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Just Stop Oil targets Charles Darwin’s grave over climate change inaction

January 13, 2025
Climate activists took their message to a historic landmark on Monday, Jan. 13, vandalizing the grave of famed British naturalist Charles Darwin. Just Stop Oil protested at Westminster Abbey to demand urgent government action on climate change.

Two members of the group Just Stop Oil used chalk paint to write the words “1.5 is dead” on part of Darwin’s white gravestone, turning it orange. The protesters said the action was a direct response to the U.K. government’s failure to address the climate crisis.

“We’ve done it on Darwin’s grave specifically because he would be turning in that grave because of the sixth mass extinction taking place now,” one of the activists said as they were being led away by police.

The group is calling on world leaders to honor their climate commitments, particularly the 2015 Paris Agreement. World leaders agreed to keep the world’s temperature increase well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to push for limiting it to 1.5 degrees.

According to a recent report from European scientists, 2024 has been the hottest year on record, surpassing the 1.5-degree threshold. The Copernicus Climate Change Service, which monitors global temperatures, says human activity is one of the drivers behind the rising temperatures.

“We’ve already passed through the 1.5 degrees that was supposed to keep us safe,” the activist said during the protest. “Millions are being displaced. California is on fire, and three-quarters of wildlife has disappeared since the 1970s.”

The protest comes amid a wave of similar actions across the U.K. by Just Stop Oil activists. The group has previously staged high-profile demonstrations, including throwing soup on famous artworks and vandalizing historical monuments with orange paint.

The group’s message is clear, they want world leaders to take decisive action by phasing out the extraction of fossil fuels by 2030.

Westminster Abbey officials confirmed the damage to Darwin’s grave is not permanent. A spokesperson said a restoration team is working to clean the memorial.

Authorities with the London Police arrested the two activists who carried out the protest.
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Nearly entire island of Puerto Rico loses power in New Year’s Eve blackout

December 31, 2024
Hours before Puerto Ricans planned to start celebrating New Year’s Eve on Tuesday, Dec. 31, a blackout hit nearly all of the island, leaving more than 1.3 million customers without power. Officials said it could take days before power is restored to those impacted.

Nearly 90% of the U.S. territory’s 1.5 million clients were reportedly without power on Tuesday.

Officials said they believe the power outage is due to an underground line failure.

The blackout is reportedly directing more anger from Puerto Ricans toward Luma Energy and Genera PR.

The companies are in charge of the island’s power generation and many residents want them out over chronic power outages.

Meanwhile, Puerto Rican Governor-elect Jenniffer González-Colón, who will take office on Thursday, Jan. 2, has threatened to revoke Luma Energy’s contract with Puerto Rico over its failure to curb power outages. The governor-elect also wants the island to use more fossil fuels.

González is proposing that Puerto Rico drop some clean energy targets and instead use more natural gas.

Currently, the U.S. territory is committed to 100% renewable energy by 2050.

González argued the goal is unrealistic and risks losing qualified companies from coming in to provide more reliable power to residents.

Puerto Rico’s power grid has suffered from years of neglect and a lack of investment while still reeling from damage due to Hurricane Maria back in 2017.

Only recently did crews begin making permanent repairs to the power grid following Hurricane Maria. Residents continue to rely on aging generators provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to stabilize the grid.

In November, Puerto Rico’s government asked for permission from FEMA officials to continue using the generators for an additional two years.
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New York aims to make fossil fuel companies pay $75 billion for pollution

December 27, 2024
A new law in New York is aiming to make fossil fuel companies pay up for pollution. State lawmakers, including Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said these oil, gas and coal companies are now on the hook for projects to reduce the effects of climate change.

Hochul signed the bill into law on Thursday, Dec. 26, under which fossil fuel companies will be fined $75 billion over 25 years for damage caused to the climate.

The money will reportedly go into a fund to pay for infrastructure projects related to mitigating the effects of climate change or a so-called “Climate Superfund” starting in 2028.

Democratic lawmakers are praising the legislation.

“The companies most responsible for the climate crisis will be held accountable,” State Sen. Liz Krueger, D-NY, said.

Fossil fuel companies will be charged based on the amount of greenhouse gases they released into the atmosphere between 2000 and 2018.

