The plastic pollution talks are pushed into overtime by countries pushing for a late breakthrough
The talks to create the first legally-binding treaty in the world to combat plastic pollution ran overtime on Thursday. They were adjourned for the next day. The extent of future restrictions on what was supposed to be the last day of the United Nations negotiations in Geneva. Luis Vayas Valdivieso told the delegates that the meeting would continue into Friday. The United Nations Environment Assembly established the INC in 2022. Its mandate was to create a global, legally-binding treaty on plastic pollution.
Nickel demand in the Philippines is a major concern
The Philippines is ramping up its operations to meet the global demand for metals, minerals and other materials to support the green transition. "When you mine for nickel, you must remove topsoil, forest vegetation and wildlife, causing deforestation and displacement of wildlife," said Grizelda mayo-Anda. She is the director of Environmental Legal Assistance Center, a legal organization that promotes environmental rights. In response, Palawan Gov.
Trump cuts subsidies for US clean energy, bringing an end to the boom.
Bila Solar, a Singapore-based manufacturer of solar panels, has suspended plans to double the capacity of its new Indianapolis factory. Heliene, a Canadian competitor, is reviewing its plans to build a solar-cell facility in Minnesota. NorSun, a Norwegian manufacturer of solar wafers, is evaluating the feasibility of a planned facility in Tulsa. Two offshore wind farms that are fully permitted in the U.S. Northeast could never be built. The major clean energy investments are now under question, after Republicans agreed to end U.S.
Senate bill still deals a big blow to renewables despite last-minute amendments
Industry advocates and legislators said that the massive U.S. Senate budget bill passed on Tuesday would make it more difficult to develop solar and wind energy projects despite the removal some controversial provisions. After last-minute talks with Republican senators who wanted better terms for renewable energy, the Senate dropped its proposed excise taxes on solar and wind projects that didn't meet strict criteria. Iowa Senator Joni Ernest, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley…
Senate bill increases value of tax credits to use CO2 captured to produce more oil
The U.S. Senate committee proposed that the tax credit to capture carbon emissions when recovering oil be equal to the tax credit of $85/metric tonne for permanently burying these emissions underground. This would be a boon to oil and gas producers. In its draft bill, the finance committee, which is a key part of the Republican budget package, proposed a change to the 45Q tax credit. This was formerly part of 2022's Inflation Reduction act. The House of Representatives' version of the bill…
NAACP threatens El Musk's xAI with a lawsuit over Memphis air pollution
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People sent a letter to Elon Musk’s xAI on Tuesday, indicating its intention to file a lawsuit against the company for air pollution coming from the data center of the AI startup in Memphis. Southern Environmental Law Center sent the letter on behalf of NAACP. It alleges that xAI violated federal laws by using methane turbines in its South Memphis data centre without obtaining permits or "best-available" pollution controls.
Nuclear companies and others ask Senate to maintain energy tax credits
Energy companies that represent technologies that provide stable and consistent baseload power urged U.S. Senate leaders on Tuesday to preserve the clean energy tax credit that was effectively eliminated by a Republican Bill passed last month by Congress. Republicans, including U.S. president Donald Trump, have criticised clean energy tax credit programs for encouraging intermittent renewable energy like wind and sun that fluctuates depending on the weather.
Boeing, Apple and GE will join US business delegation to Vietnam next week list shows
A list of participants, including Boeing, Apple, and other top U.S. companies in tech, defence, and energy, will be joining a large mission to Vietnam, next week. This could be a sign of confidence, as Vietnam tries to avoid U.S. tariffs on trade. The US-ASEAN Business Council is an advocacy group that organizes the annual mission. This year, Vietnam is reviewing its tariffs on U.S. products, including liquefied gas, agricultural and high-tech goods, while U.S.
First Solar wins early victory for ESG group with the use of deep sea minerals
First Solar has agreed not to use minerals from the deep ocean. This is a win for shareholders and environmentalists, as well as a sign that their agenda may make progress in spite of opposition from U.S. president Donald Trump's government. According to an agreement summary provided by the advocacy group As You Sow, the Tempe-based photovoltaic company will not include the minerals in its supply chain until "scientific findings are sufficient" to evaluate the environmental risks associated with this potentially destructive new mining process.
