FIRST LOOK(s):

World Resources Institute hosts a COP27 curtain raiser press call TOMORROW, Nov. 1., at 8:30 am ET/2:30 pm CEST. Tune in to preview expectations for a successful outcome at COP27 and hear how leaders can make meaningful progress at the UN climate summit.

105 Dead In Philippines From Storm-Fueled Floods, Mudslides: More than 100 people are dead and dozens more are missing in the Philippines following Tropic Storm Nalgae, the worst of the more than 20 storms that have hit the country this year. That death toll could rise substantially, however, as officials say many of those still missing in the hard-hit Maguindanao region where mudslides and flash floods buried and swept away entire families — leaving no one even to alert authorities if anyone is missing. Landslide deaths in Kusiong, and potentially elsewhere, were exacerbated when people fled to higher ground, believing the inundating water was caused by a tsunami only to be buried under mud and debris carried by a landslide. (AP, Washington Post $, Bloomberg $, Reuters, AFP via The Guardian, Today Show; Kusiong: AP, Minda News; Extreme precipitation increase)

Lula da Silva Defeats Bolsonaro In Brazilian Presidential Election: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeated far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro to retake the Brazilian presidency in a tight election on Sunday. The results represent a crucial victory for those seeking to preserve a safe and livable climate. Lula ran on a platform of improving the welfare state, reestablishing foreign relationships damaged by Bolsonaro, and cracking down on illegal deforestation. “We did not face an opponent, a candidate. We faced the machine of the Brazilian state put at his service so we could not win the election,” da Silva told the crowd in Sao Paulo. Norway announced it would resume Amazon protection subsidies it suspended over Bolsonaro policies that accelerated deforestation by 70% and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanches tweeted, "Congratulations Lula on your victory ... Let's work together for social justice, equality and against climate change." (AP, New York Times $, TIME, The Guardian, Bloomberg $, Economist, Al Jazeera, BBC, NPR, CNN, Bloomberg $, The Hill, TIME; Climate implications: Axios; Norway: AFP via Barron's; Spain: AFP via Barron's; EU praise: Politico EU)

Gas Pipeline Valve Leak Caused Fatal 2021 Explosion — Feds: A valve leak led to the deadly explosion of a methane gas pipeline in North Texas in June 2021, a federal investigation determined. The National Transportation Safety Board's report concluded the two workers who were killed and the two others injured were not sufficiently trained for the dangerous circumstances. Though they rarely receive national coverage, methane gas pipeline explosions are relatively common. About once every three days, a "significant" incident — one causing a “fatality or injury requiring in-patient hospitalizations” or “$50,000 or more in total costs, measured in 1984 dollars” — has occurred along a methane gas distribution or transmission pipeline since 2010. (AP)

Miami Beach Condo Evacuated: A 14-story oceanfront condo building on the same Miami Beach avenue where the Champlain Towers condo collapsed in June 2021 was abruptly evacuated late last week over concerns about the building's structural integrity. The Port Royale evacuation follows others in South Florida in the wake of the Champlain Towers collapse, about 1.3 miles away in Surfside, Florida. Coastal erosion, increased sunny day flooding, seawater infiltration, and other climate-linked causes were among the potential causes of the Surfside collapse. (AP; Subsequent reporting on Surfside collapse: TIME, Palm Beach Post, WLRN, NBC; Climate Signals background: Coastal flooding increase)

(ENVIRONMENTAL) RACISM: Black residents in Corpus Christi file a civil rights complaint to stop Texas’ first desalination plant (Texas Tribune), FBI investigates antisemitic mail sent to an advocacy group (AP), 'Paying Perrier prices and getting pond water': Mooresville residents sound alarm over rising water bills (WCNC)

• TWITTER: Lebron James asks Elon Musk to look into increase of the N-word on Twitter following his takeover (The Root), Elon Musk completes Twitter purchase: 5 reasons why Black people should be wary (NewsOne), Musk’s Twitter takeover causes flood of racist tweets, reactions (The Grio)

• JACKSON WATER CRISIS: Mississippi governor extends Jackson water emergency order (AP)