The law applies to any company the New York Department of Environmental Conservation deems responsible for more than one billion tons of global greenhouse emissions.

However, the law will not begin fining companies right away.

First, the state must come up with rules to identify the biggest polluters and then notify the companies of the penalties. Afterward, the state must determine the infrastructure projects the funds will go toward.

Oil, coal and gas companies are reportedly expected to challenge the law in court.

The American Petroleum Institute, which is the oil industry’s top lobbying group, responded to the law in a statement.

“This type of legislation represents nothing more than punitive fee on American energy, and we are evaluating our options moving forward,” the statement said.

New York is now the second state to pass such legislation fining fossil fuel companies for pollution. Vermont became the first this summer.
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Florida’s approval of fossil fuel-reliant utility plans faces lawsuit

December 24, 2024
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is facing legal action over allegations its approval of utility plans prioritizing fossil fuels hinders the state’s transition to renewable energy. The lawsuit, filed by the advocacy group Our Children’s Trust, represents six young Floridians aged 18 to 25.

The plaintiffs argue the PSC’s approval of 10-year site plans from major electric utilities violates state law and the constitutional rights of Florida’s youth to a safe and livable future.

The suit claims the approved plans perpetuate dependence on fossil fuels despite the availability of more affordable renewable energy options and the utilities’ own stated goals to embrace cleaner energy.

“The Commission’s conduct prevents Florida from transitioning its electricity sector away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy sources, even though such a transition is intended under state law; necessary to protect Plaintiffs’ fundamental rights secured by the Florida Constitution; justified by best available science; and aligned with the decarbonization goals of Florida’s largest electric utilities,” the lawsuit reads. “Instead, the Commission’s conduct serves to entrench and prolong Florida’s long-standing addiction to gas.”

This lawsuit also highlights the climate change-related risks posed to Florida residents. The plaintiffs say these plans exacerbate and seek a declaratory judgment against the PSC for allegedly violating constitutional protections.

The legal action follows legislation signed by Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in May, which altered Florida’s energy policy. The new law shifts focus to reducing reliance on foreign energy sources instead of promoting renewables, removes references to “climate change” in state law and nullifies previously implemented clean energy goals.

Despite these changes, Our Children’s Trust asserts provisions still exist, requiring state agencies to prioritize renewable energy. The group plans to move forward with the case.
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Montana Supreme Court upholds ruling in landmark youth climate case

December 18, 2024
Young climate activists are celebrating another victory after Montana’s Supreme Court ruled in their favor for a second time. A lawsuit brought by the activists claimed the government violated their constitutional right to a clean environment.

Sixteen plaintiffs, now ages 7 to 23, sued the state of Montana in 2020. The case highlighted the state’s significant carbon dioxide emissions despite its Constitution guaranteeing “a clean and healthful environment … for present and future generations,” thus compelling the government to address global warming.

Montana obtains most of its energy from burning coal, making it a top oil and gas producer.

In 2023, a state judge sided with the climate activists. The judge ruled that the state violated their right to a “clean and healthful” environment. On Wednesday, Dec. 18, Montana‘s Supreme Court upheld that ruling in a 6-1 vote.

The court ultimately rejected the state’s argument that fossil fuel projects only produce a small amount of greenhouse gases. Montana also cited other states and countries contributing to carbon dioxide emissions in the Earth’s atmosphere.

Melissa Hornbein, an attorney for the activists, said the ruling will push Montana to pursue clean and renewable energy practices.

“This ruling clarifies that the Constitution sets a clear directive for Montana to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, which are among the highest in the nation on a per capita basis, and to transition to a clean, renewable energy future.”
Statement by the attorney for the plaintiffs, Melissa Hornbein

A plaintiff named in the case, Rikki Held, said the landmark ruling serves as a victory for every young person whose future is threatened by climate change.

Meanwhile, Montana’s attorney general said the lawsuit was meaningless, and the overall argument has no effect on the rest of the world.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte said the decision is under review, but lawsuits like these are a waste of taxpayer money and will increase energy bills across the state instead.

