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Ajit Niranjan, The Guardian
The EU’s climate advisory board has called for the countries to prepare for a “catastrophic 3C of global heating”, reports the Guardian. The article adds that Maarten van Aalst, a member of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change (ESABCC), said Europe was already “paying a price” for its lack of preparation. It quotes van Aalst saying that adaptation “is a daunting task, but at the same time quite a doable task. It’s not rocket science”. Reuters notes that climate change has made Europe the world's fastest-warming continent. It adds that the ESABCC has suggested that EU countries prepare for risks associated with 2.8C to 3.3C of warming by the end of the century.
MORE ON EU
Bloomberg reports that the EU will “put so-called green steel at the centre of its pitch to revive the continent’s industrial fortunes”. The Guardian covers calls in Cyprus for residents to reduce their water consumption by 10%, as the nation deals with a “once-in-a century drought”. The Financial Times reports that the European Commission is planning to introduce new rules for EV manufacturers, meaning they have to source 70% of the car components from the EU. Politico looks at the “week the EU’s climate foundations started to shake”, following an “assault” on its EU Emissions Trading System.
Kenza Bryan, Financial Times
UK energy secretary Ed Miliband and California’s Democratic governor Gavin Newsom have signed a high-level deal to boost technology sharing and mutual investment in the “global race for clean power”, reports the Financial Times. Politico adds that the pledge to collaborate on clean technologies includes the pursuit of offshore wind, “at a time when Trump takes every chance to rail against windmills”. The Guardian reports that the deal is designed to enhance ties between businesses and researchers in the UK and California, as well as the two sharing expertise on protecting biodiversity and building resilience amid extreme weather. The Press Association notes that this marks the 12th agreement between a US state and the UK, but adds that it “stands in contrast to British engagement on energy with president Donald Trump’s administration”.
Numerous publications cover Trump’s comments following the announcement of the deal between California and the UK. Politico quotes the president, who is 79 years old, deriding Newsom as a “loser” and name-calling him “Newscum”. The Times reports: “Trump said it was ‘inappropriate’ for Newsom to be making international climate-related agreements and ‘inappropriate for them [the UK] to be dealing with him’.” The Daily Telegraph reports Trump’s comments on its frontpage, while the Sun, Daily Express, Daily Mail, Reuters and others also cover the story.
MORE ON UK
In a piece featured on the frontpage of the newspaper, the Daily Telegraph reports that Vauxhall owner Stellantis is planning to restart the sale of diesel cars in the UK. [Diesel cars now make up around 5% of UK sales.] The Daily Telegraph covers comments by Chris Packham and Dale Vince, urging the UK government to stop “attacks on nature protections”.
International Energy Net
Chinese president Xi Jinping said that upholding the country’s “dual carbon” goals and promoting a “comprehensive green transition” was a key element of economic work in 2026, according to the full text of a speech delivered in December and covered by International Energy Net yesterday. The outlet says that in the speech, which was published in top ideological journal Qiushi, Xi also called for greater “carbon-reduction upgrades” in key industries, formulation of a “strategic outline for building a strong energy nation”, accelerating the development of a new energy system, expanding the use of low-carbon power and strengthening China’s carbon market. It adds that he also encouraged the building of “smart grids and microgrids” and zero-carbon factories, as well as exploring the establishment of a “national low-carbon transition fund”. Xi also encouraged the country to develop “green trade” and address “involution”, reports state news agency Xinhua.
MORE ON CHINA
China is “now the largest single source of international renewable energy finance for south-east Asia”, reports the China-Global South Project. The South China Morning Post (SCMP) examines an “abrupt crackdown” in Indonesia that revoked a permit for a China-backed hydropower project. Some 53% of Canadians say that “knowing an [electric vehicle] was made in China would have no effect on their purchasing decision”, reports Bloomberg. “Flexible” coal-power plants in Inner Mongolia and elsewhere “could protect the country against energy crises such as the one it faced in 2021”, says SCMP. [The article is one of several recent reports appearing in the outlet that emphasise the need for coal as a reliable backup to renewable power.] A People’s Daily article issued before the spring festival holiday says “green travel” is no longer “abstract” and allows for a “smooth, stress-free journey”. People’s Daily also says “green tourism reduces queues, traffic jams and overcrowding” and encourages “long-term investment”.
Christine Chen, Reuters
An Australian court has thrown out a case against gas company Santos, which alleged that the company misled the public over its plans to reach net-zero emissions, reports Reuters. The article states that the case was launched in 2021 by activist shareholder Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR). Bloomberg adds that the group had alleged that Santos was “deceptive in portraying itself as a clean-energy producer in investor materials and by suggesting it had a ‘clear and credible’ plan to hit net-zero by 2040”. The Financial Review states that the activists had hoped the case would result in a “landmark greenwashing verdict”, but instead it has been dismissed outright by Justice Brigitte Markovic. The Guardian notes that the reasons for the dismissal of the case will be published on 23 February.
MORE ON AUSTRALIA
Ajit Niranjan, The Guardian
The Guardian covers a new report that it says finds that companies are conflating traditional artificial intelligence with generative AI to claim that the “energy-hungry technology could help avert climate breakdown”. It continues that the analysis of 154 statements found that such claims refer to machine learning and not to chatbots and image generation tools. The article adds that the research, commissioned by non-profits, including Beyond Fossil Fuels and Climate Action Against Disinformation, did not find a single example of a popular AI tool leading to a “material, verifiable and substantial” reduction in emissions.
MORE ON COMPUTING
The Financial Times looks at claims by “energy-hungry data centres” that AI is not increasing bills for regular consumers. A separate piece in the Financial Times asks “will Chinese ‘involution’ do to robots and AI what it’s already done to EVs?" Risk Market News covers a letter from the American Academy of Actuaries warning that the Trump Administration’s plan to outsource the federal government's climate research supercomputer will add significant cost to the US insurance market.
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