Global efforts to address climate change are — still — going far better today than they were a decade ago, even with recent politics pushing the problem to the back burner. Why it matters: We humans usually operate on daily, monthly and yearly time frames. So it can be easy to miss the energy transition...
The Interior Department on Friday halted construction on Ørsted’s Revolution Wind project off Rhode Island’s coast. Why it matters: It’s another sign of the Trump administration’s hostility to offshore wind and comes after it issued — then lifted — a stop-work order on a major wind project under construction off New York’s coast. Driving the news: Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issued...
A massive report studying nearly 14.5 million students in 61 countries found that long-term heat exposure is interfering with students’ abilities to learn —and prolonged heat streaks are only getting worse. Why it matters: Increasingly high temperatures are worsening disparate educational outcomes, with the potential for long-term impacts on graduation rates and cognitive ability to grow as the globe continues to...
President Trump said on Sunday that the U.S. reached a trade agreement with the European Union that would impose a 15% tariff rate on its goods. Why it matters: Europe is the latest major partner to accept significantly higher tariffs to stave off worsening trade fights with Trump. Details: Trump announced the deal alongside European Commission President Ursula von der...
The appearance of Neil Jacobs, President Trump’s NOAA nominee, before a Senate panel on Wednesday was fairly revealing by the standards of these kinds of things. Why it matters: NOAA is a major climate research agency, and its National Weather Service plays a huge public safety role — especially as climate change intensifies some extreme weather events. ...
The Trump administration predicted Monday that the risk of blackouts could become 100 times greater if planned fossil-fuel power plant closures remain on schedule. Why it matters: The Energy Department report lays the statistical groundwork to continue its efforts to keep coal and natural gas plants open beyond their scheduled shutdown dates. Read more Axios here.
Republicans in Georgia’s state legislature — including a key ally of Gov. Brian Kemp — are pressing U.S. Senate leaders to preserve solar deployment and manufacturing credits. Why it matters: The lobbying efforts show how GOP plans to pare back Inflation Reduction Act credits in budget reconciliation are roiling red-state developments. Driving the news: “We urge you...
Iran’s parliament has endorsed closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil transit point off its coast, but analysts are skeptical about the threat from a body without authority to close the strait. Why it matters: Impeding the strait would likely bring a massive spike in oil prices that would flow through to U.S. consumers. Read more in Axios here.
Abu Dhabi’s state-owned oil company and sovereign wealth fund have teamed with U.S. private equity firm Carlyle to make an $18.7 billion takeover bid for listed Australian energy company Santos. Why it matters: It would be one of the largest takeovers ever in Australia, and reflects how Middle Eastern oil giants are seeking to grow their...
If international trade is a game of chess, China has the U.S. in check — with few good options for the next move. Why it matters: The trade war has exposed just how deeply the U.S. economy is at the mercy of an accident of geology — China’s supply of the rare earth minerals that power our modern...
Help us promote free market solutions for climate change.
Thank you for signing up