Hello! Today's newsletter focuses on two major climate lawsuits in the United States. One highlights how the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a bid by 19 Republican-led states to block five Democratic-led states from pursuing lawsuits accusing major oil companies of deceiving the public about the role fossil fuels have played in causing climate change. The other involves the Climate United Fund, an environmental nonprofit which sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Citibank, seeking billions of dollars for solar and other projects frozen by the bank as the Trump administration slashes federal spending. Also on my radar today: |
|
|
Climate protesters criticise energy executives and developments outside of the CERAWeek venue in Houston, Texas, U.S. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee |
A win for climate activists |
Let's start with the Supreme Court case that could be seen as a boon for climate activists. The justices declined to block lawsuits that accuse major oil companies of misleading the public about the environmental impact of fossil fuels, allowing these cases to proceed in state courts. Those companies include Exxon Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Shell and BP. The litigation by the Democratic-led states – California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey and Rhode Island – is seeking monetary damages and accuses the energy companies of creating a public nuisance or violating state laws by concealing the fact that burning fossil fuels would lead to climate change from the public for decades. The companies denied wrongdoing. The 2024 attempt to block the legislation was led by Republican Alabama Attorney Gen Steve Marshall, who was joined by counterparts across several Republican states. |
|
| Why this case is important |
Allowing the litigation to proceed, especially during such a tumultuous time for U.S. , provides a legal avenue to hold major oil companies accountable at a time when the new administration is cutting staff in environmental departments, potentially undermining efforts to combat climate change, environmental campaigners say In fact, the Trump administration is planning yet another round of mass layoffs of 1,029 workers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a person familiar with the plan told Reuters. The U.S. government agency provides weather forecasts and has already seen the dismissal of 1,300 employees as part of Trump's plan to "thin the ranks of the U.S. civil service". |
Elsewhere, the Climate United Fund alleges that the "Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has acted to prevent Citibank from dispersing funds, harming Climate United, its borrowers, and the communities they serve" when it froze about $7 billion in grant money approved by Joe Biden's administration. "This program was designed to save money for hard-working Americans who are struggling to pay for groceries and keep the lights on," the group said in a statement. "We're going to court for the communities we serve - not because we want to, but because we have to." It is the latest in scores of cases filed by nonprofit groups, state attorneys general and others fighting moves by Trump who has been rolling back Democrat Biden's policies. Spokespeople for Washington-based Climate United, Citibank and the EPA did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the suit, filed in federal court in the capital. Here are a few key US tariff and diversity, equity and inclusion developments: - Judge temporarily blocks deportation of arrested Palestinian Columbia student - Focus: Trump's tariffs create the 'Wild West' on Wisconsin's factory floors - US EPA administrator says he canceled DEI grants totaling $1.7 billion |
People row kayaks on flooded streets in the city of Bahia Blanca, in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. REUTERS/Juan Sebastian Lobos |
- Argentina floods: At least 10 people died from heavy rains and substantial flooding in the Argentine port city of Bahia Blanca, southwest of the capital Buenos Aires. More than 260 millimeters (10 inches) of rain fell within a few hours on Friday, destroying bridges and causing asphalt roads to collapse, the city said, adding that more fatalities could not be ruled out.
- Australia cyclone: The Australian government said it would provide financial support for workers who lost income due to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which has caused widespread flooding, power outages and property damage across the east coast over the weekend.
- CERAWeek protests: Protesters gathered outside the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, Texas – the world's largest annual meeting of energy executives – where the U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said that climate change was a side effect of building the modern world.
- Air quality improvements: London's toxic gas emissions fell by 27% following a 2023 expansion of the capital city's clean air zone, a report from the mayor's office said. London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which imposes a levy on the most polluting vehicles, was first introduced in 2019 by mayor Sadiq Khan. This comes as a report by Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir showed that only seven countries met World Health Organization (WHO) air quality standards last year.
- Japan cost of living: The rising cost of living and heavy snow in some areas of Japan has worsened service-sector sentiment in February for the second straight month, a government survey showed. A transportation firm in southern Japan said consumers were holding back on spending due to soaring fuel costs and rising prices, the survey showed.
- Africa finance: Samaila Zubairu, chief executive of the Africa Finance Corporation – a development finance institution owned by Nigeria's central bank and other African financial institutions – said in an interview the lender is ready to weather a world in which the United States and Europe cut financial aid and turn increasingly inward.
|
|
|
If Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – known collectively as the BRICS – are to help fill the vacuum in climate funding left by the U.S. under President Trump, they have to address internal divisions over politics and finance. The group has yet to assume the official financial obligations of donor countries. Of the $25.8 billion in biodiversity-related financing in 2022, nearly three-quarters came from five sources: European Union institutions, France, Germany, Japan and the United States, data from the OECD showed. Click here for the full Reuters report. |
A view shows roofs painted with solar reflective paint that helps bring down the temperature inside the homes of area in Ahmedabad, India. REUTERS/Amit Dave |
As climate change has made India's summers more extreme, a new initiative to help cool down 400 households in Ahmedabad has emerged. Hundreds of roofs in the informal settlements of India's western Gujarat state have been painted in a reflective, white coating over the last two months to try to keep their occupants cooler as part of a global scientific trial to study how indoor heat impacts people's health and economic outcomes in developing countries, and how "cool roofs" might help. |
|
|
Sustainable Switch was edited by Alexandra Hudson. |
Sustainable Switch is sent three times a week. Think your friend or colleague should know about us? Forward this newsletter to them. They can also sign up here. Want to stop receiving this email? Unsubscribe here. To manage which newsletters you're signed up for, click here. Terms & Conditions and Privacy Statement |
|
|
|