LINE OF SUCCESSION UNDER ATTACK: January 6 never ended (The Atlantic), Attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband was ‘attempt to assassinate House Speaker’ (The Times, AP), Biden says it appears attack on Paul Pelosi intended for House Speaker (The Guardian), Intruder attacks Pelosi’s husband, calling, ‘Where is Nancy’ (AP), Attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband follows years of GOP demonizing her (Washington Post $, Politico), ‘Somebody’s going to die’: Democrats warn of political violence after Paul Pelosi attack (The Guardian), AP source: Pelosi attacker carried zip ties, in Jan. 6 echo (AP), Assault of Paul Pelosi was attack on democracy. The risks keep growing. (Washington Post $, AP, Economist, Wall Street Journal $), Elon Musk, right-wing figures push misinformation about Pelosi attack (Washington Post $, The Guardian, AP), Suspect in assault at Pelosi home had posted about QAnon (AP, Washington Post $), A secret bathroom 911 call: How Paul Pelosi saved his own life (The Guardian)

COP27: At UN climate summit, India to flex its negotiating muscles (AP), COP27 climate summit: Window for avoiding catastrophe is closing fast (The Guardian), COP27 movers and shakers: Nine people shaping the climate agenda (Climate Home), Egypt doesn’t want its human rights record on the COP27 agenda (Quartz), Goal of limiting global heating to 1.5C ‘more fragile’ than ever, says COP27 chair (The Guardian)

• KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON?: Sunak defends decision not to attend COP27 climate summit (AFP via Barrons), Rishi Sunak criticised for skipping COP27 climate summit (BBC), Global anger at Sunak’s COP27 snub that raises fears over UK’s climate crisis stance (The Guardian), No. 10 alarm as Boris Johnson plans to attend COP27 climate summit (The Guardian), Sunak signals he could attend UN climate summit (FT $)
• US: Biden to attend COP27 global climate summit (The Hill, Reuters), US climate envoy Kerry: King Charles at COP27 would be 'very powerful' (Reuters)
• BANKS: Mark Carney-led grouping drops U.N. climate initiative requirement (Reuters)

CLIMATE DIPLOMACY: Why are EU nations backing out of an obscure energy treaty? (Context, explainer), Trade rift between EU and US grows over green industry and jobs (FT $)

FOSSIL FUELED ENERGY CRISIS: Europe’s ‘not out of the woods’ despite gas prices falling to 4-month lows (CNBC), The French-Spanish ‘BarMar’ pipeline will do little to address the energy crisis in the short-term (Energy Monitor), UK slams Russian claim British Navy had part in Nord Stream blasts (Politico Pro $)

• WINTER HEATING COSTS: Charts: Winter heating bills to rise thanks to high natural-gas prices (Canary Media)

CLIMATE LITIGATION: Va. youth to fight court loss in 'kids climate case' (E&E $)

MISSISSIPPI SHIPPING: Drought snarls Mississippi River transit in blow to farmers (AP, E&E $, The Atlantic), Along a withered Mississippi, a mixture of frustration, hope and awe (Washington Post $), Drone video shows the condition of the Mississippi River (CNN)

THE REFINERY FORMERLY KNOWN AS LIMETREE BAY: EPA closed a refinery that rained oil. Now it’s a ‘ticking time bomb.’ (Washington Post $, Reuters, Bloomberg $, E&E $), This oil refinery poses a major environmental justice test for Biden (Washington Post $)

DENIAL & GREENWASHING: Bret Stephens' bad faith climate conversion (Gizmodo)

• FUNNY HOW THAT WORKS: He’s an outspoken defender of meat. Industry funds his research, files show. (New York Times $)

GOP vs. ESG: ESG backlash unlikely to derail SEC climate risk rule (Utility Dive)

SCOTUS: High court Harvard admissions case may thwart Biden EJ push (E&E News), How two Supreme Court cases could end affirmative action in colleges (The 19th* News, explainer)

AGENCIES: Feds unveil plan to grow wind power while sparing rare whale (AP)

EPA: Tougher rules on methane leaks coming, but low-output wells might catch a break (Wall Street Journal $)

DOI: New US plan could lead to federal action on Colorado River (AP, The Hill, Reuters), Interior walks a $4B 'tightrope' to avert Colorado River crisis (Politico Pro $, E&E News, Politico Pro $), Prescribed burns are encouraged. Why was a federal employee arrested for one? (New York Times $), Approval of oil leases in New Mexico prompts legal challenge (AP, E&E $)

TREASURY: The left lines up against Raimondo for Treasury (Politico Pro $)

WHITE HOUSE: A ‘lean’ team is making sure the climate law doesn’t fail (E&E News), Biden administration to invest nearly $1 billion in green school buses (NBC), Biden’s agenda hangs in the balance if Republicans take congress (New York Times $), Is Biden's EV school bus push at odds with diesel funds? (E&E $), John Kerry preparing to leave Biden administration (Axios)

