Axios

Thursday brought the rollout of a super PAC that will support Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee if he moves ahead with plans for a climate-focused presidential run.

Why it matters: Announcement of the Act Now On Climate super PAC is another sign that global warming, long a second-tier (at best) topic in national elections, could be more prominent in this cycle.

CANBERRA, Australia — A decade ago, coal supplied 90% of this national capital region’s electricity. By next year, it will be 0%, and renewable energy will be 100%.

Why it matters: It’s a rare example of a region traditionally dependent upon coal weaning itself off the fuel. The key lesson: big pivots in energy systems are possible with stable government leadership, instead of windshield-wiper policies that voters from Australia to America have been accustomed to in recent years.

Consumer Reports says it will no longer recommend the technology-laden Tesla Model 3 based on complaints from car owners, sending its stock tumbling nearly 2%.

Why it matters: Problems with the Model 3's electronics and body fit-and-finish are typical for new models and not surprising given CEO Elon Musk's frequent description of "production hell" last year. A Tesla spokesperson tells CNBC most of the issues have already been corrected through design and manufacturing improvements.

Dan talks with Axios science editor Andrew Freedman about the growing popular consensus around climate change, including among conservative Republicans.

We’re at the beginning of a make-or-break period to confront global warming. A combination of forces, from dire scientific reports to extreme weather events, have crystallized a movement to action.

The big picture: A rare convergence of science that reveals the urgency of the problem; extreme events that highlight threats almost nationwide; and shifting public views that are fueling support for stronger policies, scientists and polling experts say.

Approximately 49 million tons of CO2 could be cut via carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) in the power sector — equivalent to removing 7 million cars from the roads — by 2030, according to a Clean Air Task Force (CATF) report published this week.

Why it matters: The oil and gas industry has experimented with CO2 removal technology since the 1930s to purify process streams from CO2. Now similar technology could be used to ease the transition from fossil fuels to more sustainable energy sources.