David Hall
@dvdhll.bsky.social
• Climate Policy Director, Toha Network.
• Senior Lecturer in Climate Action, AUT.
https://www.toha.network/ | https://academics.aut.ac.nz/david.hall
• Senior Lecturer in Climate Action, AUT.
https://www.toha.network/ | https://academics.aut.ac.nz/david.hall
When your government mandates an LNG import facility and allocates $200m in subsidies for new gas field developments...
October 2, 2025 at 3:42 AM
When your government mandates an LNG import facility and allocates $200m in subsidies for new gas field developments...
A stark version of this fallacy comes from William Rees. Two options: Track 1 and Track 2, both of which are so rapacious & repugnant that we should surrender to Rees's conclusion that "a major ‘population correction’ is inevitable". He puts Earth's "carrying capacity" at 100m to 3bn people.
May 28, 2025 at 5:24 AM
A stark version of this fallacy comes from William Rees. Two options: Track 1 and Track 2, both of which are so rapacious & repugnant that we should surrender to Rees's conclusion that "a major ‘population correction’ is inevitable". He puts Earth's "carrying capacity" at 100m to 3bn people.
The paper concludes on a rather dismal note about the complexity of climate action, which is absolutely correct.
My take: as the authors note, public support on climate action recedes once climate policy becomes specific and, therefore, publics get clearer on material costs...
My take: as the authors note, public support on climate action recedes once climate policy becomes specific and, therefore, publics get clearer on material costs...
January 13, 2025 at 7:17 PM
The paper concludes on a rather dismal note about the complexity of climate action, which is absolutely correct.
My take: as the authors note, public support on climate action recedes once climate policy becomes specific and, therefore, publics get clearer on material costs...
My take: as the authors note, public support on climate action recedes once climate policy becomes specific and, therefore, publics get clearer on material costs...
In sum, yes, the energy transition requires more materials (x4 says IEA). But this in a very efficient energy system which replaces high volumes of fossil fuel feedstock for sun, wind, water & geothermal heat.
There are no free lunches in energy. But some lunches are far, far cheaper than others.
There are no free lunches in energy. But some lunches are far, far cheaper than others.
December 8, 2024 at 9:05 PM
In sum, yes, the energy transition requires more materials (x4 says IEA). But this in a very efficient energy system which replaces high volumes of fossil fuel feedstock for sun, wind, water & geothermal heat.
There are no free lunches in energy. But some lunches are far, far cheaper than others.
There are no free lunches in energy. But some lunches are far, far cheaper than others.
The underlying reason is that fossil fuels are just monstrously wasteful. We produce and transport about 15 billion tonnes of coal, oil and gas around the world annually. Yet about two-thirds is lost, mostly as heat during combustion. What a waste!
ourworldindata.org/energy-defin...
ourworldindata.org/energy-defin...
December 8, 2024 at 9:05 PM
The underlying reason is that fossil fuels are just monstrously wasteful. We produce and transport about 15 billion tonnes of coal, oil and gas around the world annually. Yet about two-thirds is lost, mostly as heat during combustion. What a waste!
ourworldindata.org/energy-defin...
ourworldindata.org/energy-defin...
If we electrified all private vehicles in Aotearoa New Zealand, this requires 760,000 tonnes of materials for EV batteries.
However, this also means we *avoid* importing about 3.1 million tonnes of fossil fuels per year, as well as 68 visits from fuel ships and 300,000 tanker truck trips.
However, this also means we *avoid* importing about 3.1 million tonnes of fossil fuels per year, as well as 68 visits from fuel ships and 300,000 tanker truck trips.
December 8, 2024 at 9:05 PM
If we electrified all private vehicles in Aotearoa New Zealand, this requires 760,000 tonnes of materials for EV batteries.
However, this also means we *avoid* importing about 3.1 million tonnes of fossil fuels per year, as well as 68 visits from fuel ships and 300,000 tanker truck trips.
However, this also means we *avoid* importing about 3.1 million tonnes of fossil fuels per year, as well as 68 visits from fuel ships and 300,000 tanker truck trips.
A few fun facts:
By weight, the global energy transition will require fewer materials up to 2050 than we already mine for coal in a single year.
By weight, the global energy transition will require fewer materials up to 2050 than we already mine for coal in a single year.
December 8, 2024 at 9:05 PM
A few fun facts:
By weight, the global energy transition will require fewer materials up to 2050 than we already mine for coal in a single year.
By weight, the global energy transition will require fewer materials up to 2050 than we already mine for coal in a single year.
