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What will the future of sustainable energy actually look like? Dr. Simon Michaux breaks down his alternative to the Green Transition—the "Purple Transition"—and the major obstacles stopping us from adopting these allegedly superior technologies. We also dive into energy politics, DOGE, government efficiency, global power dynamics, and the future of the human race (among other topics!)GUEST INFO: Simon Michaux Associate Professor at Geological Survey of Finland https://www.simonmichaux.com/
Dr. Simon Michaux joins us to explore the green transition from a metacrisis perspective. We discuss the mineral scarcity challenges he is known for, as well as the broader civilizational shifts needed for a sustainable energy future. Plus, we examine criticisms of his work—including our own—to better understand how he arrived at his conclusions.GUEST INFO: Simon Michaux Associate Professor at Geological Survey of Finland https://www.simonmichaux.com/
Jan 3, 2025 – Financial Sense Newshour's Jim Puplava speaks with energy expert Robert Bryce and mining engineer Simon Michaux about the long-term outlook for resources and mining in light of green energy policies and China's 2050 plan...
Be sure to check out the previously uploaded Part 1! EVOLUTION is the death of the old species and the messy, experimental birth of something new...and so we present VENUS EVOLUTIONS, the next phase of the greatest vision for the transformation of human society yet created. On this podcast Marlow and Arjang from @WorldBeyondCapitalism are joined by Roxanne Meadows and Nathaniel Dinwiddie of TVP and the great Simon Michaux to discuss their partnership to develop and actually build the city of the future and adapt a real alternative beyond the failing establishment's phony green transition. This is a deep dive into Simon's trailblazing PLAN to build a city in the desert using cutting edge technology and design science for a kind of INDUSTRIAL PERMACULTURE, a truly closed loop, fossil fuel anf debt free transitional system to model what is possible for all humanity. This is part one of an epic dialogue exploring these collaborative partnerships, the future of TVP, and going through Simon's immensely detailed plan, the purple transition. #fossilfuels #sustainability #resourcebasedeconomy #thevenusproject #jacquefresco #degrowth
Cross-post from our brilliant partner channel World Beyond Capitalism, hosted by Arjang Jameh! Be sure to visit his channel to learn more about what a different world could look like and how we could get there, together: www.youtube.com/@WorldBeyondCapitalism EVOLUTION is the death of the old species and the messy, experimental birth of something new...and so we present VENUS EVOLUTIONS, the next phase of the greatest vision for the transformation of human society yet created. On this podcast we are joined by Roxanne Meadows and Nathaniel Dinwiddie of TVP and the great Simon Michaux to discuss their partnership to develop and actually build the city of the future and adapt a real alternative beyond the failing establishment's phony green transition. This is a deep dive into Simon's trailblazing PLAN to build a city in the desert using cutting edge technology and design science for a kind of INDUSTRIAL PERMACULTURE, a truly closed loop, fossil fuel anf debt free transitional system to model what is possible for all humanity. This is part one of an epic dialogue exploring these collaborative partnerships, the future of TVP, and going through Simon's immensely detailed plan, the purple transition. #sustainability #fossilfuels #degrowth
Simon Michaux is an associate professor at the Geological Survey of Finland who is obsessed with ensuring humanity survives the transition away from fossil fuels that he and many others see looming on the horizon. We've previously spoken with him about his “purple transition,” his thorium reactor, ammonia engine, and alternative battery chemistry vision for a resource balanced future (Ep 259) and about the inspiration he's gleaned for his work from the Jacques Fresco and Venus Project (Ep 275). In this third installment, we dig into the details of Simon's Prometheus Project, both in context of what kind of resources are necessary to build an ambitious demonstration city in a mineral rich region of the Peruvian desert, and in context of what kind of people he needs to make his plans become a reality. Can Simon succeed where so many others have failed? Sign up for our Patreon and get episodes early + join our weekly Patron Chat https://bit.ly/3lcAasB AND rock some Demystify Gear to spread the word: https://demystifysci.myspreadshop.com/ OR do your Amazon shopping through this link: https://amzn.to/4g2cPVV (00:00) Go! Overview of the Prometheus Project (00:13:23) Utopian Ideals and Human Nature (00:23:26) Cultural contrasts in literature (00:28:00) Engineering against environmental challenges (00:34:00) Collaborative decision-making in Finland (00:44:21) Social dynamics in planned societies (00:52:16) Formulating a new social contract (01:15:04) Sustainable Development in Challenging Environments (01:29:25) Defenses Against External Threats (01:38:39) Nuclear Technology and Geopolitical Considerations (01:49:23) Grassroots Funding and Project Launch (02:10:04) Challenges in integrating financial sustainability into visionary projects (02:19:04) The role of technology in solving resource challenges (02:33:00) Challenges of societal transition #sciencepodcast, #longformpodcast, #Sustainability, #FutureCities, #RegenerativeAgriculture, #UtopianSocieties, #Permaculture, #ClimateAction, #EnergyTransition, #GroupDynamics, #SocialContracts, #CircularEconomy, #SmartCities, #EcoInnovation, #Resilience, #GreenTechnology, #Degrowth, #GeothermalEnergy, #UrbanPlanning, #Sisu, #SustainableDevelopment, #RenewableEnergy, #SocialInnovation, #FinlandInnovation, #CollaborativeEconomy, #CommunityBuilding, #TechForGood, #ResourceBasedEconomy, #FutureOfWork, #EnvironmentalEngineering, #NuclearEnergy, #GeopoliticalStrategy Check our short-films channel, @DemystifySci: https://www.youtube.com/c/DemystifyingScience AND our material science investigations of atomics, @MaterialAtomics https://www.youtube.com/@MaterialAtomics Join our mailing list https://bit.ly/3v3kz2S PODCAST INFO: Anastasia completed her PhD studying bioelectricity at Columbia University. When not talking to brilliant people or making movies, she spends her time painting, reading, and guiding backcountry excursions. Shilo also did his PhD at Columbia studying the elastic properties of molecular water. When he's not in the film studio, he's exploring sound in music. They are both freelance professors at various universities. - Blog: http://DemystifySci.com/blog - RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/2be66934/podcast/rss - Donate: https://bit.ly/3wkPqaD - Swag: https://bit.ly/2PXdC2y SOCIAL: - Discord: https://discord.gg/MJzKT8CQub - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DemystifySci - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DemystifySci/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/DemystifySci MUSIC: -Shilo Delay: https://g.co/kgs/oty671
The Venus Project was started in the 1980s by Jacques Fresco and Roxanne Meadows with the aim of showing that it was possible to lead a more human centered existence… as long as you built outside of the capitalist market system. Over the decades, the fortunes of the project have fluctuated - from an initial burst of enthusiasm and action (Meadows and Fresco built almost all the structures on the property by hand themselves) to the grinding reality of what it means to grow a stable and vibrant community, to the immense surge of popularity just as Fresco's life came to an end. Project members Roxanne Meadows and Nate Dwindiddie come by the show with previous guest Simon Michaux to talk about the failures and successes of the project, and what it might look like when its reborn as the framework for Michaux's Prometheus Project. Sign up for our Patreon and get episodes early + join our weekly Patron Chat https://bit.ly/3lcAasB AND rock some Demystify Gear to spread the word: https://demystifysci.myspreadshop.com/ OR do your Amazon shopping through this link for Fresco's work: https://amzn.to/3WNYMdx (00:00) Go! (00:01:10) Evolution from Venus Project to Prometheus Project (00:02:45) Challenges and Iterations in Alternative Social Systems (00:05:19) Vision for Societal Change (00:22:59) Fresco's Innovations in Architecture and Design (00:29:34) Technocracy Inc. and its Influence on Jacques Fresco (00:31:53) Jacques Fresco's Impact on Science Fiction (00:39:20) Jacques Fresco's Move to Venus, Florida and Community Building (00:44:54) Jacque Fresco's Vision and Beginnings (46:18) Social Engineering and Technological Innovation (47:41) Shift from Technical Designs to Social Values (49:13) Impact of Digital Age and Global Outreach (51:44) Jacque Fresco's Vision for a Resource-Based Economy (57:14) Simon Michaux and Continuing Fresco's Legacy (01:09:18) Sustainable City Design (01:13:36) Challenges and Successes of the Venus Project (01:19:12) Funding and Economic Models (01:26:02) Experimentation with Alternative Systems (01:31:20) Building a City According to Jacque Fresco's Design (01:32:41) Research Institute and Industrial Clusters in the City (01:37:02) Shifting Focus: Optimizing for Quality of Life (01:53:08) Community Structure and Stability (01:56:19) Societal Experiments and Human Nature (02:00:11) Advancements in System Science (02:05:14) Urban Living and Cultural Development (02:14:33) The Future Vision of The Venus Project (02:15:01) The Role of Advisory Board in The Venus Project (02:16:52) Educational Initiatives at The Venus Project (02:18:27) Prometheus: Testing and Innovating Building Materials #sciencepodcast, #longformpodcast, #VenusProject, #PrometheusProject, #JackFresco, #ResourceBasedEconomy, #SustainableCities, #SocialRedesign, #TechnocracyMovement, #FutureOfSociety, #UtopianDesign, #CircularEconomy, #AlternativeSociety, #EcoInnovation, #SocialExperiment, #FutureTech, #GlobalSolutions Check our short-films channel, @DemystifySci: https://www.youtube.com/c/DemystifyingScience AND our material science investigations of atomics, @MaterialAtomics https://www.youtube.com/@MaterialAtomics Join our mailing list https://bit.ly/3v3kz2S PODCAST INFO: Anastasia completed her PhD studying bioelectricity at Columbia University. When not talking to brilliant people or making movies, she spends her time painting, reading, and guiding backcountry excursions. Shilo also did his PhD at Columbia studying the elastic properties of molecular water. When he's not in the film studio, he's exploring sound in music. They are both freelance professors at various universities. - Blog: http://DemystifySci.com/blog - RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/2be66934/podcast/rss - Donate: https://bit.ly/3wkPqaD - Swag: https://bit.ly/2PXdC2y
Dr. Simon Michaux is a professor of geometallurgy at the Geological Survey of Finland. After having spent several years in private industry, he was laid off during one of the regular busts that inevitably accompany booms in the mining sector. In that period, Simon found a new appreciation for the material basis of civilization while taking temporary work as an organic farmer. When he returned to intellectual work as a professor, he brought this real-world understanding to geopolitical assessments, presenting his analyses to everyone from economists to UN delegations. Ultimately, what separates Simon from his peers is his ability to suggest a realistic solution set to the difficulty of planning a technologically accelerating future within the confines of a fundamentally finite material ecosystem. He lays out a set of alternative approaches to nuclear power, combustion power, and engines that will absolutely make you stop and reconsider the possibilities. His presentation begins with the idea that we may be running out of petroleum, but that doesn't mean we have to be running out of fuel. A subsequent podcast will explore Simon's ongoing work to demonstrate his principles in an idealized city-of-the future in the desert of Peru. More on his Prometheus Project to come, very soon. Sign up for our Patreon and get episodes early + join our weekly Patron Chat https://bit.ly/3lcAasB 00:00 Go! 00:07:41 How I got here and what's the problem 00:15:19 Why the green revolution will fail 00:24:27 Getting involved in government work 00:31:23 An endless war for oil 00:34:59 Are we past peak oil? 00:44:26 an explosion in volatility across the board 00:53:05 Is debt spiraling out of control? 01:02:56 What does joining BRICS look like? 01:09:38 An argument for moving away from oil that has nothing to do with supply or pollution 01:19:56 Productivity and post-oil economies 01:28:53 Resourcing the transition 01:37:41 What are the alternatives? 01:51:42 The Purple Transition 01:56:25 Thorium Molten Salt Reactor 02:14:06 Where does anti-nuclear come from? 02:21:14 Combustion of Iron Powder 02:32:50 Novel battery tech 02:35:46 Ammonia internal combustion engines 02:45:03 Closing thoughts #sciencepodcast #longformpodcast #Geometallurgy, #SimonMichaux, #GeologicalSurvey, #OrganicFarming, #MaterialBasis, #Civilization, #GeopoliticalAssessments, #SustainableEnergy, #TechnologicalFuture, #FiniteResources, #NuclearPower, #AlternativeEnergy, #Petroleum, #FuelAlternatives, #MiningIndustry, #EnergySolutions, #RenewableEnergy, #EcoInnovation, #PrometheusProject, #FutureCities, #Prometheusproject #venusproject Check our short-films channel, @DemystifySci: https://www.youtube.com/c/DemystifyingScience AND our material science investigations of atomics, @MaterialAtomics https://www.youtube.com/@MaterialAtomics Join our mailing list https://bit.ly/3v3kz2S PODCAST INFO: Anastasia completed her PhD studying bioelectricity at Columbia University. When not talking to brilliant people or making movies, she spends her time painting, reading, and guiding backcountry excursions. Shilo also did his PhD at Columbia studying the elastic properties of molecular water. When he's not in the film studio, he's exploring sound in music. They are both freelance professors at various universities. - Blog: http://DemystifySci.com/blog - RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/2be66934/podcast/rss - Donate: https://bit.ly/3wkPqaD - Swag: https://bit.ly/2PXdC2y SOCIAL: - Discord: https://discord.gg/MJzKT8CQub - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DemystifySci - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DemystifySci/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/DemystifySci MUSIC: -Shilo Delay: https://g.co/kgs/oty671
Jun 14, 2024 – Financial Sense Newshour's Jim Puplava speaks with energy expert Robert Bryce and mining engineer Simon Michaux about the long-term outlook for resources and mining in light of green energy policies and China's 2050 plan...
Renewables cannot power the world we know. Dr. Simon Michaux from the Geological Survey of Finland crunched the numbers: not enough time, and not enough metals. In this unique interview on Rachel Donald's PlanetCritical broadcast, Michaux explains the limits – and what we …
Happy New Year. My guest this week is a long term friend of the podcast. Dr Simon Michaux has been a physicist and geologist and then became an expert in the reality of the circular economy. He now works in the Geological Survey of Finland and is a regular advisor to the Finnish parliament. The day after we recorded this podcast, he was talking to the British consulate in Helsinki and in the last year, he's explained the reality of where we're at over 200 times, and one third of those talks was to governments around the world. He's been extraordinarily generous with his time on Accidental Gods. He was with us in podcasts number 172, 175, 183 and 184 with a series of excoriating, fact-filled, grounded, lucid conversations on the reality of the transition we face, so who better to start us off into 2024 with a conversation about where the world is going, where it could go, where it might go, where it should go in the coming year. This was one of our longest ever podcasts and truly, my brain had turned to slurry and was leaking out of my ears by the end, but Simon's ideas of how we could build a different way of being - and his ability to turn ideas into action feels revolutionary to me in the best possible way. We talked for hours. Many ours - and because we ended up defaulting to Zoom for the recording so we do have a video - the entire unexpurgated hours of which we will put up on YouTube - so if you want to see Simon's slides, head over there. But Caro has edited this down to the highlights so that it makes for easier listening, even so, we're spanning more than one podcast. At the time of recording, I don't know exactly how many, but we'll release them all at once, so just let your favourite podcast provider just stream them all for you. One thing to say before we head into the first conversation is that Simon has very kindly agreed to come back to join our Cutting Edge gathering on Sunday 19th March at 7pm UK time. He'll be with us for an hour during which you'll have a chance to ask him the questions that matter to you - all the things I don't think to ask - and then we'll have another hour together to explore ways each of us can ground what we're learning in our own lives. So you can sign up for this at accidentalgods.life - go to the Gatherings page. I've also put a link in the show notes. And while we're talking about Gatherings, there's still space on Dreaming Your Death Awake on Sunday 7th January. This is our chance really to delve deeply into the year just gone, and look ahead at how we want to shape our attention and intention for the year that's coming. After all the outward connection of the holiday season, this is a time to go inwards, to be kind to ourselves, to explore all that we can be and want to be. This, too, is part of our Accidental Gods tradition and we have people who've come year after year to give themselves the gift of time and space and the company of people who share the journey. So please do come along, we would love to share this time with you. I've put a link in the show notes and it's also on the website accidentalgods.life under the 'Gatherings' tab. Simon's Website https://www.simonmichaux.com/Prometheus Project link to follow Episode 172 https://accidentalgods.life/transforming-industry-to-create-a-genuine-green-revolution/Episode 175 https://accidentalgods.life/drawing-humanity-out-of-the-cave-with-dr-simon-michaux/Episode 183 https://accidentalgods.life/lifeboats-and-volcanoes-part-3-of-our-series-with-simon-michaux/Episode 184 https://accidentalgods.life/bonus-reality-check-less-quantity-more-quality-in-a-future-that-will-work-part-4-with-simon-michaux/Cutting Edge - come and meet Simon - ask him your questions - and we'll gather afterwards to see how we can apply all we're learning in our own lives https://accidentalgods.life/the-logistical-realities-of-our-world/
