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Denial Rampant Online As Earth Day Brings Corporate Greenwashing: As companies face increasing pressure to operate in an environmentally sustainable manner and Earth Day brings waves of announcements of environmental accomplishments and promises, greenwashing is increasingly prevalent, while pure climate denial runs rampant across social media. Greenwashing is the use of false or misleading marketing to create the impression of environmental responsibility without any underlying change. It often takes the form of "net zero" pledges that rely on complex, often-dubious "carbon offset" claims or ignore a company's Scope 3 emissions, the Washington Post reports. It can also take the form of media sponsorship by major polluters in order to promote or highlight their "green" efforts. Meanwhile, a new report from Friends of the Earth, Avaaz, and Greenpeace USA finds social media companies, (in order from worst to least-worst:) Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, Youtube, and Pinterest, are failing to effectively and transparently address climate disinformation on their platforms, including from major oil companies who have lied about climate science for decades. (Greenwashing:  (Washington Post $, The Verge; Chevron/Houston Public Media: Gizmodo; Social media: Gizmodo, The Hill; Big Oil lies: The Guardian)

The State Of Our Air Is … Not Great: More than 40% of people in the U.S. live in cities and states with poor air quality, the American Lung Association's 22nd annual State of the Air report finds. Of the more than 137 million people breathing polluted air, 63 million live in counties with dangerous particulate matter pollution (known as PM2.5), the fine soot produced by fossil fuel combustion and wildfires, among other sources. Climate change, caused mainly by the extraction and combustion of fossil fuels is driving up temperatures and supercharging wildfires — two things that exacerbate human health risks. "The three years covered by [the report] ranked among the seven hottest years on record globally," the study said. "Spikes in particle pollution and high ozone days related to wildfires and extreme heat are putting millions more people at risk." Ground level ozone, which contributes to smog, is like a "sunburn on the tissue of the lungs," Michael Seilback of the ALA told New Jersey 101.5. Air pollution burdens are not distributed equally. People of color are more than 60% more likely to live in a county with a failing grade for at least one pollutant than white people. Diesel truck traffic is also concentrated in low income and communities of color, including in California's Inland Empire where a proliferation of warehouses has caused the worst smog in the country. (Report: NPR, The Hill; Wildfires: NBC; Diesel pollution and Inland Empire: CBS, The Verge, KCET; Charleston, SC: Charleston City Paper; Chicago: ABC-7; Colorado: CBS-4; Delaware: Delaware Public Media; Hawai'i: Hawaii Public Radio; Indiana: Indiana Gazette; Los Angeles: ABC-7, News 1; Maine: WABI, WMTW, B98.5; Medford, OR: KOBI-5; New Mexico: Public News Service; New York City: Gothamist, WNYC; Orlando: WFTV; Pittsburgh: WTAE; New Jersey: NJ101.5)

Minnesota Woman Builds On Relationships, Promotes Renewable Energy: Climate denial, conspiracy theories, and other misinformation run rampant across social media can foment opposition to renewable energy development in rural communities, but for Mariah Lynne, in Freeborn County, Minnesota (pop. 30,749), the wind turbines outside her kitchen window bring excitement for their benefits for her rural community. “I always thought it was so interesting,” she told Yale Climate Connections. “It just sparked something in me. I thought, this is really good for us. This is progress on so many different levels.” Lynne, who now owns a company promoting renewable energy projects in other rural communities, said she builds on her and her neighbors' shared values and priorities to build support for renewable energy projects. “Peer to peer communication, establishing trust, making sure that the information is not only readily available, but that it’s understood," she said. "That’s how we can drive things forward.” (Yale Climate Connections)

FOSSIL FUEL INVESTMENTS: Energy transition still means billions in fossil-fuel investment (Bloomberg $), Giant global asset managers have $82 billion in coal projects, $468 billion in oil and gas (CNBC), Climate crisis? Fund managers are sticking with fossil fuel (Bloomberg $)

BREAKING: One year in, greens question Carney's $130T climate alliance (E&E $)

$WEET $WEET ROI: A carbon quandary escape hatch (Axios)

OPINION: Big Oil’s windfall creates a quandary for the industry (Bloomberg $) 

