The U.S. Postal Service on Wednesday significantly boosted its commitment to replace its aging delivery fleet with more electric vehicles.
Why it matters: The agency faced a massive backlash from lawmakers, environmental groups and others after announcing in March that it would spend nearly $3 billion on an initial order for 50,000 new mail trucks from Oshkosh Defense, 90% of which would be gasoline-powered.
Sixteen states, four environmental groups and the United Auto Workers union sued to block the plan.
The Biden administration and many lawmakers also asked the agency to reconsider.
Driving the news: The new plan reflects "refinements" based on improvements in the agency's financial outlook and availability of technology, the USPS said in a statement.
The agency now says that at least half of the 50,000 vehicles it plans to purchase from Oshkosh Defense will be battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
In addition, the Postal Service said it will purchase another 34,500 vehicles from other manufacturers, "including as many BEVs as are commercially available."
Of the total 84,500 vehicles to be purchased, more than 40% will be electric.
What they're saying: “Public pressure is working," said Joe Britton, executive director of the Zero Emission Transportation Association.
"Today’s commitment to acquire at least a 40% electric fleet shows that the Postal Service understands the strategic disadvantage it would create for itself if it were to just rely on gas-powered vehicles for decades to come."
"Fleet electrification will deliver massive climate, economic and health benefits to the American people — and provide significant cost savings to the Postal Service itself."
President Biden and White House officials announced new moves Wednesday to help protect communities from extreme heat and spur offshore wind projects — and promised that more executive efforts are coming soon.
Why it matters: The White House is looking to show that Biden's climate agenda remains intact even though major clean energy investment legislation appears close to dead on Capitol Hill.
More than 100 million Americans are under heat warnings and advisories, with temperatures of up to 110°F, or possibly higher, hitting much of the U.S. on Wednesday.
Driving the news: From the Southern Plains to the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast, the heat is pushing cities to take action to protect residents from sweltering and often life-threatening conditions.
A sprawling heat dome is bringing temperatures of up to 110°F, or possibly higher, to a broad swath of the U.S. on Wednesday, with more than 100 million people under heat warnings and advisories.
Driving the news: The extreme heat will be most intense in the southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley, but the big cities of the Northeast will swelter as well.
European Union leaders, citing risks from "the Kremlin's weaponization of gas exports," proposed plans Wednesday for all member states to reduce natural gas consumption by 15% until spring.
Why it matters: The plan reflects growing concern that Russia, the EU's top supplier, could cut exports of the key industrial, electric and residential fuel well beyond already reduced levels. “Russia is blackmailing us. Russia is using energy as a weapon,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
The heat wave in Europe should best be viewed as another deadly and startling warning regarding how far we've pushed the planet's climate into less hospitable territory, and how unprepared we are for what's coming.
Catch up fast: In the past week, temperature records dating back centuries have been obliterated, particularly on Tuesday in the U.K. The heat is shifting east, into a swath of Europe extending from Germany to Sweden.
In the midst of an unprecedented heat wave, the U.K. on Tuesday broke its national record for the highest temperature ever registered, with a provisional reading of 104.36°F (40.2°C) at London's Heathrow Airport, according to the country's weather service.
Why it matters: This is the first time the U.K. has breached this temperature that is more common in tropical and desert climates, and studies point to climate change as a key factor behind the scorchingly hot temperatures.
Firefighters in France, Portugal, Spain, the U.K. and other parts of Europe on Tuesday continued to battle raging wildfires that have forced thousands to flee and caused several deaths.
While the heat in Europe is garnering the most headlines, a potent heat wave is hitting the U.S. as well. The heat stretches from the Canadian border to the U.S. border with Mexico, with 100 million under heat warnings and advisories.
Driving the news: Heat warnings on Tuesday cover the entire state of Oklahoma and the vast majority of Texas, where the electrical grid will once again be tested.
The record-shattering heat plaguing the U.K. this week is wreaking havoc on local airports, as high temperatures damage runways that weren't built to withstand the sweltering conditions.
Why it matters: These airports' struggles are yet another example of infrastructure failing to keep up with our rapidly changing climate reality.
Plus, many European airports were in logistical shambles even before the mercury started rising, and heat-related issues stand to further muck up the works.
Driving the news: London Luton Airport and Brize Norton (a Royal Air Force base) reported runway issues as temperatures approached 100°F in parts of the U.K.
The details: Like many other U.K. airports, the fields mentioned above feature runways made of asphalt.
While generally cheaper and easier to maintain than concrete, asphalt is also more prone to dangerous softening in extreme heat. That's not usually a problem in the U.K. — but it is right now.
Runways themselves aren't the only issue. Other parts of the airports, like taxiways and gate areas, can also suffer heat damage.
Railways, too, are suffering in the high temperatures.
Yes, but: The issues at Luton and Brize Norton caused only minimal disruptions to civil and military aviation — though temperatures in the U.K. are expected to remain high, putting more airports at risk.
Heat has been a problem at U.S. airports too.
Vice President Kamala Harris' Air Force Two, for example, was delayed for nearly two hours at Chicago Midway last month due to temperature-related tarmac problems, per White House pool reporters.
The intrigue: Among the U.K. airports with asphalt runways? Farnborough, which is currently playing host to one of the aviation industry's most important trade shows.
No word yet if the heat's causing any issues as companies like Boeing and Airbus vie for sales of their latest and greatest jets.
A new trade group is advocating for early-stage companies seeking to commercialize technology for pulling CO2 from the atmosphere and making sure it doesn't return.
Why it matters: The Carbon Business Council's launch Tuesday signals the growing prominence of efforts to scale-up carbon removal as a tool against global warming.
Why it matters: The fact that we've arrived at this point — with deadly extreme heat virtually shutting down major industrialized nations, but without changing course to curb greenhouse gas emissions — is depressing and baffling to the scientists who have been warning about this moment for years.
The U.K. has likely endured its "warmest night," and its hottest day ever is forecast to follow on Tuesday as Europe's historic heat wave spreads north.
What's happening: Temperatures were above 25°C (77°F) in some parts of the U.K. overnight, per provisional Met Office data, as its first-ever Red warning for heat covers much of England. Temperatures could exceed 40°C (104°F) for the first time Tuesday. Southern Germany and eastern France were forecast to see similar temperatures.
Some 40 million Americans are under heat alerts due to "dangerous and intense," potentially record-breaking heat across the Plains and Mississippi Valley that's expected to expand into the Southeast this week.
The big picture: The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for Texas, and there are heightened fire dangers in several states. Firefighters are already battling 89 large fires across 12 states. An excessive heat warning was in effect for all of Oklahoma for Tuesday, with highs of 110-112°F expected — 16°F above the state's average.
