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☆ Hawaii Settles With Young Plaintiffs in Climate Case
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The government of Hawaii on Thursday settled a lawsuit with a group of young people who had sued the state’s Department of Transportation over its use of fossil fuels. It was the latest in a series of victories around the world in cases filed by young plaintiffs. The case was brought in 2022 and organized by Our Children’s Trust, a nonprofit organization that is pursuing similar cases in other states and federal courts, and Earthjustice, an environmental law firm. Last year a group in Montana, also organized by Our Children’s Trust, won their case against that state with a similar argument to the one presented in Hawaii. It also recognizes the constitutional rights of young people in the state to a clean and healthy environment.

Organizations: state’s Department of Transportation, Trust Locations: Hawaii, Montana

☆ A Huge Win for Activists Puts Climate on the 2024 Agenda
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In delaying the approval process for CP2, the White House is directing the Energy Department to consider all greenhouse gas emissions associated with the project — not just its construction. That could include emissions associated with drilling for and transporting the fuel, a change would also affect other pending natural gas terminals. But that can only happen if President Biden is re-elected. Energy politicsThe politics of climate change are a big factor in the White House making this move. “They are not going to support this president unless he makes a bold move.”Slow walking the approval process of CP2 is just what activists like Ozane were looking for.

Persons: Biden, Coral, Donald Trump, ”, ” Ozane Organizations: Energy Department, Energy, Republican Locations: Alaska, West Virginia, Gulf

☆ Davos puts Climate on the Back Burner
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Here at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the most revealing discussions often happen not on the main stage, but at the myriad side events that transform this Swiss ski town into a high-minded networking event. Case in point: the annual luncheon hosted by Salesforce chief executive Marc Benioff, who is plowing some of his personal fortune into efforts to plant a trillion trees and protect the oceans. This afternoon, as a few hundred Davos attendees ate vegetarian fare under a geodesic dome, Benioff interviewed the OpenAI chief executive, Sam Altman, about his vision for the future. Altman, who is investing in fusion power along with artificial intelligence, described a world where energy was cheap and abundant enough to pull huge amounts of carbon from the atmosphere.

Persons: Marc Benioff, Benioff, Sam Altman, Altman Organizations: Economic, Salesforce Locations: Davos

The annual United Nations climate change conference is underway in Dubai, and swirling around the COP28 negotiations is a complex, acrimonious, international fight over money:How much capital is available to help developing countries transition to renewable energy and cope with extreme weather? And critically, what kinds of interest rates will lenders charge? And yet there is a bedeviling economic paradox inhibiting efforts to create a more sustainable world: It’s relatively easy to find financing for the dirty projects the world needs less of, but maddeningly difficult to finance the clean projects the world needs more of. In the United States, rising interest rates are leading big companies to cancel plans for huge renewable developments. But the disconnect is particularly acute in the developing world, and especially Africa, where many people have little or no access to electricity.

Organizations: United Locations: United Nations, Dubai, United States, Africa

☆ A Tense Climate Summit Begins Against a Backdrop of War and Record Heat
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

With dire warnings of planetary catastrophe and urgent pleas to protect vulnerable populations, world leaders on Friday implored one another to stop burning fossil fuels and swiftly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are `dangerously heating the planet. “We cannot save a burning planet with a fire hose of fossil fuels,” António Guterres, the U.N. secretary general, said. “We must accelerate the just, equitable transition to renewables.”The annual meeting, known as COP28, comes near the end of what scientists forecast will be the hottest year in recorded history. Greenhouse gas emissions, mainly driven by the burning of fossil fuels, have now warmed the planet by about 1.2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. Floods, fires, droughts and storms made worse by climate change are unleashing destruction around the world.

Persons: António Guterres, “ Organizations: United Nations Locations: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

☆ Emirati Fund to Invest Billions in U.S. Firms for Climate Projects
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

An Emirati financial firm is planning to invest at least $30 billion in a new climate fund in partnership with some of the biggest names in North American finance, according to three people familiar with the plans. The move comes as the United Arab Emirates, this year’s host of the annual United Nations climate talks that opened in Dubai on Thursday, is under pressure to prove it is committed to tackling global warming despite the fact that its economy is based on oil production. Lunate Capital, a new financial firm overseen by the Abu Dhabi royal family, launched just months ago with at least $50 billion in assets. On Friday, Lunate is expected to announce it will set up the new climate fund with a handful of prominent asset managers including TPG, BlackRock and Brookfield Asset Management, the three people said.