Hi. I have an article in the new Policy Quarterly.
Upfront, the article is about policy mixes.
Backhandedly, it is about the narrow, flat-footed and highly idealising style of policy analysis that predominates in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Link here: ojs.victoria.ac.nz/pq/article/v...
Upfront, the article is about policy mixes.
Backhandedly, it is about the narrow, flat-footed and highly idealising style of policy analysis that predominates in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Link here: ojs.victoria.ac.nz/pq/article/v...
December 3, 2024 at 3:11 AM
Hi. I have an article in the new Policy Quarterly.
Upfront, the article is about policy mixes.
Backhandedly, it is about the narrow, flat-footed and highly idealising style of policy analysis that predominates in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Link here: ojs.victoria.ac.nz/pq/article/v...
Upfront, the article is about policy mixes.
Backhandedly, it is about the narrow, flat-footed and highly idealising style of policy analysis that predominates in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Link here: ojs.victoria.ac.nz/pq/article/v...
Carbon tunnel vision is a real problem. It is the single-minded pursuit of emission reductions at the sake of everything else.
But this is exactly the 🛑 WRONG WAY 🛑 to think about electrification.
Electrification is about so much more...
www.sei.org/perspectives...
But this is exactly the 🛑 WRONG WAY 🛑 to think about electrification.
Electrification is about so much more...
www.sei.org/perspectives...
August 5, 2024 at 10:32 PM
Carbon tunnel vision is a real problem. It is the single-minded pursuit of emission reductions at the sake of everything else.
But this is exactly the 🛑 WRONG WAY 🛑 to think about electrification.
Electrification is about so much more...
www.sei.org/perspectives...
But this is exactly the 🛑 WRONG WAY 🛑 to think about electrification.
Electrification is about so much more...
www.sei.org/perspectives...
You've heard of 'carbon tunnel vision'...
At Rewiring Aotearoa, we argue for 'electric-panoptic vision' – that is, an integrated view of opportunities, risks, interconnections and trade-offs.
Read our explainer here: www.rewiring.nz/watt-now/peo...
At Rewiring Aotearoa, we argue for 'electric-panoptic vision' – that is, an integrated view of opportunities, risks, interconnections and trade-offs.
Read our explainer here: www.rewiring.nz/watt-now/peo...
August 5, 2024 at 10:29 PM
You've heard of 'carbon tunnel vision'...
At Rewiring Aotearoa, we argue for 'electric-panoptic vision' – that is, an integrated view of opportunities, risks, interconnections and trade-offs.
Read our explainer here: www.rewiring.nz/watt-now/peo...
At Rewiring Aotearoa, we argue for 'electric-panoptic vision' – that is, an integrated view of opportunities, risks, interconnections and trade-offs.
Read our explainer here: www.rewiring.nz/watt-now/peo...
Of our domestic emissions (i.e. not the agricultural emissions that we export), about 31% are associated with household decisions. With the right policy, that's a significant chunk of emissions to reduce - which will improve wellbeing in various ways too.
March 18, 2024 at 7:26 AM
Of our domestic emissions (i.e. not the agricultural emissions that we export), about 31% are associated with household decisions. With the right policy, that's a significant chunk of emissions to reduce - which will improve wellbeing in various ways too.
Your household will use more electricity, but less primary energy, because fossil fuels are so horribly inefficient, a large share lost as heat.
March 18, 2024 at 7:21 AM
Your household will use more electricity, but less primary energy, because fossil fuels are so horribly inefficient, a large share lost as heat.
Inaugural report out by Rewiring Aotearoa.
In short, electrifying your house will reduce your cost-of-living *and* your contributions to creating a fossil-fuel ravaged hellscape. www.rewiring.nz/electric-hom...
In short, electrifying your house will reduce your cost-of-living *and* your contributions to creating a fossil-fuel ravaged hellscape. www.rewiring.nz/electric-hom...
March 18, 2024 at 7:18 AM
Inaugural report out by Rewiring Aotearoa.
In short, electrifying your house will reduce your cost-of-living *and* your contributions to creating a fossil-fuel ravaged hellscape. www.rewiring.nz/electric-hom...
In short, electrifying your house will reduce your cost-of-living *and* your contributions to creating a fossil-fuel ravaged hellscape. www.rewiring.nz/electric-hom...
I read Collingwood’s autobiography recently which dedicates a chapter to haranguing Prichard and co. but it’s the final paragraph where he really takes off the gloves….
December 30, 2023 at 2:37 PM
I read Collingwood’s autobiography recently which dedicates a chapter to haranguing Prichard and co. but it’s the final paragraph where he really takes off the gloves….
