Published

1 year ago

June 28, 2024

Alice Rush

Climate activists talk a lot about following “the science” around climate change. What actually is the science and how is it calculated? Read more here: https://econ.st/3ci07Qy

Find our school briefings series here, including our recent climate explainers: https://econ.st/2Zeo7kV

Sign up to receive The Economist’s fortnightly newsletter to keep up to date with our latest coverage on climate change: https://econ.st/3dZrKz6

Find The Economist’s most recent climate-change coverage here: https://econ.st/2X74b0w

Covid-19 presents an opportunity for countries to flatten the climate curve: https://econ.st/3em6YKn

Read about the pressure to make the post covid-19 rebound green: https://econ.st/2XA7NbF

Why the world urgently needs to expand its use of carbon prices: https://econ.st/2ZJdtmu

Humans’ dependence on fossil fuels is heating up the planet at an unprecedented rate. Governments and policymakers must take urgent action. That action is guided by what science says about the impact of climate change on the Earth.

This is how it’s calculated.

This is Vilhelm Bjerknes. At the end of the 19th century he devised formulas which linked the flow of heat, water and air. 50 years later his ideas were the basis of the first computer model of the atmosphere. And modern-day weather forecasting was born

Today’s climate models are the highly evolved descendants of that original, except the computers are some 25trn times faster. Here’s how it works

Scientists divide the Earth’s atmosphere into a grid of hundreds of thousands of cells, in stacks like a skyscraper.
The model used by the Met Office, Britain’s national weather service for example, uses stacks which are 85 cells high

The models then calculate how energy, air and water vapour flow through each cell over a given time period. While weather forecasting takes a snapshot of the atmosphere at a given time and predicts what will happen over the next few days

Climate models consider the atmosphere’s behaviour over years and years simulating either the world as it is or the world as it might be.

For all their complexity, these models have limitations.

This means the models often struggle to capture details like cloud cover.

And clouds play a key role in climate.

As greenhouse gases make the atmosphere warmer they change the amount of water vapour it can hold and how air rises and falls. That in turn changes the amount and character of cloud cover. Depending on where clouds form, they can either trap sunlight which warms the planet, or reflect it back into space, cooling it. And some processes which govern cloud formation work on a very small scale.

Dozens of these models exist, run by teams all over the world

Every few years the models are brought together fed standardised questions and then their results are compared.

This helps scientists understand the strengths and weaknesses of different climate models, and improves them. Of course, it’s impossible to assess the models’ future projections.

But what researchers can do is compare the success of models from previous decades. A recent report compared the models from the 1970s to the 2000s.

The climate models are getting increasingly complicated capturing more aspects of the Earth.

But there is one element that is impossible to model. And it is the biggest contributor to climate change.

Instead, scientists take simplified results from these climate models and run them through economic models.

In 2013 scientists used these models to examine the effect of different climate policies on the future temperature of the planet.

The first looked at what would happen if there was continued large-scale use of coal. The second, if there was continued use of fossil fuels but some use of renewable energy. The third, if there was a much higher uptake of renewable energy. And the fourth if there was a lot of use of carbon-capture technology and more land to grow biofuels.

Climate models don’t predict the future and they’re not perfect. There is a long way to go before they fully represent all of Earth’s intricate processes. But for now they are the only way that scientists have of understanding how damaging an increase in carbon dioxide will be for the planet.
Ultimately, the solution to climate change won’t lie inside models but rather what humans choose to do with the information they provide

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSGorwtY-zM

Climate Change Videos

The worst month of climate news in my entire career

Published

1 week ago

November 4, 2025

Alice Rush

Want to restore the planet’s ecosystems and see your impact in monthly videos? The first 100 people to join Planet Wild with my code SIMON10 will get the first month for free at: https://planetwild.com/r/simonclark/join
If you want to get to know them better first, check out their project using beehive fences to protect elephants and humans: https://planetwild.com/r/simonclark/m10

This month has been really tough. Let’s talk about why, and how we talk about climate in general. Oh, and how I’ve been staying sane. (?)

