Extreme Temperature Diary- Sunday January 29, 2023/ Main Topic: Points by Bill Maher…Has the World Really Changed?

The main purpose of this ongoing blog will be to track global extreme or record temperatures related to climate change. Any reports I see of ETs will be listed below the main topic of the day. I’ll refer to extreme or record temperatures as ETs (not extraterrestrials).😉

Main Topic: Points by Bill Maher…Has the World Really Changed?

Dear Diary. I was somewhat taken aback when I viewed Bill Maher’s monologue at the end of his show on environmentalism last night, which indicated that the planet really hasn’t changed significantly over the last fifty years regarding energy use, or for that matter getting very serious about environmental concerns:

Real Time With Bill Maher 1/27/2023 | HBO Bill Maher Jan 27, 2023 FULL 720 – YouTube

Despite being pro-environment and having grave climate concerns, he admits that he still uses private jets while pointing out that people like Climate Czar John Kerry do too. Of course, pro-business as usual, oil loving Fox news was quick to jump on Bill Maher’s monologue:

Bill Maher admits he uses a private jet, calls out ‘hypocrite’ environmentalists like John Kerry, celebs (msn.com)

FOX News

FOX News

Bill Maher admits he uses a private jet, calls out ‘hypocrite’ environmentalists like John Kerry, celebs

Story by Joseph Wulfsohn • Yesterday 6:30 AM

“Real Time” host Bill Maher came clean on Friday night about his environmental sin while addressing the urgent need to combat climate change. 

During his closing monologue, Maher told his viewers that “asking people to be good” when it comes to going green hasn’t worked, so he took a different approach. 

“My name is Bill, and I fly private,” Maher turned to the camera. “And so does every other person who calls themselves an ‘environmentalist’ who can!”

“Real Time” host Bill Maher came clean with his audience that he uses a private jet despite his ongoing concerns to combat climate change. ©HBO

He then aired a photo collage of countless celebrities being spotted boarding or leaving their private jets which included Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Oprah Winfrey, Bono, Mark Zuckerberg, Beyoncé Knowles Carter and Jay-Z, and even prominent Democrats like former President Bill Clinton as well as Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.  and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

“If you don’t see a celebrity’s picture here, it’s because we weren’t allowed to use it,” Maher said. “But all the environmentalists of Hollywood and Washington do it. Their position on climate change is ‘We must do more to stop pouring carbon into the air, except for me when I wanted to go somewhere and then I take a private jet.’ It turns out there is one thing in this world that is completely impossible to resist. And this is it. It’s like heroin, if you do it once, you’ll never stop.”

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Bill is correct. He also pointed out that fifty years ago in 1973 the planet’s coal usage was 38% for energy generation usage. As of early 2019 that demand has only decreased by a whopping 1% to 37% despite tremendous efforts from the United Nations, other governmental bodies, and organizations like Al Gore’s Climate Reality, plus grassroot efforts, such as Greta Thunberg’s school strike for climate protests.

I’m finding other figures, though. Back in 1973, when total global energy supply was more than half the current supply, coal held a share of 24.5 percent of global energy supply, while oil accounted for the largest share at 46.2 percent, according to IEA’s estimates:

Coal’s Share Of Global Energy Supply Has Increased Since 1973 | OilPrice.com

Some of my followers point items out to me such as the following:

So rhetorically starting out 2023, I have to ask, despite our intelligence and ability to mold our surroundings more than any other species on Earth, will we really change in time? Personally, circumstances have dictated that my carbon footprint is low compared to most individuals given that I am an older paraplegic, mostly confined to my house. I do confess that if I were healthy and wealthier, I would be traveling more to promote my kid’s climate books, and my carbon footprint would be much higher…even if I could afford a much-desired electric vehicle. Would I fly a private plane? That’s where I draw the line and say no. Still, I would be just about as guilty as Bill Maher, who by the way did finally get solar panels erected for his house. Neither he nor I have children that would further increase car on in the atmosphere.

I leave this as an open-ended question for this year, which we will try to answer going forward, especially as we approach a another dreaded warm season in the Northern Hemisphere.

Here are some “ET’s” recorded from around the planet the last couple of days, their consequences, and some extreme temperature outlooks, as well as any extreme precipitation reports:

Here is more climate and weather news from Sunday:

(As usual, this will be a fluid post in which more information gets added during the day as it crosses my radar, crediting all who have put it on-line. Items will be archived on this site for posterity. In most instances click on the pictures of each tweet to see each article. The most noteworthy items will be listed first.)

If you like these posts and my work please contribute via the PayPal widget, which has recently been added to this site. Thanks in advance for any support.) 

Guy Walton… “The Climate Guy”

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