FIRST LOOK:

The Western Water Assessment is presenting the webinar “Climate change and the water cycle: Call for public comment on the draft 5th National Climate Assessment.” Join the webinar on Thursday, Jan. 12 at 11:00 am MST (1:00 pm EST).

Vietnam, G7 Reach JETP Agreement: Nine wealthy, developed nations will help Vietnam accelerate its transition from coal to renewable energy under a $15.5 billion agreement announced Wednesday. The Just Energy Transition Partnership deal between the G7 nations, Norway, and Denmark follows a similar deal with Indonesia reached during COP27. The funding, mostly in the form of loans from both public and private sources, seeks to help Vietnam peak its greenhouse gas pollution in 2030 instead of 2035. (AP, Reuters, Bloomberg $, Climate Home, FT $)

Journal Investigating Undisclosed Gas Industry Meddling In Hydrogen Study: Scientists are applauding the academic journal Frontiers in Energy Research for launching an investigation after the Boston Globe revealed the authors of a study it published failed to disclose funding they received from the methane gas industry. The study endorsed the adoption of so-called "green hydrogen" for heating buildings — a position the American Gas Association promotes and that many scientists caution is not feasible and delays the adoption of effective climate solutions. The Globe investigation revealed several authors listed on the study failed to acknowledge a gas industry-aligned lobbyist helped draft the study's conclusions and recommendations. They also failed to acknowledge that funding for the study was directly solicited from methane gas and pipeline industry members of the Associated Industries of Massachusetts. “This is the appropriate action for the journal to take,” said Robert Howarth, a Cornell professor who has published research on hydrogen and who has been editor in chief of three scientific journals. “They need to see if things were done incorrectly or wrongly.” (Boston Globe $)

DOE To Allow Taxpayer Funding For EOR: The Department of Energy announced $3.7 billion of funding for CO2 removal projects, along with a policy reversal allowing taxpayer dollars to fund carbon capture projects that produce fossil fuels by pumping even more oil out of the ground. The process, known as Enhanced Oil Recovery (or EOR), pumps CO2 into oil wells ito force more oil to the surface. Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema pushed for the change, described by Bloomberg as a "win for Big Oil," and came the same day as DOE Sec. Jennifer Granholm told oil executives the administration is "eager to work with you" and shared concerns about "moving too fast" in the transition away from fossil fuels. (EOR: Bloomberg $, E&E News, Reuters; DOE: Bloomberg $)

(ENVIRONMENTAL) RACISM: Highest drinking water metal concentrations found in Latino/Hispanic, American Indian communities: study (The Hill)

FOSSIL FUELED ENERGY CRISIS: EU agrees €20 bln boost for energy funding to quit Russian gas (Reuters), EU should loosen green tech state aid rules - von der Leyen (Reuters), Europe stocks up on diesel ahead of ban on Russian product imports (OilPrice), Europe’s energy crisis expected to boost demand for oil as heat source (Wall Street Journal $), Russia’s oil revenues dip as huge discounts offset high exports (OilPrice)

CLIMATE DIPLOMACY: EU to US: We already have war, don’t give us trade war, too (AP)

• COP15: Amid struggling COP15 talks, Indigenous leaders from Canada offer some solutions (Mongabay and Grist), COP15: Aboriginal Australians connect biodiversity to human rights (Atmos), Developing nations halt COP15 talks after biodiversity fund demand (Context), Report: African countries routinely violate Indigenous peoples rights (Grist)

DENIAL & DELUSION: Bizarre Tucker Carlson guest rambles about 'climate vaccines,' 'phony climate war' (Gizmodo)

FINANCE: Carlyle to miss deadline for $22bn fund as investors cool on private equity (FT $, Reuters), HSBC to stop new oil and gas project funding after backlash (FT $, AP, Wall Street Journal $, Reuters, OilPrice), Barclays turbocharges 2030 sustainable finance target to $1 trln (Reuters)

GOP vs. ESG: BlackRock is becoming the Republican bogeyman for ESG (Bloomberg $), Texas gets its first green bank, despite anti-ESG fervor (E&E $), Republicans’ ESG fight with Wall Street clashes in small town Texas (Bloomberg $)

SCOTUS: ‘We don’t want to leave’: If Obergefell is overturned, LGBTQ+ people in the South will bear the brunt (The 19th* News), Where’s Lyle? At 91, famed court reporter still loves deadlines (E&E News)

