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Russia Cuts Off Gas To Poland, Bulgaria: Gazprom is cutting off Poland and Bulgaria from gas supplies, the state-controlled gas company said Wednesday. The move, a significant escalation in the geopolitical conflict underlying the humanitarian atrocities being committed by Russian troops in Ukraine, was immediately slammed as "blackmail" by the EU and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff. The threat of Russia cutting off gas flows to Europe has prevented the West from more forcefully responding to the country's invasion of Ukraine in late February. So-called "natural gas" is mostly made up of methane, which traps 80 times more heat in the atmosphere over a 20 year timespan than CO2. Russia supplies more than 45% of Poland's gas and more than 70% of Bulgaria's. Russia said it is cutting off “natural” gas supplies because the "unfriendly countries" have refused to pay in rubles. Russia's war on Ukraine is also reducing its ability to respond to wildfires raging so ferociously across Siberia their smoke is turning Western U.S. skies pink. (Washington Post $, AP, BBC, The Guardian, New York Times $, Bloomberg $, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal $, Washington Examiner, Politico Pro $, Reuters, CNN; Siberian wildfires: Washington Post $; European gas prices: New York Times $)

Permafrost Melting In What Is Now Alaska: Melting Alaska permafrost is profoundly altering the lives of Native Peoples there, while their own knowledge of native plants could provide government researchers with key information regarding the extent of the problem. Climate change has already impacted some of the last Iñupiat practices to survive colonization. “Already every year, we’re wondering, ‘Is the ocean ice going to form? How much longer are we going to have it?’” Laureli Ivanoff told Time. USGS researchers, meanwhile, are conducting interviews in the Yukon River Basin to incorporate Indigenous knowledge of permafrost dynamics into predictions of future permafrost thaw with the goal of increasing Indigenous communities' involvement in decisions that affect them. “Indigenous knowledge is critical to informing how research is conducted, on what topics, and how the results can be used for Indigenous peoples’ own decisionmaking,” Carlo said. “This is especially important in the Arctic, which is the most rapidly changing region on Earth.” That rapid change is also front and center in Denali National Park where the park's only road is now closed at its halfway point due to a mountain slope collapse triggered by thawing permafrost. (TIME; Research: E&E News; Denali: Reuters; Climate Signals background: Arctic amplification)

SoCal Water Authorities Announced Unprecedented Water Emergency Measures: Southern California water management officials declared an unprecedented water shortage emergency on Tuesday amid the extreme and historic drought. Effective June 1, the order by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California covers about 6 million people across parts of Los Angeles, Ventura and San Bernardino counties and will restrict outdoor water usage to one day per week and will impose large fines on cities and smaller water suppliers that fail to sufficiently cut water demand. Climate change is making droughts more likely to occur — and more severe when they do — while also driving up temperatures which can exacerbate drought in a vicious cycle of dedication that in turn makes the region more vulnerable to extreme wildfires. (LA Times $, CAL Matters; Climate Signals background: Drought)

FOSSIL FUELED WAR: EU's options to cut Russian oil imports - and their drawbacks (Reuters, explainer), What are Europe's options in case of Russian gas disruption? (Reuters, Factbox), Russia tried to sell a huge slug of oil. nobody wanted it. (Wall Street Journal $), Solar company Enphase Energy is ‘tripling down’ on Europe as Russia’s war sends power prices soaring (CNBC), Can Japan keep the lights on? The Ukraine war upends a big energy bet. (New York Times $)

• U.S. O&G: Why US oil companies aren’t riding to Europe’s rescue (New York Times $)
• NUKES: Nuclear power could help Europe cut its Russia ties, but not for years (New York Times $)
• GERMANY: Germany nationalising energy firms? Here's how it could work (Reuters, explainer), Germany says Russia oil embargo would be ‘manageable’ (Politico Pro $)
• FRANCE: What Macron’s reelection means for climate action in France (Grist, Climate Home), Macron’s win is good news for climate, but much depends on the next vote (Energy Monitor)

INDIA HEAT: Dangerous heat wave endangers millions in India and Pakistan (Axios), heat wave in India threatens residents and crucial wheat harvest (NBC), India swelters under heatwave, with temperatures set to hit 118 degrees (Gizmodo), record-breaking heat wave gripping India and Pakistan threatens crops, leaves millions sweltering (Yahoo)

EAST AFRICA: Two million children at risk of starvation in Horn of Africa - U.N. aid chief (Reuters)

WE'RE COOKING WITH INDUCTION!: Researchers are ripping the gas stoves out of their houses for their kids’ health (Scary Mommy)

CLIMATE DIPLOMACY: Vulnerable nations set to pilot loss and damage funding facility (Climate Home)

FINANCE: Musk says you can't save planet and short Tesla; ESG investors disagree (Reuters), NYC pension leaders to urge fossil fuel lending curbs, late boost for activists (Reuters), Soros fund’s climate plan shows messiness of financed emissions (Bloomberg $), Texas Republicans bear down on Wall Street over its embrace of climate policies (Bloomberg $)

• SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS: Climate activist shareholders are gaining support, but not where it counts (Quartz), bank shareholder proposals to curb new fossil fuel lending get slim support (Reuters), investors at top US banks refuse to back climate proposals (FT $), Citi investors reject oil, gas loan limits as climate activists gather at HQ (Bloomberg $), tech giants face wave of climate shareholder proposals (E&E $)

DENIAL: A government scientist warned about climate change in 2001. Exxon Mobil sought to have him removed. (PBS FRONTLINE)

• TWITTER: Climate scientists and activists nervously eye Musk (Axios)

HEALTH: 'Climate Anxiety' becoming the next mental health crisis in America's youth (NBC)

AGENCIES: Vilsack predicts big demand for ‘climate smart’ food projects (E&E News)

DOE: ‘It’s proven technology’: DOE awards Kayenta’s Nááts’íílid Initiative $1.2M to power 24 homes (Navajo Times), Trump firing policy still on the books at Interior, DOE (E&E News)

• LIGHTBULBS: Biden administration to phase out inefficient lightbulbs championed by Trump (Yahoo, AP, Washington Post $, New York Times $, The Hill, CNBC, Washington Examiner)

DOI: Biden reverses Trump’s Alaska oil plan (E&E News), Interior rule delays underscore Biden’s energy challenge (E&E News)

WHITE HOUSE: Group sues White House over oil & gas report that didn't mention climate change (Gizmodo), Biden's latest oil & gas drilling 'compromise' is a head-scratcher (Gizmodo), 'We need gas.' Kerry pivots after putting industry on notice (E&E $), actor and environmental advocate, Mark Ruffalo, and Board Director of the Environmental Defense Action Fund, Kevin Johnson, urge Biden to prioritize clean energy independence (MSNBC)

THE HILL: Democrats introduce bills to rewrite 150-year-old mining law (Politico Pro $, E&E News)

MANCHIN / BUILD BACK BETTER ACT?: Manchin energy mantra collides with reality in W.Va. (E&E News), 'last chance': Greens push climate compromise with Manchin (Politico), Manchin opens the door to striking a climate deal with the GOP and backing a watered-down version of Biden's big bill (Business Insider, Bloomberg $, E&E News), Manchin stirs the pot while other Dems try to resuscitate their party-line vision (Politico)

POLITICS: Consumer brands push for clean-energy tax credits (Wall Street Journal $, Bloomberg $, MarketWatch), Kerry to power sector: Help pass clean energy legislation (E&E $)

ELECTIONS: Energy dollars favor McKinley over Mooney in W.Va. race (E&E News)

NOMINEES & CONFIRMATIONS: Senate advances Biden Federal Reserve vice chair nominee (E&E $)

CITIES AND STATES: Pennsylvania reaches the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative starting line (Utility Dive), a quiet revolution: Southwest cities learn to thrive amid drought (Yale Environment 360), cap and trade gets a big win in Pennsylvania. Will it last? (E&E News)

• CALIFORNIA: California passes bill to improve air quality in country’s top polluted region (The Hill), California bill would pay farmworkers $1,000 a month to help endure drought, climate crisis (LA Times $)
• KOREA: Meet the world’s first ‘floating city’ to face rising sea levels which begins construction in 2023 (The Independent)

FERC: A top energy regulator is in turmoil over climate rules (Washington Post $)

IMPACTS: Storms strain Ohio’s electric grid, and climate change could make it worse (Energy News Network)

FLOODS: 81% of flood insurance policyholders will see rate increases, report says (Bloomberg $)

WILDFIRES: Wildfires in April signal growing costs of climate change (Marketplace, Popular Science), wildfires tear across several states, driven by high winds (AP), computer modeling can help prescribed burn decisions (New Mexico Political Report), how the government's forest-clearing plan aims to fight wildfires before they start (NBC)

WATER: As Lake Powell dries up, the US turns to creative accounting for a short-term fix (Grist), California desalination plant hits regulatory hurdle (Reuters)

DISASTERS: The future is increasingly a disaster zone, new report warns (The Verge, Thomson Reuters Foundation)

ACTIVISM: The climate bystander effect is real. But these leaders are out on a ledge trying to fight it (Fast Company)

RENEWABLES: California offshore drilling ban poised to clear first hurdle (Politico Pro $), cement makers burn turbine blades as wind power faces recycling headache (Wall Street Journal $), solar group says US trade probe will cut domestic installations in half (Bloomberg $, Politico Pro $)

CRYPTO: The environmental cost of crypto (NPR)

BUILDINGS: Heat pump heads rejoice: Washington state now requires the more efficient systems (Gizmodo), The race to build wooden skyscrapers (Axios)

OIL & GAS: In shift, South Africans prevail over big oil in drilling project (Washington Post $), peak oil by 2024? Report maps energy future (E&E $), US natural gas storage deficit likely to widen as chilly spring weather persists (S&P Global)

ORPHANED WELLS: US to boost green jobs, curb emissions by plugging old oil and gas wells (Thomson Reuters Foundation)

PIPELINES: Local pipeline protections stymied by bill passed in Tennessee (Bloomberg Law)

