What does it mean for both high *and* low emissions scenarios to be diverging from reality? What does deep uncertainty mean for optimal climate policy? Thought-provoking discussion by @jasonbordoff.bsky.social and @noahqkaufman.bsky.social. foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/30/s...

Some argue for economic degrowth as a path to environmental justice. Yet, the countries improving outcomes for the poor while reducing their environmental impacts are overwhelmingly rich and growing. Great piece by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com, as always. Links below.

My entry into the debate about "climate hushing" and whether talking about climate change is bad for Democrats: guidedcivicrevival.substack.com/p/climate-ch...

ICYMI: "Developed economies are growing while reducing many of their environmental impacts" tl;dr: The Environmental Kuznets Curve is more common than we think. New working paper led by Ashley Dancer--an excellent PhD student on the job market soon. www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-9...

“Shoot for the stars, but make sure that the stars you’re seeing are what’s really out there.” Great advice from @kathlandgren.bsky.social.

To clear up a common misconception I've encountered: our ambition study isn't about *effort*. It's about which opportunities you stick with or pass up in search of better ones. Don't pass up good opportunities in search of perfect ones. We say nothing about how hard you should or shouldn't work.

Shoot for the moon? Or don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good? Our new paper, led by @kathlandgren.bsky.social, formalizes how to think about this tension. tl;dr: optimal ambition is above average but finite. journals.aps.org/pre/abstract... www.theguardian.com/science/2026...

Hi everyone! I'm new to Bluesky. I'm an economist who studies growth, political polarization and the environment. Here are recent summaries of some of the things I'm working on: Long-run growth patterns and their implications: guidedcivicrevival.substack.com/p/regular-ec...

"the retirement of RCP8.5 is a major event in climate change science and it does substantially revise down our projections of some impacts. But it does not change the fact that climate change is real and comes with worrying impacts that we should want to work to avoid and adapt to, as necessary"

The "nothing has changed" vs. "climate change isn't a problem anymore" false dichotomy about the RCP8.5 retirement was bugging me, so here is my attempt at a constructive post to help us start thinking through the nuances. guidedcivicrevival.substack.com/p/how-differ...

I have officially reached the pinnacle of academic freedom in world history (tenure at a U.S. public university)! Looking forward to making the most of it.

New post on climate lawsuits. tl;dr: the courts should make sure the government follows proper procedure and separation of powers, but they should not be used to make new climate policy, circumventing Congress. guidedcivicrevival.substack.com/p/when-shoul...

In case you missed it, here is a recording of my February talk from St. Luke's Health's (in Boise) climate change and health series. I tried to weave together some broad thoughts on economic growth, climate change and health, and how these interact with each other. www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaSX...

New working paper, led by Margaret Hegwood: "Aquaculture is subject to more regulations than any other food sector in the United States" osf.io/preprints/so... Feedback welcome! Great to work with @dochfroehlich.bsky.social, Pete Newton & Mike Clark on this (in addition to Margaret, of course)!

Seems like solar and batteries are still doing well in the power grid. Sources: www.eia.gov/todayinenerg... www.eia.gov/todayinenerg...

Some interesting and constructive comments on our paper from @marshallburke.bsky.social. I agree that optimism should be a verb in addition to being an outlook! Paying more attention to adaptation will help us make a plan.

New paper, led by Hilary Brumberg, from her excellent CU Boulder ENVS MS thesis (she's now at @stanforddoerr.bsky.social): "Riparian vegetation reduces coastal turbidity". A careful empirical study of how land use affects nearby ocean environments (in Costa Rica). www.nature.com/articles/s44...

If you're at @boisestate.bsky.social this week, come say hi!

Hi everyone! I'm new to Bluesky. I'm an economist who studies growth, political polarization and the environment. Here are recent summaries of some of the things I'm working on: Long-run growth patterns and their implications: guidedcivicrevival.substack.com/p/regular-ec...