FOSSIL FUELED WAR: Russia's 'lone climate protester' is continuing his mission amid the war in Ukraine (ABC), Russian oil flows, but increasingly under the radar (Wall Street Journal $), Global energy crisis, Russia invasion eclipse Biden climate goals (Reuters), To fight climate change, and now Russia, too, Zurich turns off natural gas (NPR), As Putin threatens nuclear disaster, Europe learns to embrace nuclear energy again (TIME), Germany rejects Putin’s demand for gas payments in rubles (Bloomberg $), How much oil does the US import from Russia and why did Biden ban it? (Wall Street Journal $), Yellen: European ban on Russian energy may do more harm than good (The Hill), EU asks people to work remotely and reduce air conditioning to foil Putin (Washington Post $)

IF YOU READ THIS NEWSLETTER…: Quiz: how much do you know about climate change? (Washington Post $)

EARTH DAY: A climate snapshot (New York Times $), Cleaner Earth: Healing ozone hole, less smog, more eagles (AP), On Earth Day, climate activists rally against fossil fuels (Reuters), XR blocks printing plant for major US paper in day of protests (The Independent)

• ONE LAST PUSH: Climate activists to rally at White House and across US (New York Times $)
• OH. OK.: For Earth Day Houston Public Media is promoting... Chevron? (Gizmodo)
• GREENWASHING, CONT.: This catchy pop song warns brands, stop greenwashing or face a lawsuit (AdWeek)
• POLITICS: Biden exuded triumph last Earth Day. Now he’s on defense (E&E News, Houston Chronicle)
• ART & MUSIC: ‘No Music On A Dead Planet’ announce plans for Earth Day (NME), Africa’s creatives are promoting sustainability to combat climate change (Quartz), With ‘Eden,’ Joyce DiDonato hopes to plant seeds of climate activism (Washington Post $), This Brooklyn-based eco-rapper is on a mission to save the planet (Time Out), Serenading a troubled ocean (Physics), ‘Polar Bear’ review: on thin ice (New York Times $)
• CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS: Design leaders at Microsoft, General Mills, and PepsiCo announce ambitious plan to fight climate change (Fast Company)

CLIMATE DIPLOMACY: Development finance system needs urgent reforms, more money, to stave off disaster - public, private groups (Reuters), How a little-known energy treaty could thwart global climate action (Thomson Reuters Foundation)

ALIENS, ANXIETY, AND ADOLESCENTS: Activist gets candid about pollution fears: 'climate anxiety is real, especially for a young Indigenous woman' (Yahoo), Climate anxiety and high school: how young people are coping (Teen Vogue), Youth climate activists say community helps with mental health strain (Teen Vogue), New message to aliens will reflect on Earth in danger of climate crisis (Space.com), How a sustainability scientist uses TikTok to fight climate anxiety with solutions (The Verge), Seeds of hope: how nature inspires scientists to confront climate change (Washington Post $)

SOUTH AFRICA FLOODS: South Africans left to pick up pieces after deadly floods (ABC)

AGENCIES: [GSA] cuts emissions 51% since 2008 (Axios, The Hill), HUD Secretary Fudge says there will be ‘punishment’ for racial bias in home appraisals (The Grio), Justice Department agrees with Jay-Z, Yo-Gotti, deems conditions at Mississippi prison unconstitutional (The Grio)

EPA: EPA floats options to curb gas plant carbon emissions (E&E News, Politico Pro $), The EPA unions want science protected against another Trump (Buzzfeed)

DOE: DOE launches research partnership on two-way EV charging (E&E $), US Energy Secretary unsure if Michigan, California nuclear plants will seek subsidies (Reuters)

DOI: Biden faces legal fight over delayed offshore leasing plan (E&E News), Biden admin names new Interior appointees (E&E $), Interior eyes major increase in renewables on federal land (E&E News, Politico Pro $)

DOT: Transportation department announces over $6 billion to reduce transportation emissions (The Hill)

EXECUTIVE BRANCH: No mission's impossible for Army Corps' climate coordinator (E&E $)

WHITE HOUSE: White House extends comment period on EJ screening tool (E&E $), Biden order aims to protect old-growth forests from wildfire (AP, E&E News, Washington Examiner), John Kerry doesn't yet ‘see the evidence’ of stronger climate pledges (Washington Post $, The Hill), White House adviser Singh suggests US could lower tariffs on Chinese goods (Reuters)