• HFC TREATY: Biden signs climate treaty aimed at limiting greenhouse gases used in refrigeration (The Hill), Joe Biden just signed an international climate treaty. And Mitch McConnell voted for it. (Vox)
• MEXICO BILAT: Mexico, US discuss climate, lithium and clean energies (Prensa Latina)

THE HILL: Democrats accuse former Pebble CEO of lying to Congress (E&E $)

HOUSE: Khanna bill would ban gas exports during price spikes (The Hill), Republicans probe oil reserve release (The Hill)

SENATE: Energy and Commerce Republicans float DOE cyber bill (E&E $), Klobuchar says tech firms should be liable for ‘amplifying’ hate (Bloomberg $), 

ELECTIONS: Churches are breaking the law and endorsing in elections, experts say. The IRS looks the other way. (Texas Tribune and ProPublica), For Gen Z voters, combating climate change is top of mind (Washington Post $), Climate a background issue as campaigns round clubhouse turn (E&E $), Former Trump advisor preys on Black voters with anti-trans mailers (NewsOne), Inside the Don Young staff revolt against a GOP candidate (E&E News), Murkowski, challenger clash over infrastructure law (E&E $), House races we’re watching in 2022 (The 19th* News, explainer)

TRIBES: In Nevada, a tribe and a toad halt a renewable power plant (Washington Post $)

CITIES AND STATES: A big federal grant aims to make Baltimore a laboratory for climate change adaptation and resilience (Inside Climate News), Maine advances $1.8B of projects to bolster clean energy (E&E $), These projects will build 11 square miles of new Louisiana wetlands by next year (NOLA.com), Why is New York still building on the waterfront? (New York Times $)

• CALIFORNIA: Calif. backs first US utility rate for EVs to charge grid (E&E $), Calif. regulators back zero-emission delivery trucks (E&E $), California set a record for greenhouse gas reductions in 2020, but it means nothing (LA Times $), South L.A. among communities awarded state grants for climate projects (LA Times $)

IMPACTS: ‘They only had about 30 seconds left’: why cars become death traps in floods (The Guardian), Climate Questions: What are the sources of emissions? (AP), The next hot job of the climate crisis: Fake-snow whisperer (Bloomberg $), UN: Flooding in west, central Africa displaced 3.4M people (AP), In southern France, drought, rising seas threaten traditions (AP), Europe's culinary heritage threatened by climate change. (EuroNews)

• KENTUCKY FLOODS: Months after the floods, eastern Kentucky families take measure of what was lost (New York Times $)
• CHOLERA: Cholera outbreaks surge worldwide, following floods, droughts and wars (New York Times $)

SANDY ANNIVERSARY: 10 years after Superstorm Sandy, N.J. lawmakers tout infrastructure investments to prevent future disasters (CBS), A decade after Sandy, Manhattan’s flood barrier is finally in sight — sort of (Grist), A timeline of Hurricane Sandy (New York Times $), Five ways to prevent the next Sandy (New York Times $), How Hurricane Sandy sprung weather models into the mainstream (Washington Post $), New York labours to raise flood defences a decade after Hurricane Sandy (FT $), New York still vulnerable 10 years after Hurricane Sandy, protesters warn (The Guardian), Sandy knocked them down. Nothing will make them leave. (Washington Post $)

HEAT: Climate change-fueled heat waves have cost the world’s economy trillions: study (The Hill), Climate crisis study finds heatwaves have cost global economy $16tn (The Guardian)

DROUGHT: US streams are drying up (Eos), Egypt's farmers fear rising social tensions over scarce water (Reuters)

WATER: New push to shore up shrinking Colorado River could reduce water flow to California (LA Times $)

(DE)FORESTATION: The world’s healthiest forests are on Indigenous land. Here’s why. (Grist)

SUSHI: Thin fish, small catches: Can Japan’s sushi culture survive climate crisis? (The Guardian)

RENEWABLES: Renewables need $1.3 trillion per year by 2030 for climate goals (Bloomberg $), 3 things to know about the state of clean energy tech (Protocol), First Solar plans $270 million R&D center in Ohio for prototypes (Bloomberg $), The year’s biggest winners in the solar sector don’t make panels (Bloomberg $)

BATTERIES: The lithium market is hotter than ever and traders are moving in (Bloomberg $)

LNG: National Grid's controversial Brooklyn LNG project not needed yet, consultant says (Politico Pro $)

METHANE: A NASA satellite launched to detect dust has discovered huge methane leaks (Grist)

