Rosco The Grouch

@roscothegrouch

Canadian expat, dual Aus cit. #Aikido student. Lover of Aussie #wildlife. Born 310ppm CO₂. Life science student. Had a gutful of hyperpartisanship threatening democracy and climate action. Canadian expat Living on #Githabul country. No bio - no follow

1,241 Following1,566 Followers3,751 Posts

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Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Jul 3

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Solar energy is expanding at an astonishing pace. It grew 30% in 2025 – the single largest annual increase of any electricity source in history. Battery storage – not an electricity source in its own right, but needed as part of a package with variable solar and wind – grew 66% from a lower base.

The reasons for the solar surge aren’t complicated. It’s comparatively cheap, increasingly consumer-friendly, and not reliant on fuel that has to be shipped from somewhere else. In a recent speech, the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, noted the cost of solar and batteries had fallen 90% and 95% respectively over the past 15 years, while wind energy costs were down 70%. He argued they presented the world with a “clean way out” of its energy crisis, summarising: “Renewables are the cheapest, fastest and most scalable source of new electricity in most of the world.”

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Jul 2

www.theguardian.com/environment/... Some good news in this article.

In India, the Delhi government this week announced it would ban new licence plates for fossil-powered small trucks and three-wheelers from next year, and scooters and motorbikes in two years. Only electric models will be allowed. In Africa, Ethiopia has already banned the importation of new fossil fuel cars, partly to save on fuel costs.

None of these developments change the scale of the task ahead. Global emissions are yet to even start coming down. Much new clean energy is powering expanding demand, not replacing coal, gas or oil. As with most good movies, this story also has a formidable villain. Fossil fuel interests and their supporters will continue to fight for the old model.

But the shift under way in solar, transport and energy storage underlines why there is a new buzzword in the effort to fight the climate crisis: electrification. It is at the heart of plans for this year’s UN climate summit, and the focus of a major campaign by governments, businesses, researchers and campaigners under the banner Electrify Now.

The idea is pretty simple. Electricity is already capable of meeting about 75% of the world’s energy needs using existing technology. It is more efficient, and much healthier, than burning fuel. It will increasingly come from clean sources, purely because in most cases they are the cheapest going.

It is reason for qualified optimism. And, perhaps, the basis for a whole franchise – with sequels, spin-offs, the works – about some much-needed progress in addressing this era-defining threat.

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Jun 29

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Jun 28

Little old lady sitting on a folding garden chair in the reflecting pool, surrounded by floating algae and floating bits of blue paint. She is holding a piece of blue paint and is using scissors to cut pieces of the paint into the pool.

The picture is captioned: "Aunt Tifa"

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Jun 27

Could substitute Pauline for Trump in this meme,without skipping a beat.

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Jun 26

www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/comment/cart...

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Jun 25

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Jun 22

www.theguardian.com/environment/... "…Australia has a “huge amount of liability and exposure” given the scale of its fossil fuel exports “I think Australia has a very challenging case to answer,” … “It’s the first complaint of its kind we’ve seen against Australia, but [it won't be] be the last.”

Donohue, Egan, Fisher and Francis and six others have told their stories as part of a complaint against the Australian government with the UN human rights committee. They are backed and organised by the Human Rights Law Centre, Environmental Justice Australia and the US-based Earthjustice.

They say what they call the “hard truths case” is the first legal claim in an international court or body against a state for climate harm since the International Court of Justice released an advisory opinion that found states had a legal obligation to take measures to prevent it. Australia was one of 140 countries to pass a UN resolution backing the legal ruling last month.

The complaint is exploratory. It argues the government is violating the claimants’ human rights by continuing to support coal and gas developments that fuel climate extremes.

If the UN committee finds in their favour it could recommend actions the government should take. The claimants say the government, as a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, would be bound to consider the committee’s findings in good faith. But the recommendations would not be enforceable.

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Jun 11

Cartoon in two panels. Top panel shows a cockroach and an ant and a ballot box. Caption reads: THE COCKROACH out of hatred for the ant VOTED FOR THE INSECTICIDE-

Bottom panel shows many dead insects. Caption reads: THEY ALL DIED. Including the cricket who voted blank and the fly who did not goo to vote.

