Damien Irving
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drclimate.bsky.social
Damien Irving
@drclimate.bsky.social
Climate scientist. Data science educator. Tasmanian. Interested in Green politics. https://damienirving.github.io/
Reposted by Damien Irving
As I keep saying, sucking out CO2 while still pumping it out is like giving a poisoned patient the antidote while administering more poison

The fossil fuel corporations would see this as an opportunity to dig up more oil, gas and coal

www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Removing CO2 from atmosphere vital to avoid catastrophic tipping points, leading scientist says
10bn tonnes must be captured from the air every year to limit global heating to 1.7C, says Johan Rockström
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Reposted by Damien Irving
Monash Uni ends partnership with Woodside Energy!

This is a huge win for staff and students who have been campaigning for years to get this climate-wrecking company off their campus. My heartfelt gratitude and congratulations to those who have fought so hard for this.
November 11, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Reposted by Damien Irving
"while Labor’s support for net zero creates no danger for the fossil fuel industry, it creates significant danger for our democracy as millions of voters are tricked into believing that they are voting to tackle climate change, when in reality they are voting for fossil fuel expansion"
Like ‘housing affordability’ ‘net zero’ has become one of those meaningless political sayings

Labors support for net zero hasn’t stopped them supporting new coal or gas or from spending billions on fossil fuel subsidies

My latest column on @thepointau.bsky.social

thepoint.com.au/opinions/251...
Net Zero hides a truth the mining giants understand perfectly: nothing has to change
The point.com.au
thepoint.com.au
November 10, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Reposted by Damien Irving
It's funny how hard we have to work to convince the world that uncontrolle data centre expansion is a climate risk when there's a fossil gas power station called the EXXONMOBIL POWER PLANT being built explicitly to power a data centre
Not enough people know about Homer City. The single largest fossil fuel plant that's being built *explicitly* to power a data centre.

This isn't a future projection, or some hollow marketing. This is physical stuff happening right now.

bsky.app/profile/keta...
November 10, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Reposted by Damien Irving
New post - a long review of @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social's book, Don't Talk About Politics.

This is a book that arrived just at the right time for me, helping some difficult ideas slide into place.

It lays out a fundamental challenge to politics-as-usual

in-between-days.ghost.io/the-hitchhik...
The Hitchhiker's Guide to Political Psychology?
"The point, in short, is that we need to talk less about politics (in the sense of arguing with people) and instead build a world where those people are likely to encounter more and thus change their ...
in-between-days.ghost.io
November 10, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Reposted by Damien Irving
Living with Long COVID often feels like living in a horror movie. Along with your disease comes a creepy Hive Mind refusal to acknowledge the dangers of COVID infection. In Vince Gilligan's new Apple TV show Pluribus, the Hive Mind comes to life:

www.thegauntlet.news/p/pluribus-c...
"Pluribus" captures the isolation of COVID-awareness in a COVID denialist world
For years I've described having Long COVID as living in a horror movie. Now that horror movie (well, prestige Apple TV show) is here.
www.thegauntlet.news
November 10, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Reposted by Damien Irving
Are you the next leader of the Green Institute? We are now searching for the next leader or leadership team. If you are interested in pitching to the Board, please express your interest! More details here ... buff.ly/lcShmhi
Expression Of Interest – Green Institute Leadership - The Green Institute
Are you the next leader of the Green Institute? Background The Green Institute is the official think tank of the Australian Greens. Founded in 2008 by Margaret Blakers OAM and funded by a…
www.greeninstitute.org.au
November 8, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Reposted by Damien Irving
Just sayin'
November 9, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Reposted by Damien Irving
It’s come to this. So sad for my once amazing organisation.
That said, I still say 99% of people at the operational coalface put 110% every day into making Australia safer and more prosperous. I’ve never experienced more passion in a public service. Anywhere.
New CEO literally starts tomorrow.
November 8, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Reposted by Damien Irving
“A writer at the Times contacted me to talk. He said he was less interested in Mamdani himself than he was in the Africana Studies part…” On why maybe you shouldn’t talk to the New York Times about Zohran Mamdani.
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
buff.ly
November 7, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted by Damien Irving
In my years working in public interest communications, I learned reporters often have the story they plan to tell already formed in their minds before they contact “sources” and will use—and even shape—what is told to them in the service of that narrative.

