Ben Sanderson
@benmsanderson.bsky.social
Climate scientist at CICERO, Oslo. I try to talk about climate science, but inevitably start talking about trains and bicycles if left unattended.
Reposted by Ben Sanderson
Next time someone asks you about energy and land use, maybe remind them that the ~35 million acres that currently grow corn for ethanol in the US could produce ~15 PWh per year of electricity from solar photovoltaics. That's ~3.5 times more than *total annual generation from all US power plants*.
February 1, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Next time someone asks you about energy and land use, maybe remind them that the ~35 million acres that currently grow corn for ethanol in the US could produce ~15 PWh per year of electricity from solar photovoltaics. That's ~3.5 times more than *total annual generation from all US power plants*.
Reposted by Ben Sanderson
The Methane spike in the early 2020’s has been explained in two new studies. A combination of weakened atmospheric removal and increased emissions from warming wetlands, rivers, lakes, and agricultural land are to blame.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#methane
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#methane
Why methane surged in the atmosphere during the early 2020s
The atmospheric methane (CH4) growth rate surged after 2019, peaking at 16.2 parts per billion per year (ppb year−1) in 2020 before declining to 8.6 ppb year−1 in 2023. Using multiple atmospheric inve...
www.science.org
February 6, 2026 at 11:24 AM
The Methane spike in the early 2020’s has been explained in two new studies. A combination of weakened atmospheric removal and increased emissions from warming wetlands, rivers, lakes, and agricultural land are to blame.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#methane
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#methane
Reposted by Ben Sanderson
The Trump #climate report attempting to overturn the ruling that greenhouse gases are pollutants was grossly scientifically inaccurate. Turns out it was also illegal.
#climatechange
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/c...
#climatechange
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/c...
A Secret Panel to Question Climate Science Was Unlawful, Judge Rules
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:37 PM
The Trump #climate report attempting to overturn the ruling that greenhouse gases are pollutants was grossly scientifically inaccurate. Turns out it was also illegal.
#climatechange
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/c...
#climatechange
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/c...
"For Claude Code, about 90% of its code is written by Claude Code itself."
No judgement. But where the hell are we headed?
fortune.com/2026/01/29/1...
No judgement. But where the hell are we headed?
fortune.com/2026/01/29/1...
Top engineers at Anthropic, OpenAI say AI now writes 100% of their code—with big implications for the future of software development jobs | Fortune
AI coding tools are getting more sophisticated. But if coders stop coding, what happens to software development jobs?
fortune.com
February 1, 2026 at 7:49 PM
"For Claude Code, about 90% of its code is written by Claude Code itself."
No judgement. But where the hell are we headed?
fortune.com/2026/01/29/1...
No judgement. But where the hell are we headed?
fortune.com/2026/01/29/1...
Reposted by Ben Sanderson
wow, this event looks interesting!
www.civitasinstitute.org/events/power...
www.civitasinstitute.org/events/power...
January 31, 2026 at 11:00 PM
wow, this event looks interesting!
www.civitasinstitute.org/events/power...
www.civitasinstitute.org/events/power...
Reposted by Ben Sanderson
A past criticism of Variable Renewables Energy (VRE) from wind & solar was that their power was intermittent & thus unreliable. But the drop in battery storage cost has ushered in the age of firmed renewable energy (FRE). Renewables with storage are displacing import and fossil fuels. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋
January 24, 2026 at 12:24 PM
A past criticism of Variable Renewables Energy (VRE) from wind & solar was that their power was intermittent & thus unreliable. But the drop in battery storage cost has ushered in the age of firmed renewable energy (FRE). Renewables with storage are displacing import and fossil fuels. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋
NSF has just put out a call for 'concepts' on how to evolve weather forecasting & computing related parts of NCAR.
The word climate *does not appear* in this document, but it does ask for ideas on "Ownership of the NSF NCAR Mesa Lab building for private use"
Call for input by March 13....