Hawaii, New York and Pennsylvania are among states that have environmental protections enshrined in their constitutions, similar to Montana.
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Fully intact mastodon jaw found in New York resident’s backyard

December 18, 2024
A New York homeowner recently made an unexpected discovery in their backyard. Paleontologists announced on Tuesday, Dec. 17, that they unearthed a complete mastodon jaw in Orange County.

The adult mastodon jaw was found sticking out of the soil of the resident’s backyard. Sparked by curiosity, the homeowner reportedly found two teeth hidden by the leaves of a plant and dug more to find two additional teeth just inches below the surface.

The homeowner alerted officials and staff from the New York State Museum, and SUNY Orange Community College visited the home to excavate the rest. More digging efforts also uncovered a piece of toe bone and part of a rib.

Researchers say that the fossils will help them gain more insight into the habitat, diet and animal’s life during prehistoric times.

The jaw and bone fragments will be featured in public programming in 2025 after preservation and scientific studies. This is the first fossil discovery of its kind in New York in more than a decade.

Orange County is reportedly a hotbed of fossil finds with one-third of the more than 150 mastodon fossils statewide found in the area.

Researchers encourage residents to report similar discoveries to local authorities as every find helps scientists gain more knowledge about the woolly mammoth’s predecessor.
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BP cuts offshore wind spending as the company turns focus to fossil fuels

December 10, 2024
BP is transitioning away from offshore wind energy as the company redirects its focus toward oil and gas ventures. This development comes as the British energy giant announced an agreement to transfer all of its offshore wind projects into a joint venture with Japan’s largest power producer.

The partnership will allow BP to share costs, significantly reducing its financial commitments to these renewable energy developments. The company now plans to spend about $4.2 billion less on offshore wind projects through 2030 than initially anticipated.

BP says the joint venture, expected to be finalized by the end of the third quarter in 2025, will create one of the world’s largest global offshore wind businesses. The move follows earlier measures by the company to reduce expenses tied to its offshore wind efforts after investor dissatisfaction with returns from its renewable energy initiatives.

Earlier this year, BP put a pause on all new offshore wind developments and implemented a hiring freeze within its offshore wind division. The company has also announced plans to sell its U.S. onshore wind business, stating that these assets no longer align with its growth strategy.

As BP pulls out from renewables, the company is simultaneously increasing investments in its more profitable oil and gas operations. After previously unveiling the sector’s most ambitious pledge to cut oil output back in 2020, BP recently decided to abandon that goal altogether in favor of continued fossil fuel production.
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Trump taps fossil fuel executive Chris Wright for energy secretary role

November 20, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump has announced Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy, the world’s second-largest provider of hydraulic fracturing services, as his nominee for secretary of energy. If confirmed, under Wright’s leadership, the Department of Energy is likely to adopt a much different approach to policy when compared to the previous four years.

“There is no climate crisis, and we’re not in the midst of an energy transition either,” Wright said. “The only thing resembling a crisis with respect to climate change is the regressive opportunity squelching policies justified in the name of climate change.”

Wright’s career has spanned various energy sectors, including nuclear power, solar energy, geothermal energy and, most recently, oil and gas. In discussing his outlook on energy, the fossil fuel executive has stated that he does not “care where energy comes from” so long as it “is secure, reliable, affordable and betters human lives.″

“There is no such thing as clean energy or dirty energy. All energy sources have impacts on the world, both positive and negative,” Wright said. “Credible, honest dialog is sadly lacking in today’s discourse. These five terms, climate crisis, energy transition, carbon pollution, clean energy and dirty energy, are not only deceptive, they are in fact destructive.”

Wright has said that while he does not dispute the existence of climate change, the measures aimed at addressing it are “misguided and alarmist.” This opinion on climate policy falls in line with the Trump administration, which has signaled plans to reverse several renewable energy initiatives implemented during the Biden presidency.

“These policies have driven up energy prices, destabilized electrical grids and displaced high paying energy intensive jobs to other countries and states without these perverse energy policies,” Wright said of recent Biden-era climate actions. “No, these policies have not meaningfully reduced global greenhouse gas emissions. Simply moving emissions or jobs from the U.S. or U.K. to China or Vietnam is not a reduction in emissions.”

