@laurarouth
On break from writing about climate change at https://www.thestatesclimateproject.com/ and elsewhere, too. Born 316.91 ppm. Caregiver to a loved one. Following posts on climate, economics, and mental health.
From March 2023 but still very much relevant: “The results were even more striking for a subset of the total deaths—the 280 that the provincial coroner’s service certified as being heat related. Thirty-seven people who died—more than 13%—had schizophrenia.” www.science.org/content/arti...
The state’s leaders have pledged their fealty to fossil fuels, but we’re first in utility-scale solar. Wonder if that annoys them? Hope so. insideclimatenews.org/news/0503202...
Time series plot depicting predicted Nino 3.4 region ocean temperature anomalies from the latest (Mar 2026) ECMWF ensemble. It depicts an extremely rapid rise in such temperatures, from modest negative anomalies to strong positive anomalies, by mid-summer 2026--indicative of a transition from weak-moderate La Nina conditions to moderate-strong El Nino conditions over just a few months.
Whew.
All signs are increasingly pointing to a significant, if not strong to very strong, El Niño event. I'll have more to say in coming weeks & months, but for now I'll just say that this is increasingly likely to become a major regional-to-global climate driver in 2026-2027.
More info on this: 1)The market in general is trending away from risk. 2)Uncertainty over inflation and higher interest rates affects the funds that renewable energy projects must borrow to get built. 3)And, “political leaders often opt to try to maintain stability, even if it’s very expensive.”
You would think (hope?) that at a time when fossil fuel supplies are at risk due to war in the Middle East, investments in renewable energy would rise. But that’s not what’s happening, and Matthew Zeitlin explains why in this must-read piece. heatmap.news/energy/why-i...
“Overall, the top 1 percent now control $55.8 trillion in assets — more than the G.D.P. of the United States and China combined.” www.nytimes.com/2026/03/02/u...
This thread shows a deliberate defunding of U.S. science, engineering, social science, innovation, and education excellence. It’s a U.S. national security, competitiveness, and economic disaster.
In 1966 I was 6 and singing “I Want to Hold Your Hand” at the top of my lungs at the grocery store. Yikes.
A lot of rain earlier, more tomorrow and Thursday. It’s not too bad.
I'll have a "late-breaking" livestream session tomorrow (Wed, Feb 18) at 2pm PT to discuss multiple topics, including: Recent switch to colder/wetter conditions (including news re: major avalanche) & updates re: EPA GHG regs & efforts to save NCAR. #CAwx
I don't know what to do but just keep repeating it so I don't go insane: the rise & eventual total domination of RW media is the single most significant political development of my lifetime and the entirely of the US political & media elite resolutely refuse to discuss or even acknowledge it.
Running the air fryer with the electric kettle trips the breaker.
We’re experiencing similar issues in our rented 1965 townhouse in Davis. I have two electric heaters running, one of them oil filled. It kinda works, but my last bill was $588. And no grounded outlets in the kitchen except for the fridge.
A must-read piece on increasing fire risk in the Eastern and Southern U.S. states
“One fire manager warned Smithwick that a worst-case-scenario wildfire could run across the entirety of New Jersey, the most densely populated state in the nation, in just 48 hours.”
(Reposting with author’s fix)
Your concern for politeness is appreciated!
And I’m pretty sure the publication would appreciate knowing about it.
I didn’t take it that way. But I felt some clarification was in order. And also meant to credit you for the catch!
The American Academy of Actuaries warns that dismantling NCAR would degrade the catastrophe models insurers depend on to price climate risk—driving up premiums and threatening coverage availability nationwide.
"Uncertainty carries a positive cost."
www.riskmarketnews.com/trumps-clima...
I copied and pasted from the article. Hoping they catch and fix it.
Good catch! Because it doesn’t seem to be. Ah, the most populously dense.
“One fire manager warned Smithwick that a worst-case-scenario wildfire could run across the entirety of New Jersey, the most populous state in the nation, in just 48 hours.” Important read from @jeva.bsky.social
Heard through @billmckibben.bsky.social ‘s newsletter heatmap.news/adaptation/e...
What we know (and still don’t know) about the Trump admin’s most significant attack ever on US climate law: heatmap.news/climate/enda...
Our family is living this. At present, thankfully, the outcome is mostly favorable. But it’s been a tumultuous journey. Medications, and my family member’s eventual compliance to them, have made caregiving workable. Stopping them would return us to the nightmare that was once our lives.
Many thanks to Jessica Grose for writing this piece: “There is no quick fix — at least not yet, even if hope springs eternal on scientific progress — and implying that there is one does a disservice to the people who have these profound mental health diagnoses.” www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/o...
Wild fact from @billmckibben.bsky.social's latest newsletter:
"The last colder-than-average month on planet earth was in February of 1985, which means that no one under the age of forty has ever known one."
I've be live on Monday, February 9th at 3pm PT to discuss the major upcoming change to a much cooler/wetter pattern across the West--including how much this will help bolster presently record-low mountain snowpack in western U.S. Bring your questions!
New Weather West update is out now! Some relief, at last, from recent record warmth and astonishing lack of Mountain West snow in the coming days as cooler/wetter pattern returns. But just how much relief should we expect? Read more:
I'm honored to have North: The Future of Post-Climate America (Oxford) on the list of books to kick-off 2026! yaleclimateconnections.org/2026/01/a-pr...
You know, it's a curious thing. Over a journalism career spanning decades, I did interviews with thousands of people. Not a one of them ever told me i should smile more.
The Canadian government will also “cut corporate tax rates for zero emission vehicle makers and allow accelerated tax deductions for investments in E.V. plants and equipment.” www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/w...