COP26: The most recent draft agreement circulating at COP26 softens language from a previous version; it now “requests” instead of “urges” countries to develop better climate plans, among other changes. (Bloomberg)
ALSO:
• The most recent draft pushes developed countries to double climate adaptation finance, signaling that vulnerable countries are being heard. (E&E News)
• Developing countries condemn the American push to have countries more frequently review and intensify their climate plans, accusing the U.S. and European negotiators of “carbon colonialism.” (Politico)
• Poor countries call for climate reparations to be included in the final COP26 agreement, saying the developed world needs to account for its historic harms. (New York Times)
• Newly announced COP26 pledges would get the world 9% closer to its Paris Agreement goal, provided countries actually follow through, Climate Action Tracker finds. (The Guardian)
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE:
• A new coalition seeks to amplify the voices of people of color in Appalachia who have been disproportionately impacted by economic and social burdens. (Energy News Network)
• A federal judge rules tribes’ evidence that a proposed Nevada lithium mine is on the sacred site of an 1865 massacre is insufficient to halt excavation. (Associated Press)
PIPELINES: While climate and Indigenous activists have applauded President Biden for stopping the Keystone XL pipeline, he’s been widely criticized by the same groups for refusing to do the same with Line 3 and Line 5. (Inside Climate News)
POLITICS: While Democrats lost or narrowly won some major statewide races last week, several candidates won citywide elections while making climate a big part of their campaigns. (Inside Climate News)
CLIMATE:
• Climate-induced risks lead coastal communities to ask whether they should stage a managed retreat from flood-prone areas. (Associated Press)
• California activists and officials are rebranding “managed retreat,” calling it “resilient relocation” in an effort to encourage proactive measures to avoid sea level rise’s disastrous effects. (E&E News)
• Americans’ concern over climate change has remained relatively unchanged over the past few years despite the topic’s rising prominence and increasingly intense weather events, a poll finds. (Washington Post)
CLEAN ENERGY: A southeastern Michigan city could be fully powered through solar, energy efficiency and other local generation, but only after major state policy changes, according to a new report. (Planet Detroit/Energy News Network)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin says he won’t support a tax break for union-made electric vehicles because it would hinder Toyota’s plans to expand its West Virginia factory to produce hybrid transaxles. (Parkersburg News & Sentinel, Charleston Gazette-Mail)
• Development is underway to bring 200 fast chargers to an industrial park outside of New York City, which would purportedly make it the largest electric vehicle charging center in the country. (news release)
• Lordstown Motors will delay next year’s release of its electric pickup truck because of parts and materials shortages and other supply chain issues. (Reuters)
COMMENTARY:
• U.S. oil and gas companies export large quantities of fuel into the international market and reap the windfall of post-pandemic demand by limiting supply, writes an energy columnist. (Houston Chronicle)
• The newly passed federal infrastructure bill includes a massive win for coal-affected communities with the largest-ever investment in abandoned coal mine cleanup, writes a member of an Appalachian advocacy group. (Appalachian Voices)