Heather Short
@drshort.bsky.social
PhD Earth sciences, climate literacy educator, located near Tiohti:áke/Montreal, Quebec, Canada https://drheathershort.com/
Backstory here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/first-person-climate-change-education-support-young-people-1.6186611
Backstory here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/first-person-climate-change-education-support-young-people-1.6186611
This is not common knowledge. I've had students complain of 'greedy elite scientists' bc many papers are behind paywalls.
This has to be part of general education to counteract the 'elite scientist' narrative.
This has to be part of general education to counteract the 'elite scientist' narrative.
"academic publishing is dominated by profit-oriented, multinational companies for whom scientific knowledge is a commodity to be sold back to the academic community who created it... The dominant four collectively generated... $12 billion in profits between 2019 and 2024."
November 18, 2025 at 2:33 PM
This is not common knowledge. I've had students complain of 'greedy elite scientists' bc many papers are behind paywalls.
This has to be part of general education to counteract the 'elite scientist' narrative.
This has to be part of general education to counteract the 'elite scientist' narrative.
Reposted by Heather Short
"If educational institutions are to be relevant to #climate justice, they must stop pretending to be neutral. They must choose sides. They must loosen their allegiance to elite-serving logics and step into the messy, real work of co-liberation and regeneration"
Just reviewed @jenniecstephens.bsky.social excellent book, Climate Justice and the University. She names so clearly what’s at stake and how post-secondary institutions could be mobilizing for climate justice, equity, and community well-being.
journals.sagepub.com/pb-assets/cm...
#climatejustice
journals.sagepub.com/pb-assets/cm...
#climatejustice
journals.sagepub.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:54 AM
"If educational institutions are to be relevant to #climate justice, they must stop pretending to be neutral. They must choose sides. They must loosen their allegiance to elite-serving logics and step into the messy, real work of co-liberation and regeneration"
Reposted by Heather Short
One day we’ll look back on this as one of the stupidest things we’ve done.
California farms applied millions of pounds of PFAS to key crops, study finds
‘Forever chemicals’ sprayed on almonds, grapes, tomatoes and other crops as activists warn of ‘obvious problem’
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:06 PM
One day we’ll look back on this as one of the stupidest things we’ve done.
Reposted by Heather Short
Also: a change in projections is not a change in emissions. It's one indicator of progress: but it's misleading to present it as the best, most reliable or most meaningful, or to centre it too aggressively.
At worst: lukewarmists and centre-right techno-solutionists do this to downplay urgency
At worst: lukewarmists and centre-right techno-solutionists do this to downplay urgency
If you want to argue some progress has been made with reducing greenhouse gas emissions - OK. But stop framing it like this. The precision of 2.6°C completely misrepresents the *vast* uncertainties when it comes to climate & social responses & dynamics.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
November 17, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Also: a change in projections is not a change in emissions. It's one indicator of progress: but it's misleading to present it as the best, most reliable or most meaningful, or to centre it too aggressively.
At worst: lukewarmists and centre-right techno-solutionists do this to downplay urgency
At worst: lukewarmists and centre-right techno-solutionists do this to downplay urgency
This couldn't be more serious folks
"Unfortunately, the 'good' models, the more realistic ones, are the ones where the AMOC weakens most... even for an intermediate emissions scenario, the probability of shutting down the AMOC is way above 50%... we will probably pass the point of no return for an AMOC shutdown in the next 10-20yrs" 😱
Is the Atlantic Ocean circulation close to tipping?
Hear the latest science as I presented it last month at the ATLAS25 event in Helsinki.
Let me know if anything is unclear, or if you see good reasons why your government shouldn't immediately act on this. 🌊
youtu.be/ULJXqOZuY-8
Hear the latest science as I presented it last month at the ATLAS25 event in Helsinki.
