Calx Institute
@calxinstitute.bsky.social
A private organization working to quantify and analyze the material damage done in the search for profit. We aim to create new tools that redefine value, creating the framework for social and environmental prosperity.
https://www.calx.institute
https://www.calx.institute
Pinned
Value is more than just profit and loss. It is environmental health, human safety, and collective good — not for the benefit of shareholders, but for us all. Using modeling and analysis, we are working to redefine success, and create an economy that minimises harms while maximising equitable wealth.
Reposted by Calx Institute
Much of modern capitalism only appears to thrive because of unaccounted-for external costs. It's most apparent and ugly when the harms are the suffering and deaths of the vulnerable. The US health services industry's harms are wild.
(We hope to have more on this soon at @calxinstitute.bsky.social )
(We hope to have more on this soon at @calxinstitute.bsky.social )
an absolute damning picture of how capitalism kills. what an incredible new investigation from my colleagues that shows exactly what happens when the end goal is profit instead of prioritizing human life.
Wall Street gutted Steward Health Care. Patients paid the price.
One of America's biggest for-profit hospital operators is bankrupt, broken, and responsible for countless mistreated patients—thanks to its private equity overlords.
www.motherjones.com
May 13, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Much of modern capitalism only appears to thrive because of unaccounted-for external costs. It's most apparent and ugly when the harms are the suffering and deaths of the vulnerable. The US health services industry's harms are wild.
(We hope to have more on this soon at @calxinstitute.bsky.social )
(We hope to have more on this soon at @calxinstitute.bsky.social )
Reposted by Calx Institute
Our thesis at @calxinstitute.bsky.social is that the root of the polycrisis - including the climate catrastrophe - is that companies, industries, and institutions are allowed and encouraged to pass on to society vast, unaccounted-for costs.
As illustrated here.
As illustrated here.
Urgent action is needed to save markets – and civilization itself: "Climate crisis on track to destroy capitalism, warns top insurer" @dpcarrington.bsky.social @theguardian.com (Plus- the Wallow Fire)
Contemplating civil craziness: roughlydaily.com/2025/05/29/s...
Contemplating civil craziness: roughlydaily.com/2025/05/29/s...
May 31, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Our thesis at @calxinstitute.bsky.social is that the root of the polycrisis - including the climate catrastrophe - is that companies, industries, and institutions are allowed and encouraged to pass on to society vast, unaccounted-for costs.
As illustrated here.
As illustrated here.
We are owed not short-sighted, unfettered capitalistic growth; we are owed an active understanding that our relationship with the natural world is broken. We are owed a comprehensive plan on how the United States—the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases on the planet—will address that rupture.
The Silencing of Juliana
In 2015, 21 plaintiffs ranging in ages from eight to 19 filed a landmark case against the federal government, alleging that the government’s actions, like its policy support of fossil fuel extraction ...
www.calx.institute
April 8, 2025 at 4:14 PM
We are owed not short-sighted, unfettered capitalistic growth; we are owed an active understanding that our relationship with the natural world is broken. We are owed a comprehensive plan on how the United States—the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases on the planet—will address that rupture.
Reposted by Calx Institute
Anthropogenic Global Warming & Fire 🧵
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
From 1987...
“Beer says the devastating Ash Wednesday bushfires of 1983 had driven interest inside CSIRO for research. A national bushfire research unit was established, and he moved to Melbourne to work.”
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
From 1987...
“Beer says the devastating Ash Wednesday bushfires of 1983 had driven interest inside CSIRO for research. A national bushfire research unit was established, and he moved to Melbourne to work.”
'What could I have done?' The scientist who predicted the bushfire emergency four decades ago
Dr Tom Beer’s pioneering 1980s research into bushfires and climate change has, to his dismay, proved all too accurate
www.theguardian.com
March 18, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Anthropogenic Global Warming & Fire 🧵
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
From 1987...
“Beer says the devastating Ash Wednesday bushfires of 1983 had driven interest inside CSIRO for research. A national bushfire research unit was established, and he moved to Melbourne to work.”
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
From 1987...
“Beer says the devastating Ash Wednesday bushfires of 1983 had driven interest inside CSIRO for research. A national bushfire research unit was established, and he moved to Melbourne to work.”
