Special climate envoy John Kerry is actively considering leaving the Biden administration after next month's COP27 summit, soliciting advice from friends and colleagues on how to stay involved in climate efforts from the private sector, according to people familiar with the matter.
Why it matters: President Biden has relied on Kerry, a former secretary of state, long-time senator and the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004, to corral more multilateral buy-in for emissions cuts and keep climate on the radar despite economic headwinds and the Russia crisis.
A climate activist was arrested after gluing his head to Johannes Vermeer's iconic "Girl with a Pearl Earring" painting at a museum in the Netherlands on Thursday in protest of oil production, the museum said.
Why it matters: Several demonstrators in Europe have recently glued themselves to famous works of art and streets as part of an attempt to raise awareness the effects of oil production on the environment.
Some good news for Europeans, heading into winter: Natural gas prices are plunging, as warm weather and growing stockpiles have massively alleviated pressure.
Why it matters: It suggests the nightmare scenario of winter without heat for millions of Europeans — resulting from the cutoff of Russian energy to the West — has been averted, for now.
The world is hurtling toward between 2.6 and 2.8°C (5.04°F) of warming above preindustrial levels by 2100 barring major new steps, a UN analysis warns.
Why it matters: That's way beyond the 1.5°C target the Paris climate agreement set to avoid the most disastrous impacts of climate change.
Human-caused climate change made everyday temperatures warmer for 7.6 billion people last year, according to a new analysis by research and news nonprofit Climate Central.
The big picture: Impacts of thewarming planet on daily temperatures are being felt by roughly 96% of the world's population, with the strongest influences in cities across the Global South.
The International Energy Agency is projecting a "noticeable peak in overall fossil fuel consumption within this decade" under nations' existing energy and climate policies.
Why it matters: The first-time finding in IEA's just-published annual World Energy Outlook underscores major changes underway in the global energy system.