“Your most truthful contributions to collective reasoning are unlikely to be your own individual arguments, but your useful criticisms of others’ rationales.”
(Just the encouragement I needed to reboot one stalled writing project.)
www.programmablemutter.com/p/in-praise-...
(Just the encouragement I needed to reboot one stalled writing project.)
www.programmablemutter.com/p/in-praise-...
December 28, 2023 at 3:36 AM
“Your most truthful contributions to collective reasoning are unlikely to be your own individual arguments, but your useful criticisms of others’ rationales.”
(Just the encouragement I needed to reboot one stalled writing project.)
www.programmablemutter.com/p/in-praise-...
(Just the encouragement I needed to reboot one stalled writing project.)
www.programmablemutter.com/p/in-praise-...
Absolutely my experience. Huge wasted labour into applications that are rejected for blatantly arbitrary reasons. Or you win research funds for projects w poor alignment to research goals, which only gets done in evenings & weekends coz uni doesn’t reallocate workload, even while claiming overheads.
December 17, 2023 at 10:38 AM
Absolutely my experience. Huge wasted labour into applications that are rejected for blatantly arbitrary reasons. Or you win research funds for projects w poor alignment to research goals, which only gets done in evenings & weekends coz uni doesn’t reallocate workload, even while claiming overheads.
An instance where one *shouldn't* take the high road.
November 30, 2023 at 1:04 PM
An instance where one *shouldn't* take the high road.
Puts things in perspective: www.sustainabilitybynumbers.com/p/renewables...
November 25, 2023 at 4:05 PM
Puts things in perspective: www.sustainabilitybynumbers.com/p/renewables...
The New Zealand Government broached this subject with its recent ETS consultation, which tested the waters of decoupling forestry removals from gross emissions.
It’s not going to be easy to progress such reforms, but international pressure to do so is only going to increase. #climatesky #greensky
It’s not going to be easy to progress such reforms, but international pressure to do so is only going to increase. #climatesky #greensky
November 21, 2023 at 6:02 AM
The New Zealand Government broached this subject with its recent ETS consultation, which tested the waters of decoupling forestry removals from gross emissions.
It’s not going to be easy to progress such reforms, but international pressure to do so is only going to increase. #climatesky #greensky
It’s not going to be easy to progress such reforms, but international pressure to do so is only going to increase. #climatesky #greensky
Big new special issue on sustainability transitions in consumption-production systems! 😍
Articles on distributed energy, electrification, sustainable food systems, governance, and more. #greensky #climatesky www.pnas.org/topic/551
Articles on distributed energy, electrification, sustainable food systems, governance, and more. #greensky #climatesky www.pnas.org/topic/551
November 20, 2023 at 8:26 AM
Big new special issue on sustainability transitions in consumption-production systems! 😍
Articles on distributed energy, electrification, sustainable food systems, governance, and more. #greensky #climatesky www.pnas.org/topic/551
Articles on distributed energy, electrification, sustainable food systems, governance, and more. #greensky #climatesky www.pnas.org/topic/551
As an aside, he has an interesting definition of fascism which echoes debates of recent years.
For context, what he says fascism has in common with socialism is the impulse to overturn “parliamentary institutions” that deny and “dissipate” the reality of class war.
For context, what he says fascism has in common with socialism is the impulse to overturn “parliamentary institutions” that deny and “dissipate” the reality of class war.
November 18, 2023 at 9:27 PM
As an aside, he has an interesting definition of fascism which echoes debates of recent years.
For context, what he says fascism has in common with socialism is the impulse to overturn “parliamentary institutions” that deny and “dissipate” the reality of class war.
For context, what he says fascism has in common with socialism is the impulse to overturn “parliamentary institutions” that deny and “dissipate” the reality of class war.
R. G. Collingwood takes off the gloves against moral realism. His parting shot from his 1938 autobiography.
November 18, 2023 at 9:17 PM
R. G. Collingwood takes off the gloves against moral realism. His parting shot from his 1938 autobiography.
R. G. Collingwood on the moment he lost faith in democracy: the arrival of the Daily Mail.
November 18, 2023 at 8:19 PM
R. G. Collingwood on the moment he lost faith in democracy: the arrival of the Daily Mail.
Illuminating story of Canada’s carbon tax: political reality wins again. www.nationalobserver.com/newsletters/...
November 5, 2023 at 7:01 AM
Illuminating story of Canada’s carbon tax: political reality wins again. www.nationalobserver.com/newsletters/...