The famous essayist H.L. Mencken (1880-1956) once wrote:
"For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong."
How can we most effectively embrace the complexity of many of our challenges?
I read from Stephen J Pyne's 1982 history Fire in America this weekend about how wildfires are radically multivariate, emergent phenomena. And yet people don't just say "it's complicated" and throw up their hands. They learn to understand and work with that complexity.
You may find yourself dealing with a complex situation or two.
I want to share one of my favorite models for dealing with such circumstances. I learned this model from astro-informaticist Kirk Borne, who says he briefed Donald Rumsfeld on the concept of "unknown unknowns" the week before Rumsfeld so famously used the phrase publicly.
Cinny Little, executive coach and data storyteller, has also said this model is a good way to derive insights from complex data.
Ask yourself three questions: Which part of this situation is most descriptive of the whole, which part is most explanatory, and which part is most predictive.
I'll show you how I do it. Let's apply this model to the most-talked about story in sustainability today: Human case of avian flu detected in England as virus spreads among birds
Descriptive detail
A human in England caught the bird flu after being in contact with a large number of infected birds; it's only the 2nd such infection since 2022.
Explanatory detail
Bird flu is very contagious among birds but (so far) requires close contact between infected humans and birds, which is why health officials continue to describe the risk as "very low."
Predictive detail
That may be the case, but the British government says it recently added vaccines to protect against the bird flu to its vaccine stockpile.
Descriptive, explanatory, predictive. I find that model very useful. I also try to apply systems thinking, iterative/adaptive thinking, and stakeholder engagement and knowledge incorporation. More about those at another time.
Ok, I hope this is useful to you - and I hope to surface some exciting opportunities for you below.
It's go time.
-Marshall Kirkpatrick
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Visual of the Day
Who's really cute and weighs less than two paperclips?
Look at this little buddy! The Mount Lyell shrew, photographed alive for the first time by three student scientists in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, represents a critical moment for wildlife documentation in an era of rapid climate change. The photo was captured by University of California Berkeley and University of Arizona students at 7,000 feet elevation, showing this tiny mammal - weighing less than two paper clips - whose high-altitude habitat could shrink by up to 90% by 2080 due to global warming, highlighting the urgency of documenting and protecting vulnerable species before they disappear.
Today's Updates
Table of Contents
Agriculture (3 stories) - Kenyan community farms, Aral Sea restoration, and Manamuz Electric's solar cold storage network tackle agricultural challenges across Africa and Asia
Carbon (3 stories) - Rising global emissions persist despite net-zero pledges, as Arctic carbon sinks flip to sources and China's industrial demand drives CO2 growth
Ecosystems (8 stories) - Prescribed burns in Montana and Colorado showcase wildfire management success; rare species discoveries include new pangolin classification and Mount Lyell shrew documentation; Vietnam wildlife trafficking persists online
Efficiency (1 story) - Silicon-carbon anodes promise rapid EV charging, face expansion hurdles
Grid (2 stories) - Eaton's 5MW solar microgrid in Arecibo; Santee Cooper explores V.C. Summer nuclear restart for data centers
Indigenous (6 stories) - Fire networks expand training with Indigenous practices; Pomo tribes lead Lake County watershed restoration; 680+ fire resilience stories shared globally
Policy (12 stories) - Trump administration targets Biden's Justice40 and Paris Agreement commitments while World Bank warns of climate migration; Forest Service launches $200M wildfire defense grants
Renewables (1 story) - Malaysia launches new solar PV tender through Energy Transition & Water Transformation Ministry
Transport (7 stories) - BYD debuts $44K Shark pickup globally; Tesla leads Q4 EV sales at 44.9%; ChargePoint adds anti-theft tech; Heathrow expansion gains support
Agriculture
Kenyan community farms, Aral Sea restoration, and Manamuz Electric's solar cold storage network tackle agricultural challenges across Africa and Asia
NATURE+ and communities transform farming landscapes in Western Kenya (CGIAR) - Western Kenyan farmers transform degraded farmland through nature-positive solutions, establishing community farms and value-addition centers that boost productivity and create economic opportunities.
Reviving Lakebeds Show The Value of Water Conservation (CleanTechnica) - North Aral Sea shows promising recovery through improved irrigation efficiency and sustainable farming practices, while Great Salt Lake stabilization efforts offer hope for similar restoration.
Youth changing energy in Africa: a Q&A with Uzochukwu Mbamalu, CEO Manamuz Electric (Energy Alliance) - Nigerian startup Manamuz Electric deploys solar-powered cold storage network to reduce post-harvest losses and empower women farmers across Africa.
Carbon
Rising global emissions persist despite net-zero pledges, as Arctic carbon sinks flip to sources and China's industrial demand drives CO2 growth
3 reasons to fear humanity won’t reach net-zero emissions – and 4 reasons we might just do it (The Conversation) - Expert analysis outlines key barriers to net-zero emissions including rising global emissions and slow renewable rollout, while highlighting hope in falling clean energy costs and widespread net-zero commitments.
