The next moves in the battleover President Biden's pause on new liquefied natural gas export approvals are coming into sharper focus.
Why it matters: Backers and critics are fighting a well-financed battle to sway the eventual policy outcome — and 2024 politics while Biden's review unfolds.
John Podesta, a veteran climate wonk and senior adviser to President Biden, faces numerous challenges in taking on the portfolio of top U.S. climate diplomat.
The big picture: Veterans in climate diplomacy tell Axios that Podesta is well-positioned to follow John Kerry's high-profile stint as special climate envoy (though he won't have the same job title). But it's not going to be easy.
There's no real consensusabout why Saudi Arabia ditched plans to raise its max oil pumping capacity — a decision the kingdom has not explained.
Why it matters: State oil giant Aramco's announcement comes amid uncertainty about long-term demand growth, and as nations double down on fighting climate change.
Why it matters: Podesta is a seasoned official with long involvement in climate issues who is close to President Biden, and can therefore credibly fill Kerry's large shoes in the role.
A powerful storm swirling over the northeastern Pacific Ocean is directing a firehose of moisture, known as an atmospheric river, at the West Coast.
Threat level: The storm is bringing the potential for heavy rains, mountain snow to be measured in feet and strong and damaging winds to California and parts of the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday through Friday.
Meteomatics, a weather intelligence and technology firm that makes a fleet of autonomous drones, has closed a strategic funding round from Lockheed Ventures, the companies tell Axios exclusively.
Driving the news: The new funding, totaling in the single-digit millions, is aimed at helping the Swiss-based company expand, and bring new weather and climate insights to business and government customers.
