Axios

Climate finance has emerged as the biggest stumbling block to progress at the high-stakes United Nations climate talks in Scotland in November. How the Group of 7 wealthy nations treats the issue Friday and Saturday may determine the outcome.

Why it matters: Providing the funding that was promised to developing countries might open up other areas of important conversation in Glasgow, such as setting more ambitious emissions reduction targets for 2030.

Global oil demand will exceed pre-pandemic levels by the end of next year, the International Energy Agency estimated Friday morning.

Why it matters: When demand went into a historic decline last year, there was lots of discussion about the revival timeline — and whether it would ever come all the way back.

Take-out food and drink litter make up the vast majority of the plastics polluting the world's oceans, according to a study published in the journal Nature Sustainability on Thursday.

Why it matters: Plastics' widespread use and slow degradation regularly contribute to major environmental damage. Plastic litter also enters the food chain, disrupts the ecosystem and kills massive numbers of marine animals every year.