WHAT'S IN A TECHNICAL DEFINITION OF FAMINE?: Africa's food crisis is the biggest yet – five reasons why (Reuters)

EPA: EPA proposes rule to cut HFC use, speed transition to efficient heating and cooling technologies (Utility Dive), Groups file suit against EPA for exposure to carcinogenic gas (Prism Reports, Politico Pro $, E&E $)

DOE: After ‘breakthrough,’ DOE eyes fusion power plant (E&E News)

DOI: Biden admin protects rare plant near proposed lithium mine (E&E News, AP), Interior sued over lack of protections for vaquita porpoise (E&E $), Climate change, wildfires and a deadly fungus threaten this iconic tree (Washington Post $, AP, E&E $)

DOT: Federal push for emissions tracking reveals split among state DOTs (Washington Post $)

EXECUTIVE BRANCH: Why NASA’s new mission will study Earth’s water from space (LA Times $)

WHITE HOUSE: White House to release 'detailed guidance' for Americans to access climate tax credits (Reuters, E&E $)

• AFRICA SUMMIT: Biden focuses on climate in Africa summit (E&E News), Biden aims to inject new energy into US relations with African nations (New York Times $, Reuters), How the US plans to commit $55 billion to Africa over three years (Reuters, explainer)

THE HILL: New EU carbon tariff draws interest on Capitol Hill (E&E News)

HOUSE: House climate crisis panel outlines milestones ahead of likely dissolution (The Hill), House Democrats pick Jamie Raskin for Oversight Committee (E&E $), House Democrats release plan for future climate action (E&E $), House Dems hold out hope for environmental justice vote (E&E News), The hate hasn’t stopped, Club Q shooting survivors tell House lawmakers (The 19th* News)

SENATE: Manchin warns Treasury about EV credit implementation (E&E $)

POLITICS: 10 years after Sandy Hook, Moms Demand Action volunteers are turning activism into political power (The 19th* News)

TRIBES: PFAS testing overlooks tribal systems (E&E $)

CITIES AND STATES: States enact climate resilience laws as disasters mount (E&E $), New Jersey wants to restore 10,000 acres of ‘fairy-tale’ forest (Yale Climate Connections)

• CALIFORNIA (REFERENDUM): California poised to cut incentives for rooftop solar (Politico Pro $), Push to repeal California anti-oil law inches closer to goal (AP)
• FLORIDA INSURANCE: Florida lawmakers seeking to calm property insurance storm (AP, Bloomberg $)

IMPACTS: 3 dead in Louisiana as US storm spawns Southern tornadoes (AP, Axios, Washington Post $, Gizmodo), How the climate crisis may be changing the way tornadoes behave (CNN), November 2022: Earth’s 9th-warmest November on record (Yale Climate Connections), Ten things you might not know about climate change, but should (Green Builder), The scene after heavy rain floods Portugal (Washington Post $), Climate change will fuel humanitarian crises in 2023 -study (Reuters), Rising climate costs to challenge countries, companies in 2023 (Reuters)

• CONGO FLOODS: Residents of Congo's capital mourn after deadly floods and landslides (Reuters)
• MENTAL HEALTH: Drought may increase suicide risks across the US (E&E $)
• ARCTIC REPORT CARD: Arctic rapidly turning warmer, wetter and riskier: report (Axios, Grist, Indian Country Today)

DROUGHT: The 'power of aridity' is bringing a Colorado River dam to its knees (KUNC)

WATER: 4 states launch Colorado River payout program (E&E News, Politico Pro $), Nation’s largest water supplier declares drought emergency (AP)

RENEWABLES: How will low-income Californians access home solar and batteries? (Canary Media), Australian startup 5B gets BP backing to install solar farms in minutes (Bloomberg $), States to set up offshore wind compensation fund for fishermen (E&E $), Texas clean energy megaprojects get underway (Utility Dive), US solar installations slow despite Biden’s landmark climate law (Bloomberg $)

BATTERIES: GM, LG venture gets $2.5B federal loan to boost EV battery manufacturing (Utility Dive), Microsoft invests in silicon-battery material upstart (Wall Street Journal $), Nevada battery recycler to build $3.5B plant in S. Carolina (AP, Wall Street Journal $, Bloomberg $)

STORAGE: Element Energy raises $28M for grid storage powered by used EV batteries (Canary Media)