Welcome to the second part of our conversation - if you haven't listened to the first part, please do so - it's here [LINK]and Simon has very kindly agreed to come back to join our Cutting Edge gathering on Sunday 19th March at 7pm UK time. He'll be with us for an hour during which you'll have a chance to ask him the questions that matter to you - all the things I don't think to ask - and then we'll have another hour together to explore ways each of us can ground what we're learning in our own lives. So you can sign up for this at accidentalgods.life - go to the Gatherings page. I've also put a link in the show notes. And while we're talking about Gatherings, there's still space on Dreaming Your Death Awake on Sunday 7th January. This is our chance really to delve deeply into the year just gone, and look ahead at how we want to shape our attention and intention for the year that's coming. After all the outward connection of the holiday season, this is a time to go inwards, to be kind to ourselves, to explore all that we can be and want to be. This, too, is part of our Accidental Gods tradition and we have people who've come year after year to give themselves the gift of time and space and the company of people who share the journey. So please do come along, we would love to share this time with you. I've put a link in the show notes and it's also on the website accidentalgods.life under the 'Gatherings' tab. Prometheus Project Link: Episode 172 https://accidentalgods.life/transforming-industry-to-create-a-genuine-green-revolution/Episode 175 https://accidentalgods.life/drawing-humanity-out-of-the-cave-with-dr-simon-michaux/Episode 183 https://accidentalgods.life/lifeboats-and-volcanoes-part-3-of-our-series-with-simon-michaux/Episode 184 https://accidentalgods.life/bonus-reality-check-less-quantity-more-quality-in-a-future-that-will-work-part-4-with-simon-michaux/Cutting Edge - come and meet Simon - ask him your questions - and we'll gather afterwards to see how we can apply all we're learning in our own lives https://accidentalgods.life/the-logistical-realities-of-our-world/
Renewables cannot power the world we know. Dr. Simon Michaux from the Geological Survey of Finland crunched the numbers: not enough time, and not enough metals. In this unique interview on Rachel Donald's PlanetCritical broadcast, Michaux explains the limits – and what we …
Our guest this week is host of one of my must-listen podcasts - one I've been following since the spring, when Dr Simon Michaux mailed me and said, you need to listen to Rachel - and he was right. Rachel Donald is host of Planet: Critical one of the world's top-rated podcasts on the poly-crisis and systems change. She interviews some really big players on the world stage with integrity and panache - her conversation with Alastair Campbell where she never lets him off the hook is an absolute exemplar of how to hold power to account and I think we're seeing the change in real time on his podcast with Rory Stewart. When she's not podcasting, Rachel is a climate corruption journalist who investigates why the world is in crisis—and what to do about it. With world exclusives in major papers, Rachel investigates the gaslighting which props up our broken systems. She travels the world talking on - and off - the record to heads of government and oil industry executives, to the people who make our current system tick and who are often just as afraid as we are about the direction and speed of travel towards the edge of the extinction cliff. Rachel has an almost unique insight into the nature of the systemic catastrophe we've built for ourselves and therefore of the ways we might address it. This was a bracing conversation. There are no easy answers and I had some of my rosier tinted lenses broken along the way. But in the end we came to the place we often get to with this podcast - that building communities of place, purpose and passion where we value each other, and our capacity to love bravely is what might - perhaps - bring us to the emergent edge of inter-becoming that Indy Johar spoke of a few weeks ago. So brace yourselves, this is not an easy podcast, but we need to know where we're at so we can let go - again - ever more completely - of our assumptions about business as usual and do whatever we can, wherever we are, to be that emergent edge. Planet: Critical podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/planet-critical/id1545009586Planet: Critical website https://www.planetcritical.com/Rachel on Twitter https://twitter.com/CrisisReportsRachel on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-donald/Diem25 - Democracy in Europe Movement https://diem25.org/en/
Green energy, it turns out, is something of a myth. And, given all that's at stake, a rather dangerous myth. Welcome to this Off The Cuff podcast with Professor Simon Michaux.
Our guest this week is Hugo Spowers, Company Architect of Riversimple, whose purpose is 'To pursue, systematically, the elimination of the environmental impact of personal transport.' Modernity demands that we have personal transport and the thought of giving it up is one of the many sticking points when people try to imagine a way through to a regenerative future: nobody wants to be limited to their immediate vicinity for work, leisure or social connection. At the same time, we're becoming increasingly aware of the limitations of electric vehicles - Simon Michaux has explained in detail the logistical limitations to rare earth batteries, and the environmental catastrophe created by their miningWhich is what makes the Riversimple's hydrogen fuel cell car so transformative. They've gone right back to the basics of what makes a car in the first place and then how could it be made better - not just lighter and more efficient and fuelled by something that doesn't create greenhouse gases - but how could it be made so that the aims of the manufacturer and the customer are aligned - and both are aiming for a habitable planet. On its own, this would be inspiring - but Riversimple doesn't stop there. The company is structured with the innovative - and I genuinely believe transformative - 'Future Guardian Governance model' - Hugo describes this in near the end of the podcast so I won't go into it here, but it seems to me that if every company in the world shifted to this model tomorrow, by the day after, we'd be on our way to healing many aspects of the meta-crisis. So with this in mind, sit back and prepared for a fundamental shift in how we see our role in the world and how we could move towards the future we need, with Hugo Spowers of Riversimple. Riversimple https://www.riversimple.com/RIversimple Subscription model https://www.riversimple.com/subscription/Riversimple Future Guardian governance model https://www.riversimple.com/governance/Invest in Riversimple here https://www.riversimple.com/investment/Paul Hawken 'The Ecology of Commerce' https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-ecology-of-commerce-revised-edition-a-declaration-of-sustainability-paul-hawken/883510?ean=9780061252792
This week's episode showcases an insightful discussion between the Geological Survey of Finland's associate professor Simon Michaux and host Adrian Pocobelli about the challenges and solutions in the green energy transition. Michaux acknowledges the necessity of moving away from fossil fuels but critiques the current green energy strategies as impractical due to supply limitations. He advocates for alternative energy sources like geothermal and thorium, highlighting their potential as practical solutions to the energy crisis and exploring the challenges they must overcome to effectively replace traditional wind and solar power. All this and more with host Adrian Pocobelli. Music Credits: “Rattlesnake Railroad”, “Big Western Sky”, “Western Adventure” and “Battle on the Western Frontier” by Brett Van Donsel (www.incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Oct 20, 2023 – After this week's market wrap-up and technical take, Financial Sense Newshour's Jim Puplava speaks with Simon Michaux and Robert Bryce about the resource and cost problem facing green energy...