Persons: Abu, Lunate Organizations: United Arab, United Nations, Lunate, TPG, Brookfield Asset Management Locations: American, United Arab Emirates, United, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, BlackRock

☆ A Climate Summit Begins With Fossil Fuels, and Frustration, Going Strong
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As leaders from nearly every nation on the planet gather on Thursday in the United Arab Emirates to confront global warming, many are carrying a sense of disillusionment into the annual climate summit convened by the United Nations. Countries talk about the need to cut the pollution that is dangerously heating the planet, but emissions are reaching record highs this year. Rich countries have pledged to help poor countries transition away from coal, oil and gas, but have largely failed to fulfill their promises for financial aid. After 27 years of meetings, countries still can’t agree to stop burning fossil fuels, which scientists say is the main driver of climate change. “There is skepticism of this COP — where it is and who is running it,” said Ani Dasgupta, president of the World Resources Institute, a research organization.

Persons: ”, Ani Dasgupta Organizations: United, United Nations, World Resources Institute Locations: United Arab Emirates

☆ A Different Approach to Climate Action
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Emissions from China, the world’s largest polluter, will peak within the next couple years, many researchers believe. Those two countries just agreed to accelerate their efforts to reduce emissions, delivering a much-needed jolt of ambition ahead of climate talks in Dubai this month. Efforts to crack down on emissions of methane — a potent but often overlooked greenhouse gas — are ramping up. “When we look at climate media, whether that’s filmmaking or newspaper headlines, it’s often really apocalyptic,” she said. So it’s a huge deal that we get it as right as possible.”

Persons: Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, it’s, ”, Johnson, “, ” Johnson Locations: China, United States, Dubai, Brazil, Indonesia, Ecuador

☆ What a U.S.-China Climate Deal Means for COP28
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The United States and China announced an agreement on Tuesday evening to sharply increase clean energy, displace fossil fuels and reduce the emissions that are warming the planet. The deal comes at a pivotal moment for the United States, the biggest climate polluter in history, and China, currently the largest polluter. And in two weeks, representatives from nearly 200 countries will gather in Dubai as part of the United Nations climate talks known as COP28. The deal between the U.S. and China could deliver a jolt of ambition ahead of the global talks. If the world’s two biggest polluting countries can agree to reduce their fossil fuel emissions, other countries should find it easier to follow suit.

Persons: Biden, Xi Jinping Organizations: U.S Locations: States, China, United States, Dubai, United Nations

It’s no secret that fossil fuels are still going strong, as we discussed last month. But a new United Nations-backed report paints an alarming picture of how dramatically coal, oil and gas production is expected to grow in the coming years. If current projections hold, the United States will drill for more oil and gas in 2030 than at any point in its history, our colleague Hiroko Tabuchi reports. In fact, almost all of the top 20 fossil fuel-producing countries plan to produce more oil, gas and coal in 2030 than they do today. “We cannot address climate catastrophe without tackling its root cause: fossil fuel dependence.”

Persons: Hiroko Tabuchi, António Guterres Organizations: United Nations Locations: United States, Russia, Saudi Arabia

☆ A Win and a Warning Ahead of COP28
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Last year, the annual United Nations climate talks ended with a landmark agreement to compensate poor countries for destruction from climate disasters that have been made worse by emissions from wealthy nations. Almost none of the details behind the so-called loss and damage fund were finalized, including which countries and financial institutions would contribute, and where the money would go. But last weekend, some of the key provisions were hashed out at a meeting in Abu Dhabi. Under the agreement, the fund would launch next year, initially housed at the World Bank, and developing countries would have a seat on its board. Global leaders will be asked to ratify the plan at the United Nations climate talks known as COP28, which start later this month in Dubai.

Organizations: United Nations, World Bank, Global, United Locations: United, Abu Dhabi, United Nations, Dubai

☆ Less Pollution, More Global Warming
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Some of the particulate matter in all that pollution was actually exerting a cooling effect on the climate by blocking solar radiation. In doing so, it was effectively preventing some of the global warming driven by the burning of fossil fuels. Scientists are now taking a closer look at this trade-off and arriving at a sobering conclusion: As we clean up the air, we also seem to making global warming a bit worse. Cleaner air means healthier peopleBefore we examine the trade-offs, let’s acknowledge the obvious: Less pollution is a good thing. The tiny particles can become lodged in the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, causing problems in the heart and beyond.

