KATOWICE, Poland — World leaders wrapped up prolonged and difficult talks here late Saturday with agreement on guidelines aimed at implementing the 2015 Paris climate pact.
Why it matters: Failure to reach a deal on the so-called rulebook at these annual United Nations talks would have been a major setback for the 2015 pact that's already under strain by the planned U.S. withdrawal and other forces.
The U.S. military views climate change as a threat multiplier, one that is likely to worsen already existing weaknesses of government and poverty.
Why it matters: Internal and external climate displacement is already occurring. Depending how quickly and significantly temperatures rise, the specter of climate migration and refugee flows looms large by midcentury.
In an effort to prevent future wildfires, California utility Pacific Gas & Electric Co. is requesting a rate increase of almost $2 billion from its customers, CNN reports.
The big picture: The fires that ravaged the state in November were the most destructive ever seen in California. The company is being accused "of negligence and poor maintenance of electrical infrastructure" in a new class action lawsuit, per CNN, which also blames PG&E for the recent deadly Camp Fire. PG&E power lines were linked to 16 of last year's wildfires, Axios' Courtenay Brown reports.
The UN climate conference is Poland is running into overtime as negotiators haggle over implementation plans for the 2015 Paris agreement. They're likely to extend into Saturday at least.
The latest: "Preparing for more lengthy debate, organizers extended the close of the meeting by two days, until Sunday. Some of the key issues at the talks remain unresolved, but European diplomats and campaigners expressed hope that an agreement was in sight," AP reports.
Wind energy companies bid record-shattering amounts Thursday for the rights to develop federal waters off the Massachusetts coast, offering the Interior Department a combined $285 million thus far for three tracts. And the auction isn't even over yet! It resumes today.
Why it matters: The robust bidding signals that offshore wind in the U.S., which has been way slower to develop than in the big European market, is poised for significant expansion.
KATOWICE, Poland — Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo, who lost his southern Florida congressional seat in the midterm elections, was a "pretend environmentalist" despite introducing legislation taxing carbon emissions, liberal activist Tom Steyer said on the sidelines of a major climate conference here.
Why it matters: Curbelo’s leadership on climate change within a party that mostly ignores the issue is notable and considered a cautiously positive sign for otherwise long-shot prospects for bipartisan policy. Curbelo’s loss and Steyer’s rise — he’s laying the groundwork for a potential 2020 run — shows just much bipartisanship is still out of favor.
KATOWICE, Poland— Getting off fossil fuels or reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a central sticking point emerging here at a conference to hash out details of the 2015 Paris Agreement to combat climate change.
Why it matters: Nations rich with fossil-fuel resources say the focus should be on reducing emissions whatever way possible, including feasible but expensive technology enabling those fuels to burn without emissions.