“All of those sectors are rapidly changing and the incumbent industries in those sectors are going to collapse. This is being driven by economic dynamics. It's going to happen.”What if the only viable future is a better one?Whatever the future holds, one thing is certain: tomorrow's world will not look like today's. We could see fossil-fascism in which nations hoard their fossil reserves (coal and gas) for accelerated use at the expense of international collaboration. We could see eco-fascism after an unplanned recession which crashes the financial system and slashes demand. We could see a descent into madness in which we run out of fuel to heat, to eat, to survive.We could also see degrowth, eco-socialism, renewable sharing and governance reimagined to meet human rights. No, this isn't utopia—it's laid out in the policy plans of many scholars around the world as one of the only paths to navigating the planetary crisis.Systems theorist Nafeez Ahmed joins me to discuss the interconnected grid—a piece of renewable infrastructure which, by its design, would change our economic system, our geopolitics and our relationship with one another. Nafeez debated Simon Michaux a few months ago, and I highly recommend listening to these episodes as a trio: Nafeez, Simon, the debate.Planet: Critical investigates why the world is in crisis—and what to do about it. Support the project with a paid subscription. Get full access to Planet: Critical at www.planetcritical.com/subscribe
Cost-of-living pressures are increasing, no end in sight to power price pain, a courageous woman stands up to climate protestors. Plus, Simon Michaux joins the show to discuss the reality of getting to net zero. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Our guest this week is Max Ajl, who is an associate researcher with the Tunisian Observatory for Food Sovereignty and the Environment and a postdoctoral fellow with the Rural Sociology Group at Wageningen University. He has written for multiple journals and is an associate editor at Agrarian South & Journal of Labor and Society. It was his 2021, his book, 'A People's Green New Deal', published by Pluto Press, that brought Max to my attention. If you've been listening to the podcast for any length of time, you'll know that one of our regular contributors, Simon Michaux, is adamant that the material flows for the various posited Green New Deals don't exist - that they are logistical impossibilities. But what Max argues strongly and with brilliant clarity in his book and elsewhere, is why these things should not happen even if they could: why they are better viewed as extensions of the Giant Vampire Squid wrapped around the face of humanity (not his phrase) - and that there's a better, much more deeply green set of ideas and ideals based in actual earth connection, the restoration of what should be fundamental human rights across the world and the widespread implementation of agro-ecological principles. His book seems to me an eco-socialist manifesto and while its values are closely aligned with the podcast, the nature of this as a political theoretical and practical concept is not something we'd previously explored on the podcast. So now we have. In the course of our early discussion, we touched on the Cochamamba Peoples' Agreement - and then never came back to it. So very briefly, I'd like to fill you in, because this agreement is both an internationally agreed document and, in itself, a statement of core ecosocialist principles. The conference from which it arose took place in April 2010, when more than 35,000 people from 140 countries gathered in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and developed a consensus-based document reflecting substantive solutions to the climate crisis. Two things arise immediately. First, thirteen years on, we would call it the climate, ecological and cultural crisis. Second, and more important than the semantics - much though they matter - was the ways this agreement came into being. There were 17 working groups, and a lot of effort was put into consensus building - working out what mattered and what worked, or could be imagined to work - not the failed COP process of deleting anything that offends a member state until you have a basically meaningless document. I've attached links in the show notes and I really recommend you follow them, because it is profoundly important. It is, in fact, the framework we need to work towards. What's distressing is that it's over 13 years old and hardly anyone in the hegemonic nations of what Max Ajl calls the core - as opposed to the periphery - has heard about it and still fewer care. So we need to change that. If you do one thing after this podcast, as Max says, it'll be to join an organisation. If you do two things, the second will be to tell people about the Cochabamba People's Agreement. And Max's book. The sound quality was not the best. but Alan has woven his production magic and I hope your ears will accept the result as a price worth paying for the ideas we explore here. A People's Green New Deal https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745341750/a-peoples-green-new-deal/Cochabamba People's Climate Agreement https://www.climateemergencyinstitute.com/uploads/Peoples_climate_agreement.pdfand https://archive.globalpolicy.org/social-and-economic-policy/the-environment/climate-change/49253-need-for-recognition-of-cochabamba-peoples-agreement-in-un-climate-negotiations.htmlLandworkers' Alliance https://landworkersalliance.org.uk/La Via Campesina https://viacampesina.org/en/Colin Duncan The Centrality of Agriculture https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-centrality-of-agriculture-between-humankind-and-the-rest-of-nature-colin-a-m-duncan/3518385?ean=9780773513631Selimah Vaiani Rethinking Unequal Exchange: the global integration of nursing labour markets https://utorontopress.com/us/rethinking-unequal-exchange-4
So do we have enough materials for a renewable economy or not? A few months ago, the energy-Twittersphere exploded into debate over Simon Michaux's report detailing how we lack enough materials and minerals for a renewable economy. I interviewed Simon, a researcher at GTK Finland, about this report, in which he laid out the lack of raw materials and the ecological cost of mining which will impede a renewable energy future.The report was divisive, with anyone and everyone weighing in on the debate, and more than some name-calling online. Nafeez Ahmed, a systems researcher and investigative journalist who has been reporting on the environment for 20 years, published a detailed piece “debunking” Simon's report. It caused another stir online, with calls for a debate between the two tweeted from around the world.Watching this unfold, I was concerned by how those on the same side of the fight can end up at odds, and bemused by the vitriol I witnessed on Twitter in both Simon and Nafeez's name. Simply, if we can't learn to speak with one another, what's the point?They were both quick to agree to a debate, and had already been engaging over email on the topic. We go into the technical details of the report but also discuss the polarisation of science, the processing of information, the politics and tribalism driving conversation, before exploring the benefits of how an energy transformation can truly transform society.Planet: Critical investigates why the world is in crisis—and what to do about it. Support the project with a paid subscription. Get full access to Planet: Critical at www.planetcritical.com/subscribe
This is the fourth of our ongoing series with Dr Simon Michaux. As ever, we ranged far and wide, but this time within the remit of 'what does the world look like in 2050 if we make good choices now?' Specifically, how do we construct and power our civilisation beyond the emergence of the new system. And yes, that's impossible to predict exactly, but it's not overly hard to make some basic observations - that we'll have phased out fossil fuels; that we'll reduce our inputs and outputs; that we'll live more simple, but higher quality lives. Specifically, we narrowed down on possible energy sources, and Simon proposed something which has been known for decades, but not put into practice, once again, with his trademark data to support his thesis. This one is genuinely hopeful - though of course we'll have to completely rearrange our entire value system to put the living biosphere (current and future) ahead of profit - but we do know this... Enjoy!Confessions of an Economic Hitman - Animated Short version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYtb5zatgMgNaomi Klein Shock Doctrine https://naomiklein.org/the-shock-doctrine/
On this inaugural episode of Reality Roundtable, Nate is joined by Art Berman, Simon Michaux, and Pedro Prieto to discuss the viability of scaling electric vehicles and what role they could play in the future. Electric vehicles have become increasingly more popular in recent years, and in tandem more polarizing and controversial. Art, Simon, Pedro, and Nate join together for a multi-faceted conversation jam packed with expertise and insight about the reality of EVs. Are plans for dramatically increasing the production of electric vehicles as a replacement for internal combustion vehicles materially, economically, or even infrastructurally possible? Are current EV initiatives taking a science-based systems approach towards this massive economic, environmental, and cultural shift or are they rooted in energy blindness? About Arthur Berman: Arthur E. Berman is a petroleum geologist with 36 years of oil and gas industry experience. He is an expert on U.S. shale plays and is currently consulting for several E&P companies and capital groups in the energy sector. About Pedro Prieto: Pedro is the vice president of the Asociación para el Estudio de los Recursos Energéticos (AEREN). AEREN is an open space for debate and communications on energy issues and their role in demography, development, economy and ecology. Pedro was a member of the board at ASPO International with AEREN representing ASPO in Spain. Since 2004, Pedro has led several solar photovoltaic projects in Spain, a leading world country in solar PV penetration. Pedro co-authored Spain's Photovoltaic Revolution. The Energy Return on Investment, that challenged the conventional energy boundaries considered up to the moment for calculations. About Simon Michaux: Dr. Simon Michaux is an Associate Professor of Geometallurgy at the Geological Survey of Finland. He has a PhD in mining engineering. Dr. Michaux's long-term work is on societal transformation toward a circular economy. For Show Notes and More visit: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/rr01-berman-michaux-prieto To watch this video episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/5stPFdegJpg