Let me know if anything is unclear, or if you see good reasons why your government shouldn't immediately act on this. 🌊
youtu.be/ULJXqOZuY-8
November 16, 2025 at 4:30 PM
This couldn't be more serious folks
Reposted by Heather Short
Billionaires like Gates owe much of their success to scientists. Without basic science research, there's no Microsoft. So, when it comes to assessing global problems, I tend to want to listen to scientists, not billionaires. But maybe that's just me ...
www.eenews.net/articles/sci...
www.eenews.net/articles/sci...
Scientists fume over Bill Gates climate memo
It's "unfortunate that this is the take-home message," one scientist said.
www.eenews.net
November 15, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Billionaires like Gates owe much of their success to scientists. Without basic science research, there's no Microsoft. So, when it comes to assessing global problems, I tend to want to listen to scientists, not billionaires. But maybe that's just me ...
www.eenews.net/articles/sci...
www.eenews.net/articles/sci...
Reposted by Heather Short
When one reads reports/articles about “We’re on track for 2.6 degrees of warming” it would be useful to bear in mind that’s not peak warming that will be reached, that’s just an arbitrary cutoff value at a nice round date, 2100.
November 15, 2025 at 4:51 PM
When one reads reports/articles about “We’re on track for 2.6 degrees of warming” it would be useful to bear in mind that’s not peak warming that will be reached, that’s just an arbitrary cutoff value at a nice round date, 2100.
Reposted by Heather Short
“…This…is why climate scientists are so alarmed and why they say we are in an emergency situation…”
"Everything in connection with something else"
The most fundamental insight of Earth System Science is the application of the lens of complex system analysis to our planet.
Bear this in mind, for the following quick thread of recent developments in our understanding of the Earth's #climate...
The most fundamental insight of Earth System Science is the application of the lens of complex system analysis to our planet.
Bear this in mind, for the following quick thread of recent developments in our understanding of the Earth's #climate...
February 25, 2025 at 6:24 PM
“…This…is why climate scientists are so alarmed and why they say we are in an emergency situation…”
Reposted by Heather Short
Finally! 🤩 Our position piece: Against the Uncritical Adoption of 'AI' Technologies in Academia:
doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
We unpick the tech industry’s marketing, hype, & harm; and we argue for safeguarding higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, & scientific integrity.
1/n
doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
We unpick the tech industry’s marketing, hype, & harm; and we argue for safeguarding higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, & scientific integrity.
1/n
September 6, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Finally! 🤩 Our position piece: Against the Uncritical Adoption of 'AI' Technologies in Academia:
doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
We unpick the tech industry’s marketing, hype, & harm; and we argue for safeguarding higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, & scientific integrity.
1/n
doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
We unpick the tech industry’s marketing, hype, & harm; and we argue for safeguarding higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, & scientific integrity.
1/n
"Related to the rejection of expertise is the rejection of imagining a better future and the rejection of self-determination free from industry forces."
2. the strange but often repeated cultish mantra that we need to "embrace the future" — this is so bizarre given, e.g. how destructive industry forces have proven to be in science, from petroleum to tobacco to pharmaceutical companies.
(Section 3.2 here doi.org/10.5281/zeno...)
4/n
(Section 3.2 here doi.org/10.5281/zeno...)
4/n
![3.2 We do not have to ‘embrace the future’ & we can turn back the tide
It must be the sheer magnitude of [artificial neural networks’] incompetence that makes
them so popular.