Reposted by Calx Institute
🆕 Peer-review research finds GHG emissions traced to 122 largest fossil fuel & cement companies 🛢️ (the 'Carbon Majors') contributed to roughly half of surface warming & 1/3 of sea level rise to date, & will result in 10-22 inches add'l SLR 🌊 by 2300
Full study iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
Full study iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
March 18, 2025 at 3:06 PM
🆕 Peer-review research finds GHG emissions traced to 122 largest fossil fuel & cement companies 🛢️ (the 'Carbon Majors') contributed to roughly half of surface warming & 1/3 of sea level rise to date, & will result in 10-22 inches add'l SLR 🌊 by 2300
Full study iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
Full study iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
ALL fossil fuels - coal, oil, and methane – create vast environmental and human health costs during their extraction, transport, refining, distribution, and combustion.
But coal is by far the worst. Just how bad is it? We dug into the numbers to find out.
#climate #climatechange #greensky
But coal is by far the worst. Just how bad is it? We dug into the numbers to find out.
#climate #climatechange #greensky
Coal Industry Deep Dive Part 3: The Non-Climate Costs
We’ve shown that the external harms of coal specifically associated with climate damage greatly exceed the gross revenues of the worldwide industry. Now, we turn to the less-heralded, non-climate cost...
www.calx.institute
March 4, 2025 at 5:18 PM
ALL fossil fuels - coal, oil, and methane – create vast environmental and human health costs during their extraction, transport, refining, distribution, and combustion.
But coal is by far the worst. Just how bad is it? We dug into the numbers to find out.
#climate #climatechange #greensky
But coal is by far the worst. Just how bad is it? We dug into the numbers to find out.
#climate #climatechange #greensky
Reposted by Calx Institute
Forty-seven scientific societies have signed a letter organized by the @ucsusa.bsky.social urging Congress to protect federally funded research and federal scientists:
www.ucsusa.org/about/news/s...
www.ucsusa.org/about/news/s...
48 Scientific Societies Representing Almost 100,000 Scientists Ask Congress to Protect the Future of Science
48 scientific societies representing almost 100,000 scientists signed on to a letter asking Congress to protect the future of science
www.ucsusa.org
March 3, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Forty-seven scientific societies have signed a letter organized by the @ucsusa.bsky.social urging Congress to protect federally funded research and federal scientists:
www.ucsusa.org/about/news/s...
www.ucsusa.org/about/news/s...
Reposted by Calx Institute
I advise NOAA on Tribal and Indigenous issues on the ocean as a member of the Marine and Coastal Area Management Federal Advisory Committee
Well, I used to anyway
Trump just dissolved it
Well, I used to anyway
Trump just dissolved it
March 3, 2025 at 8:48 PM
I advise NOAA on Tribal and Indigenous issues on the ocean as a member of the Marine and Coastal Area Management Federal Advisory Committee
Well, I used to anyway
Trump just dissolved it
Well, I used to anyway
Trump just dissolved it
Reposted by Calx Institute
Arctic update for Mar. 1, 2025: Arctic sea-ice extent set a record daily low every day in February and is poised to set an all-time record low maximum this month.
March 2, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Reposted by Calx Institute
This #WorldWildlifeDay, we reaffirm that the climate and biodiversity crises are deeply linked—one cannot be solved without the other.
Our fight to save Mother Earth is rooted in love for the natural world.
Everything suffers under a system that puts profit over the planet.
#WorldWildlifeDay
Our fight to save Mother Earth is rooted in love for the natural world.
Everything suffers under a system that puts profit over the planet.
#WorldWildlifeDay
March 3, 2025 at 4:55 PM
This #WorldWildlifeDay, we reaffirm that the climate and biodiversity crises are deeply linked—one cannot be solved without the other.
Our fight to save Mother Earth is rooted in love for the natural world.
Everything suffers under a system that puts profit over the planet.
#WorldWildlifeDay
Our fight to save Mother Earth is rooted in love for the natural world.
Everything suffers under a system that puts profit over the planet.
#WorldWildlifeDay
With all the political chaos happening, you might have missed the start of our deep dive into the staggering environmental and human cost of the coal industry.
Spoiler: It’s 5 times higher than its global revenue. Find out more. 👇
Spoiler: It’s 5 times higher than its global revenue. Find out more. 👇
Coal Industry Deep Dive Part 1: Calculating the Externalities
If you’re reading this, you likely don’t need any persuading that coal is bad – bad for the environment. For the climate. For miners. For human health. Catastrophically bad.
This may seem obvious t...
www.calx.institute
March 3, 2025 at 5:25 PM
With all the political chaos happening, you might have missed the start of our deep dive into the staggering environmental and human cost of the coal industry.
