[Silence]
[Instrumental Intro: Deep Piano, Acoustic Guitar, Organ, Deep Sub-Bass, Electric Guitar Swells, Drums, Percussion, Saxophone]
[Intro]
Incoming…
(Incoming!)
Outgoing…
(Outgoing!)
What’s the difference?
(The imbalance!)
You’re getting warmer
(When we take in more)
… But can’t get out the door…
(Energy intensity)
[Verse 1]
Sunlight coming down
(Every single day)
Soaking it in…
(Can’t get away)
[Refrain]
Do we stand a chance?
(The energy imbalance)
Change in the exchange
Oh, my, my
(EEI)
Are you gonna cry
(Or will you die)
[Verse 2]
Back in the earlier days
(The balance held the line)
Then something started shifting
(A change in time)
Two thousand five
(Acceleration!)
Two thousand nineteen
(Accumulation!)
[Refrain]
Do we stand a chance?
(The energy imbalance)
Change in the exchange
Oh, my, my
(EEI)
Are you gonna cry
(Or will you die)
[Bridge]
And then…
Ice sheet
(Retreat)
Clouds thin
(An energy win)
The energy pours in
(Feedbacks begin)
[Break]
[Deep Bass Pulse — Sparse Piano]
Zero…
(Balance…)
Then…
A little more.
[Kick Drum]
A little more.
(Than before)
[Snare]
A little more!
(Starts to pour)
[Full Band Hit]
EEI!
[Instrumental]
[Extended Electric Guitar and Saxophone Duel Over Driving Piano, Organ and Deep Bass — Drums Build Into a Relentless Groove]
[Bridge 2]
Do we balance?
(Or imbalance?)
Do we adapt?
(Or collapse?)
Do we watch?
(Or act?)
Do we learn?
(Or burn?)
Oh, my, my…
[Final Refrain]
Do we stand a chance?
(The energy imbalance)
Change in the exchange
Oh, my, my
(EEI)
Are you gonna cry
(Or will we try)
[Outro]
Do we stand a chance?
(The energy imbalance)
Change in the exchange
Oh, my, my
(EEI)
Are you gonna cry
(Oh, we better try)
EEI
(EEI!)
[Whispered]
The energy imbalance…
(Don’t take the chance)
[Deep Bass Hit]
EEI!
[Silence]
About the Song: The Energy Imbalance (EEI)
A simple way to understand climate change and global warming is through Earth’s energy balance—or, more precisely, the growing lack of balance known as Earth’s Energy Imbalance (EEI).
Earth’s climate is governed by a fundamental exchange: energy arrives primarily from the Sun, while Earth returns energy to space as reflected sunlight and outgoing infrared radiation. When incoming and outgoing energy are equal over the long term, the planet is approximately in energy balance. When more energy enters the Earth system than leaves it, the difference is stored within the climate system, producing warming.
2005–2019 (The First Acceleration)
The long-term EEI average effectively doubles compared to prior decades. Ocean heat content spikes dramatically as the oceans absorb roughly 90% of this excess energy.
2020–2023 (The Post-2020 Surge)
Slashed marine shipping pollution (IMO 2020 regulations) rapidly clears atmospheric haze over the oceans, forcing a massive, sudden spike in absorbed solar energy.
2024–Present (Nonlinear Feedback Phase)
EEI hits unprecedented, record-breaking territory. Strong climate feedbacks—such as collapsing Antarctic sea ice and thinning cloud decks—darken the planet, causing it to absorb immense amounts of solar radiation.
From ~0.0 to ~1.4 W/m²+
Read the full report Earth’s Energy Imbalance: The Climate System Out of Balance