This week's guest is fast becoming a friend of the Podcast. In the first part of what is now an ongoing series, Dr Simon Michaux outlined for us the nature of the materials crisis - the fact that there is simply not enough stuff, not enough copper or cobalt or lithium to continue to manufacture at the levels we have been - and there's not even enough to make the renewable (or, as Nate Hagens would call them, rebuildable) technology to replace the fossil fuel power we're going to have to stop using. If you haven't listened to these two, please do, because lot of this conversation is predicated on that one, and on our second podcast where we looked at Michaux's hierarchy of needs and really delved into power generation in more depth. I had planned that we'd look more at the remaining five of Simon's hierarchy of needs in this conversation, but - like most of these podcasts - the plan went out of the window when I asked how he was doing and it was clear that he'd been having some really interesting conversations. And so we went with this - because it seems to me that if the people who get it are multiplying, then it's useful for us to know this - we can support the narratives that unpick the 'business as usual' dynamics and begin to look forward to what will work. That's the core of this podcast - what can we do, how can we do it - and how can we ensure that enough people get this to create a global movement. We had to cut off faster than we'd like, so there will be (at least) a podcast four!Simon Michaux Podcast 1 https://accidentalgods.life/transforming-industry-to-create-a-genuine-green-revolution/Simon Michaux Podcast 2 https://accidentalgods.life/drawing-humanity-out-of-the-cave-with-dr-simon-michaux/Gail Tverberg 'Our Infinite World: https://ourfiniteworld.com/William Rees: https://www.postcarbon.org/our-people/william-rees/GOES REPORT http://goesfoundation.com/news/posts/2021/june/plastic-and-toxic-chemical-induced-ocean-acidification-is-causing-a-plankton-crisis-and-will-devastate-humanity-in-the-next-25-years/
Simon is a mining engineer who both researches the minerals and mining necessary if we were to try powering our culture with various sources. His work has brought him to work with government teams, especially economists and politicians around the world.He shares in our conversation that we will transition to a low-energy future, what it will take, and how little we have tried to figure out if we can do it. It's worrying to hear how poorly we understand the problem, how unprepared we are now, and how poorly we are preparing ourselves.What he shares is challenging to process considering the risk for catastrophe coming up. Situations like he describes is why I act so much. If you think scientists, engineers, politicians, or anyone understands the situation better than you and you can have faith people smarter than you will solve it, don't hold your breath.I don't understand how people don't take responsibility, prioritize solving these problems, and act.Simon's home pageLink to GTK videos: There Are Bottlenecks in Raw Materials Supply Chain – A Glimpse of the Systemic Overview Is Here, Discussion and the Development of the Solutions Have StartedSummary of report: Assessment of the Extra Capacity Required of Alternative Energy Electrical Power Systems to Completely Replace Fossil Fuels, which also links to videos Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Meet Mark Jacobson and David Keith, the leading techno-fixologists who overpromise overhyped “solutions” to the climate conundrum. Please share this episode with your friends and start a conversation.Warning: This podcast occasionally uses spicy language.For an entertaining deep dive into the theme of season five (Phalse Prophets), read the definitive peer-reviewed taxonomic analysis from our very own Jason Bradford, PhD. Sources/Links/Notes:The Solutions ProjectCarbon EngineeringDavid W. Keith et al., "A Process for Capturing CO2 from the Atmosphere," Joule, August 15, 2018.Christopher T. M. Clack et al., "Evaluation of a proposal for reliable low-cost grid power with 100% wind, water, and solar," PNAS, June 19, 2017.Natanael Bolson, P. Prieto, and T. Patzek, "Capacity factors for electrical power generation from renewable and nonrenewable sources," PNAS, December 20, 2022.Simon Michaux's websiteRichard Heinberg, "Can Civilization Survive? These Studies Might Tell Us," Resilience, December 19, 2022.Average household electricity consumptionDavid Fridley and Richard Heinberg, "Can Climate Change Be Stopped by Turning Air Into Gasoline?," Renewable Energy World, June 19, 2018.Mark Jacobson on Late Night with David LettermanJames R. Martin, "Energy Transition & the Luxury Economy," Resilience, October 31, 2022.Yamina Saheb, Kai Kuhnhenn, and Juliane Schumacher, "It's a Very Western Vision of the World," Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung.Mark Z. Jacobson et al., "Low-cost solutions to global warming, air pollution, and energy insecurity for 145 countries," Energy & Environmental Science (2022).Nicole Jewell, "Leading Stanford climate scientist builds incredible net zero home, complete with Tesla Powerwall," In Habitat (2017).Raymond Pierrehumbert, "The trouble with geoengineers 'hacking the planet'," Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (2017).Support the show
In this episode, Simon Michaux returns to discuss his new paper “A Resource Balanced Economy”, which outlines an alternative economic and social system. This conversation builds off of his two previous episodes on The Great Simplification, unpacking the ideas and tools that will be helpful in planning for an unknown future with more energy and material constraints. How can we be more intentional about the design of our technology to make products that are longer lasting and easier to reuse? How can we organize society to create resilient communities based around actual human needs, rather than endless efficiency geared towards growth? Can an ‘Arcadian Blueprint' emerge, and at what scale, and by whom? About Simon Michaux: Dr. Simon Michaux is an Associate Professor of Geometallurgy at the Geological Survey of Finland. He has a PhD in mining engineering. Dr. Michaux's long-term work is on societal transformation toward a circular economy. For Show Notes and More visit: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/68-simon-michaux To watch this video episode on Youtube → https://youtu.be/bb801wdRULM
You can't go green without going small.Our fossil-fuelled economy is destabilising the planet. But a renewable economy might not be much better. Simon Michaux and his team at the Geological Survey of Finland have been researching how much minerals and materials we have on earth to build our renewable energy. They've found that we simply do not have enough—and mining for those materials would bears a huge environmental cost.On this episode, Simon walks us through the research, the possible outcomes from calculated energy contraction to collapse, what policymakers are doing with this information, and how the geopolitics of the US-China proxy war could make the green transition impossible for the West.“Renewables get cheaper when it's still a small system. But if it can be shown that we don't have enough minerals in the ground to make a replacement system, we will hit an asymptote in the market where all of a sudden there's now scarcity of metal supply, and the systems you want to use are no longer available on the market…“So when I say s**t's gonna get real, it's when the mining industry now has to run in a situation where it is on non-fossil fuel systems only; the manufacturing supply chain at the moment is only conceptual and we just haven't thought it through. Fossil fuels are a hidden subsidy for everything. Take that away and you've now got a hidden penalty.“I think a lot of mining and a lot of manufacturing will just simply stop.”Planet: Critical investigates why the world is in crisis—and what to do about it. Support the project with a paid subscription.© Rachel Donald Get full access to Planet: Critical at www.planetcritical.com/subscribe
IF the present system is broken - and is in fact the heart of the meta-crisis - how can we transform peacefully to something that will work to create the future we'd want to leave behind? That's the core question of this podcast and so it was with great joy, that I found Dark Matter Labs. DML says of itself, "We're working to create institutions, instruments and infrastructures for a more equitable, caring and sustainable future.Around the planet, we're feeling the consequences of outdated institutions and inadequate infrastructures incapable of coping with planetary-scale challenges. At Dark Matter, we believe in taking on these challenges via a new, civic economy. An economy that's community-led, and based on many-to-many relationships. An economy that prioritises mental wellbeing and Nature-based Solutions as platforms for further change. We're an ambitious not-for-profit designing and building the underlying infrastructure to support this new civic economy, exploring how ownership, legal systems, governance … might begin to change." Which sounds exactly like what we need in our world as we head to the edge of total transition - and exactly what this podcast is about. So I asked if there was someone I could talk to - and connected with Emily Harris. Emily is a Chartered Accountant. She also holds an MA in Regenerative Economics (Distinction) from Schumacher College and a BSc in Medical Sciences from Imperial College. She trained with Deloitte in London and was a manager in their Big Ticket Restructuring Team during the 2008 global financial crisis.Prior to joining DML, Emily spent 11 years running her own consultancy business which took her all over the world and included a number of international CFO positions. In our current meta crisis, Emily has a view from both sides of one of our major divides - and now she's bringing all that experience, and a brilliantly sharp analytical mind to finding answers. Running after the conversations with Simon Michaux and Zahra Davidson, this feels like a further piece in the broader puzzle of how we are going to get from where we are, to where we need to be if we're going to create the future we want to leave behind. We spent a long time exploring Emily's background, so that I - and so you - would understand the depth she brings to this. And then we launched into what she's actually doing and it was really very inspiring. There is hope, and Emily and the teams at DML are at the core of our potential. Be ready to grasp the depth of the problem - and the many possibilities for change. Dark Matter Labs https://darkmatterlabs.org/DML on Medium https://provocations.darkmatterlabs.org/DML Medium on Financing Civic Transition https://provocations.darkmatterlabs.org/financing-city-transitions-a-public-civic-deep-code-innovation-challenge-9f2ef55b4bdaNora Bateson Aphanipoiesis https://norabateson.medium.com/aphanipoiesis-96d8aed927bcGillian Tett Warrior Accountants Leading the Green Revolution https://youtu.be/jR0n8mekzro
