[April 30- May 4'25] THE BRIEF
🕳️ Blackouts, Bankruptcies & 145 Rollbacks: When Big Oil's Promises Short-Circuit
Welcome to this week’s edition of The Weekly Climate 🎉
References: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5] and [6].
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‼️News you can’t miss
Here’s one important scary/bad (🙀), good (😻), interesting (😼) and fossil (💩) news item.
🙀 [#trumpactions] Trump initiated 145 environmental rollbacks in just 100 days, surpassing his entire first term's attacks on clean air, water, and wildlife protections
😻 [#agrivoltaics] Farmers are earning significant income by installing solar panels on their land while still growing crops underneath, creating a win-win for agriculture and clean energy
😼 [#tariffs] Trump's tariffs may accidentally reduce carbon emissions by slowing economic activity, though the long-term impact could harm clean energy progress
💩 [#bigoil] Major oil companies like Exxon and Chevron saw revenues plummet despite Trump's promises to boost the industry, with falling prices and rising tariff costs hurting profits
This week’s highlights
The climate crisis continues to unfold with both alarming setbacks and glimmers of hope. This week brings stories of unprecedented environmental rollbacks, massive power grid failures, and shrinking ecosystems, but also innovative solutions emerging from unexpected places. From Trump's aggressive deregulation to farmers discovering profitable clean energy alternatives, these are the stories that define our climate moment.
Trump's 145 Environmental Rollbacks in 100 Days
In a stunning display of regulatory reversal, the Trump administration has initiated 145 actions to roll back environmental protections in just 100 days - surpassing the total from his entire first term. This aggressive campaign targets clean air, water, and wildlife protections while favoring fossil fuel industries. Environmental advocates are deeply concerned about the long-term damage to decades of progress, even as legal challenges mount against many of these actions. The sheer scale and speed of these rollbacks represent an unprecedented assault on environmental safeguards. Read more...
Europe's Massive Blackout Exposes Grid Vulnerabilities
A sudden loss of 15 gigawatts of power during peak demand triggered one of Europe's worst blackouts in living memory, leaving millions across Spain and Portugal in the dark. The incident resulted in four deaths and countless stories of people trapped in elevators, disrupted transport, and makeshift shelters. While some media outlets rushed to blame renewable energy, Spain's environment minister strongly defended the country's energy mix and called for a full investigation. The blackout highlights the critical importance of grid resilience as extreme weather events become more frequent. Read more...
Patagonian Lakes Shrink by Half
Five iconic Patagonian lakes have shrunk by up to 52% due to the combined impacts of climate change and human activities, with Laguna Blanca among the most severely affected. This dramatic water loss has triggered ecological damage and harmful algal blooms, devastating local economies that depend on these water bodies. Scientists warn that without immediate collaboration between farmers and authorities, these vital ecosystems may face irreversible damage. The crisis is further complicated by climate change denialism and reduced scientific funding in the region. Read more...
Farmers Find Gold in Solar Energy
In an unexpected twist, farmers are discovering that solar panels can be more profitable than traditional crops, generating significant income while reducing water usage. This agricultural revolution allows farmers to harvest both energy and crops simultaneously through innovative agrivoltaic systems. While recent rate reductions in California may impact returns, the dual-benefit approach of combining agriculture with renewable energy production is creating new opportunities for rural economic development and climate action. This trend could transform how we think about farmland use in the clean energy transition. Read more...
Big Oil's Revenue Crash Despite Trump's Promises
Despite Trump's loud promises to boost the oil industry, major companies like Exxon and Chevron are reporting significant revenue declines that contradict the administration's fossil fuel agenda. Falling oil prices, rising costs from tariffs, and economic uncertainty have created a perfect storm that's hurting the industry's bottom line. This financial reality check raises serious questions about the viability of Trump's energy policies and the future stability of fossil fuel investments. The irony of pro-oil policies coinciding with industry struggles highlights the complex economic forces reshaping the energy landscape. Read more...
That’s it for this week folks!
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