This and that for your Tuesday reading. 

– Olufemi Taiwo discusses how the political and corporate elite have declared that consequences for bad decisions will apply only to the plebes – even as events make clear that’s not a viable strategy. And Rachel Louise Ensign and James Benedict point out the fifteen-digit wealth stash in the hands of older Americans – along with the reality that most of it figures to stagnate rather than being transferred or put to any positive use. 

– Natalie Donback reports on the efforts of cities to plan and rehearse for the most predictable climate disasters even as national governments subsidize their causes. And Oliver Milman reports on a new study finding that New Orleans for one will likely be swallowed up by the sea within a matter of decades. 

– Meanwhile, Jack Ewing reports on Costa Rica’s success in fostering electric vehicle adoption by ensuring people have ready access to charging infrastructure.  

– Josh Taylor notes that public opposition to data centres is as strong in Australia as in much of the rest of the world. And Robert Walton writes that while the strain from power usage has drawn more attention so far, large data centres can be equally problematic in causing rapid load reductions which aren’t accounted for in grid planning. 

– Finally, Erin Weir discusses how Saskatchewan is giving away its potash resources – and indeed incentivizing the shutdown of mines which pay more royalties.