Persons: let’s Organizations: World Health Organization

☆ It’s All About the Grid
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The clean energy will have nowhere to go. Point A to Point BIt’s easy to lose sight of the importance of the grid, and just how much work needs to be done. But clean power sources are often situated far from cities where the most people live. As Brad has reported, the boom in clean energy ventures has also overwhelmed the system for connecting new power sources to homes and businesses. “Sometimes you have existing lines where they are basically at capacity, they’re full and they can’t handle adding more wind power or solar power,” Brad said.

Persons: there’s, Brad, ” Brad Organizations: Department of Energy Locations: U.S, United States

☆ E.V. Range Anxiety: A Case Study
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Electric vehicle sales are booming, and an effort is underway to blanket the country with new charging stations. I’ve been renting electric cars ever since Hertz started offering Teslas as an option a couple of years ago. Whenever I needed to power up, I found one of Tesla’s fast charging stations and was back on the road with a nearly full battery in less than an hour. But when I arrived in Minneapolis for a reporting trip this summer, the Tesla I had reserved wasn’t available. rentals, this would be a bit of a road trip, the kind of long drive through sparsely populated farmland that is a hallmark of American car culture.

Persons: I’ve, Hertz, Tesla Locations: Minneapolis, South Dakota

☆ The hope and hype of hydrogen
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Imagine a fuel capable of powering cars, planes and factories, just like gasoline or natural gas. But instead of emitting greenhouse gases, it releases only water vapor. Rather, many experts say that hydrogen is a crucial storage medium for the clean energy future. And right now, most hydrogen is produced by burning natural gas, which has an enormous carbon footprint. But electrolyzers, which split water into hydrogen and oxygen, can be powered by renewable energy like wind turbines and solar panels.

☆ Billionaire Moguls and a Trillion Trees
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

At last week’s Climate Forward event, I asked Bill Gates how he offsets his own substantial carbon footprint. Gates mentioned paying for direct air capture, funding heat pumps and installing solar panels. “I don’t plant trees.”Following up, I asked Gates what he thought about the voguish notion that planting enough trees might somehow solve climate change. Which one do we want to be?”Gates was taking direct aim at one of the most hyped-up climate solutions in recent years: planting lots and lots of trees. The approach burst onto the scene in Davos in 2020, when Marc Benioff, the co-founder of Salesforce, announced that he was going to work with the Trump administration to plant a trillion trees.

Persons: Bill Gates, Gates, ”, “, Marc Benioff, Trump Organizations: Salesforce Locations: Davos

☆ Michael Bloomberg Dials Up a War on Plastics
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Michael Bloomberg is many things: former New York City mayor, founder of a financial data company, failed presidential candidate and the 11th richest man in the world. Since leaving public office 10 years ago, Mr. Bloomberg, 81, has also emerged as perhaps the world’s single largest funder of climate activism, making himself an expensive thorn in the side of the fossil fuel industry. The former mayor says that so far he has spent $500 million in an effort to shut down coal and gas plants. This month he said he planned to spend another $500 million on the effort. Now he is going after a more challenging target: new petrochemical plants that make fertilizer, plastics and packaging.

Persons: Michael Bloomberg Organizations: New York City, Bloomberg, Sierra Club Locations: New York

☆ California Sues Giant Oil Companies, Citing Decades of Deception
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The state of California sued several of the world’s biggest oil companies on Friday, claiming their actions have caused tens of billions of dollars in damage and that they deceived the public by downplaying the risks posed by fossil fuels. The civil case, filed in superior court in San Francisco, is the latest and most significant lawsuit to target oil, gas and coal companies over their role in causing climate change. It seeks creation of an abatement fund to pay for the future damages caused by climate related disasters in the state. The lawsuit targets five companies: Exxon Mobil, Shell, BP, ConocoPhillips, and Chevron, which is headquartered in San Ramon, Calif. But the California lawsuit immediately becomes one of the most significant legal challenges facing the fossil fuel industry.

