Alexander Matthews
@x-a-n-d.bsky.social
Editor of THE CONDOR (https://cacondor.substack.com/), which offers a bird's eye view of the fight to phase out fossil fuels.
Recovering journalist, bookish swimmer, hugger of redwoods.
Recovering journalist, bookish swimmer, hugger of redwoods.
Pretty sure these rules would disqualify the entirety of the Musk-Trump cabinet from training at Virgin Active South Africa.
April 1, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Pretty sure these rules would disqualify the entirety of the Musk-Trump cabinet from training at Virgin Active South Africa.
New post on The Condor exploring why insurers like State Farm should ditch fossil fuels instead of forsaking #California homeowners. cacondor.substack.com/p/insurers-s...
Insurers should ditch fossil fuels
Instead of California's homeowners.
cacondor.substack.com
January 25, 2025 at 5:48 AM
New post on The Condor exploring why insurers like State Farm should ditch fossil fuels instead of forsaking #California homeowners. cacondor.substack.com/p/insurers-s...
Reposted by Alexander Matthews
In a new low, Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) is justifying his support for the timber industry's "Fix Our Forests" Act (the "fix" is cutting the forests down) by citing the deadly Los Angeles wildfires. This bill does nothing to reduce the risk of wildfires.
Absolutely disgusting.
#LAFires #greensky
Absolutely disgusting.
#LAFires #greensky
In Wake of Catastrophic Wildfires, Westerman and Peters Re-Introduce Fix Our Forests Act
naturalresources.house.gov
January 21, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Reposted by Alexander Matthews
Buried, amid the more immediate casualties and clearly visible damage of modern wildfire disasters, are the far more numerous victims of the secondary harms and "chronic emergencies" that subsequently unfold for months and years thereafter.
Indirect death toll from the L.A. fires may end up in the thousands yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/01/indi...
Indirect death toll from the L.A. fires may end up in the thousands » Yale Climate Connections
The toxic smoke from the fires, combined with disruption to the economy, health care system, and mental health may lead to thousands of deaths over the coming years.
yaleclimateconnections.org
January 17, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Buried, amid the more immediate casualties and clearly visible damage of modern wildfire disasters, are the far more numerous victims of the secondary harms and "chronic emergencies" that subsequently unfold for months and years thereafter.
Reposted by Alexander Matthews
Trumps inauguration is less than one week away and the climate crisis is not slowing down. @climateaf.bsky.social is charting the path forward and mobilizing to ensure we keep up momentum. Read our new report here: cdn.sanity.io/files/6quqio...
January 16, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Trumps inauguration is less than one week away and the climate crisis is not slowing down. @climateaf.bsky.social is charting the path forward and mobilizing to ensure we keep up momentum. Read our new report here: cdn.sanity.io/files/6quqio...
As Georgetown prof David Super points out, promulgation of the Fix Our Forests Act "will invite the needless destruction of ever more of our forests — while simultaneously making the fire threat even worse." (thehill.com/opinion/ener...)
The misleadingly named ‘Fix Our Forests Act’ would do anything but
The bill’s most significant feature is its sweeping rejection of applying the National Environmental Policy Act on forestry management
thehill.com
January 17, 2025 at 11:34 PM
As Georgetown prof David Super points out, promulgation of the Fix Our Forests Act "will invite the needless destruction of ever more of our forests — while simultaneously making the fire threat even worse." (thehill.com/opinion/ener...)
Oh dear. The reintroduction of the misleadingly named "Fix Our Forests" Act (which would exempt environmental review from vast swathes of forest) suggests that Republicans in Congress are using the #LAFires as an opportunity to make clearcutting easier.
January 17, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Oh dear. The reintroduction of the misleadingly named "Fix Our Forests" Act (which would exempt environmental review from vast swathes of forest) suggests that Republicans in Congress are using the #LAFires as an opportunity to make clearcutting easier.
Reposted by Alexander Matthews
Moss Landing, the largest battery in the US caught fire yesterday.
A journalist just asked me, "Are batteries safe?"