My monthly newsletter: https://www.simonoxfphys.com/newsletter

You can support the channel by becoming a patron at http://www.patreon.com/simonoxfphys

REFERENCES
1. https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-greenhouse-gases-wmo-un-708c3d35ce6fc3d3bcaccafdba6bba45
2. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/15/record-leap-in-co2-fuels-fears-of-accelerating-global-heating
3. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/28/change-course-now-humanity-has-missed-15c-climate-target-says-un-head
4. https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2025-10/state-of-climate-action-2025.pdf
5. https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/090d2fbb-32a6-412b-a3b8-1ce5c5905df2
6. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/cop/super-warming-methane-gas-is-being-tackled-too-slowly-un-says-ahead-cop30-2025-10-22/
7. https://global-tipping-points.org/about-us/
8. https://livingplanet.panda.org/en-GB/
9. https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/global-banking-climate-group-collapses-after-us-policy-shift-q6szfdjkh

———- II ———-

More about me – https://www.simonoxfphys.com/
My second channel – https://www.youtube.com/simonclarkerrata
My book – https://geni.us/firmament

Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/simonoxfphys.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/simonoxfphys
Twitch – https://www.twitch.tv/drsimonclark

———- II ———-

Music by Epidemic Sound: http://nebula.tv/epidemic
Some stock footage courtesy of Getty.
Edited by Luke Negus.

Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon:
bitreign33 , Dave Teare, dryfrog, Eric A Gentzler, Gary Stark, Glen Monks, Marcus Bosshard.

Andy Hartley, Artem Plotnikov, Bastian Pranzas, Jeffry ., Jon Arlov, Marius Kießling, Paul H and Linda L, Peter Reid.

Adam Gillard, Adrian Sand, Alex, Alex Hall, Andrea De Mezzo, Andy Giesen, Andy Parr, Anže Cesar, Ashley Hauck, Ashley Steel, AYS , Baerbel Winkler, Bill Keydel, Brian Moss, Chris Laslett, Christian Weckner, Christopher Hall, Cifer, Ciotka Cierpienia, Circuitrinos, Claudia Kapp, Clemens, Cody VanZandt, Crisan Talpes, Cy ‘kkm’ K’Nelson, Dan Hanvey, Daniel Cooney, David Mccann, David Stone, Denis Kovachev, Diederik Jekel, Dominik Rihak, Duffman, FireFerretDann, flakykilowatt, Florian Thie, Fred, Gabriele Siino, GGH, Hannarrrr, Haris Karimjee, Heijde, I dropped out of my PhD, & I might forgive Simon., Ian Hamilton, Igor Francetic, Ishaan Shah, j51t, Jacob Speelman, James Gaskell, James Gurney, James Haigh, James Leadbetter, Jan-Willem Goedmakers, Jean-Manuel Izaret, John, Josef Probst, Joseph , Justin Warren, Katharina Hartmuth, Kevin B, Kirsten Athome, KJ Xiao, Knut Nesheim, Kristopher Sicari, Lach Woods, Leonard Neamtu, Marcin Wrochna, Mark Harper, Mark Moore, Mark Phillips, Mark Richardson, Martin, Mercure, Michael Belde, Michelle Valentinova, Miguel Cabrera Brufau, Mike, Morten Engsvang, Nathan Rohrlach, Nicholas Hamdorf, Nick Humphries, Nicklas Kulp, Nico Casal, Nico Kempe, OldGreyWolf, Pawel Piwek, Peter Lee, Phil Saici, Philipp Legner, Phineas, Rapssack, Real Engineering, Reid, Richard Swain, Ryan, Sean Richards, Seb Stott, Sergio Diaz, Simone, Steffan , streetlights, Sylvus , szigyi, Tanner , Ted CLAY, Thibault , Thomas Charbonnel, Thomas Newman, Thusto , Tobias Ahsbahs, Tom Painter, Tomás Garnier Artiñano, Tschäff Reisberg, Victor Gordan, Yorick Droz, Zoey O’Neill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zBoXY5YeVo

Climate Change Videos

The future of climate denial

Published

2 weeks ago

October 27, 2025

Alice Rush

They’re hijacking the whales. Get access to my extra content on Nebula with 40% off at https://go.nebula.tv/simonclark

You can watch my chat with Ian about identifying astroturfed community groups here: https://nebula.tv/videos/simonclark-talking-about-how-to-identify-astroturfed-community-groups-with-my-new-researcher

