The well-known analyst of the energy transition Michael Liebreich, author of the Liebreich ladder, was the guest on a recent unusual and remarkably informative and perceptive podcast discussing five causes for pessimism and five for optimism about the prospects for success in making the transition to a Net Zero energy economy—and ultimately to Net Negative.

Reporting for the Harvard John A. Paul School of Engineering and Applied Sciences newsletter, Leah Burrows points to new research on the importance of high-resolution methane accounting. In landfalls across the US, researchers found emissions that were 77% higher than estimates from the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. Among landfills that recover gas, methane levels were more than 200% higher than the reported estimates.

Helen Cox Richardson’s “Letters From An American” celebrates Earth Day 2024 with an appraisal of government efforts to protect our planet. She begins with the historic appointment of Interior Department secretary Deb Haaland, who pledged to be “fierce” in managing natural resources for future generations.

Writing for Moms Clean Air Force, “Mom Detective” Alexandra Zissu explores ways of avoiding single-use plastic—and using less plastic in general. Here is practical advice for plastic-free living:

“Living a plastic-free or even zero waste life is such a gorgeous goal. There are so many reasons to use less plastic, including that plastic is harmful to the environment as well as human health. Plastic is made from petrochemicals and it’s increasingly showing up in our bodies. We’re eating plastic, and we’re drinking plastic. As you say, plastic is truly everywhere, and the health impacts of petrochemical pollution are disturbing. Plastics and other petrochemicals are also the world’s fastest-growing industrial source of greenhouse gases.”

On December 1st, Melissa Hoffer, Massachusetts’ Climate Chief, released the Massachusetts Climate Report Card, the official assessment of how well the Commonwealth has been meeting the challenges of global warming. According to the report, the Commonwealth has made “significant progress,” yet very significant challenges are just around the corner, with the “sharpest emissions reductions [needing to occur] between 2025 and 2030.” Whether that will happen, of course, depends entirely on the political will of our elected officials and on the willingness of us, the un-elected citizens, to make our wishes known.