The word climate *does not appear* in this document, but it does ask for ideas on "Ownership of the NSF NCAR Mesa Lab building for private use"
Call for input by March 13....
January 23, 2026 at 10:50 PM
NSF has just put out a call for 'concepts' on how to evolve weather forecasting & computing related parts of NCAR.
The word climate *does not appear* in this document, but it does ask for ideas on "Ownership of the NSF NCAR Mesa Lab building for private use"
Call for input by March 13....
The word climate *does not appear* in this document, but it does ask for ideas on "Ownership of the NSF NCAR Mesa Lab building for private use"
Call for input by March 13....
Reposted by Ben Sanderson
Attention folks in the weather, climate, disaster, wildfire, and Earth science communities: NSF has just published a new "Dear Colleague" letter inviting feedback (by Mar 13) on the proposal to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). www.nsf.gov/funding/...
January 23, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Attention folks in the weather, climate, disaster, wildfire, and Earth science communities: NSF has just published a new "Dear Colleague" letter inviting feedback (by Mar 13) on the proposal to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). www.nsf.gov/funding/...
Oh wow - this is fascinating. At one point in the emails, they got copilot to review the DOE report for them - and copilot told them they were stretching the truth...
library.edf.org/AssetLink/18...
library.edf.org/AssetLink/18...
January 23, 2026 at 5:39 PM
Oh wow - this is fascinating. At one point in the emails, they got copilot to review the DOE report for them - and copilot told them they were stretching the truth...
library.edf.org/AssetLink/18...
library.edf.org/AssetLink/18...
People - don't get ChatGPT to write your job application letters. When you read 100+ of these things in a row - they all sound identical, with generic references to the job ad. You can pretty much guess the prompt they used.
The easiest way to stand out is to be your imperfect, brilliant self.
The easiest way to stand out is to be your imperfect, brilliant self.
January 23, 2026 at 4:28 PM
People - don't get ChatGPT to write your job application letters. When you read 100+ of these things in a row - they all sound identical, with generic references to the job ad. You can pretty much guess the prompt they used.
The easiest way to stand out is to be your imperfect, brilliant self.
The easiest way to stand out is to be your imperfect, brilliant self.
These dynamics are clearly happening - seemingly creating larger oscillations / stupider decisions over time. But even if the stock market resets, there is also cumulative damage to America's international standing which is not reversed when trump steps back from the brink.
The TACO cycle:
Markets want to price in TACO. But TACO only works if Trump sees stocks tank.
So we get a loop: Trump does things → nothing happens (markets already priced in TACO) → that emboldens him to do more → until markets start to think he might not TACO → stocks fall → TACO is restored.
Markets want to price in TACO. But TACO only works if Trump sees stocks tank.
So we get a loop: Trump does things → nothing happens (markets already priced in TACO) → that emboldens him to do more → until markets start to think he might not TACO → stocks fall → TACO is restored.
January 22, 2026 at 7:03 AM
These dynamics are clearly happening - seemingly creating larger oscillations / stupider decisions over time. But even if the stock market resets, there is also cumulative damage to America's international standing which is not reversed when trump steps back from the brink.
These things can be simultaneously true:
1- We can't meaningfully address climate change if the world is held hostage by authoritarians who are actively seeking to undermine international agreements.
2- decarbonisation is a critical part of gaining leverage against those authoritarians
1- We can't meaningfully address climate change if the world is held hostage by authoritarians who are actively seeking to undermine international agreements.
2- decarbonisation is a critical part of gaining leverage against those authoritarians
January 21, 2026 at 10:27 PM
These things can be simultaneously true:
1- We can't meaningfully address climate change if the world is held hostage by authoritarians who are actively seeking to undermine international agreements.
2- decarbonisation is a critical part of gaining leverage against those authoritarians
1- We can't meaningfully address climate change if the world is held hostage by authoritarians who are actively seeking to undermine international agreements.