THE HILL: Republicans skewer ‘woke’ infrastructure climate guidance (E&E News)

HOUSE: House progressives ask EPA to review cryptocurrency impacts (E&E $), House introduces cyber bill intended to safeguard energy sectors (The Hill), House Dems want FTC to probe Big Oil on price 'manipulation' (E&E $)

POLITICS: Business group ruffles feathers with GOP after key policy recommendation (The Hill)

TRIBES: Oregon tribe opposes water release for farmers (AP)

CITIES AND STATES AND DISENFRANCHISED COLONIAL TERRITORIES: These 9 cities are leading the nation’s solar surge (Grist), Supreme Court upholds excluding Puerto Ricans from aid for disabled and blind (NPR, AP, SCOTUSblog, CNN, CNBC, Washington Post $, New York Times $, Politico), The Supreme Court rules that cruel laws must still be enforced (Vox)

• CALIFORNIA: LA project will cool down hot streets with colorful paint (E&E $), Utility-friendly bills with uncertain ratepayer costs clear California committee (Politico Pro $)

• "SUNSHINE STATE": Florida seeks 100% renewable electricity by 2050 (AP)

FERC: FERC issues long-awaited plan to improve US transmission (Politico Pro $)

IMPACTS: Sinking Tangier Island off Virginia coast shows impact of climate change (NBC), Allergy season is about to get worse. Here's how to prepare. (New York Times $), New York City's Central Park a 'lab' to study climate change (Reuters), The indicator: how green laws stop green projects (NPR), Women push for inclusion and visibility in storm chasing (NBC)

DROUGHT: Gov. Spencer Cox issues state of emergency due to Utah’s historic drought (Casper Star-Tribune, E&E News)

WILDFIRES: Summer camps endangered by wildfires, smoke and heat waves (Bloomberg $)

• WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS: Firefighters hopeful as US government moves to speed up health claims (Thomson Reuters Foundation)

WATER: “It’s not a drought, it’s looting”: water rights activists organize in Mexico (Truthout)

RENEWABLES: ‘Green industry wants to take our land’: the Arctic paradox (The Guardian), NextEra CEO frustrated as solar supplies hit by US probe (Reuters)

"RENEWABLES": How a Nebraska ethanol plant turned seeds into toxic waste (Grist)

BATTERIES: The race to dominate the new battery economy (Axios)

LNG: Rising calls for US LNG revive stalled export projects, but at higher costs (Reuters), Qatar explores boosting its LNG expansion as gas demand booms (Bloomberg $), US to become world’s top LNG exporter this year (OilPrice)

OIL & GAS: Biden raised fees on oil companies. But drillers might not pay (E&E $), Oil trade group drafts carbon-tax proposal that could raise prices at the pump (Wall Street Journal $), Two contractors injured, half-acre of land burned in Barksdale gas well explosion (Shreveport Times, Reuters)

PLASTICS: Heidi Montag, eco-troll (Gizmodo), LA county bans throwaway dishes and cutlery (Grist), Trash or recycling? Why does plastic keeps us guessing. (New York Times $)

COAL: Coal-plant owner lightstone seeks $1.7 billion loan extension, sources say (Wall Street Journal $)

• SUBTERRANEAN INFERNOS: Uncontrolled coal-seam fires are catastrophic polluters (The Guardian) [previous HN coverage]

HYDROGEN: Hydrogen-powered ferry prepares to launch in San Francisco Bay (Reuters)

UTILITIES: Midwest utility backs deal to exit coal (E&E $)

HIGH COST OF LOW PRICES: The cost of toxic products? Just $1 (Grist)

AGRICULTURE: Florida farmworkers are boycotting Wendy’s over their refusal to join the Fair Food Program (Prism Reports)

BUSINESS: CEOs seen as outpacing leaders on climate action (Axios)

DEATH: Eco-friendly "green funeral" options a growing trend (CBS)

WILDLIFE: Bird study highlights fallout from a warming Gulf of Maine (E&E $)

INTERNATIONAL: Australia's 'climate wars' truce leaves flood victims in election no-man's land (Thomson Reuters Foundation), Boris Johnson appears to take sideswipe at Tory climate policy sceptics (The Guardian), Macron accuses Le Pen of being on Putin’s payroll (Politico Pro $), With coal surge, China puts energy security and growth before climate (Washington Post $)

