Please do not forget that all vegetation on earth and therefore animal
life will die if we reach zero C02. Also it is probably impossible, as
long as plants and animals are alive. Control of excess beyond that is
proper, but do not expect all you want to be taken away. We certainly
do not need air pollution as that is dangerous. Clean air should be
preserved as much as possible. Remember how clean it was during covid
when people minimized driving? Bring on electrified train lines, even
electrical high speed ones, electrified buses and all forms of public
transport. Airplanes are doubtable without gasoline. It is the weight
of batteries that is the question. As for cars, I go for hybrid, less
gasoline without the risk of losing power with all electric. And BTW
electricity production demand is massive. Do not put solar panels on
farm or forest land, not open land-anywhere ever, not even deserts.
Instead put them over paved areas, massive warehouses and distribution
centers where the heat factor is very high. NEVER windmills except on
buildings, built into the form or enclosure skin especially on high
rise buildings would be best. The Bernoulli effect is very much active
on the tall buildings as wind is resisted. Solar panels are for low
flat buildings, single family homes as well. So much can be done
without damage to areas of concern. Consider all.
Finally I have to say that I still believe too little actual natural
science has been applied and has not considered everything that heats
the earth and changes it. For example given that the earth changes its
orientation such that more of the sun's impact over oceans changes
accordingly. The magnetic North Pole recently moved 30 miles west. It
was confirmed by a physics researcher whose field of work is magnetism
has said to me that the Magnetic North pole was once over what is now
Hog Kong. Do you think this has nothing to do with Global warming?
Climate Change certainly truly is political science. That is clear.
Enough for now while I wait for more thorough research to be done.
Original Message:
Sent: 10/24/2025 5:03:00 PM
From: Bill Caplan
Subject: Current Status on Embodied Emissions
October's UN Climate Summit and Climate Week NYC wrapped up without any timely action on carbon emissions. Fortunately, the carbon footprint of the AEC sector came to light over the last five years-notably for materials like cement, concrete, steel, glass, insulation and asphalt-as well as National and regional Buy Clean programs to encourage production of low-carbon materials and low-carbon building designs. But "Electrification" and "Clean Energy" are still the current buzzwords, "Adaptation" and "Remediation" the plans, and scrubbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere-if ever feasible-our future cure-all.
Unfortunately, a significant fact pattern is overlooked, annual emissions have increased every year for more than 50 years, except during global recessions-a noteworthy correlation.
The COVID economic slowdown cut global emissions by 1.8 billion metric tons in 2020, more than a 5% decrease. The 1980 recession accounted for a cumulative savings of more than 6% for three years relative to 1979. Emissions decreased in the recessions of 1974, 1991 and 2009 as well. The tie between consumer consumption and emissions is undeniable-especially for the carbon footprint of purchases and activity. A correlation to consider.
While electrification and the use of clean energy advance, we are still far from reducing annual emissions-far from slowing the rate of global warming. Although the IEA Global Energy Review reported that 80% of growth in 2024's electricity generation came from Clean Energy, an exceptional gain, the benefit pales in comparative magnitude to the total electricity generated. Growth in Clean electricity barely exceeded 3% of the total electricity generated. Nearly 60% of the world's total electricity was still generated from fossil fuel.
And sadly, electricity was only part of global energy consumption, less than a fifth of the world's Total Energy Supply-87% of which was generated from fossil fuel. In 2024, nearly 36 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide were released to the atmosphere from energy generation, 30% greater than 2004, more than double that of 1974.
According to EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service, the 12-month period through August 2025 has already exceeded 1.5°C, and if the 30-year warming trend continues, global warming could reach the official 1.5°C mark as early as May 2029. To slow the pace of warming, annual emission must stop increasing, bucking the 50-year trend. Regrettably, global electrification and carbon-free power are decades from inducing the downward trend needed, especially in light of increasing energy demands.
Achieving that feat through electrification and clean energy alone, requires enormous resources and financing that lack consistent political will. To buy time to decarbonize, near-term action is needed from all of us to reduce the upfront emissions impacting us now, rapidly warming the planet toward 2°C.
As the economic driver of final demand through our power of choice, all of us influence our supply chain's manufacturing emissions. We influence the materials, products and services selected-their composition and magnitude. The onus is on us.
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Bill Caplan, Associate. AIA
Author of "Thwart Climate Change Now: Reducing Embodied Carbon Brick by Brick"
Environmental Law Institute ELI Press, November 2021
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