I told him the fossil fuel plants batteries replace kill 1,000s of people in the US / year.
Batteries aren't perfect. But they're way better than coal/gas.
A journalist just asked me, "Are batteries safe?"
I told him the fossil fuel plants batteries replace kill 1,000s of people in the US / year.
Batteries aren't perfect. But they're way better than coal/gas.
January 17, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Moss Landing, the largest battery in the US caught fire yesterday.
A journalist just asked me, "Are batteries safe?"
I told him the fossil fuel plants batteries replace kill 1,000s of people in the US / year.
Batteries aren't perfect. But they're way better than coal/gas.
A journalist just asked me, "Are batteries safe?"
I told him the fossil fuel plants batteries replace kill 1,000s of people in the US / year.
Batteries aren't perfect. But they're way better than coal/gas.
Reposted by Alexander Matthews
Two of my colleagues @nrdc.org are calling it like it is, responding to Mayor Bass's rather short-sighted executive order for rebuilding Los Angeles exactly like it was before...or as the Mayor says, "rebuilding 'like for like'".
www.nrdc.org/bio/sarah-el...
www.nrdc.org/bio/sarah-el...
Mayor Karen Bass: Los Angeles Needs to Adapt to Our Climate-Altered Future
How Los Angeles wants to rebuild must account for what living in the city will be like in our climate-altered, extreme weather future.
www.nrdc.org
January 17, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Two of my colleagues @nrdc.org are calling it like it is, responding to Mayor Bass's rather short-sighted executive order for rebuilding Los Angeles exactly like it was before...or as the Mayor says, "rebuilding 'like for like'".
www.nrdc.org/bio/sarah-el...
www.nrdc.org/bio/sarah-el...
Agreed! In addition to hardened homes and defensible space, rebuilding according to the Passive House Standard would boost resilience (and energy efficiency and improved indoor AQIs!) too
Appreciate the opportunity to chat w/ @nytimes.com about how we can build smarter (and to code!!) after these wildfires. Suspending wildfire building codes only kicks the can down the road and invites another disaster. Hardened homes and defensible space for the win. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
How L.A.'s Housing Development Plays a Role in Wildfire Risk
Fierce winds and months of drought set the conditions for the catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles, but the growth of housing in fire-prone areas also played a major role.
www.nytimes.com
January 16, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Agreed! In addition to hardened homes and defensible space, rebuilding according to the Passive House Standard would boost resilience (and energy efficiency and improved indoor AQIs!) too
Reposted by Alexander Matthews
Appreciate the opportunity to chat w/ @nytimes.com about how we can build smarter (and to code!!) after these wildfires. Suspending wildfire building codes only kicks the can down the road and invites another disaster. Hardened homes and defensible space for the win. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
How L.A.'s Housing Development Plays a Role in Wildfire Risk
Fierce winds and months of drought set the conditions for the catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles, but the growth of housing in fire-prone areas also played a major role.
www.nytimes.com
January 15, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Appreciate the opportunity to chat w/ @nytimes.com about how we can build smarter (and to code!!) after these wildfires. Suspending wildfire building codes only kicks the can down the road and invites another disaster. Hardened homes and defensible space for the win. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Today on The Condor, we published @paulmason916.bsky.social's reflections on the #LAFires. In addition to helpful context, he offers important recs on ways to promote landscape resilience and community protection going forward: cacondor.substack.com/p/rethinking...
Rethinking California fire policy
Contextualizing the LA fires—and some ideas on the way forward.
cacondor.substack.com
January 16, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Today on The Condor, we published @paulmason916.bsky.social's reflections on the #LAFires. In addition to helpful context, he offers important recs on ways to promote landscape resilience and community protection going forward: cacondor.substack.com/p/rethinking...
