- Well, COP28 is a wrap. The final agreement calls on all countries to "transition away" from fossil fuels in a "just, orderly and equitable manner", which is better than what the Saudis wanted but still a long way from what's really needed if we want to seriously limit the severity of the disaster that is looming. More analysis here and here; perhaps the most valuable effect of these conferences, however, is the laying of foundations for a possible international authority with actual teeth. Unfortunately progress is still far too slow, and it's a virtual certainty that countless individuals and more than a few nations will be destroyed by the delays.
- The Manitoba government has apparently found $123 million in savings that can be applied towards their agenda. Fortunately, rather than just using it to pay down debt as the Tories would like, they are putting it towards action on their campaign promises. They are also issuing orders to Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, to add to the number of publicly owned liquor stores as well as to "lift the pause on gaming expansion in a targeted fashion". The latter is something I'm not keen on but it may be a necessary evil to provide the revenue needed to enact their agenda.
- Manitoba's francophone school division is considering an end to international school trips. In some ways this is lamentable, however they say it is a matter of equity, since those trips inevitably involve costs to the families and some kids get left out as a result. While this is a valid concern, there is actually a much bigger reason why this and other school divisions should consider not sending kids abroad - we need to normalize the idea of not travelling so much. Because as a society we fly way too much, and we need to greatly reduce the amount we fly if we want to limit the number of hands that have to be chopped from the proverbial gunwales of the lifeboat.
- For the first time in a long time, a provincial government is taking serious action on the housing crisis. The NDP government in BC is abolishing single-family only zoning, following the example set by New Zealand which is already starting to bear fruit. Whether voters will reward the government for their bold action remains to be seen.
- Canada has voted in favour of a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza even as the US voted against it (though Biden is mouthing platitudes about the negative effects this is having on international support for Israel). Meanwhile Israel is finding that the conflict isn't as easy to win as they hoped, even as they employ bleeding-edge AI technology towards the war. And the refugee crisis is just beginning.
- German researchers expect electric cars to be cheaper than fossil fuel-powered ones within a few years, which is a sorely needed piece of good news. Because once that happens, the decline in oil consumption will start to feed on itself; gas stations will start to close, giving the people who use them a taste of range anxiety and further reducing the appeal of the internal combustion engine. Probably too late for Tuvalu and the Maldives, but better than the alternative.
- Australia is outlawing "engineered stone" (granite countertops and the like) due to the health impact of such products on the workers who make them. The manufacturers are having a conniption of course, and probably the real estate agents are as well, but this is a good decision.
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