• Syracuse police handling of 8-year-old Black boy reminds us how anti-Black blue lives can be (The Root, Candace McDuffie op-ed)
• Alternative battery technologies lessen US dependence on critical minerals (The Hill, Christine Harbin op-ed)
• On Earth Day, Congress should remember investments in nature pay off (The Hill, Marcia Argust op-ed)
• Dimming the sun could be climate science’s trolley problem (The Atlantic, Robinson Meyer commentary)
• This Earth Day, look local for climate change solutions (The Hill, Will Hackman op-ed)

RealClearEnergy’s Subliminal, Liminal and Superliminal Op-Ads Show How Industry Creates Its Own Chorus

In the classic 2001 Simpsons episode “New Kids on the Blecch,” Bart and friends find fame as a boy band- until they find out their hit song “Yvan eht Nioj” was actually part of a propaganda campaign to get kids to join the Navy. Why go through the trouble of subliminal messaging, Lisa asks, when they run recruitment ads all the time? “It’s a three pronged attack,” Lt. Smash explains, of “subliminal, liminal and superliminal” advertising, then demonstrating the latter by leaning out the window and yelling “HEY YOU, JOIN THE NAVY!” at Lenny and Carl. 

That, sadly, captures both the sophistication and the subtlety of the climate propaganda over at RealClearEnergy these days. There’s the subliminal advertising for the fossil fuel industry that looks like regular energy investor expertise, liminal advertising for the fossil fuel industry that looks like it’s regular opinion journalism, and superliminal advertising of just letting the fossil fuel industry’s spokespeople yell directly at the audience about how their high prices are Washington’s fault. 

The subliminal take is by Brian Gitt, whose byline describes as “an energy entrepreneur, investor, and writer” who has “been pursuing truth in energy for over two decades.” So perhaps his piece on the “energy myths” that are “triggering a new dark age in Europe” is on the level, no reason to suspect someone who claims to pursue truth of being untruthful, right? 

His six myths, though, suggest something’s afoot as half attack wind and solar as “unreliable” and expensive, and praise "natural gas" for polluting less than coal plants. And sure enough, click on over to his personal website and find that his “investment thesis is that nuclear and natural gas will be the biggest winners in the energy sector over the next 20 years.” 

So the guy supposedly debunking myths literally has an investment portfolio staked on renewables failing to meet energy demand. (He also happens to be a huge fan of and event attender-with Alex “didn’t get canceled for racism” Epstein, Michael “wokeism and climate concern are a religion” Shellenberger, and billionaire rape-denying racist-right backer and apartied-approver Peter “I might want human blood to stay young forever” Theil, in case you’re the type to judge one by the company they keep, and also find bloodsucking racist ghouls to be a bit distasteful.) 

The liminal take came from Rupert Darwall, who ranted about “woke climate investors” and shamelessly used the Ukraine war as an excuse to lobby for fossil fuel deregulation under the guise of security, oh-so-subtly sending the latest talking-point message that fossil fuels provide “energy security,” despite the fact that relying on Russia’s fossil fuels is exactly the cause of the problem Darwall pretends to try and address. 

Darwall’s byline notes he’s a “senior fellow at RealClearFoundation,” an acknowledgement that some oh-so-generous philanthropist is funding his anti-ESG work. (And we know RealClear has been a big recipient of Koch money.) 

And then there’s the superliminal advertisement, in which Dave Schryver and John Olshefski of the American Public Gas Association lean out the proverbial window to yell that it’s Washington’s fault gas prices are so high! 

Yes, representatives of the gas industry paint themselves and utilities as helpless victims of unregulated markets where price spikes hurt consumers, and not the ones pushing for unregulated markets and profiting mightily off those price spikes. 

Apparently “during recent meetings with Congressional staff,” the methane lobby pressed “the need for action to protect gas utilities and their customers from unfair price hikes” and called for “timely investigations of market activity” to understand why they made so very much money off of struggling consumers during times of vulnerability (winter freeze) and unrest (war in Ukraine). 

In other words, to end with a meme twenty years fresher than the one we opened with, these two jokers drove a hot dog car into our climate, popped out in hot dog costumes, and published a piece in RealClear yelling: We’re all trying to find the guy who did this! 

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