Spoiler: It’s 5 times higher than its global revenue. Find out more. 👇
Spoiler: It’s 5 times higher than its global revenue. Find out more. 👇
Reposted by Calx Institute
"Experts warn victory for Energy Transfer, whose CEO is a Trump donor, could have a ‘chilling’ effect on free speech"
That is precisely the point. This case is HUGE! It is the fossil fuel industry's attempt to DESTROY free speech and silence ALL its critics.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
That is precisely the point. This case is HUGE! It is the fossil fuel industry's attempt to DESTROY free speech and silence ALL its critics.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Fossil fuel firm’s $300m trial against Greenpeace to begin: ‘Weaponizing the judicial system’
Experts warn victory for Energy Transfer, whose CEO is a Trump donor, could have a ‘chilling’ effect on free speech
www.theguardian.com
February 20, 2025 at 4:47 PM
"Experts warn victory for Energy Transfer, whose CEO is a Trump donor, could have a ‘chilling’ effect on free speech"
That is precisely the point. This case is HUGE! It is the fossil fuel industry's attempt to DESTROY free speech and silence ALL its critics.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
That is precisely the point. This case is HUGE! It is the fossil fuel industry's attempt to DESTROY free speech and silence ALL its critics.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Calx Institute
Amazon employs 800k warehouse workers across the US, 69% of whom have been forced to take unpaid time off for injuries received on the job. Amazon workers are twice as likely to be injured than other warehouse workers, and, on the whole, Amazon reports 30% more injuries than industry average.
BREAKING: Donald Trump has chosen his nominee to lead OSHA. It's David Keeling, the former UPS and Amazon safety executive.
February 14, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Amazon employs 800k warehouse workers across the US, 69% of whom have been forced to take unpaid time off for injuries received on the job. Amazon workers are twice as likely to be injured than other warehouse workers, and, on the whole, Amazon reports 30% more injuries than industry average.
Reposted by Calx Institute
Even without accounting for the vast downstream costs/harms of LNG, the business doesn't hold up. Add those in, and the "big con" is monstrous.
@calxinstitute.bsky.social
@calxinstitute.bsky.social
The US oil and gas business is a big con.
"The company that a month ago we were assured was worth $110 billion is now worth $36 billion (on paper). Remember, everyone lies about everything in the oil and gas industry. In hindsight, that is looking like a $70 billion lie right now."
"The company that a month ago we were assured was worth $110 billion is now worth $36 billion (on paper). Remember, everyone lies about everything in the oil and gas industry. In hindsight, that is looking like a $70 billion lie right now."
Adventures in LNG Investing
LNG investors learning hard lessons about the major economic challenges facing US LNG exporters.
powering-the-planet.ghost.io
February 13, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Even without accounting for the vast downstream costs/harms of LNG, the business doesn't hold up. Add those in, and the "big con" is monstrous.
@calxinstitute.bsky.social
@calxinstitute.bsky.social
Reposted by Calx Institute
And all of this within a few days. A REAL audit and cost-benefit analysis would take months, no ? How can MAGA not see how fake this all is?
February 12, 2025 at 7:18 PM
And all of this within a few days. A REAL audit and cost-benefit analysis would take months, no ? How can MAGA not see how fake this all is?
Reposted by Calx Institute
2. making financial markets better for consumers, since they (we) have a clear and powerful channel for recourse in the event of large loss
BUT ALSO
3. A new slab of regulations does make it harder for startups, innovators, even with good intentions, etc.
2 of 2
BUT ALSO
3. A new slab of regulations does make it harder for startups, innovators, even with good intentions, etc.
2 of 2
February 12, 2025 at 7:35 PM
2. making financial markets better for consumers, since they (we) have a clear and powerful channel for recourse in the event of large loss
BUT ALSO
3. A new slab of regulations does make it harder for startups, innovators, even with good intentions, etc.
2 of 2
BUT ALSO
3. A new slab of regulations does make it harder for startups, innovators, even with good intentions, etc.
2 of 2
Reposted by Calx Institute
It would take time, effort and access to non-public data. Several things that would have to go into a thorough analysis, in addition to the returns (fines and rebates), from our note:
1. making financial markets better for ~good actors, since bad actors get penalized (and shamed)
1 of 2
1. making financial markets better for ~good actors, since bad actors get penalized (and shamed)
1 of 2
February 12, 2025 at 7:35 PM
It would take time, effort and access to non-public data. Several things that would have to go into a thorough analysis, in addition to the returns (fines and rebates), from our note:
1. making financial markets better for ~good actors, since bad actors get penalized (and shamed)
1 of 2
1. making financial markets better for ~good actors, since bad actors get penalized (and shamed)
1 of 2
Reposted by Calx Institute
Is the CFPB efficient in getting returns to cheated consumers and penalizing bad actors? We ran the numbers: it generated ROI in 2020 of 4.5 and in 2024 of 10: for each $1 taxpayers put into the Bureau, it raised $10 in relief.