Jerry A. Fodor (2000, p. 47)
Related to the rejection of expertise is the rejection of imagining a better future and the rejection
of self-determination free from industry forces (Hajer and Oomen 2025; Stengers 2018; van Rossum
2025). Not only AI enthusiasts, but even some scholars whose expertise concentrates on identifying
and critically interrogating ideologies and sociotechnical relationships — such as historians and gender scholars — unfortunately fall prey to the teleological belief that AI is an unstoppable force. They
embrace it because alternative responses seem too difficult, incompatible with industry developments,
or non-existent. Instead of falling for this, we should “refuse [AI] adoption in schools and colleges,
and reject the narrative of its inevitability.” (Reynoldson et al. 2025, n.p., also Benjamin 2016; Campolo and Crawford 2020; CDH Team and Ruddick 2025; Garcia et al. 2022; Kelly et al. 2025; Lysen
and Wyatt 2024; Sano-Franchini et al. 2024; Stengers 2018). Such rejection is possible and has historical precedent, to name just a few successful examples: Amsterdammers kicked out cars, rejecting
that cycling through the Dutch capital should be deadly. Organised workers died for the eight-hour
workday, the weekend and other workers’ rights, and governments banned chlorofluorocarbons from
fridges to mitigate ozone depletion in the atmosphere. And we know that even the tide itself famously
turns back. People can undo things; and we will (cf. Albanese 2025; Boztas 2025; Kohnstamm Instituut 2025; van Laarhoven and van Vugt 2025). Besides, there will be no future to embrace if we deskill
our students and selves, and allow the technology industry’s immense contributions to climate crisis](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:vsyj5jtayxcq5dw5mtja4xtb/bafkreidzio5vcvzus3xjqxcpav64pwk2gwslwslogabl7b5dzhn6egf37i@jpeg)
November 15, 2025 at 12:35 PM
"Related to the rejection of expertise is the rejection of imagining a better future and the rejection of self-determination free from industry forces."
"We face, alongside a global threat to our life-support systems, a global threat to our knowledge-support systems."
Climate breakdown is driven by a storm of lies. This lying is systemic, funded and coordinated, and operates across almost all media, old and new.
This week's column argues that we cannot fight the climate crisis without also fighting the epistemic crisis.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
This week's column argues that we cannot fight the climate crisis without also fighting the epistemic crisis.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Dark forces are preventing us fighting the climate crisis – by taking knowledge hostage | George Monbiot
The fundamental problem is this: that most of the means of communication are owned or influenced by the very rich, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:14 PM
"We face, alongside a global threat to our life-support systems, a global threat to our knowledge-support systems."
Reposted by Heather Short
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:01 PM
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Reposted by Heather Short
By me: One in every 25 participants at Cop30 is a fossil fuel lobbyist, outnumbering every country delegation apart from Brazil, and as Indigenous peoples struggle to get a seat at the table
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Fossil fuel lobbyists outnumber all Cop30 delegations except Brazil, report says
One in every 25 participants at 2025 UN climate summit is a fossil fuel lobbyist, according to Kick Big Polluters Out
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 11:41 AM
By me: One in every 25 participants at Cop30 is a fossil fuel lobbyist, outnumbering every country delegation apart from Brazil, and as Indigenous peoples struggle to get a seat at the table
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Heather Short
🚨Techno-optimistic scientists take fewer climate actions
In a new preprint, @colognaviktoria.bsky.social, @maiensachis.bsky.social, @jmbh.bsky.social & I examine techno-optimism among 9,199 scientists and how it relates to their civic engagement and lifestyle choices🧵
🔗 Link: tinyurl.com/hh94huzv
In a new preprint, @colognaviktoria.bsky.social, @maiensachis.bsky.social, @jmbh.bsky.social & I examine techno-optimism among 9,199 scientists and how it relates to their civic engagement and lifestyle choices🧵
🔗 Link: tinyurl.com/hh94huzv
November 14, 2025 at 9:20 AM
🚨Techno-optimistic scientists take fewer climate actions
In a new preprint, @colognaviktoria.bsky.social, @maiensachis.bsky.social, @jmbh.bsky.social & I examine techno-optimism among 9,199 scientists and how it relates to their civic engagement and lifestyle choices🧵
🔗 Link: tinyurl.com/hh94huzv
In a new preprint, @colognaviktoria.bsky.social, @maiensachis.bsky.social, @jmbh.bsky.social & I examine techno-optimism among 9,199 scientists and how it relates to their civic engagement and lifestyle choices🧵
🔗 Link: tinyurl.com/hh94huzv
Reposted by Heather Short
There are things that shouldn't be in private control, and water is one of them.