Fossil fuel lobbying killed California's climate superfund bill before it could get to a floor vote last year. In 2025, I hope that the state senators who refused to support it will now prioritize the people of California over the profits of their polluter pals. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Big oil pushed to kill bill that would have made them pay for wildfire disasters
Legislation has new life in wake of Los Angeles catastrophe but US fossil-fuel industry is already mobilizing against it
www.theguardian.com
January 15, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Fossil fuel lobbying killed California's climate superfund bill before it could get to a floor vote last year. In 2025, I hope that the state senators who refused to support it will now prioritize the people of California over the profits of their polluter pals. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Alexander Matthews
It's the best & worst time for the publication of this essay I co-wrote for @dissentmag.bsky.social about disaster insurance.
Best and worst because the devastation of the LA fires make even more clear how urgently we need to rethink disaster insurance.
www.dissentmagazine.org/article/a-pu...
Best and worst because the devastation of the LA fires make even more clear how urgently we need to rethink disaster insurance.
www.dissentmagazine.org/article/a-pu...
A Public Model for Home Insurance - Dissent Magazine
We must reimagine our disaster risk finance system so it reduces exposure and provides protection fairly.
www.dissentmagazine.org
January 13, 2025 at 10:58 PM
It's the best & worst time for the publication of this essay I co-wrote for @dissentmag.bsky.social about disaster insurance.
Best and worst because the devastation of the LA fires make even more clear how urgently we need to rethink disaster insurance.
www.dissentmagazine.org/article/a-pu...
Best and worst because the devastation of the LA fires make even more clear how urgently we need to rethink disaster insurance.
www.dissentmagazine.org/article/a-pu...
Reposted by Alexander Matthews
Hey, Bluesky 👋🏼
A friendly reminder that you can avoid #LAFires disinformation with one simple trick:
Follow the local news organizations + reporters on the ground in affected areas and in direct contact with residents, officials and agencies.
I made this starter list: bsky.app/profile/did:...
A friendly reminder that you can avoid #LAFires disinformation with one simple trick:
Follow the local news organizations + reporters on the ground in affected areas and in direct contact with residents, officials and agencies.
I made this starter list: bsky.app/profile/did:...
January 10, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Hey, Bluesky 👋🏼
A friendly reminder that you can avoid #LAFires disinformation with one simple trick:
Follow the local news organizations + reporters on the ground in affected areas and in direct contact with residents, officials and agencies.
I made this starter list: bsky.app/profile/did:...
A friendly reminder that you can avoid #LAFires disinformation with one simple trick:
Follow the local news organizations + reporters on the ground in affected areas and in direct contact with residents, officials and agencies.
I made this starter list: bsky.app/profile/did:...
Reposted by Alexander Matthews
Excellent @sammyroth.bsky.social column about the real backdrop to LA's fires, written by someone right in the thick of it.
If fingers are to be pointed, make sure they're aimed in the right direction—the one backed by decades of science.
www.latimes.com/environment/...
If fingers are to be pointed, make sure they're aimed in the right direction—the one backed by decades of science.
www.latimes.com/environment/...
Column: Los Angeles is a climate disaster. The fires will change nothing
If you think America’s finally going to deal with global warming because L.A. is burning, think again.
www.latimes.com
January 14, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Excellent @sammyroth.bsky.social column about the real backdrop to LA's fires, written by someone right in the thick of it.
If fingers are to be pointed, make sure they're aimed in the right direction—the one backed by decades of science.
www.latimes.com/environment/...
If fingers are to be pointed, make sure they're aimed in the right direction—the one backed by decades of science.
www.latimes.com/environment/...
On The Condor today, quotes from @tzeporah.bsky.social and Francine Prose's powerful pieces in @theguardian.com. Also - we share ideas from @antoniascatton.bsky.social on how to respond to rightwing misinformation. Grateful for these smart, principled voices. cacondor.substack.com/p/fibbing-wh...
Fibbing while LA burns
An inconvenient truth vs. the rightwing's smokescreen of lies.
cacondor.substack.com
January 14, 2025 at 5:51 AM
On The Condor today, quotes from @tzeporah.bsky.social and Francine Prose's powerful pieces in @theguardian.com. Also - we share ideas from @antoniascatton.bsky.social on how to respond to rightwing misinformation. Grateful for these smart, principled voices. cacondor.substack.com/p/fibbing-wh...