The Trump White House is expected to attempt to rescind unspent climate funds from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, rollback incentives for electric vehicle adoption, resume U.S. natural gas exports, and ease emissions regulations on coal plants. Wright is now set to potentially play a key role in implementing these changes as part of the new administration’s National Energy Council.
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Fossil fuel groups accused of trying to covertly derail Ohio solar project

October 17, 2024
A recent investigation by ProPublica looked into allegations that fossil fuel interests are working to derail a proposed solar energy project in Knox County, Ohio. The investigation suggests that oil and gas companies covertly influenced local opinions by using media outlets and interest groups to spread misinformation.

The Frasier Solar development, which aims to power around 19,000 homes, has faced claims from these reportedly Big Oil-influenced sources that solar panels can depress property values, are toxic, and may be used by China for a potential invasion.

The solar project would cover the equivalent of 635 football fields of farmland with solar panels, although officials have noted that the land could be restored to agricultural use after 40 years.

ProPublica’s report details how fossil fuel interests allegedly worked to exacerbate existing concerns about solar’s impact on farming in Knox County, where agriculture dominates the economy, accounting for nearly 60% of the area’s land use.

Additionally, the Ariel Corporation, a manufacturer of gas equipment, is the area’s largest employer, and has been accused of supporting efforts to kill Frasier Solar.

ProPublica alleges that these efforts extended to local media ownership.

The only newspaper in the region, the Mount Vernon News, was acquired by Metric Media, a company linked to conservative causes and funded by a dark-money group associated with the Koch brothers, who have longstanding ties to the fossil fuel industry.

Following the purchase, the paper shifted from a daily publication to a weekly format, with some residents noting an increase in anti-solar sentiment in its coverage and attacks on local elected officials who did not denounce the renewable energy project.

Metric Media also launched the Ohio Energy Reporter, which reprinted articles from the Mount Vernon News and featured stories warning of potential negative consequences of solar power, with headlines including “Ohio’s coming ‘solar trash wave’” and “Could the Texas Power Crisis happen in Ohio?”

Beyond media influence, the investigation claims that oil and gas interests also intervened in local politics. ProPublica reports that fossil fuel-backed groups supported county commission candidates who opposed the Frasier Solar project, amplifying their platforms through a political action committee connected to pro-gas campaigns.

Additionally, a former executive of Ariel Corporation, who still has ties to the company, founded an organization that presents itself as a “grassroots” defender of the county. This group has been active in opposing the solar project, using mass texts and organizing events to rally public resistance, with funding and support from current and former employees of Ariel.

The controversy culminated in an August hearing by the Ohio Power Siting Board, which will decide whether the Frasier Solar project can proceed. During the meeting, evidence was presented by both supporters and opponents, revealing fossil fuel industry involvement in the campaign against the solar development. The board’s final decision is expected to take several months.
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Supreme Court allows Biden’s EPA to enforce regulations on power plants

October 17, 2024
The Supreme Court has allowed the Biden administration to move forward with new Environmental Protection Agency rules aimed at reducing carbon emissions from power plants. The decision comes as a blow to more than 20 Republican-led states and industry groups that had sought to block the regulations.

The rules, which will require coal and natural gas power plants to cut or capture 90% of their climate-warming emissions by 2032, are expected to reduce carbon dioxide output from the sector by 75% compared to 2005 levels.

Reuters

Despite opposition, the court declined to halt the regulations while lower court challenges continue.

The 6-3 ruling did not require plants to take immediate action, and Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch noted in a brief opinion that the challengers have a “strong likelihood” of success in the future. However, they said there was no urgency to block the rule now since it does not go into effect until next year.

Justice Clarence Thomas dissented, saying he would have granted the states’ request, while Justice Samuel Alito recused himself from the case.

The ruling is the latest in a string of victories for the Biden administration’s environmental agenda. Earlier this month, the court let stand other EPA regulations cutting methane and mercury emissions, decisions that were largely praised by environmental groups.

Getty Images

Republican attorneys general and industry groups have criticized the EPA’s rules as too costly, arguing that the regulations will force power plants to close due to expensive compliance measures like carbon capture technology and clean hydrogen fuel.

The Biden administration hopes the regulations, along with significant financial support from its climate law, will help transform the energy sector and significantly reduce emissions contributing to global warming. Legal challenges are expected to continue, but for now, the EPA is cleared to move forward.
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