This week, we're returning to the second part of the ongoing series with Dr Simon Michaux. If you haven't listened to the first part, I'd recommend you do and I'll put the link in the show notes, but the edited highlight is that Simon is a mining engineer who is dedicated to crunching the numbers that nobody else bothers to crunch - of how much stuff there is: key stuff, like copper and lithium and cobalt and concrete - and where it comes from and how much power it takes to dig it up and move it around and where that power might come from. Our original plan for this 2nd part in our conversation was to explore Michaux' hierarchy of needs - the logistical things we'll need as we move to a low entropy, post-carbon, (which is to say, post-fossil-fuel) world. Everything in these conversations is predicated on the understanding that we've got to where we are by burning fossil fuels, which is to say concentrated ancient sunlight, laid down over millions of years - millions of years ago - and that this sudden access to vast quantities of readily transportable energy has changed who we are. Our civilisation is built on this stuff. But we haven't necessarily used it wisely. If I had time, I might write the counter-factual history where we discover oil in a culture that isn't predicated on power hierarchies and the accumulation of resources to the few by the many. But we don't live in that culture. We live in this one and we've burned more oil since 1995 than the whole of the rest of human history before that point. In doing so, we've brought ourselves to the point where the entire ecosystem on which we depend is breaking down and we need urgently to step back and think differently. Which is the entire point of this podcast - what does the thinking differently look like? How can we connect to the web of life in a way that allows us to play a constructive, regenerative part in a flourishing web? What are the spiritual and psychological and conceptual shifts this will take and how best can we make those shifts?In all those questions, I've tended to take for granted, for instance, the idea that we need to shift to renewable sources of power without actually thinking about whether that was a logistical possibility. Which is where Simon comes in because he does think about these things and he has the numbers to back it up. He gave his baseline talk 91 times in 2022 - sharpening it at every iteration - and now he's talking at governmental level to people who are listening, even if they don't yet know quite what to do. Unless you're listening in Scandinavia, he is probably not talking to your government. But he should be. So part of the reason for continuing the conversation is so that we - all of us who care - can get our heads around reality and then we can use that understanding to create governance systems that work. Link to Part 1 with Simon https://accidentalgods.life/transforming-industry-to-create-a-genuine-green-revolution/Balanced Resource Economy Paper https://www.centrumbalticum.org/files/5598/BSR_Policy_Briefing_2_2023.pdfSimon's Site https://www.simonmichaux.com/Alice Friedman site https://energyskeptic.com/Alice Friedman - When the Trucks Stop Running https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/27136955The Venus Project https://www.thevenusproject.com/Sam Harris TED Talk on AI https://youtu.be/8nt3edWLgIgBiomimicry Institute https://biomimicry.org/what-is-biomimicry/
Nearly a quarter of the way through the 21st century, there is no doubt that governments and businesses around the world have made tremendous progress in stemming their carbon emissions. But we still have a long way to go if we are to reach a goal of net zero emissions by 2050. For certain scientists, business owners, and public officials, net zero by 2050 is a chimera, and the costs associated with denying this reality will be tremendous. Replacing an entire global economy's reliance on fossil fuels will take enormous sums of money, a complete reprioritization of natural resources, and an ecological paradigm shift in the global citizenry. There are simply too many hurdles, some of which high beyond our reach, that will make this laudable goal yet another empty promise. not only achievable, but absolutely necessary to avoid the worst effects of climate change. Progress towards this goal in the last few years has been consistent. New technologies are on the horizon that will transform how we create, store, and transfer energy, as well as technology that will reduce carbon in the atmosphere. For the first time, it feels like the lion's share of the global community is pulling in the same direction. And when enough communities and governments are committed to the goal, they can and will move mountains. Arguing for the motion is Simon Michaux, Associate Professor of Geometallurgy at the Geological Survey of Finland. Dr. Michaux's long-term work is on societal transformation toward a circular economy and he advises the EU on how to best transfer from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Arguing against the motion is Tom Rand, Managing Partner of ArcTern Ventures and sits on the board of a number of clean energy companies and organizations. Tom's focus is on carbon mitigation as an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, author and speaker. Speaker Quotes SIMON MICHAUX: “The plan to phase out fossil fuels by 2050 or even go net-zero by 2050 is humongous and not practical”. TOM RAND: “This is the hardest thing we've ever tried to do, but we're getting some early indications that the economy is going to start shifting in a pretty serious way”. The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg. Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/ To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to podcast@munkdebates.com. To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership Members receive access to our 10+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/ Senior Producer: Jacob Lewis Editor: Adam Karch
How much actual stuff do we have in the world compared to what we need to make the 'Green Revolution' happen? This week's guest is another of those recently elevated to my pantheon of people I Must Listen To whatever they say and however they say it and I am genuinely thrilled to welcome him onto the podcast. Dr Simon Michaux has been a physicist and geologist. His PhD is in mining engineering and he worked for years in the mining industries in Australia. In 2015, he moved to Europe and became involved in urban mining, or reverse metallurgy, which is to say the recovery of essential minerals from existing waste - what we would call the beginnings of the circular economy - and from there, he moved to Scandinavia where he now works in the Geological Survey of Finland and is a regular advisor to the Finnish parliament. From all of which you will gather that Simon is deeply embedded in the actual physicality of the world we inhabit - and, because he's also committed to creating the future we want and need, he is growing ideas of the future we could inhabit. Of all the people I've encountered as I roam the digital web for ways we can shift our relationship with the living web, Simon is the one who has his finger on the actual logistics of what's going on - he can list the reasons why most of the targets for our transition away from fossil fuels are simply logistically impossible. It's not until you hear his crunching of the numbers that you begin to realise how much arm waving is going on in the corridors of power. How much raw self-delusion is being practice by the people who we still, at some deep subconscious level, trust to keep the show on the road. And I think we need to know this. It's hard. It's sobering. It's shocking, on many levels, but if we aren't grounded in reality then we're not going to build forward So hold onto your seats - this isn't easy, but we do need to know it. And then we need to plan our responses. Fast. (NB - that image is of a copper mine and the pollution from it is destroying an entire water system) https://www.simonmichaux.com/Assessment of the Extra Capacity Required of Alternative Energy Electrical Power Systems to Completely Replace Fossil Fuels https://tupa.gtk.fi/raportti/arkisto/42_2021.pdfAnswers to Hot Topics around the above report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdJH3tKjvzMWhat are the Raw Material Supply Bottlenecks to the Green Transition? The Need for a New Plan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o0xzCa2fLQNate Hagens and Simon, Part 1 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-great-simplification-with-nate-hagens/id1604218333?i=1000562226501Nate Hagens Part 2 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-great-simplification-with-nate-hagens/id1604218333?i=1000590149607
ENERGY IS LIMITED. OUR WORLD WILL CHANGE. TRUSTED INSTITUTIONS ARE BLIND. THE REST IS DETAILS. My guest is Simon Michaux. Simon's message is vital for understanding a future that is fast approaching, a future with limited energy, such that neither fossil fuels nor so-called renewable energy will be cheap or abundant as they are now. It's not that we won't have any energy, but at some point it's going to be a great deal more expensive. When it becomes more expensive, that expense is going to ripple through the economy, such that we will have no choice but to live with an economy that is much different from what we have now, and much different than anything being predicted or promoted either by the advocates of unlimited fossil fuels or the advocates of so-called renewable energy. No one knows all the details, because the future is famously hard to predict. But half the fossil fuels we've ever used we've burnt in the last 30 years. How long can that go on? Previously we have seen an increase in fossil fuel usage nearly every year for hundreds of years. We are at or near the peak of fossil fuel consumption. And we are looking at a future of declining fossil fuel consumption. Our economy is not designed for declining energy consumption. It is designed for ever increasing energy consumption. So when fossil fuel energy starts declining, it will be a very different economy, different from the economy that we've always lived with and taken for granted. The party is going to be over in the foreseeable future. It's just a question of when. It's time for us to start preparing for the future as it will be, and not live according to the fantasies we are fed by Madison Avenue, Wall Street, Congress and the Military Industrial Complex. These institutions are all energy blind and they are going to be blind sided when our economy gets transformed from what it is to what it will be. Simon Michaux is able to tell you about this inevitable future that no one is talking about. His work is very well researched. So please look up Simon Michaux on YouTube or Google and go from there.
According to geologist Simon Michaux, there aren’t enough metals and minerals to sustain the current global lifestyle, should we transition to Green technologies. For it to work, the world would require a vastly smaller population. Is there a hint in here somewhere regarding the Global Elite’s ideas about population reduction? DISCLAIMER: Views and opinions expressed ... The post Not Enough Minerals for Green Revolution appeared first on The New American.
