President-elect Trump's pick to lead the Energy Department Chris Wright walked a fine line Wednesday as he called climate change "a real and global phenomenon" but remained skeptical during his U.S. Senate confirmation hearing.
Why it matters: Wright, the CEO of fracking company Liberty Energy, looked to temper his tone but stood by prior statements criticizing "climate zealots" and calling climate change not a pressing concern.
President-elect Trump's Monday inauguration ceremony is set to be colder than the norm.
Why it matters: D.C. is preparing for 250,000 ticketed guests and thousands more at the National Mall for the outdoor ceremony — which has caused emergencies from extreme weather in its history.
State of play: The latest analysis from the Energy Department's independent stats arm sees just modest output growth this year and next (albeit from already record levels).
The Lower 48 states had their hottest year on record in 2024, in keeping with global trends.
Why it matters: The year featured numerous extreme weather events in which record warmth played a role — from the obvious, like deadly heat waves, to torrential rains.
Chris Wright, President-elect Trump's nominee to lead the Energy Department, will celebrate his 60th birthday Wednesday by introducing himself to senators as a "science geek, turned tech nerd, turned lifelong energy entrepreneur."
Why it matters: Increased energy production is central to Trump's overall economic strategy, and he'll need an energy secretary who can translate his vision of an oil and gas boom into a practical reality.
Federal pipeline safety regulators have proposed stronger standards for carbon-dioxide pipelines in the Biden administration's waning days.
Why it matters: The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's proposed rule is a long-awaited effort to address safety concerns around pipelines needed to scale up carbon capture and storage projects.
At least two wildfires ignited in Southern California during critical fire weather and triggered fresh evacuations on Tuesday, one week after deadly blazes first erupted across Los Angeles County.
The big picture: The fires have killed at least 25 people and the "Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning" that the National Weather Service's L.A. office issued remains in effect until Wednesday afternoon.
Some of the most destructive wildfires in California's history have killed at least 25 people in Los Angeles County, caused hundreds of thousands to evacuate and choked air quality across the region for the past week.
The big picture: The fires erupted in extremely dry conditions last Tuesday as powerful Santa Ana winds struck. As some assess damage in what's set to be among the most costly wildfire disasters ever in the U.S., parts of L.A. and Ventura counties face a "Particularly Dangerous Situation" red flag warning into Wednesday.
Student loan borrowers impacted by the Los Angeles-area fires, a federally declared natural disaster, are eligible for temporary relief.
The big picture: The wildfires caused much devastation, destroying entire neighborhoods and displacing thousands, with more than 88,000 people still under evacuation orders Tuesday — a week after the fires began.
The archives of a pioneering Chicano Studies historian were destroyed in the devastating wildfires charring through Los Angeles County, his widow confirmed.
The big story: The loss of groundbreaking materials from the late historian Juan Gómez-Quiñones comes as the wildfires so far have claimed 24 lives and flatted the many Black-owned homes in Altadena, California.
Why it matters: Weather forecasters are struggling with how to communicate the dangers of extreme weather events as those events increase in frequency and ferocity with human-caused climate change.
Conservative commentators, amid the deadly Los Angeles wildfires, have narrowed in on a target they've deemed unnecessary and distracting at emergency briefings: American Sign Language interpreters.
The big picture: To members of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, ASL interpreters provide a critical service to millions of Americans — and in emergencies, their role can be life-saving.
Greenland is seeking to work more closely with the U.S. on defense and mining, Prime Minister Múte Egede said at a Monday briefing, per local media.
Why it matters: House Republicans introduced a bill Monday that's designed to allow President-elect Trump to enter into negotiations with Denmark to acquire Greenland, an autonomous territory that's part of the Danish kingdom.
Firefighters battling the Los Angeles-area fires are facing fresh threats nearly a week after wildfires erupted across the region, fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds in extremely dry conditions.
Threat level: The National Weather Service's LA forecast office Sunday evening issued a rare "Particularly Dangerous Situation" Red Flag Warning lasting until Wednesday at noon for parts of L.A. and Ventura counties, warning that high winds could cause "explosive fire growth."
Southern California Edison is being sued by residents and businesses impacted by the Eaton Fire, who allege the Los Angeles utility's equipment may have started the deadly blaze.
The big picture: It's among multiple wildfires that have erupted across the L.A. area since last week amid extremely dry conditions and powerful Santa Ana winds, and the National Weather Service has issued a rare "Particularly Dangerous Situation" red flag warning that's set to last until Wednesday.
House Democrats are warning Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) that tying federal wildfire relief for California to the debt limit could set a new precedent that would come back to bite Republicans.
Why it matters: Disaster prone red states like Florida and Louisiana — Johnson's home state — could face a similar squeeze from Democrats if they retake the House, lawmakers told Axios.
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