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· May 13

Here's the Murdoch papers response to #ALP #FederalBudget Not much more to say, now is there.

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· May 1

Oslo Cartoon in The Saturday Paper: Careers counselor speaking to teenage boy asking, "As a young man you have plenty of options. Do you see yourself in the manosphere, as a neo-nazi goon, or firebombing tobacco stores?"

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Apr 19

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Apr 12

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Apr 9

🤣😂

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Apr 2

@fionakatauskas.bsky.social @australia.theguardian.com take on @albomp.bsky.social 's 2 minute speech to the nation.

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Apr 1

Single frame cartoon titled, The NEXT big Iran War announcement.: White house press secretary looking behind the wall that backs the dais and microphone and she asks, "What are we waiting for?" Men behind the wall looking at mobile phones reply, "Everyone to get their trades in."

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Mar 29

Hold yer horses. I just checked and got this. This is an AI summary, so it probably ought to be checked.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the People of Ukraine have been formally nominated for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Dag Øistein Endsjø, a Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Oslo, Norway. This nomination, announced in January 2026, cites their defense of democracy against Russian aggression and their role in preserving peace for European democracies since 2014.

Nominator: Dr. Dag Øistein Endsjø, who has the authority to submit nominations as a university professor.
Motivation: The nomination recognizes Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people for their efforts to preserve the peace of European democracies against Russian aggression, defending fundamental human values and the international rules-based order.
Status: While the official Nobel Committee keeps nominations secret until 50 years later, this nomination was publicly confirmed by Norwegian media and is listed on the Wikipedia page for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.
Award Details: The prize will be announced on October 10, 2026, and awarded on December 10, 2026, in Oslo, Norway.
Other notable 2026 nominees include Donald Trump, Greta Thunberg, and individuals from Palestine and South Korea, though the Zelenskyy nomination has generated significant public attention and support petitions.

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Mar 28

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Mar 22

Cartoon showing Donald Trump having passed by the bodies of a Free Press, Independent Judiciary, Dignity of the Presidency, Faith in Federal Law Enforcement and the Rule of Law, now holding a gun to he head of a kneeling Democracy.

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Mar 11

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Feb 8

And thank you for your attention to this matter. 😂🤣

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Jan 30

@oslodavis.bsky.social cartoon in today's @thesaturdaypaper.com.au God one, Oslo! I encourage you to do more like this.

Oslo Davis' Saturday Paper cartoon showing a man driving a large bulldozer into a rainforest. There is much smoke from the bulldozer's exhaust. The man is speaking to two small birds on the ground below, saying, "We're approved to kill four strong billed honey eaters a day, which is not easy considering how rare you guys are."

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Jan 26

Stuart Heritage wrote this blurb. He has a sense of humour. It's worth a read. 😆😂🤣 www.theguardian.com/film/filmblo...

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Jan 25

Ella Baron cartoon in today's Guardian.

Ella Baron Cartoon depicting ICE agent with handgun pushing supine body of statue of liberty on a hospital gurney. Liberty has dropped her torch.

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Jan 19

🤣😂

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Jan 13

www.thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2026... The 7 supposed new taxes are either entirely fabricated or misrepresent recent or proposed changes to taxation and superannuation. #Lies

False claim about 7 new tax items found on Instagram and Facebook. None are true.

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Jan 12

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... To anybody still using X: sexual abuse content is the final straw, it’s time to leave | Marie Le Conte X rated itself. #Twitter #Grok #Musk

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Jan 10

Moir cartoon titled "Gunboat Diplomacy"

Alan Moir cartoon showing Pete Hegseth and Trump in a gunboat. Trump is reading a Marvel© comic. They are surrounded by sinking boats. ONe called Venezuela, one called NATO. Greenland, Canada and Colombia are still aafloat in the background. Hegseth is asking, "Where to next?" Trump replies, "Where ever."

Rosco The Grouch@roscothegrouch· Jan 5

theaimn.com/a-cathedral-... Language matters. #resist