COAL: The long, long road to cleaning up coal’s carbon footprint (Bloomberg $), ESG-minded investors pile into coal stock, sparking 1,000% rally (Bloomberg $), First Nations challenge over approval of Clive Palmer’s coalmine begins in Queensland [Australia] (The Guardian), too many new coal-fired plants planned for 1.5C climate goal, report concludes (The Guardian)

HYDROGEN: Looking to start a hydrogen hub in your state? Here’s what experts say it’s going to take (Utility Dive), Canada overestimating hydrogen's potential cut carbon emissions, report says (Reuters, Politico Pro $), US earmarks $504 million to back world’s largest hydrogen hub (Bloomberg $), UAE’s Masdar signs deal for green hydrogen projects in Egypt, targets exports to Europe (CNBC)

UTILITIES & CO-OPS: Rural electric co-ops face barriers to going renewable (Yale Climate Connections)

EVs: Broken charging stations could be stalling the EV movement (Wired), Corvette is the next big name in cars to roll out an electric (NPR), luxury EV maker Lucid scores order from Saudi government for up to 100,000 vehicles (CNBC), Subaru’s Solterra EV starts at $44,995 (The Verge), what Elon Musk's new side job could mean for Tesla (Axios)

PFAS: New technology seeks to destroy toxic "forever chemicals" in drinking water (CBS)

WHEN NOTHING ELSE HAS WORKED: A climate activist died after lighting himself on fire. His intentions remain unclear (NPR), activist’s self-immolation stirs questions on faith, protest (AP), outside the Supreme Court, a life of purpose and pain ends in flames (Washington Post $)

BUSINESS: To fight greenwashing, brands need to become advocates for change (Reuters)

CARBON REMOVAL: The growing chorus for carbon capture (Washington Post $), Louisiana ag head plugs carbon capture as climate change fix (AP)

CARBON STORAGE: Proponents say storing captured carbon underground is safe, but states are transferring long-term liability for such projects to the public (Inside Climate News)

MAYBE DON'T LEAVE THE LIGHT ON?: Hotels with net-zero ambitions (New York Times $)

SAVE THE GREAT TITS: Global warming causing great tit birds to hatch a month earlier (Newsweek)

INTERNATIONAL: Australian senator sparks climate row by dismissing net zero aim (Bloomberg $), India could become carbon neutral before its 2070 goal, IRENA chief says (Reuters), South Africa's green transition to cost over $64 bln by 2030 (Reuters), Victoria’s solar rebate expansion will help [Australian] wean state off gas, say experts (The Guardian)

• 60 seconds on Earth with Bonnie Wright (Atmos, interview)
• Let’s put West Virginia back to work (West Virginia News Pub, Wayne Rebich LTE)
• Ask Manchin to back reconciliation bill (Parkersburg News and Sentinel, Chase Linko-Looper LTE)
• Next steps in US-China climate cooperation (The Hill, Jean C. Oi, Yi Cui, and Liang Min op-ed)
• We’re not going back to normal. We died in normal: America needs to face health inequity (USA Today, Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Calvin O. Butts III, Dr. Reed Tuckson, Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, and Debra Fraser-Howze op-ed)
• What ever happened to masking for the common good? (Washington Post, Kate Cohen column $)

Influencing Influencers: Southwest Gas Potentially Violating FTC Laws With Undisclosed Social Media Ads Posing As posts

As the global carbon budget and ever-falling renewable prices scream in harmony that we’ve reached crossed the supposed “bridge” representing methane/fossil gas (née “natural” gas), the industry has been scrambling to shore up its image with the usual disinformation tactics.

The methane fuel industry has a storied history of front groups, propaganda, climate disinformation, and paying social media influencers for cringe(y) content to counter the science showing gas stoves are dirty and dangerous.  

There was “Coloradans for Energy Access” back in Feb, revelations of accidental shills last year, back-burner excuses in 2020, and the admission in 2019 that they’ve lost the fight over whether or not there will be climate policy, and now need to look like good actors in order to have a seat at the table shaping it. Cue the greenwashing! 

The latest example comes from Southwest Gas, who Keriann Conroy at Energy and Policy Institute reveals is benefiting from a slate of social media posts across TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook that “fail to clearly disclose the utility’s involvement in the sponsored posts,” which “may be in violation of Federal Trade Commission guidelines” requiring “hard to miss” disclosures for paid posts. Conroy describes one user who “reads out gas industry talking points while cooking eggs on a gas stovetop” and “proceeds to gush about her gas clothes dryer and a gas fireplace” while another “highlights cost savings for restaurant owners.” 

While details were different, the message was the same across ads, as all of them “focus on methane gas being ‘sustainable’ or ‘green’,” Conroy wrote. And although some do include “#sponsored” and “promoted” labels, that only points users to the advertising agency, not the ultimate advertiser, and not all were labeled. 

The influencers direct their audience to the Southwest Gas website, Conroy writes, but “Southwest Gas’s name does not show up anywhere on the pages of the influencers.” 

Weird! If their product is so great it’s worth paying influencers to post about it, then why are they ashamed to have their name on those ads?

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