OIL & GAS: ExxonMobil, Chevron each see slightly lower 2022 Permian Basin output than expected (S&P Global), Putin's invasion permanently weakened Russian oil and gas (Axios), Natural-gas prices have plunged into autumn (Wall Street Journal $)

• PROFITEERING: Oil companies rake in huge profits amid consumer squeeze (The Hill), Oil set for monthly gain before OPEC+ begins cutting output (Bloomberg $), OPEC expected to stick to view of long-term oil demand rise (Reuters)
• CHEVRON: Chevron's $11.2 bln quarterly profit soars past estimates (Reuters)

NUKES: America’s only new nuclear plant inches closer to a long-delayed start (Wall Street Journal $), Poland chooses US to build its first nuclear power plant (AP)

COAL: US coal use is falling, but some communities still bear pollution burden (Yale Climate Connections)

UTILITIES: Dominion, [Virginia] AG reach proposed agreement in offshore wind case (AP), Electric utilities aren’t doing enough to address inequities in today’s power system, advocates say (Utility Dive), Engie buys 6-GW solar and storage development portfolio from Belltown Power (Utility Dive), Utility CEOs expect climate law to boost profits, lower rates (E&E News), Utility studies coal-to-nuclear conversion for climate fix (E&E News)

GRID: National Grid, DOE panelists call for ‘grid-enhancing technologies’ to quickly boost transmission capacity (Utility Dive)

EVs: EU plans for only electric new vehicles by 2035 ‘without precedent’ (Washington Post $), Electric buses are ready for takeoff at US airports (Canary Media), Sweden’s new trade chief sees ‘worrying’ aspects in US electric car tax credit (Politico Pro $), Will electric vehicles kill the gas station? (E&E News)

ACTIVISM: Climate activists roam Denver dressed as zombies to protest fossil fuel financing (CBS), Just Stop Oil activists dragged out of road by motorists in London (The Guardian)

IF YOU THINK THIS IS DISRUPTIVE, WAIT 'TIL YOU HEAR ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE: Climate activists glue themselves to dinosaur exhibit at Berlin museum (Reuters), Roadblocks, soup hurling, superglue … Just Stop Oil protests divide activists on direct action (The Guardian), What do you think of the recent climate protests? (New York Times $)

WORKERS: Labor regulators allege green group illegally fired staffer (E&E $)

ALL ABOARD!: Would you give up planes for these trains? Europe pushes travel that’s climate friendly. (Washington Post $)

AVIATION: Icelandair to become first flag carrier to fly domestic routes emissions free (FT $)

AGRICULTURE: When CAFOs come to your neighborhood (Indiana Public Media)

ARCHITECTURE: The architect helping sinking cities fight flooding (CNN), How Kotchakorn Voraakhom designs landscapes to alleviate flooding (CNN), In Iraq's Babylon, age-old building techniques heal climate scars (Context)

BOOKS: Teaching children about climate change (New York Times $)

THEATRE: The Contingency Plan review – a double dose of climate crisis drama (The Guardian)

BUSINESSES: Howard Schultz’s comment to pro-union Starbucks worker was threat, labor board alleges (Bloomberg $)

CARBON CAPTURE: Carbon-capture projects are taking off. Here’s how they stash the greenhouse gas. (Wall Street Journal $), Construction begins on the world’s largest carbon removal plant (Bloomberg $)

CARS: Why Halloween can be dangerous in America (Bloomberg $)

PHILANTHROPY:  Bezos funding targets industrial emissions in LA, Houston (E&E $)

IN MEMORIAM: Remembering Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts: A champion of political and social justice (The Grio)

WILDLIFE: As Maine’s winters shorten, tiny ticks threaten state’s mighty moose (Reuters)

INTERNATIONAL: Will one Tuscan port stall Italy’s drive for energy independence? (New York Times $), Windfall tax must change in face of ‘excessive’ oil profits, Alok Sharma says (The Guardian)

