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Technical issues with renewables

Climate, the environment, and degrowth – Part 2

This is the second article in a multi-part series. To read the first article, click here.

Check out our cool new heat pump! (Author’s photo)

All right: we don’t really know what the cost of modern renewable energy technologies is going to be. One of the reasons that the debate over the cost of renewables is so uncertain is that there are a number of unresolved technical issues with renewable energy. The financial cost may not be the best indicator of the feasibility of renewables. A more relevant criterion may be “energy return on energy invested,” abbreviated EROEI (or sometimes, EROI). This standard doesn’t look at financial costs, but at energy costs. Continue reading “Technical issues with renewables”

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The costs of renewable energy

Climate, the environment, and degrowth – Part 1

Wind turbines in Cumbria, England. Source.

What would be the financial cost to build a renewable energy infrastructure to replace our current use of fossil fuels entirely (“100% renewable energy”)—or at least to eliminate net positive CO2 emissions (“net zero”)?

There are countless issues to discuss when it comes to climate change in the context of degrowth. But replacing fossil fuels with renewables is the “dominant aspirational pathway” for the climate-aware activists. So let’s start there. How much would such a “Green New Deal” cost?

Experts are really far apart on what such a world-wide renewable infrastructure would cost. Continue reading “The costs of renewable energy”

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Just a shot away?

Protest in Denver on October 18. Credit: Cheney / New York Times

The United States has entered a major social crisis. Violence against public figures has increased since 2020; the government was “shut down” for 45 days; and politics is increasingly polarized. At times it seems that open conflict is “just a shot away.”

On the other hand, at the nationwide October 18 rallies protesting the slide to authoritarianism, numerous large crowds assembled peacefully in what the Associated Press called a “street party vibe.”

Peter Turchin thinks there is definitely a danger of increasing violence. Continue reading “Just a shot away?”

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“Half-Earth”?

Near the Clinch River in Norris Dam State Park in Tennessee, USA. Author’s photo.

This article was first published in Sufficiency and Wellbeing on October 30, 2025.

Our wanton destruction of nature is a one-time, irreversible experiment on our shared ecosystem—a threat to humans as well as to the natural world. The human economy is crowding out almost everything else on the planet, extinctions are accelerating, and many species are in sharp decline. Many writers have eloquently warned us about the extinction crisis, including Elizabeth Kolbert, Anthony Barnosky, and Edward O. Wilson.

Edward O. Wilson, the famed American biologist and naturalist, has made one especially controversial proposal. In his book Half-Earth (p. 3), Wilson proposes “committing half of the planet’s [land] surface to nature.” We certainly do need to set aside large portions of the planet for wilderness. But Wilson’s writings are disturbingly vague on what this means. Which half of the planet does he propose be set aside for wildlife? And how does he propose to do it? Continue reading ““Half-Earth”?”

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The Biology of Limits to Growth

 

 

This article was first published in Sufficiency and Wellbeing on August 21.

Humans have completely overrun the Earth. Humans are now a biological threat not only to other living creatures, but to ourselves as well. For our own sufficiency and wellbeing, the biological footprint of the human economy must be much smaller.

We usually think of “sustainability” in terms of insuring that earth’s resources can support the world’s eight billion humans. The Ecological Footprint Network has said that we would need the resources from 1.7 Earth-sized planets for the current world economy to be sustainable. But would even 1.7 Earths also sustain all the other life forms on the planet as well? And where, exactly, would we be without them? Continue reading “The Biology of Limits to Growth”

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The reality of animals (letter)

Last Sunday (April 27), The Denver Post published our letter to the editor about the reality of animals on the planet. Here it is (with hyperlink added):

Thanks for publishing the article by Nicholas Kristof, “What Animals Endure Before We Eat Them.” It takes courage to publish an article about this in a state with such a large livestock industry.

Most of us probably know, at some level, what happens to animals in the slaughterhouse. It’s just something we’d rather not think about. That, however, does not make it less real. Not thinking about it does not make it go away.

Also very relevant here (which Kristof does not mention): raising animals for food is a critical environmental issue as well. A slaughterhouse death is now standard treatment for most mammals on the planet, just because most mammals are livestock. There is now more livestock biomass on Earth than there is of all other large animals on the planet combined — including humans. We have literally obliterated most wilderness and replaced it with a massive system of factory farms.