Dr. Simon Michaux, Associate Professor at Geometallurgy at Geological Survey of Finland, discusses the minimum requirements for a net zero future, as well as the restraints on our renewables going forward. Read academic works by Dr. Michaux: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Simon-Michaux-2
As we move from our third to our fourth year, it seemed like a good time to look back on the origins of the whole Accidental Gods project - why and how we started and what our original aims were - and then to look forward to the coming year and what we're focussing on both on the podcast and within the membership. So much has changed even in such a short time. We're all more aware than ever of the tipping points around us, but also more aware of what we can do, of the many, many roles that are here to be filled by people who have time and energy and commitment to give to transforming the future. So this is a paean to possibility and a thank you to all who have been part of the journey this far. Upstream podcast with Della Duncan https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/upstream/id1082594532The Hive podcast with Nathalie Nahai https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-hive-podcast/id1387510537Richard Bartlett's blog: http://richdecibels.com/Simon MIchaux https://www.simonmichaux.com/Accidental Gods Gatherings https://accidentalgods.life/gatherings-2022/Accidental Gods Membership: https://accidentalgods.life/
Simon Michaux is a professor and geophysicist whose work in the commercial mining industry has given him an inside-out view of our system. His current work has calculated that the quantity and quality of metals needed for the green transition to EVs with solar and wind is physically impossible. This is an explosive conversation blasting apart all the fantasies of green capitalism, from green consumerism to the World Economic Forum's fourth industrial revolution. We take a cold hard look at the physical reality of our crisis and the NEW SYSTEM we must create to overcome these limits. Simon is the MAN so don't miss this talk!
On this episode, mining and geology expert Simon Michaux returns to give a preliminary framework for responses to the coming energy and material constraints described in the previous episode. This includes both practical thoughts for how to organize communities around resources and also a shift in mindset from short term to long-term and from competition to cooperation. How do we simultaneously lay out all of the biophysical constraints on the table so that we can begin preparing for and adapting to a changing future? About Simon Michaux Dr. Simon Michaux is an Associate Professor of Geometallurgy at the Geological Survey of Finland. He has a PhD in mining engineering. Dr. Michaux's long-term work is on societal transformation toward a circular economy. Show Notes & Links to Learn More
Dr. Simon Michaux, Associate Professor at Geometallurgy at Geological Survey of Finland, uncovers the truth about the vast mining requirements behind any proposed transition to a "clean" energy future. Watch the Decouple Studios episode on Dr. Michaux's work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19-gqgugKOc Read academic works by Dr. Michaux: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Simon-Michaux-2
Simon Michaux is an associate professor of geometallurgy at the Geological Survey of Finland which published his 1,000-page report about the amount of mining that will be required if the world attempts to quit using hydrocarbons. In this episode, he discusses why copper will be the key constraint for alt-energy, the “flamboyantly stupid” decisions being made by European policymakers, and why the pending limits to economic growth will require a new “social contract and a radically different system of governance” from what we have today. (Recorded November 11, 2022)
We end the week with an extraordinary and humbling discussion with Associate Research Professor, Simon Michaux from the Geological Survey of Finland. Mr. Michaux recently published and presented his research highlighting the qualitative research he underwent to show the costs and capacity needed from metals and mining to fully replace fossil fuels. Given the estimated required number of Electric Vehicles (EV's) of different vehicle class, it is clear that there are not enough minerals in the currently reported global reserves to build just one generation of batteries for all EV's and stationary power storage, in the global industrial ecosystem as it is today. This is a MUST LISTEN for resource speculators, government officials, policy makers, and NGOs focused on climate change and a renewed energy infrastructure. A link to a downloadable version of his presentation can be found on the MSD Extra Substack. The link will also be emailed to MSD Extra subscribers. We'd like to thank our sponsors: Integra Resources is advancing the past-producing DeLamar Project in southwestern Idaho. The Company has continued to demonstrate resource growth and conversion through greenfield and brownfield exploration. Integra Resources trades on the TSX-V under ITR and the NYSE American under ITRG. Western Copper and Gold is focused on developing the world-class Casino project in Canada's Yukon Territory. The Casino project consists of an impressive 11 billion pounds of copper and 21 million ounces of gold in an overall resource. Western Copper and Gold trades on the TSX and the NYSE American with WRN. Be sure to follow the company via their website, www.westerncopperandgold.com. ASCU is an early-stage copper developer and explorer of the Cactus Mine and its satellite project, Parks/Salyer, both situated on a 4km mine trend on private land in Arizona’s porphyry copper district. Opportunity for significant growth and scale exist along the trend, while future capex requirements outlined in the Cactus PEA benefit from significant onsite and nearby access to infrastructure. The Company is led by an executive management team and Board which have a long-standing track record of successful project delivery in North America. For more information, please visit www.arizonasonoran.com.
Bekijk de volledige uitzending van blckbx today #96 vrijdag 4 november 2022 via: https://www.blckbx.tv/livestreams/blckbx-today-2022-11-04Waardeer je deze uitzending? Like deze uitzending, abonneer je op het YouTube kanaal en steun de onafhankelijke journalistiek van blckbx met een donatie ➡ https://www.blckbx.tv/donerenStel jouw vraag vooraf en LIVE tijdens de uitzending!Kijkersvragen kunnen via onze Telegram ingestuurd worden. Redactrice Jasmijn Beekers gaat daar door de vragen heen en wie weet komt jouw vraag dan in de uitzending! Wil je dat we jouw kijkersvraag zien? Volg ons op Telegram en stel je vraag: https://t.me/blckbxtvVrijdag 4 november 2022- De energietransitie zoals de EU die wil met volledig elektrisch vervoer in 2035 en een volledig elektrische energievoorziening in 2050 is onmogelijk. Er is namelijk niet voldoende capaciteit beschikbaar in de mijnbouw om alle (zeldzame) metalen te winnen voor batterijen, elektromotoren, windturbines en zonnefarms. Dat stelt mijnbouw-expert Simon Michaux. Rypke Zeilmaker interviewde hem en licht de pijnpunten toe.- De Andere Krant lanceert morgen het 'Vredesmanifest'. Hierin roept de krant de Nederlandse bevolking op om eisen te stellen aan de regering wat betreft de oorlog in Oekraïne. Onderdeel hiervan is het stoppen met wapenleveranties en sancties, vanwege de destructieve gevolgen. Binnen het maatschappelijke debat lijken deze gevolgen te weinig aandacht te krijgen. Andere Krant-journalist Maurice van Ulden praat ons vanavond bij.- De Deense professor Volksgezondheid Christine Stabell Benn schreef onlangs een publicatie over coronavaccinaties, met het verzoek op reacties en aanvullingen vanuit de wetenschap. Wetenschapsonderzoeker Karianne Boer, geaffilieerd aan het 'fundamental rights research centre' van de Vrije Universiteit Brussel, antwoordde met een analyse die viraal ging op LinkedIn. LinkedIn verwijderde vreemd genoeg haar publicatie én haar hele LinkedIn-profiel, met ruim 1000 publicaties. Vanavond doet ze bij ons haar verhaal.- Uitgelichte artikelen van de Andere KrantDesk: wetenschapsonderzoeker Karianne Boer, journalist Maurice van Ulden en wetenschapsjournalist Rypke ZeilmakerPresentatie: Anne WillemsenRelevante achtergrondinformatieVoor alle relevante achtergrondinformatie en bronnen m.b.t. de uitzending, zie https://www.blckbx.tv/livestreams/blckbx-today-2022-11-04 (na afloop van de uitzending)blckbx today is iedere maandag, woensdag en vrijdag LIVE te zien op blckbx.tv om 19:00 uur. Heb je de uitzending gemist of wil je op een later moment blckbx today terugkijken? blckbx today is na afloop altijd terug te kijken via blckbx.tv.Over stichting blckbx:Blckbx is een stichting zonder winstoogmerk die wordt gefinancierd door donaties van haar eigen publiek. Voor de mensen, door de mensen en met de mensen: dát is waar blckbx voor staat.Hoewel we zorgdragen om de kosten zo minimaal te houden, zijn er toch doorlopende kosten om gedegen en professionele content te maken. Denk hierbij aan de techniek, de regie, de redactie, de webredactie en het onderhoud van de studio. Om de continuïteit van blckbx te waarborgen, hebben we daarom jouw hulp nodig.Als je deze uitzending waardeert en de urgentie van Nederlands grootste onafhankelijke nieuwsplatform inziet, dan nodigen we je van harte uit om ons te steunen. Alleen dankzij regelmatige donaties kunnen wij onafhankelijke content blijven produceren en onze reikwijdte vergroten, met als doel om de wereld beter te begrijpen. Voor de mensen, door de mensen en met steeds méér mensen.Doneren kan via https://blckbx.tv/donerenSupport the show
Simon Michaux is an Associate Professor of Geometallurgy at the Geological Survey of Finland in the Circular Economy Solutions Unit. Holding a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Physics and Geology and a PhD in Mining Engineering from the University of Queensland, Simon has extensive experience in mining research and development, circular economic principles, industrial recycling, and mineral intelligence. Through his recent publications, Simon has outlined the many challenges facing the global industrial ecosystem. He notes our world is currently energy and minerals blind and transitioning to renewable energies is not as straightforward as it appears.We've been growing without care to planetary limits for too long and change is coming, whether we like it or not. We need a completely new energy paradigm to address the challenges ahead, and as Simon says, it all starts with a conversation. We cover a lot of ground in this one, so grab a notebook and strap in for an important conversation – this is one you'll want to listen to more than once.In this episode we discuss:• Simon's diverse work background from R&D in the Australian mining industry, to organic farming, involvement in the circular economy sector and now his important work at the Geological Survey of Finland• A wake-up call; Simon's detailed reports outlining the quantity of minerals needed to phase out fossil fuels and the shortage of critical raw materials that will impose limits on growth• The need to restructure the circular economy into the resource balanced economy• Leaving oil before it leaves us and the limitations of alternative energies like biofuels and renewables• Simon's commentary on current geopolitical tensions and past resource wars• How technology is inextricably linked to commodities and why this means technology can't completely bridge the energy gap• Community strategies for overcoming our minerals and energy blindness and adapting to our lower energy future• And SO much more!• There was a lot we simply couldn't cover in this podcast episode due to time constraints but we urge you to find out more about Simon's work and recommend viewing his recent presentation at the University of Queensland's JKMRC Friday Seminars.To view all the links to the websites and documents, make sure you visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee.