In East Maui, Hawaiʻi, a decision is pending on whether to grant a 30-year water license to a private Canadian company whose predecessors have a long history of devastating the ecosystem or give control to the county.
In East Maui, Hawaiʻi, a decision is pending on whether to grant a 30-year water license to a private Canadian company whose predecessors have a long history of devastating the ecosystem or give control to the county.
East Maui Water Fight Returns To State Land Board
The battle over who controls one of the island's major water sources — a foreign company or a county board — appears headed to a contested case hearing.
www.civilbeat.org
November 14, 2025 at 11:59 AM
There are things that shouldn't be in private control, and water is one of them.
In East Maui, Hawaiʻi, a decision is pending on whether to grant a 30-year water license to a private Canadian company whose predecessors have a long history of devastating the ecosystem or give control to the county.
In East Maui, Hawaiʻi, a decision is pending on whether to grant a 30-year water license to a private Canadian company whose predecessors have a long history of devastating the ecosystem or give control to the county.
Reposted by Heather Short
🌊 Coastal ocean acidification advancing faster than expected, threatening local economies
phys.org/news/2025-11...
phys.org/news/2025-11...
Coastal ocean acidification advancing faster than expected, threatening local economies
New research from the University of St Andrews has found that some coastal areas will become much more acidic than previously anticipated. With added atmospheric CO2, these areas are acidifying more q...
phys.org
November 13, 2025 at 3:36 PM
🌊 Coastal ocean acidification advancing faster than expected, threatening local economies
phys.org/news/2025-11...
phys.org/news/2025-11...
Reposted by Heather Short
With current pledges, the world's on track for 2.6°C of warming in 2100 compared to preindustrial levels.
10 years ago, before the Paris agreement, it was 3.6°C
20+ years ago, we thought it would be 4-5°C
So 2.6°C is better, but the problem is that climate impacts are way worse than we predicted.
10 years ago, before the Paris agreement, it was 3.6°C
20+ years ago, we thought it would be 4-5°C
So 2.6°C is better, but the problem is that climate impacts are way worse than we predicted.
World still on track for catastrophic 2.6C temperature rise, report finds
Fossil fuel emissions have hit a record high while many nations have done too little to avert deadly global heating
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:55 PM
With current pledges, the world's on track for 2.6°C of warming in 2100 compared to preindustrial levels.
10 years ago, before the Paris agreement, it was 3.6°C
20+ years ago, we thought it would be 4-5°C
So 2.6°C is better, but the problem is that climate impacts are way worse than we predicted.
10 years ago, before the Paris agreement, it was 3.6°C
20+ years ago, we thought it would be 4-5°C
So 2.6°C is better, but the problem is that climate impacts are way worse than we predicted.
Reposted by Heather Short
The majority of people — politicians, business folk and public alike — fail to realise how violent a 2.6°C hotter world (over 4°C in Europe) will be. Displacements, forced migrations and armed conflicts will become the norm at every level, everywhere, including in currently peaceful regions. #COP30
World still on track for catastrophic 2.6C temperature rise, report finds
Fossil fuel emissions have hit a record high while many nations have done too little to avert deadly global heating
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:00 AM
The majority of people — politicians, business folk and public alike — fail to realise how violent a 2.6°C hotter world (over 4°C in Europe) will be. Displacements, forced migrations and armed conflicts will become the norm at every level, everywhere, including in currently peaceful regions. #COP30
Reposted by Heather Short
"One of the workshop’s shared diagnoses was that the climate movement must broaden its struggle beyond carbon. This means organising around people’s material realities while confronting the elites and corporations driving destruction."
theecologist.org/2025/nov/12/...
theecologist.org/2025/nov/12/...