2- decarbonisation is a critical part of gaining leverage against those authoritarians
It feels like the necessary response of the civilised world to rising authoritarianism might be defined by this speech, if others follow.
Principled, but strategic. Intelligent, but forceful. Multilateral, but not complacent in the role of existing institutions.
Principled, but strategic. Intelligent, but forceful. Multilateral, but not complacent in the role of existing institutions.
Seriously, WHEREVER you are in the world, I recommend watching all of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s powerful & already famous speech at Davos.
Can’t underestimate its leadership importance.
Key line: “Middle powers must work together, because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.”
Can’t underestimate its leadership importance.
Key line: “Middle powers must work together, because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.”
FULL SPEECH: PM Carney’s Most Inspiring Remarks at Davos — Greenland, Trump Tariff Threats | AQ1B
YouTube video by DRM News
youtu.be
January 21, 2026 at 7:43 PM
It feels like the necessary response of the civilised world to rising authoritarianism might be defined by this speech, if others follow.
Principled, but strategic. Intelligent, but forceful. Multilateral, but not complacent in the role of existing institutions.
Principled, but strategic. Intelligent, but forceful. Multilateral, but not complacent in the role of existing institutions.
If the last decade has taught Europe anything, it should be that reliance on fossil fuel imports is a strategic liability which will be exploited.
Climate aside, decarbonisation is security.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Climate aside, decarbonisation is security.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Trump has growing stranglehold over EU and UK energy supply, study shows
European countries now reliant on US liquified natural gas shipments, creating risk of higher bills amid recent tensions
www.theguardian.com
January 21, 2026 at 9:58 AM
If the last decade has taught Europe anything, it should be that reliance on fossil fuel imports is a strategic liability which will be exploited.
Climate aside, decarbonisation is security.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Climate aside, decarbonisation is security.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Reposted by Ben Sanderson
This is the most astonishing graph of what the Trump regime has done to US science. They have destroyed the federal science workforce across the board. The negative impacts on Americans will be felt for generations, and the US might never be the same again.
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
January 20, 2026 at 10:53 PM
This is the most astonishing graph of what the Trump regime has done to US science. They have destroyed the federal science workforce across the board. The negative impacts on Americans will be felt for generations, and the US might never be the same again.
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
Reposted by Ben Sanderson
You have to block them immediately. The full nuclear. They are only here to make folks angry, and that can’t happen if we lock them out.
✅ @icegov.bsky.social has been verified by @bsky.app.
January 16, 2026 at 11:59 PM
You have to block them immediately. The full nuclear. They are only here to make folks angry, and that can’t happen if we lock them out.
If there's a silver lining to this madness, perhaps it can at least bring wider Europe together with a sense of common identity
Sweden’s Prime Minister, in a new statement on Greenland:
“We will not let ourselves be blackmailed… Sweden is now having intensive discussions with other EU countries, Norway, and the United Kingdom for a coordinated response.”
“We will not let ourselves be blackmailed… Sweden is now having intensive discussions with other EU countries, Norway, and the United Kingdom for a coordinated response.”
January 17, 2026 at 9:18 PM
If there's a silver lining to this madness, perhaps it can at least bring wider Europe together with a sense of common identity
Reposted by Ben Sanderson
Worth noting that the EU’s reluctant tariff concessions to the US, agreed between VdL and Trump at Turnberry, haven’t yet been approved by the European Parliament.
There’s no realistic prospect of the US deal going through now.
There’s no realistic prospect of the US deal going through now.
January 17, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Worth noting that the EU’s reluctant tariff concessions to the US, agreed between VdL and Trump at Turnberry, haven’t yet been approved by the European Parliament.
There’s no realistic prospect of the US deal going through now.
There’s no realistic prospect of the US deal going through now.
Reposted by Ben Sanderson
Speaking truth to power.
"Do not speak of the security of the Arctic, when its greatest threat is YOU"
Greenlandic citizen at Nuuk demonstration.