Sincerely,

Keith Akers
Kate Lawrence

 

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What do we do now?

The sentiment is appreciated, but perhaps we need to work on the messaging.

The crisis is here. Trump is in full-throttle crazy mode. On top of climate change, biodiversity collapse, and everything else, now we have this. What do we do now?

The most urgent task we face, in my humble opinion, is avoiding a “hot” civil war — avoiding large-scale violence, of the kind that we saw in the first American Civil War of 1861-1865. This is the possibility that Peter Turchin (discussed below) has raised — and as far as I know, he’s one of the few public figures who has done so. Continue reading “What do we do now?”

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A Challenge to the Christian Churches

The Churches’ Betrayal of the Animals. Carl Anders Skriver, Ph. D. English translation by Christine McClarnon. Lulu Press, 2025.

PDF is available for free; write to cbabookinquiry@gmail.com. To order a print version, order from Lulu Books here.

With the recent distribution of the documentary “Christspiracy,” many became aware that vegetarianism, veganism, and animal rights have a basis within Christianity — going back to Jesus himself. At the same time, the United States is being propelled towards a fascist dictatorship.

The release of The Churches’ Betrayal of the Animals could hardly be more appropriately timed. Dr. Carl Anders Skriver was a dedicated theological scholar and German Lutheran pastor, who was active during and resisted an actual fascist dictatorship, that of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. It is essential reading for anyone interested in Christian resistance — especially vegetarians and vegans. Continue reading “A Challenge to the Christian Churches”

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Limits to growth means that MAGA will fail

Trump is doing really crazy (and illegal!) stuff. But can Trump (or anyone) “make America Great Again”?

He will likely fail, even if he’s appointed President for Life and can rule by decree. And that’s because of limits to economic growth. The reasons MAGA will fail also pertain to most Democratic party proposals for the economy as well. This doesn’t affect our tactics in resisting Trump (keep up those phone calls!), but it does alter our overall strategy. Continue reading “Limits to growth means that MAGA will fail”

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“Limits to growth” is behind our social turmoil

A giant methane sinkhole in Siberia. Should we be worried?

Wow, what a mess. Trump and the MAGA Republicans seem to be bent on subverting constitutional and democratic principles and staging a fairly blatant fascist takeover. The economy is beginning to tank, and there is a very real possibility of large-scale lethal violence. What’s behind all of this social turmoil? Continue reading ““Limits to growth” is behind our social turmoil”

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“Hot Enough For You?” in Oak Ridge

Sunday morning, October 27, at 8:45 am, I’ll be giving a talk on a radical approach to climate change—involving plant-based diets—at the First Presbyterian Church in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The church is located at 1051 Oak Ridge Turnpike. It will be held in Room 102 of the Activities Building (not the main building). The talk is for the “Let’s Talk About It” group which meets on Sunday mornings.

Questions? Send email to keith “at” CompassionateSpirit “dot” com.

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Interview by Supreme Master TV

Supreme Master TV interviewed me  some time ago. The interview concerns both environmental topics (Embracing Limits) and early Christianity (The Lost Religion of Jesus, Disciples). They’ve now published Part 1 of their interview on their channel. Here’s the link to the video on SMTV, and here’s the link to the same video on YouTube. When they post Part 2, I’ll post it as well.

UPDATE September 17:   they’ve now posted Part 2.  Here’s Part 2 on SMTV, and here’s Part 2 on YouTube (it’s the exact same interview).

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V-COP17 – “Christspiracy” online and much more

You’ve probably heard of the international COP meetings on climate change (COP = “conference of the parties”) . Now there’s the vegan version of this conference, V-COP, which stands for “vegan convergence of the peoples,” working together to reverse the destruction of the biosphere. V-COP 17 is occurring all day this Saturday and Sunday, April 27 and 28, online.

There will be an opportunity to see “Christspiracy” online on Sunday at 2:00 pm Mountain (= 4:00 pm Eastern), plus Q & A with the co-producer Kameron Waters! Also hear speakers such as Anita Krajnc, Ted Barnett, Richard Schwartz, Jane Velez-Mitchell, and many others.

I’ll be giving a keynote talk at 6:00 – 6:55 pm Mountain time on Sunday the 28th (= 8:00 – 8:55 pm Eastern).  You can attend virtually for free! Register and get more details here. Continue reading “V-COP17 – “Christspiracy” online and much more”