REFERENCES
1. https://www.notion.so/drsimonclark/rechargenews.com/suppliers/orders-already-in-for-world-s-most-powerful-wind-turbine/2-1-1874493?zephr_sso_ott=9LG4eM
2. https://ourworldindata.org/electricity-mix
3. https://www.iea.org/energy-system/renewables/wind
4. https://www.green-oceans.org/
5. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TAZwRijVCg204T1yqepDflcGvs-zaqCX/view
6. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nrMSJOxI6Iqw6HRKtnvWjOkj3tp_gCRE/view
7. https://apnews.com/article/offshore-wind-whales-deaths-trump-5158af7f5bf0f5ef9e1530564ff791a9
8. https://www.desmog.com/2018/07/14/fake-grassroots-campaigns-astroturf-deserve-uprooting/
9. https://www.desmog.com/2024/02/08/revealed-the-climate-denial-network-behind-classic-astroturf-farmers-campaign/
10. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/24/trump-wind-power-threats-homes
11. https://www.eenews.net/articles/internal-emails-reveal-interiors-empire-wind-deliberations/

You can support the channel by becoming a patron at http://www.patreon.com/simonoxfphys

———- II ———-

More about me – https://www.simonoxfphys.com/
My second channel – https://www.youtube.com/simonclarkerrata
My book – https://geni.us/firmament

Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/simonoxfphys.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/simonoxfphys
Twitch – https://www.twitch.tv/drsimonclark

———- II ———-

Music by Epidemic Sound: http://nebula.tv/epidemic
Some stock footage courtesy of Getty.
Edited by Luke Negus.
Research and fact-checking by Ian L. Campbell

Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon:

bitreign33 , Dave Teare, dryfrog, Eric A Gentzler, Gary Stark, Glen Monks, Marcus Bosshard.

Andy Hartley, Artem Plotnikov, Bastian Pranzas, Jeffry ., Jon Arlov, Marius Kießling, Paul H and Linda L, Peter Reid.

Adam Gillard, Adrian Sand, Alex, Alex Hall, Andrea De Mezzo, Andy Giesen, Andy Parr, Anže Cesar, Ashley Hauck, Ashley Steel, AYS , Baerbel Winkler, Bill Keydel, Brian Moss, Chris Laslett, Christian Weckner, Christopher Hall, Cifer, Ciotka Cierpienia, Circuitrinos, Claudia Kapp, Clemens, Cody VanZandt, Crisan Talpes, Cy ‘kkm’ K’Nelson, Dan Hanvey, Daniel Cooney, David Mccann, David Stone, Denis Kovachev, Diederik Jekel, Dominik Rihak, Duffman, Ethan , FireFerretDann, flakykilowatt, Florian Thie, Fred, Gabriele Siino, GGH, Guy Markey, Hannarrrr, Haris Karimjee, Heijde, I dropped out of my PhD, & I might forgive Simon., Ian Hamilton, Igor Francetic, Ishaan Shah, j51t, Jacob Speelman, James Gaskell, James Gurney, James Haigh, James Leadbetter, Jan-Willem Goedmakers, Jean-Manuel Izaret, John, Josef Probst, Joseph , Justin Warren, Katharina Hartmuth, Kevin B, Kirsten Athome, KJ Xiao, Knut Nesheim, Kristopher Sicari, Lach Woods, Leonard Neamtu, Marcin Wrochna, Mark Harper, Mark Moore, Mark Phillips, Mark Richardson, Martin, Mercure, Michael Belde, Michelle Valentinova, Miguel Cabrera Brufau, Mike, Morten Engsvang, Nathan Rohrlach, Nicholas Hamdorf, Nick Humphries, Nicklas Kulp, Nico Casal, Nico Kempe, OldGreyWolf, Pawel Piwek, Peter Lee, Phil Saici, Philipp Legner, Phineas, Rapssack, Real Engineering, Reid, Richard Swain, Ryan, Sean Richards, Seb Stott, Sergio Diaz, Simone, Steffan , streetlights, Sylvus , szigyi, Tanner , Ted CLAY, Thibault , Thomas Charbonnel, Thomas Newman, Thusto , Tobias Ahsbahs, Tom Painter, Tomás Garnier Artiñano, Tschäff Reisberg, Victor Gordan, Yorick Droz, Zoey O’Neill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlKRdH6A4

Climate Change Videos

We’re this close to a huge climate win

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2025

Alice Rush

Learn new skills in maths, science, and data with Brilliant: https://brilliant.org/simonclark (use my link for a 20% discount!)

Let’s talk about methane. Where it comes from, what we can do to bring emissions down, and why there are a lot of reasons for optimism.