Source: dr.dk
"Do not speak of the security of the Arctic, when its greatest threat is YOU"
Greenlandic citizen at Nuuk demonstration.
Source: dr.dk
January 17, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Speaking truth to power.
"Do not speak of the security of the Arctic, when its greatest threat is YOU"
Greenlandic citizen at Nuuk demonstration.
Source: dr.dk
"Do not speak of the security of the Arctic, when its greatest threat is YOU"
Greenlandic citizen at Nuuk demonstration.
Source: dr.dk
Reposted by Ben Sanderson
Called my Congressppl’s office to ask them to oppose any DHS funding that does not rein in ICE. I also asked them to oppose any State or Defense funding that doesn’t include the NATO Unity Preservation Act, which would block the use of funds for military or economic aggression against a NATO ally.
January 17, 2026 at 4:43 PM
Called my Congressppl’s office to ask them to oppose any DHS funding that does not rein in ICE. I also asked them to oppose any State or Defense funding that doesn’t include the NATO Unity Preservation Act, which would block the use of funds for military or economic aggression against a NATO ally.
A rare bit of good news from the US. House republicans seem to be pushing back against Trump's huge proposed cuts to science.
NSF, NASA, NOAA - all look set to be near flat, or - for DOE - even a slight increase.
www.economist.com/united-state...
NSF, NASA, NOAA - all look set to be near flat, or - for DOE - even a slight increase.
www.economist.com/united-state...
January 16, 2026 at 11:10 PM
A rare bit of good news from the US. House republicans seem to be pushing back against Trump's huge proposed cuts to science.
NSF, NASA, NOAA - all look set to be near flat, or - for DOE - even a slight increase.
www.economist.com/united-state...
NSF, NASA, NOAA - all look set to be near flat, or - for DOE - even a slight increase.
www.economist.com/united-state...
Preprint out today in ESDD.
SRM's biggest risk is us.
'Peak-shaving' is a best-case scenario, with strong governance and international cooperation.
We propose a framework for messier geoengineering futures, which look more like, you know, the news. /1
egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/20...
SRM's biggest risk is us.
'Peak-shaving' is a best-case scenario, with strong governance and international cooperation.
We propose a framework for messier geoengineering futures, which look more like, you know, the news. /1
egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/20...
Robust assessment of Solar Radiation Modification risks and uncertainties must include shocks and societal feedbacks
Abstract. Conventional climate scenarios omit fast-timescale human-system dynamics like policy rollback or economic shocks. The climate system's slow response to GHG emissions allows these `fast' ter...
egusphere.copernicus.org
January 15, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Preprint out today in ESDD.
SRM's biggest risk is us.
'Peak-shaving' is a best-case scenario, with strong governance and international cooperation.
We propose a framework for messier geoengineering futures, which look more like, you know, the news. /1
egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/20...
SRM's biggest risk is us.
'Peak-shaving' is a best-case scenario, with strong governance and international cooperation.
We propose a framework for messier geoengineering futures, which look more like, you know, the news. /1
egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/20...
Reposted by Ben Sanderson
I had a great time presenting at #AGU25! Grateful for the support of my advisor @kimcobb.bsky.social and amazing @ncar-cgd.bsky.social scientists. NCAR makes my research, and so much other vital climate science, possible.
December 19, 2025 at 8:22 PM
I had a great time presenting at #AGU25! Grateful for the support of my advisor @kimcobb.bsky.social and amazing @ncar-cgd.bsky.social scientists. NCAR makes my research, and so much other vital climate science, possible.
Reposted by Ben Sanderson
I was wondering when AMS was going to say something publicly. www.ametsoc.org/ams/about-am...
The United States of America Needs the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
The AMS is a global community committed to advancing weather, water, and climate science and service.
www.ametsoc.org
December 19, 2025 at 9:04 PM
I was wondering when AMS was going to say something publicly. www.ametsoc.org/ams/about-am...