Trump announces end of new US wind energy leasing
Donald Trump, President of the United States, announced on Monday that windmills will no longer be supported by the government, claiming they are expensive, ugly and harmful to wildlife. Trump told an audience at a post-inauguration event that he would not be doing the wind thing. In a press release issued by the White House earlier that day, Trump said he intended to stop new leasing of "massive" wind farms. It said that "President Trump’s energy policies" would end leasing of massive wind farms…
Mexico's oil production drops to its lowest level of the year in November
Mexico's production levels of liquid hydrocarbons and natural gas fell in November to the lowest recorded all year, and were well below the averages for last year. Official numbers published by regulator showed. The country has missed its 1.8 million barrels per day crude oil and condensate production target twice in November. President Claudia Sheinbaum had promised to keep this goal for the six years of her term. The numbers released late Monday show that Mexico produced 1.747 millions bpd liquid hydrocarbons in November.
US House panel finds BlackRock and other asset managers reluctant to join climate initiative
According to a report published on Friday by the Republican-led U.S. Congress committee, top asset managers in the United States were concerned that signing up for an industry climate initiative would make them look like they worked too closely together and attract regulatory scrutiny. This is the latest report released by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee’s Republican majority in a probe that they claim has revealed fund firms and activists were part of a “climate cartel” which colluded through shareholder organizations to reduce emissions.
US House panel finds BlackRock and other asset managers hesitant to join climate initiative
According to a report published Friday by a Republican led U.S. Congressional Committee, top asset managers in the United States are concerned that signing up for an industry climate initiative will make them look like they're working together too closely and attract regulatory scrutiny. This is the latest report released by the majority of the Republican panel as part of an investigation they claim has revealed that fund firms and activists were part of a 'climate cartel' who colluded through shareholder groups pressing for emissions reductions.
Grid operator PJM faces a new complaint regarding power supply
Consumer advocacy group filed a complaint with PJM Interconnection. They claim that the U.S.'s largest grid operator unfairly awards record-high payments to power plants, driving up electricity prices for households and businesses. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission received a complaint on Monday, the second in recent times regarding PJM Interconnection’s capacity market auction for 2025-2026. This auction set prices that were over 800% higher than those of the previous year.
Colombia and Ecuador battle to protect vital wetlands during drought
As water and energy restrictions hit both countries, rural communities in Colombia and Ecuador fight to protect fragile high altitude wetlands which regulate the area's waters cycles. Scientists say that climate change and human activity have exacerbated the effects of El Nino, which has led to drought in Colombia and Ecuador. The grassroots activists of the two countries have worked with international advocacy groups such as Conservation International to save water and protect the high altitude wetlands called paramos.
U.S. Climate Bill Exempts most of Oil Industry from Methane Fees
The U.S. Senate climate bill’s fee on oil and gas industry methane emissions will cover less than half the sector’s releases of the powerful greenhouse gas, thanks to concessions made to win over party holdout Joe Manchin, according to a review of the legislation and interviews with lawmakers that negotiated it.The reduced scope of the fee is among numerous changes made by Senate Democratic leadership to secure a deal on the hard-won Inflation Reduction Act, which is being hailed as the biggest climate package in U.S.
Exxon Suspended from Climate Advocacy Group It Helped Form
Exxon Mobil Corp was suspended from advocacy group Climate Leadership Council (CLC) that looks to make policies to address climate change, the CLC said on Friday.The move comes a little over a month after an Exxon lobbyist said the company supports a carbon tax publicly because the plan to curb climate change would never gain enough political support to be adopted.
WFO Launches Floating Offshore Wind Committee
Global industry advocacy group World Forum Offshore Wind (WFO) has created a new working group - the Floating Offshore Wind Committee (FOWC) - to promote the acceleration of commercial-scale floating offshore wind.FOWC will tackle areas from policy-making through health and safety to maritime spatial planning.According to WFO, the new initiative aims outperforming the installed capacity and cost competitiveness seen with bottom-fixed offshore wind today.
Drilling Ban Proposals Divide Democrats
In the southeast corner of New Mexico, new houses, hotels and jobs are sprouting like flowers in the desert. Trucks hauling equipment and laborers jam once-barren highways on the way to thousands of oil rigs.The Democrats who control the state's government have lofty plans for the billions of dollars in projected tax revenues from the drilling industry in the Permian Basin, the world’s biggest oil field, starting with an overhaul of New Mexico's ailing public education system.
ADNOC Logistics Joins LNG MFI
The LNG Marine Fuel Institute, a non for profit organization based in Perth, announced the membership of ADNOC Logistics & Services with the growing coalition of companies committed to Australian LNG is the primary marine fuel in transition to carbon free shipping.Captain Mohamed Al Ali, Senior Vice President - Ship Management at ADNOC Logistics & Services said: “Our partnership with LNG MFI will add value for the development of LNG as a marine fuel…