• Before winter sets in, the Biden administration can cool heating prices (The Hill, Berneta Haynes op-ed)
• We might finally be free from the madness of Bolsonaro (New York Times, Vanessa Barbara op-ed $)
• Rather than an endlessly reheated nuclear debate, politicians should be powered by the evidence (The Guardian, Adam Morton op-ed)
• Welcome to the world of the polycrisis (FT, Adam Tooze op-ed $)
• Ben Jennings on the COP27 climate summit in Egypt (The Guardian, cartoon)
• Climate change: A communications failure (The Hill, David Fenton op-ed)
• The Guardian view on the climate crisis: no end in sight (The Guardian, Editorial Board)
• The nonsensical, hypocritical lawsuits against energy producers (The Hill, Ellen Wald op-ed)
• Joe Biden’s $369bn climate push ripples through developing countries (FT, Henny Sender op-ed $)
• The fights for the vote and bodily autonomy are connected. So are the women who are telling us how. (The 19th* News, Errin Haines analysis)
• Douglas Brinkley rates presidents for their environmental records, calling Nixon a ‘reluctant environmentalist’ and Donald Trump ‘a zero on this issue’ (Inside Climate News, interview)
• Africa shows how hard it's becoming to pump crude oil (Bloomberg, Julian Lee column $)
• Manchin’s pipeline loss shows frontline and green groups are gaining steam (Yes Magazine, Justin Pearson op-ed)
• In my house is a Tuvaluan basket, a tiny piece of an island the world cannot fail (The Guardian, Kate Lyons op-ed)
• We need to rethink how to adapt to the climate crisis (New York Times, Katharine Mach and Galen Treuer op-ed $)
• April Ryan talks being the longest-running Black woman White House correspondent and new book "Black women will save the world: an anthem" (Essence, interview)
• Advanced energy advocate says Virginia governor’s plan ‘falls short’ (Energy News Network, Kim Jemaine op-ed)
• It’s time for solar microgrids to replace dirty diesel generators (Canary Media, Manoj Sinha and Joseph Nganga op-ed)
• It’s better to mine the world’s rainforests than farm them (Bloomberg, David Fickling column $)
• I’m no longer sure New York will protect itself from rising waters (New York Times, Marco Pasanella op-ed $)
• COP27: Why it is in Africa’s best long-run interests to abandon fossil fuels (Mail & Guardian, Ross Harvey op-ed)
• Will disruptive action help save the planet? (The Guardian, Rupert Read and Indigo Rumbelow op-ed)

DEMOCRACY UNDER ATTACK: 

• Only the GOP celebrates political violence (The Atlantic, David Frum op-ed)
• Don’t blame ‘both sides.’ The right is driving political violence. (Washington Post, Max Boot column $)
• How to respond to the horrifying Pelosi attack (Washington Post, Editorial Board $)
• America’s darkest forces are being unleashed (Politico, Jeff Greenfield op-ed)
• The attack on Paul Pelosi was not an isolated incident (CNN, Kara Alaimo)
• I’m sorry I said nice things about Glenn Youngkin (Washington Post, Karen Tumulty column $)
• The Pelosis and a haunted America (New York Times, Maureen Dowd column $)

Koch-Affiliated Big Tobacco Defender Says Tobacco Treaty Shouldn't Be Basis For Climate Policy

Happy Halloween! In the spirit of the season, today we're going to talk about how Big Tobacco is still haunting the climate debate. 

It all started a long, long time ago, on a dark and stormy night, in a smoke-filled room full of Mammon's disciples, as they prayed to their dark lord to ask how to keep making money despite the fact that their products killed its consumers and their children who hadn't yet learned to crawl. 

To do so, they summoned a trickster demon, a malevolent spirit of death and deception once known as denial, now more popularly called disinformation. Over the decade, they sacrificed millions of their customers to the demon, spending lavishly on front groups and ad campaigns to tell the public their products, fossil fuels and tobacco, are totally safe and a healthy and nutritious part of a complete breakfast. 

Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, the disinformation demon ran rampant through the media, infecting the public with its lies and inducing them to support politicians who would allow these companies to continue their propaganda in the service of polluting profits. 

Around the turn of the century, some believed the demon was slayed, dragged into the light and destroyed by the truth. While that's true to an extent, the reality is the demon just went underground. 

But it's still around if you know where to look. For example, at TownHall recently, Martin Cullip, an International Fellow at the Taxpayers Protection Alliance's Consumer Center, wrote an op-ed about the World Health Organization's call for a treaty to end fossil fuel use, based at least in part on the tobacco treaty that drove a stake into the heart of Big Tobacco. 

He wants you to think it's a bad idea, that the treaty is a failure (because the industry shifted its focus to the developing world) and the experts at the World Health Organization are wrong and he's right. But who is he? Cullip is a regular in the pro-smoking circuit, and the Taxpayers Protection Alliance is, of course, a Koch-affiliated front group. 

So as much as deniers hate the comparison to Big Tobacco, it remains as true now as it was decades ago: The reason climate disinformation so closely resembles tobacco propaganda is that the two are twin creations of the tobacco and fossil fuel industries, a demon of their summoning that, to this day, haunts the shadowy corners of the Internet doing the bidding of its unholy masters. 

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