Climate is the overwhelming story of our generation. Each week, this email reports the science, often frightening, and the tech, mostly encouraging. Please share to help others appreciate the problem, and that we have solutions. Free sign up at www.maxaitken.com 

What you need to know

The world’s most boring people are getting excited

Huh? The UK’s Institute of Actuaries is not known for being crazy. But they are getting excited about their new concept… planetary insolvency. 🤯
Why should I listen? Actuaries spend their lives understanding long-term risk. And if they are concerned, we should all be.
Read more: The Actuary magazine; Institute of Actuaries 

Batteries: here comes massive Chinese over-supply

Good news? Great for cars, great for grids: big price war underway. Going to make the energy transition a lot cheaper, a lot earlier than forecast.
They’re dumping! Let’s tax them! Evidence they’re not. They have better automation, and are years ahead (Reuters). Looks like boat has sailed on competing with Chinese batteries.
Read more: Auke Hokestra on X

EU forward, US back on climate rules

Strong stuff in Europe. ECB is directing banks to provide now for future climate losses. That’s big: banks will push borrowers to manage climate risk.
The US: Not happening? In March the SEC’s introduced climate disclosure requirements. In April, Republican states sued. Court suspended the rules.
Read more: Bloomberg on ECB; ESG Today on SEC

One thing to worry about, again

12 straight months of broken temperature records. Even NASA’s scientists can’t explain it (a must read).

Want to see the Great Barrier Reef? Go soon. “Scientists despair as even deep corals cook” says the Canberra Times.

One thing to be optimistic about

Are wildfires increasing? Actually, no, says Our World in Data’s new research. Powerful images and noisy media are not always accurate.

If you’ve got more time, read this…

A word you’ll soon hear more often: Adaptation. While decarbonization is starting, it is too late to prevent lasting change. More heat, changing crops, water in the wrong places, and different disasters.

Alex Laplaza outlines the challenges (and opportunities) in “Apocalypse later. Adaptation now.”

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