On this episode, we meet with Associate Professor of Geometallurgy at the Geological Survey of Finland, Dr. Simon Michaux. Why do humans ignore important mineral and material limits that will affect human futures? Dr. Michaux reveals how we are “minerals blind” — and the consequences of this myopia. To shed light on the effects of our minerals blindness, Dr. Michaux explores the disconnect between experts in renewable energy and economic and government leaders. Dr. Michaux offers individual strategies for us to overcome our energy and minerals blindness. How can we learn to adapt in order to overcome the coming challenges? About Simon Michaux: Dr. Simon Michaux is an Associate Professor of Geometallurgy at the Geological Survey of Finland. He has a PhD in mining engineering. Dr. Michaux's long-term work is on societal transformation toward a circular economy.
So much of the hope we put in solutions for climate change falls away under a microscope. Did you know wind turbines aren’t recyclable, for example? Guess where they’re buried. Are enough people thinking about what happens when globalisation fails and post-industrial states like Europe and the US are left to mine their own materials? How can we mitigate climate change, truly, without plunging billions into poverty?Simon Michaux is working to find solutions to all these questions. As an associate professor in the circular economy solution unit at the Geological Survey of Finland, Simon models the mining and energy industries to figure out what we can do sustainably—and what is nothing more than greenwashing. He drops more than a few bombshells throughout this episode concerning energy use and politics, but also reveals a new energy paradigm he’s working on that could provide genuine zero emission energy. Prepare to take notes—I did throughout. Listen here or catch it on Apple or Spotify. You can also follow Planet: Critical on Youtube and support the project on Patreon where I upload a bonus video every Saturday.© 2022 Rachel Donald Get full access to Planet: Critical at www.planetcritical.com/subscribe
We've talked about the climate change crisis on the Debunking Economics podcast, but there's a broader issue we all face, highlighted in the Club of Rome back in 1972. We are chewing up resources faster than they can be renewed or sourced. It's not just oil, but iron ore for steel production and previous metals used in microprocessors. Simon Michaux, associate professor at the Geological Survey of Finland, joins Phil Dobbie and Steve Keen to talk through the scale of the issue and how it's already impacting the economy. This is a FREE podcast. Subscribe to hear the full version of all the podcasts in this series.
MainUNStream - Real people, real experience; unfiltered intercourse, free from hype & hidden agendas
Subscribe to MainUNStream - Real people, real experience; unfiltered intercourse, free from hype & hidden agendas on Soundwise
MainUNStream - Real people, real experience; unfiltered intercourse, free from hype & hidden agendas
Subscribe to MainUNStream - Real people, real experience; unfiltered intercourse, free from hype & hidden agendas on Soundwise
MainUNStream - Real people, real experience; unfiltered intercourse, free from hype & hidden agendas
https://www.paullange.com.au/mainunstream Here also is the public report referred to by Simon in the video: http://tupa.gtk.fi/raportti/arkisto/70_2019.pdf Contact me if the link no longer works. I have a copy saved. Are you sitting nice and comfy? That might be about to change! Get ready to understand the convenient omission within the inconvenient truth we've been sold.Today I'm joined on the MainUNStream mic by Simon Michaux, Associate Professor working for the Geological Survey of Finland, in the KTR Circular Economy Solutions unit. His current roles at GTK is to develop geometallurgy capability in battery minerals, develop the GTK-Mintec pilot plant with digitization and machine learning upgrades, and develop the Circular Economy.On this episode of MainUNstream Simon shares truly insightful data on the state of global energy resources. When you understand the data you'll get how people are living in a myth about the worlds energy resources and reserves. You'll get that the concept of clean energy taking over from fossil fuel any time soon, and electric cars being the saviour of the planet is a comfy bubble in which the population has been placed in and that the resources reality doesn't support it.Do not misunderstand either Simon or I, we both love the idea of a cleaner energy and vehicles that have much lower emissions (electric vehicles will never be zero emissions, no vehicle will), AND achieving it will require technology that does not exist today. It is clear from the data though that the current models being fed to the public are not even a remote possibility of a solution.I love the depth of Simon's knowledge on a variety of topics. Knowledge that comes from real experience. Also his ability to find and analyse data, based on his experience is exceptional. As he says, the data i out there if you want to find it.Simons experience and knowledge extends well beyond energy and we hope to have him back behind the mic very soon.MainUNstream is always free of hype and hidden agendas so it can and often does go in any direction. One thing is for certain, they are always informative, insightful and entertaining.Here is some more about Simon.His education is a Bachelor of Applied Science in physics and geology, his PhD was in Mining Engineering, done at the JKMRC, graduating in 2006. Thesis title: Analysis of Fines Generated in Blasting. Most of his work experience is from the Australian mining industry. Simon studied and worked for the JKMRC (Sustainable Minerals Institute) for 18 years, where he was involved in several high profile industry funded research programs. Simon worked in the private sector in an EPCM company called Ausenco in their Technical Solutions division, servicing mining corporate clients, where geometallurgy was used in support for a Pre-Feasibility Study. Simon worked in Belgium for 2 years as a Senior Research Officer in the GeMMe Dept of Géoressources Minérales & Imagerie Géolgique at the University of Liege. Areas of interest was recycling of industrial waste, sorting, hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy. His role was also to develop department capability in electrodynamic fragmentation using a Selfrag EDF instrument. Simon was required to develop alliances and partnerships between the GeMMe department and stakeholder groups across Europe (other universities, independent R&D groups, private sector corporations, EU government entities). A series of research proposals were written and submitted to H2020 and EIT KIC.His areas of technical interest are rock & material characterization, comminution, blasting, electrical dynamic fragmentation, process engineering separation, material science, and multi-phase data analysis of geometallurgical data sets and modelling the mining process as a dynamic system. Subscribe to MainUNStream - Real people, real experience; unfiltered intercourse, free from hype & hidden agendas on Soundwise
Back in 2013, Sustainable Population Australia hosted the Fenner Conference, featuring a stellar cast of speakers. It's fascinating to hear Dr Jane OSullivan, Dr Haydn Washington, Dr Simon Michaux and Dr Michael Lardelli as they talk about the environmental challenges facing Australia and the world. It's instructive to think about what has - and hasn't changed since then. World population continues to surge, having grown from 7.2 to 7.7 billion. Peak oil has been deferred, largely due to fracking in the US, where production has grown significantly. Populist demagogues hold power in major nations, either denying or ignoring climate change while the Murdoch press has been relentlessly hostile. In spite of that, the cost of renewable energy has plummeted to the point where it is now out-competing fossil fuels, and installed capacity has vastly increased. Climate change activism has grown into an international movement as people become aware of the dire threat it poses. Meanwhile, the question of population has remained a fringe issue at the national level although locally, Australians are becoming increasingly concerned. Interviews by Rod (a SPA member), with thanks to Jenny Goldie from SPA.