Google and YouTube on Thursday announced a new policy that prohibits climate deniers from being able to monetize their content on its platforms via ads or creator payments.
Why it matters: It's one of the most aggressive measures any major tech platform has taken to combat climate change misinformation.
BP said Thursday that it acquired New York City-based Blueprint Power, a startup that helps turn buildings into "flexible power assets" that lower the carbon footprint of commercial real estate.
Why it matters: Big buildings are a major source of energy demand that's ripe for the application of cleaner tech.
The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating whether the Rotterdam Express, a massive German-flagged cargo ship, could have played a role in causing the 126,000-gallon oil spill in Southern California waters, AP reports.
Driving the news: U.S. Coast Guard investigators boarded the cargo ship on Wednesday as part of the investigation into the cause of the oil spill, which is among the largest in recent California history.
Data: International Energy Agency; Chart: Thomas Oide/Axios
New International Energy Agency analysis sees cost-effective pathways to steeply cut oil-and-gas sector emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane far more than what's projected under existing policies.
Driving the news: The report looks at methane from the fossil fuel sector and how to achieve a 75% cut by 2030 that's consistent with IEA's wider roadmap for net-zero global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
China’s energy crisis shows no signs of slowing, and it’s poised to impact the flow of goods that the nation sends stateside.
Why it matters: Supply chain disruptions are a huge part of what’s holding back the world’s economic growth as it recovers from the pandemic lockdown era. Electricity blackouts in China spawned by a power shortage could make that worse.
The UN Climate Summit set to begin Oct. 31 in Glasgow will bring an unprecedented combination of leaders for such an event (even Pope Francis!), and the likely absence of vital players — notably Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Why it matters: The speeches and backroom meetings at COP26 between leaders on the summit's first two days will set the tone for the rest of the gathering. These will be moments when countries showcase any new pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions in order to meet the Paris Agreement's targets.
The Biden administration announced plans Wednesday to restore climate change protections to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that were dismantled when former President Trump was in office.
Why it matters: The White House Council on Environmental Quality plans to bring back a requirement for federal agencies to "evaluate all the relevant environmental impacts of the decisions they are making" for projects such as highways, mines, gas pipelines and water infrastructure, per a CEQ statement.
General Motors plans to double its revenues over the next decade as it transitions to an all-electric future, tapping into software and subscription services that enable new vehicle experiences and connect customers' digital lives, the company told reporters on Wednesday.
Why it matters: It's an extraordinary target for a lumbering industrial giant that is trying to transform itself from automaker to "platform innovator."
A new paper finds that New York's CitiBike bike-sharing system has prevented emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide and saved energy.
The big picture: Bike sharing has become increasingly popular in cities around the world, and the new research calculates the measurable effect the systems can have on climate change and other environmental challenges.
European gas prices soared again today to fresh records, but then began falling after Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled Russia would boost supply — gyrations that come as European Union officials struggle with the immediate crisis and how to prevent the next one.
Driving the news: European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said EU leaders will discuss creating a strategic natural gas storage reserve, per S&P Global Platts and other outlets.
The energy crisis roiling global markets is adding a wild card to an already unfavorable geopolitical deck of cards that will be handed to world leaders at the UN Climate Summit in Glasgow, which starts at the end of the month.
Why it matters: For the Paris temperature targets to be kept even remotely viable, studies show countries must make sharp cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and move toward net-zero emissions by midcentury at the latest, or risk far more severe climate impacts.
CarbonBuilt, a Los Angeles startup with tech to embed CO2 in concrete, just raised $10 million in Series A funding.
Why it matters: It's among several startups attracting capital to make climate-friendly concrete and cut the massive emissions from the production of cement, a key concrete component.
Google unveiled a suite of sustainability features focused on giving consumers more information so they can choose to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.
Driving the news: The product rollout this morning will immediately be noticeable if you use Google Maps, utilize the company's flight search tools, search for companies to invest in or simply query the search engine about the causes of global warming.
The devastating oil spill off the coast of Southern California occurred after an underwater pipeline was split open and dragged along the ocean floor, potentially by a ship's anchor, officials said Tuesday, AP reports.
Why it matters: Earlier Tuesday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency due to the oil spill, which is believed to have dumped 127,000 gallons of oil into the ocean and closed a number of beaches.