Peter Coviello testifies to that process:
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Reposted by Damien Irving
1/ Unfortunately for Minister Watt, environmental & conservation science, environmental legal & political integrity experts show how untenable his boast of "stronger environmental laws" is

Biodiversity Council @biodivcouncil.bsky.social: biodiversitycouncil.org.au/resources/ge...
November 8, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Reposted by Damien Irving
The Canadien Government has made an ad about the proposed Ksi Lisims LNG terminal & PRGT Pipeline, and it's surprsingly honest and informative.
Honest Government Ad | Ksi Lisims & PRGT Pipeline
YouTube video by thejuicemedia
www.youtube.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Reposted by Damien Irving
As COP30 begins, here's a gentle reminder that well-intentioned half measures aren't going to solve the climate crisis. The era of fossil fuels must come to an end. My latest in The Guardian... www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Net zero is an insidious loophole that distracts from the scientific imperative to eliminate fossil fuels | Joëlle Gergis
History tells us that polite incrementalism and political kowtowing will prevail at Cop30 – even as catastrophe unfolds around us
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Reposted by Damien Irving
“I cannot emphasise enough that what Repacholi says in a few short sentences is both fundamentally absurd, and deeply terrifying in how it flew into the climate space without a single raised eyebrow.” @ketanjoshi.co writes.
Forget the Coalition, Labor has already abandoned net zero in all but name (and its excuses are absurd)
www.crikey.com.au
November 6, 2025 at 1:37 AM
"Mr Abetz will on Thursday launch a promised DOGE-style Efficiency and Productivity Unit to rein in costs." #politas
www.themercury.com.au
November 5, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Reposted by Damien Irving
Who supports the Albanese Govt's new environment laws?
• Chevron
• BHP
• the Minerals Council of Australia
• the Business Council of Australia

Who doesn't support the new laws?
• Australian Conservation Foundation
• Greenpeace
• the Climate Council
• the Wilderness Society and more. 🤔 #auspol
November 4, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Our dire state finances can't afford Forestry Tasmania, our climate can't afford Forestry Tasmania, our biodiversity can't afford Forestry Tasmania. #politas
Forestry Tasmania annual report hides $22.9 million loss from logging native forests – Bob Brown Foundation
Bob Brown Foundation is renewing calls for Forestry Tasmania (FT) to be abolished, and an end to native forest logging, after FT's latest annual report reveals
bobbrown.org.au
November 5, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Reposted by Damien Irving
Are we supposed to act like it’s normal for Chevron & BHP to be supporting Labor's ‘environment’ laws, while climate, enviro orgs criticise them?

Labor are yet again caving to their corporate donors and fossil fuel mates.

We need laws that work for nature, not big business.
November 5, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Reposted by Damien Irving
Tom Hanks explains to Stephen Colbert why he masks on the subway:

"I'm doing a play right now so I cannot get sick... I've had COVID enough in my life, I don't need to do that again. So I'm wearing this for health reasons."

Thank you Tom! Masks are still a key part of public health.
November 4, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Reposted by Damien Irving
BREAKING: The Albanese Labor Government just joined with the Coalition to vote against an inquiry into AUKUS proposed by the Greens.
November 4, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Reposted by Damien Irving
Bizarre to think that Labor used to be the party for and of the workers. #auspol
🚨BREAKING🚨

Labor has just voted AGAINST granting super to workers under 18.

The Greens amendment would have seen all workers under 18 have the right to superannuation contributions, regardless of how many hours they worked.
November 4, 2025 at 2:22 AM