A third of the Arctic’s vast carbon sink now a source of emissions, study reveals (Grist) - Study reveals one-third of Arctic's carbon-storing tundra, forests, and wetlands now emitting CO2 due to global warming, reversing millennia of carbon storage.
Analysis: Record surge of clean energy in 2024 halts China’s CO2 rise (CarbonBrief) - China's CO2 emissions grew 0.8% in 2024 despite record clean energy growth, as high industrial demand and early-year rebound from zero-Covid policies offset emissions reductions.
Ecosystems
Prescribed burns in Montana and Colorado showcase wildfire management success; rare species discoveries include new pangolin classification and Mount Lyell shrew documentation; Vietnam wildlife trafficking persists online
Burning for Better in Southwest Montana (Fire Networks) - Montana landowner partners with state agencies to restore 55,000 acres of sagebrush habitat through prescribed burns, reducing wildfire risk and conifer encroachment in Southwest Montana.
Fireforest: A New Film on Forest Management and Wildfire (FireNetworks) - New documentary "Fireforest" showcases how prescribed burns and forest thinning helped control Colorado's 2020 Cameron Peak Fire, demonstrating effective wildfire management strategies.
LA Wildfires: Loss, Recovery and Resilience – Trailer (Climate One) - Scientists explain how climate change intensifies California wildfires through extreme weather patterns, while experts discuss equitable disaster recovery strategies for urban areas.
Preserving Alabama’s Flagg Mountain, the Southernmost Appalachian Peak (Inside Climate News) - Alabama's Flagg Mountain, home to state's oldest tree at 397 years old, sees preservation efforts from diverse coalition to protect rare old-growth longleaf pine ecosystem and expand hiking access.
Scientists unveil potential new pangolin species, highlighting conservation challenges (Mongabay) - Scientists propose new pangolin species, Manis indoburmanica, genetically distinct from Chinese pangolin after 3.4-million-year divergence, raising both conservation hopes and trafficking concerns.
The framing of the shrew: California students photograph mammal never caught on film (The Guardian) - California students make history by capturing first-ever photographs and video of the elusive Mount Lyell shrew, a gram-and-a-half mammal threatened by climate change.
Tiny Flames With a Huge Impact: How Embers Spread Wildfires in California and Beyond (InsideClimateNews) - Wind-driven embers from California wildfires can travel miles ahead of flames, causing up to 90% of structural damage by igniting vulnerable points in buildings and landscapes.
Vietnam grapples with ‘alarming popularity’ of online illegal wildlife trade (Mongabay) - Vietnam's online illegal wildlife trade flourishes with over 22,000 posts advertising protected species including elephants, tigers, and pangolins despite platform pledges to stop illegal trading.
Efficiency
Silicon-carbon anodes promise rapid EV charging, face expansion hurdles
The Technological Revolution that could Supercharge the World's Batteries (Material World) - Silicon-carbon battery anodes could enable 15-minute EV charging times and higher energy density, but face challenges with 300% volume expansion during charging.
Grid
Eaton's 5MW solar microgrid in Arecibo; Santee Cooper explores V.C. Summer nuclear restart for data centers
Building the Largest Clean Energy Microgrid in Puerto Rico (PowerMag) - Puerto Rico's largest clean energy microgrid at Eaton's Arecibo facility combines 5MW solar, 1.1MW battery storage and generators to provide 50% of plant power while reducing carbon emissions by 7,100 tons annually.
Santee Cooper Plans to Bring V C Summer Back from the Dead (EnergyNews) - South Carolina utility Santee Cooper seeks proposals to revive abandoned V.C. Summer nuclear project, aiming to complete two partially built 1,150 MW AP1000 reactors to meet growing data center power demands.
Indigenous
Fire networks expand training with Indigenous practices; Pomo tribes lead Lake County watershed restoration; 680+ fire resilience stories shared globally
2024: A Year of Growth and Connection for the Fire Networks (Fire Networks) - Indigenous, federal, and community fire management networks expanded training programs and partnerships across US in 2024, focusing on prescribed burns and cultural burning practices.
Celebrating 10 Years of the Blog! (Fire Networks) - Fire adaptation and resilience network celebrates 10 years of community blogging with over 680 stories shared from practitioners, researchers, and indigenous voices across the globe.
Community Weaving for Eco-Cultural Restoration: Partnering with Tribes in Lake County, CA (Fire Networks) - California's Seigler Springs Community Redevelopment Association partners with local Pomo tribes to restore watersheds and implement traditional ecological practices in Lake County through educational workshops.
Engaging Communities with Prescribed Fire: Lessons Learned from PBA Outreach in Fire-Prone Areas (Fire Networks) - California's Watershed Center shares lessons from prescribed burn outreach workshops, emphasizing trauma-informed communication and community engagement in fire-prone areas.
National Faith + Climate Forum Host Shares Her Experience (Blessed Tomorrow) - Jewish congregation leader in Gainesville, Florida successfully organized interfaith climate forum bringing together 57 Christians, Jews, and environmental advocates for learning and connection.
