Green Lights Nov. 7: Top stories
Don't miss a single story from the best of Callaway Climate Insights.
. . . . Welcome back to Green Lights. Here’s our roundup of the best of Callaway Climate Insights. This week, David Callaway considers the lack of leadership as COP30 begins, as well as unexpected opportunities for clean energy investors. Have a great weekend and please subscribe.
. . . . Despite the Trump administration’s efforts to halt investments in climate change, clean energy investment and demand is soaring in the U.S. and around the world. There were predictions all year in the U.S. that renewable investments are dead under this president, yet the S&P Global Clean Energy Select Index of the 30 largest clean energy companies is up about 50%.
. . . . Leaders from the UK, France and Germany all arrived in Brazil with great ceremony for the United Nation’s historic climate summit this weekend, COP30. But at a time when global leadership on climate efforts is sorely needed, they had little to offer.
. . . . Turns out eggs still matter. And electricity prices. That’s the message from the Democrat’s romp in local elections this week, from California and Virginia to New Jersey and New York City, writes David Callaway. Democracy was on the table, but the biggest issue was electricity prices in the face of the tech arms race to build AI data centers, illustrating how climate change can be a priority issue even if we’re not talking about decarbonization.
. . . . There was plenty of political news to chew on for seasoned election watchers this week. The action in Virginia, New Jersey, Georgia, New York City, and to some extent, California, is an early indication of how important energy costs will be in next year’s big midterms.
. . . . Apollo Global Management’s deal this week to buy half of the world’s largest offshore wind farm from Danish power giant Ørsted for $6.5 billion not only bails Ørsted out of a difficult financial situation, it cements the theory that the hedge fund is making green energy in Europe a priority.
. . . . As UN climate change negotiations begin in Brazil, the World Meteorological Association spotlights a new report it says delivers “a stark assessment of the planet’s climate and an urgent call to step up global action.” The report, titled 10 New Insights in Climate Science, synthesizes the latest peer-reviewed findings from across disciplines to inform international climate policy. The report “underscores that effective, equitable, and science-informed policy remains the most powerful tool to safeguard both people and the planet,” the WMO said.
More greenery . . . .
Pet sustainability: Your dog’s diet affects their carbon pawprint (AP)
Too hot: Human-driven global warming fuels more intense wildfires (Space.com)
Melissa’s destruction: Climate change boosted storm’s strength and damages (AP)
And the winners are: Earthshot announces 2025 winners for prestigious award (Earthshot)
Decades of conservation: Rare orchid brought back from the brink of extinction (The Independent)