Reposted by Alexander Matthews
Excellent new review from @weatherwest.bsky.social @climate-guy.bsky.social @manuelaibrunner.bsky.social @climatechirper.bsky.social on one of the most useful organizing concepts I've run across for understanding climate impacts on extreme events - the "expanding atmospheric sponge" 1/🧵
Hydroclimate volatility on a warming Earth - Nature Reviews Earth & Environment
Rapid transitions between extreme wet and extreme dry conditions — ‘hydroclimate whiplash’ — have marked environmental and societal impacts. This Review outlines observed and projected changes in hydr...
www.nature.com
January 9, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Excellent new review from @weatherwest.bsky.social @climate-guy.bsky.social @manuelaibrunner.bsky.social @climatechirper.bsky.social on one of the most useful organizing concepts I've run across for understanding climate impacts on extreme events - the "expanding atmospheric sponge" 1/🧵
Reposted by Alexander Matthews
New study LA fires: “Conditions are up to 5°C warmer, 15% drier & 20% windier now compared to past. We ascribe the strengthened winds, higher temps & drier conditions to human-driven climate change. Natural climate variability likely played a minor role.” www.climameter.org/20250107-08-...
January 10, 2025 at 11:05 PM
New study LA fires: “Conditions are up to 5°C warmer, 15% drier & 20% windier now compared to past. We ascribe the strengthened winds, higher temps & drier conditions to human-driven climate change. Natural climate variability likely played a minor role.” www.climameter.org/20250107-08-...
How many more fossil-fueled climate disasters does the US have to go through before so-called moderate/"centrist" Dems abandon the "we can do both"/all the above approach to energy and instead double-down on the fossil fuel phaseout we need (according to science!) to secure a liveable future?
January 10, 2025 at 11:05 PM
How many more fossil-fueled climate disasters does the US have to go through before so-called moderate/"centrist" Dems abandon the "we can do both"/all the above approach to energy and instead double-down on the fossil fuel phaseout we need (according to science!) to secure a liveable future?
Reposted by Alexander Matthews
will this be the event that finally wakes everyone up?
January 9, 2025 at 5:29 PM
will this be the event that finally wakes everyone up?
@climatehuman.bsky.social's point in his NYT essay that "nothing will change until our anger gets powerful enough" reminded me of @fisherdanar.bsky.social conclusions (in her book "Saving Ourselves") that only mass mobilization catalysed by climate shock/s can bring about the systemic shifts needed
January 10, 2025 at 11:02 PM
@climatehuman.bsky.social's point in his NYT essay that "nothing will change until our anger gets powerful enough" reminded me of @fisherdanar.bsky.social conclusions (in her book "Saving Ourselves") that only mass mobilization catalysed by climate shock/s can bring about the systemic shifts needed
On The Condor today we shared a little excerpt from @climatehuman.bsky.social's extremely moving (and galvanizing!) NYT essay: cacondor.substack.com/p/nothing-wi...
"Nothing will change until our anger gets powerful enough"
A climate scientist speaks out.
cacondor.substack.com
January 10, 2025 at 10:54 PM
On The Condor today we shared a little excerpt from @climatehuman.bsky.social's extremely moving (and galvanizing!) NYT essay: cacondor.substack.com/p/nothing-wi...
As @doctorvive.bsky.social has noted, Trump's deluge of lies about hurricanes Helene and Milton was met with "climate silence" by Kamala et al. Here's hoping Dems won't make the same mistake in response to his false claims about LA's fossil-fueled wildfires. cacondor.substack.com/p/fossil-fue...
Fossil-fueled fury
How human-caused climate change is fueling SoCal's ongoing conflagrations
cacondor.substack.com
January 9, 2025 at 12:07 AM
As @doctorvive.bsky.social has noted, Trump's deluge of lies about hurricanes Helene and Milton was met with "climate silence" by Kamala et al. Here's hoping Dems won't make the same mistake in response to his false claims about LA's fossil-fueled wildfires. cacondor.substack.com/p/fossil-fue...