The Warmth That Keeps Us Coming Back (Fire Networks) - Fire leader reflects on importance of hospitality and human connection in firefighting culture while addressing cancer risks and health impacts affecting wildland firefighters.
Policy
Trump administration targets Biden's Justice40 and Paris Agreement commitments while World Bank warns of climate migration; Forest Service launches $200M wildfire defense grants
Advancing and Integrating Climate and Health Policies in the United Kingdom (Tyndall Centre) - UK study reveals limited integration of climate and health policies despite growing health impacts, citing siloed decision-making and resource constraints as key barriers.
Anglian Water passed thousands of pollution tests at sewage plants that weren’t carried out (The Guardian) - Anglian Water falsely passed thousands of pollution tests at sewage plants by reporting "no-flow" conditions when samples weren't actually collected, analysis reveals.
As Trump Targets Biden’s Environmental Justice Initiatives, Activists Gear Up for Legal Fights (InsideClimateNews) - Trump administration moves to dismantle Biden's environmental justice programs including Justice40 Initiative, triggering activist preparations for legal challenges over funding and program continuity.
Clean energy for a brighter future | International #CleanEnergy Day 2025 (IEA) - G20 nations must halve emissions by 2030 and shift fossil fuel subsidies to clean energy to meet Paris Agreement targets, as current policies threaten 1.5°C warming limit.
Climate Migration: A Multidimensional Challenge Requiring Global Action (Earth.org) - World Bank projects up to 216 million people could become internal climate migrants across six global regions by 2050 if global warming continues unabated.
Community Wildfire Defense Grants: A Round Three Application Primer (Fire Networks) - US Forest Service opens third round of Community Wildfire Defense Grant program with $200 million available for communities and tribes to implement wildfire risk mitigation projects through February 2025.
ESG Today: Week in Review (ESG Today) - Trump exits Paris Agreement as 24 states commit to climate goals, while major companies advance sustainability initiatives and EU faces pressure to delay green reporting rules.
From showers to tiny fish to windmills, Trump’s climate policies are driven by fixations (The Guardian) - Trump's first environmental priorities as president focus on personal grievances about shower pressure, appliance efficiency, and water allocation for endangered fish species.
Home truths: the only thing Labour is building is a bigger, more dysfunctional housing market | George Monbiot (The Guardian) - Labour's housing strategy relies on volume builders and fails to address core issues of property financialization, tax policy, and wealth inequality driving UK's housing crisis.
How We Make Progress Now (The Crucial Years) - Trump administration's rapid dismantling of climate initiatives sparks call for new resistance strategies amid economic advantages of renewable energy.
Investors wary of Indonesia’s big climate promises amid record of flip-flopping (Mongabay) - Indonesia's ambitious climate pledges face investor skepticism due to history of policy reversals and regulatory inconsistency in renewable energy sector.
Living with Smoke in the Greater Yellowstone (Fire Networks) - Greater Yellowstone Fire Action Network develops community smoke-readiness plans to help residents and tourists cope with wildfire smoke through monitoring, communication, and clean air spaces.
Renewables
Malaysia launches new solar PV tender through Energy Transition & Water Transformation Ministry
Global Solar PV Tender Snippets (TaiyangNews) - Malaysia's Ministry of Energy Transition & Water Transformation launches new solar PV tender as part of weekly global tender updates.
Transport
BYD debuts $44K Shark pickup globally; Tesla leads Q4 EV sales at 44.9%; ChargePoint adds anti-theft tech; Heathrow expansion gains support
BYD Shark Set To Disrupt Global Pickup Truck Market (CleanTechnica) - BYD's new Shark plug-in hybrid pickup truck enters global markets at $44,000 with 500-mile range, challenging established manufacturers with competitive pricing and familiar design elements.
Can’t Buy An EV Right Now? Some Things To Make The Wait More Bearable & Sustainable (CleanTechnica) - Article outlines practical steps for improving fuel efficiency and modernizing older vehicles while waiting to afford an electric vehicle, including hypermiling techniques and DIY upgrades.
Rachel Reeves indicates support for third runway at Heathrow (The Guardian) - Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves signals support for Heathrow's third runway expansion, citing environmental benefits from reduced aircraft circling and sustainable aviation fuel advances.
Reeves: third Heathrow runway would be hard decision but good for growth (The Guardian) - UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves signals support for Heathrow's third runway, citing economic benefits and claiming sustainable aviation fuels will reduce environmental impact.
Safely Descending Hills In EV or ICE Vehicles (CleanTechnica) - Expert guide explains proper techniques for safely descending steep hills in both electric and internal combustion vehicles using regenerative braking and engine compression.
Tesla, Ford, & Chevrolet Lead US EV Sales — Charts (CleanTechnica) - Tesla maintains EV market dominance with 44.9% share in Q4 2024 despite sales drop, while Ford and Chevrolet secure second and third positions in US electric vehicle sales.
The Fight Against Charging Cable Theft Gets Serious (CleanTechnica) - ChargePoint introduces cut-resistant cables and alarm system technology to combat widespread charging cable theft at EV stations.
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