November 12, 2025 at 8:26 PM
"One of the workshop’s shared diagnoses was that the climate movement must broaden its struggle beyond carbon. This means organising around people’s material realities while confronting the elites and corporations driving destruction."
theecologist.org/2025/nov/12/...
theecologist.org/2025/nov/12/...
Reposted by Heather Short
The value of reading history is you know that in 1860 there were abolitionists who were so demoralized that they thought chattel slavery would be permanent. 5 years later those still alive had lived to see its end.
November 12, 2025 at 8:05 PM
The value of reading history is you know that in 1860 there were abolitionists who were so demoralized that they thought chattel slavery would be permanent. 5 years later those still alive had lived to see its end.
Reposted by Heather Short
"The fossil fuel industry & its state sponsors have argued for decades that human development requires fossil fuels. But we know that under the guise of economic growth, they have instead served greed and profits..." said @amnesty.org's Agnès Callamard
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Fossil fuel projects around the world threaten the health of 2bn people
Exclusive: ‘Deep-rooted injustices’ affect billions of people due to location of wells, pipelines and other infrastructure
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:16 PM
"The fossil fuel industry & its state sponsors have argued for decades that human development requires fossil fuels. But we know that under the guise of economic growth, they have instead served greed and profits..." said @amnesty.org's Agnès Callamard
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Heather Short
It will not surprise you to learn that many of these same countries are the ones moving to block the just transition mechanism--the thing that would actually help the world move away from fossil fuels--at #COP30
As #COP30 gets underway in Belem, a new report shows that four countries—Australia, Canada, Norway and the U.S.—have collectively *increased* oil and gas production 40% since the Paris Agreement was signed 10 years ago @rishpardikar.bsky.social writes: drilled.media/news/COP30-OCI
Running into COP30 with Oil and Gas
As COP30 gets underway in Brazil, a new report spotlights increased oil and gas production from the U.S., Australia, Norway and Canada since the Paris Climate Agreement was signed a decade ago.
drilled.media
November 12, 2025 at 2:44 PM
It will not surprise you to learn that many of these same countries are the ones moving to block the just transition mechanism--the thing that would actually help the world move away from fossil fuels--at #COP30
Reposted by Heather Short
This looks great!
November 12, 2025 at 3:07 PM
This looks great!
Reposted by Heather Short
The new book ‘Science in Resistance’ written by @ferracimo.bsky.social features stories of scientists taking action.
London, 12th Dec, likely at Queen Mary (TBC) with @scientistsforxr.earth
Details will be posted by @scientistrebellion.bsky.social
London, 12th Dec, likely at Queen Mary (TBC) with @scientistsforxr.earth
Details will be posted by @scientistrebellion.bsky.social
"Science in Resistance" on book tour! 📖
🚂 Fernando will be on a train tour over the next few weeks across various countries in Europe presenting his book.
1/4
🚂 Fernando will be on a train tour over the next few weeks across various countries in Europe presenting his book.
1/4
November 11, 2025 at 10:09 AM
The new book ‘Science in Resistance’ written by @ferracimo.bsky.social features stories of scientists taking action.
London, 12th Dec, likely at Queen Mary (TBC) with @scientistsforxr.earth
Details will be posted by @scientistrebellion.bsky.social
London, 12th Dec, likely at Queen Mary (TBC) with @scientistsforxr.earth
Details will be posted by @scientistrebellion.bsky.social
Reposted by Heather Short
Yes, this is correct. And the reason is because our capitalist classes have decided that it is not sufficiently profitable, so they're not going to do it.
We must understand this reality. Capital *cannot* be relied upon to address the climate crisis.
We must understand this reality. Capital *cannot* be relied upon to address the climate crisis.
November 10, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Yes, this is correct. And the reason is because our capitalist classes have decided that it is not sufficiently profitable, so they're not going to do it.
We must understand this reality. Capital *cannot* be relied upon to address the climate crisis.
We must understand this reality. Capital *cannot* be relied upon to address the climate crisis.