@calxinstitute.bsky.social
www.calx.institute/calculating-...
@calxinstitute.bsky.social
www.calx.institute/calculating-...
Calculating the Return on Investment of the CFPB
The CFPB - the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - was established in 2010, by Act of Congress, under and with the strong support of the Obama Administration. To remind you: this was in the dark sh...
www.calx.institute
February 12, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Is the CFPB efficient in getting returns to cheated consumers and penalizing bad actors? We ran the numbers: it generated ROI in 2020 of 4.5 and in 2024 of 10: for each $1 taxpayers put into the Bureau, it raised $10 in relief.
@calxinstitute.bsky.social
www.calx.institute/calculating-...
@calxinstitute.bsky.social
www.calx.institute/calculating-...
Another day, another institution gutted or dissolved by the caprice of an unelected billionaire.
But what does the CFPB actually DO? Is it worth it? What is its ROI? What downstream harms does it cause? We'll tell you.
👇👇👇
But what does the CFPB actually DO? Is it worth it? What is its ROI? What downstream harms does it cause? We'll tell you.
👇👇👇
Calculating the Return on Investment of the CFPB
The CFPB - the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - was established in 2010, by Act of Congress, under and with the strong support of the Obama Administration. To remind you: this was in the dark sh...
www.calx.institute
February 12, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Another day, another institution gutted or dissolved by the caprice of an unelected billionaire.
But what does the CFPB actually DO? Is it worth it? What is its ROI? What downstream harms does it cause? We'll tell you.
👇👇👇
But what does the CFPB actually DO? Is it worth it? What is its ROI? What downstream harms does it cause? We'll tell you.
👇👇👇
Reposted by Calx Institute
BP's net income fell to $8.9 billion in 2024; bankruptcy soon.
BP profits drop as it says it will reset strategy
The oil giant is widely expected to say it will scale back on renewables later this month.
www.bbc.com
February 11, 2025 at 7:23 PM
BP's net income fell to $8.9 billion in 2024; bankruptcy soon.
Reposted by Calx Institute
can’t even have hurricanes anymore because of woke www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/c...
NOAA Is Told to Make List of Climate-Related Grants, Setting Off Fears
Staff members search for spending on “climate science,” “climate crisis” and “pollution” as one of the world’s premier climate research agencies girds for cuts.
www.nytimes.com
February 11, 2025 at 4:48 PM
can’t even have hurricanes anymore because of woke www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/c...
Reposted by Calx Institute
Value is more than just profit and loss. It is environmental health, human safety, and collective good — not for the benefit of shareholders, but for us all. Using modeling and analysis, we are working to redefine success, and create an economy that minimises harms while maximising equitable wealth.
February 7, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Value is more than just profit and loss. It is environmental health, human safety, and collective good — not for the benefit of shareholders, but for us all. Using modeling and analysis, we are working to redefine success, and create an economy that minimises harms while maximising equitable wealth.
Reposted by Calx Institute
"From Baylor to Florida State to Clemson to Ohio State, these are enormous places that will lose tens or hundreds of millions of dollars in research support under this move. Jobs will disappear, labs will close, trials will stop, drugs will go undiscovered, patients will die."
Red state AGs may not want to fight the NIH indirect costs cut, but the universities and medical centers in those states sure seem like they do. My latest on what leadership at some of those places have been saying to their faculty and staff:
Red State Universities Sound the Alarm on NIH Cut While State Governments Sit On Their Hands
Splinter is your home for news and opinions that challenge power in our political and economic system that's becoming more unhinged each and every day.
www.splinter.com
February 11, 2025 at 4:35 PM
"From Baylor to Florida State to Clemson to Ohio State, these are enormous places that will lose tens or hundreds of millions of dollars in research support under this move. Jobs will disappear, labs will close, trials will stop, drugs will go undiscovered, patients will die."
Reposted by Calx Institute
I was just told that I have to remove “climate” from the title of an ongoing grant if I want to keep it. And publications from that grant cannot include “climate” and other forbidden words. I can’t believe I’m writing this from the United States of America. #AcademicSky
Just received an email saying that it's not advisable to include the following words in future applications for research funding to the US DOT. Here we are.
February 10, 2025 at 9:00 PM
I was just told that I have to remove “climate” from the title of an ongoing grant if I want to keep it. And publications from that grant cannot include “climate” and other forbidden words. I can’t believe I’m writing this from the United States of America. #AcademicSky