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

Ford loses $47k per $65k EV: blames customers. Reality? Terrible products

What’s the story? Ford lost tons of cash. Cue "Electric Vehicles aren’t working” headlines (typically poor from Business Insider; borderline lies from Daily Telegraph). All nonsense. Remember, US EV sales went over 1m units last year, two years ahead of White House projections made in… early 2023.
The reality? Ford, a dinosaur, offers expensive, heavy & low-range electric trucks. New EV leaders like Tesla sell what people want: small, efficient cars.
What’s next? Ford’s new act: small, efficient cars (Fortune) led by… a veteran Tesla exec.
Read more: FT on Ford’s massive losses

Greenstalling: like greenwashing, but you do nothing at all

There’s always an excuse. PwC’s annual CEO survey: 54% say they’re not taking climate action because of regulatory complexity - particularly now greenwashing is being exposed (see: carbon credits)
Not all bad. 58% have introduced climate-friendly products, and 40% accept lower returns from climate investments.
Read more: PwC’s 27th CEO Survey; Carbon Trust’s report into ‘analysis paralysis’

Everyone else argues. Insurance just prices - and it’s up. Thanks, carbon.

Climate is coming home. Weather claims up, home insurance premiums rising. Munich RE’s CEO admitted this week this is “the first time we actually bring a climate change bill back to the consumer.”
Give me numbers. Losses from weather in 2023 were massive - 37 events cost more than $1bn each.
Read more: FT’s The Uninsurable World; Investopedia on surging premiums; WSJ on how health insurance might be next

Two things to remind people about, one to worry about

A couple of intelligent & well-meaning friends told me recently, “Carbon is a natural cycle”. Well - once true, on a huge timeline. Not any more:

Let’s look at temperatures, starting with Christ. And ending with “Christ”.

A worry

There hasn’t been a winter in the US Midwest this year (CNN).

One thing to be optimistic about

China’s starting to reduce coal. Building more plants, but running fewer hours, balancing wind/solar on the grid. Hannah Ritchie has the details.

If you’ve got more time, read this…

The IPCC’s report on climate impact, what is happening, adaptation, how we cope, and vulnerability, who loses, is essential reading.

But you haven’t read it. I haven’t read it. Come on: 750,000 words on 3,000 pages.

Luckily, the folks at the ECIU have drawn a lovely infographic to make it digestible.

There’s a bottom line. Not poetry. But worth tattooing on your forearm nonetheless:

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