Axios

Environmental Defense Fund and ExxonMobil Corp., are sponsoring an event together for the first time ever.

Why it matters: It’s a sign of deepening ties between an environmental group and the oil industry at a time of division on the polarized topic of climate change and energy. EDF is one of the only environmental groups that works closely with the industry, despite scrutiny of the sector’s role exacerbating climate change.

The details: The event, which occurred at lunchtime Monday, focused on cutting emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, that's the primary component of natural gas. It's inadvertently emitted during the oil and gas production and transportation process.

What's next: The event comes a day before the official start of a big conference this week in Washington on natural gas. Speakers at the conference include Energy Secretary Rick Perry, Exxon CEO Darren Woods and more.

The digital revolution sweeping the energy sector would seem poised to help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. Progress in artificial intelligence and computing power, the plunging cost of sensors and other digital equipment, and rising connectivity could all make it easier to use clean energy sources and cut wasteful energy use.

Yes, but: Digitalization is a double-edged sword. Unless policymakers around the world act quickly, it could make the global energy system dirtier. Policies such as carbon pricing are needed to steer the energy industry toward digital technologies that reduce emissions rather than raise them.

Climate change is intangible and complicated, which makes it an easy target for our era of fake news.

Why it matters: Addressing climate change, whether through government or private action, requires acknowledging a problem exists. Misinformation about the science, including inaccurate statements and articles, makes that harder. Concern about climate change has dropped over the past year among Republicans and independents, according to Gallup polling released in March.