My swim fundraiser: https://www.givewheel.com/fundraising/8823/simonswim/

REFERENCES
1. https://climate.copernicus.eu/climate-indicators/temperature
2. https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/349b7eb2-9f26-443a-b191-1f1616955758/GlobalMethaneTracker2025.pdf
3. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ad6463
4. https://www.iea.org/reports/global-methane-tracker-2025/understanding-methane-emissions
5. https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/carbon-management-and-fossil-fuels/methane-emissions_en
6. https://www.iea.org/reports/global-methane-tracker-2025/
7. https://www.methanesat.org/satellite
8. https://timeforch4nge.org/
9. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clynre7leyjo
10. https://www.globalmethanepledge.org/
11. https://www.kayrros.com/the-global-methane-pledge-three-years-on-partial-progress-report/
12. https://www.hronikatm.com/2024/11/sputnikovye-dannye-pokazyvayut-chto-na-mestorozhdeniyah-turkmenistana-i-ssha-nablyudaetsya-bolshaya-utechka-metana-chem-soobshhaetsya/
13. https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/australias-methane-crisis-unmasking-the-gas-we-cant-ignore/
14. https://www.edfeurope.org/news/2023/15/11/eus-new-landmark-climate-legislation-clamps-down-methane-emissions-energy-imports
15. https://www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk03/202311/t20231107_1055437.html
16. https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-what-does-chinas-new-methane-plan-mean-for-its-climate-goals/
18. https://www.eia.gov/dnav/ng/hist/n9050us2a.htm
19. https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/methane-emissions

You can support the channel by becoming a patron at http://www.patreon.com/simonoxfphys

———- II ———-

More about me – https://www.simonoxfphys.com/
My second channel – https://www.youtube.com/simonclarkerrata
My book – https://geni.us/firmament

Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/simonoxfphys.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/simonoxfphys
Twitch – https://www.twitch.tv/drsimonclark

———- II ———-

Music by Epidemic Sound: http://nebula.tv/epidemic
Some stock footage courtesy of Getty.
Edited by Luke Negus.

Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon:
Dave Teare, Eric A Gentzler, Glen Monks, Gary Stark, dryfrog, Marcus Bosshard, bitreign33 .

Bastian Pranzas, Jeffry ., Marius Kießling, Jon Arlov, Artem Plotnikov, Paul H and Linda L, Peter Reid, Andy Hartley.

Fred, flakykilowatt, Peter Lee, Bill Keydel, Yorick Droz, Michelle Valentinova, Ian Hamilton, Reid, Kristopher Sicari, Mercure, j51t, David Stone, Daniel Cooney, Richard Swain, Duffman, Claudia Kapp, Cy ‘kkm’ K’Nelson, Martin, Nick Humphries, Baerbel Winkler, OldGreyWolf, Hannarrrr, Andy Parr, Guy Markey, Nicholas Hamdorf, Katharina Hartmuth, Mark Phillips, KJ Xiao, Tschäff Reisberg, Tobias Ahsbahs, James Gaskell, Denis Kovachev, Victor Gordan, Tanner , Dominik Rihak, Nico Casal, Mark Harper, Ryan, Inten, John, James Haigh, Bailey Cook, Sergio Diaz, I dropped out of my PhD, & I might forgive Simon., Joseph , Nicklas Kulp, Thomas Newman, Anže Cesar, Josef Probst, Kevin B, Phineas, Ishaan Shah, Circuitrinos, Mark Richardson, Brian Moss, Knut Nesheim, AYS , Forever Bulking, Crisan Talpes, Pawel Piwek, Ted CLAY, Mike, Seb Stott, Diederik Jekel, Jan-Willem Goedmakers, Ashley Hauck, Nico Kempe, Thibault , GGH, FireFerretDann, Ciotka Cierpienia, szigyi, Marcin Wrochna, Tom Painter, Phil Saici, Ashley Steel, Simone, Tomás Garnier Artiñano, Steffan , Adam Gillard, Christopher Hall, Miguel Cabrera Brufau, Sylvus , Florian Thie, James Gurney, Clemens, Andy Giesen, Jacob Speelman, Jean-Marc Giffin, Cifer, Christian Weckner, Thomas Charbonnel, Mark Moore, Philipp Legner, Zoey O’Neill, Justin Warren, Heijde, streetlights, Gabriele Siino, David Mccann, Leonard Neamtu, James Leadbetter, Rapssack, Dan Sherman, Adrian Sand, Morten Engsvang, Haris Karimjee, Alex, Cody VanZandt, Igor Francetic, Sean Richards, Michael Belde, Thusto , Lach Woods, Dan Hanvey, Andrea De Mezzo, Real Engineering.