Organizations: Exxon Mobil, Shell, BP, ConocoPhillips, Chevron, Calif, American Petroleum Institute Locations: California, San Francisco, San Ramon, Washington

☆ Drill, Baby, Drill: The Promise of Geothermal Power
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

And much of the research and development needed for the new geothermal technologies is already done, thanks in large part to recent advances by the oil and gas industry — including fracking. At the end of the day, it might be techniques developed by Big Oil that ultimately help make fossil fuels obsolete. Drilling, but not for oilOver the past 20 years, fossil fuel companies have gotten very, very good at drilling. “The thing that made me think that this could be real is the fact that the major costs of these geothermal projects often is drilling,” Brad said. Drilling is something the United States has just gotten incredibly good at.”

Persons: ” Brad, Brad, ” Organizations: U.S . Energy Department, Big Oil Locations: U.S, United States

☆ Steel Is Getting Cleaner
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Steel is the backbone of the modern economy, essential for building skyscrapers, wind turbines, planes, trains and automobiles. It’s also incredibly dirty, responsible for about 7 percent of global carbon emissions. Experts have long regarded the steel industry as a hard-to-abate sector — a corner of the economy where phasing out planet-warming emissions is particularly tough. Most steel plants emit carbon twice: They heat up coal to create coke, and then burn the coke in massive blast furnaces to melt iron ore.Over the past 12 months, however, the outlook for the industry has changed significantly. Electric arc furnaces, which use scrap metal and electric current instead of iron ore and coke, are on the rise around the world.

Persons: It’s

Ecuador voted overwhelmingly on Sunday to halt oil drilling in one of the most biodiverse places on earth. With almost all ballots counted, 59 percent of voters sided with the young activists who spent a decade fighting for the referendum, as we wrote last week. It is widely considered to be the first time a country’s citizens voted decisively to leave oil in the ground. In a separate referendum, Ecuadoreans also voted to block mining in a biosphere reserve. The oil will keep flowing in dozens of other sites in the Ecuadorean Amazon.

Persons: Ecuadoreans, Monserrat Locations: Ecuador

☆ With TikTok and Lawsuits, Gen Z Takes on Climate Change
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“Do you think I really want to be on a stand saying, like, ‘I don’t have a future,’” said Mesina DiGrazia-Roberts, 16, another of the plaintiffs in the Hawaii case, who lives on Oahu. “As a 16-year-old who just wants to live my life and hang out with my friends and eat good food, I don’t want to be doing that. The state filed two motions to dismiss the case, but this month a judge set a trial date for next year. A nonprofit legal organization called Our Children’s Trust is behind the Montana and Hawaii cases, as well as active litigation in three other states. But in June, a different judge ruled the case could once again proceed toward trial.

Persons: ’ ”, Mesina DiGrazia, Roberts, ”, Juliana v Organizations: state’s Department of Transportation Locations: Hawaii, Oahu, “, Montana, United States

☆ Climate Change Was on Trial in Montana
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The state of Montana has a constitutional obligation to protect its residents from climate change. It compels Montana, a major coal and gas producing state, to consider climate change when deciding whether to approve or renew fossil fuel projects. The state Constitution guarantees residents “the right to a clean and healthful environment.” In a lawsuit, Held v. Montana, 16 young people argued that the government had violated that right by enabling rampant development of fossil fuels, contributing to climate change and polluting the state. The young plaintiffs testified about extreme weather events that threaten their families and their health. They also spoke of the anguish they felt as they considered a future dimmed by environmental collapse.

Locations: Montana, . Montana

☆ Curbing Contrails: A Climate Solution in the Skies
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Case in point: contrails, those wispy white lines that trail some airplanes flying high in the sky. Contrails, short for condensation trails, are produced when exhaust from jets mixes with water vapor at extremely high altitudes, forming minuscule ice particles. Scientists have known for decades that in some cases, contrails spread out across huge areas, trapping heat in the atmosphere. Yet studies have estimated that contrails are responsible for as much as 35 percent of all of the planetary warming attributable to aviation. “We now know enough about contrails and their impact to know we need to do something about it,” said Andrew Chen of RMI, a nonprofit that promotes sustainability.

Persons: ”, Andrew Chen Organizations: RMI

Oceans cover more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, and yet the vast majority have not been mapped or explored. And man-made climate change is to blame. In today’s newsletter we’ll take a deep dive into what’s happening, with help from our colleagues. ‘Astonishing’ heatThe average temperature of the world’s oceans spiked to 70 degrees Fahrenheit in April, and it’s nearly back to that level once again. (She also made all of the graphics in today’s newsletter.)

Persons: it’s, Elena Shao Locations: Atlantic, Florida, Antarctica

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