#OceanAlkalinityEnhancement
#BiomassCultivationForCarbonRemoval
#SurfaceAlbedoEnhancement
#SabinCenterForClimateChangeLaw
#RogueStates

blogs.law.columbia.edu/climate

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