OIL & GAS: Freeport LNG planning on year-end restart (OilPrice)

NUKES: Bill Gates-backed reactor delayed on worries about fuel from Russia (Reuters), Rising costs imperil nation’s leading small reactor project (E&E News)

MINERALS: China dominates the rare earths market. This US mine is trying to change that. (Politico Pro $), Gates-backed start-up seeks Zambia copper for green-energy shift (Bloomberg $), Peru copper mine running out of storage space in threat to production (Bloomberg $)

PLASTICS: Group casts doubt on Amazon’s claims of reducing plastic (AP), UK government eyes ban on single-use plastic plates and cutlery (CNN)

PIPELINES: The massive Keystone Pipeline spill was predictable (Washington Post $), US oil prices under pressure from Keystone Pipeline’s largest-ever leak (Wall Street Journal $)

COAL: China's daily coal output hits record high in November to meet heating demand (Reuters)

GRID: Alternative Transmission plans $6B, 2.1-GW undersea power line between Puerto Rico, US East Coast (Utility Dive), E3 defends Texas market analysis as early comments on reliability proposals turn negative (Utility Dive)

EVs: Demand soars for EV charging at multifamily properties (Utility Dive), Tesla’s tumble continues as Goldman lowers price target (OilPrice), While fighting clean car rules, Minnesota dealers gear up for an all-electric future (Energy News Network)

ACTIVISM: Climate activist Deanna ‘Violet’ Coco reveals why she was prepared to risk jail time (The Guardian)

AGRICULTURE: Resurrecting climate-resilient rice in India (Yes Magazine)

VIDEO GAMES: Video games can make climate change real for players - here's how (Context)

FOOD: What should we call “lab-grown meat”? (Context)

WILDLIFE: Florida manatees facing starvation fed through program (AP)

INTERNATIONAL: Australia to pass energy price cap law after Greens signal support (Reuters), Australia’s coal exporters made windfall gain of $45bn last year, report estimates (The Guardian), EU countries seek to weaken new rules to tackle methane emissions (Politico Pro $), Natural gas-only boilers face [UK] ban by 2026 (Telegraph), NZ's Infratil creates new Australia-focused renewable energy platform (Reuters)

SPACE HURRICANES: Those glowing swirls by the North Pole? They’re just space hurricanes. (Washington Post $)

• Once you see the truth about cars, you can’t unsee it (New York Times, Julie Livingston and Andrew Ross op-ed $)
• It has been an electrifying year: Advancing policies in Congress to accelerate electrification (The Hill, Sen. Martin Heinrich, Sen. Tina Smith, Rep. Paul Tonko, and Rep. Kathy Castor op-ed)
• Are reinsurers finally facing a reckoning? (FT, Cat Rutter Pooley op-ed $)
• What the fusion success means for the future (CNN, Don Lincoln op-ed)
• It’s time for climate change to reach the International Court of Justice (The Hill, Douglas Kysar op-ed)
• Why do we keep destroying the homes of the world’s creatures? dinner (New York Times, Michael Grunwald op-ed $)
• The American left’s chronic NIMBY problem (FT, Edward Luce column $)
• India's solar boom reverses gas momentum, cements coal use (Reuters, Gavin Maguire column)
• Peak oil demand is nowhere in sight (Bloomberg, Javier Blas column $)
• What comes after a world’s first in fusion research (New York Times, Peter Coy column $)

If PR Giant Edelman Wants to Improve Public Trust, It Should Start by Dropping Its Fossil Fuel Clients

According to Amanda Edelman’s and Andrea Hagelgans’ recent op-ed in Fortune, the Gen Z voter turnout in the 2022 midterms is "all the proof companies need to act on social issues." Concerns like LGBTQ+ rights, gun violence, abortion access, and climate change are "critical considerations for Gen Z," a generation that "has grown up with active shooter drills from an early age and inherited a climate crisis." So, Edelman and Hagelgan argue, to "win Gen Z customers," companies "need to build that trust through action on social issues, not simply marketing on the topic." This is certainly a true statement, but the argument that marketing alone isn't sufficient is notable given that it's coming from two employees of Edelman, a major marketing consulting firm

For those who don't recognize the company's name, rest assured that you've seen its work. Edelman holds the title of the world’s largest public relations (PR) firm by revenue, a status secured, in part, by its long history of doing the fossil fuel industry's dirty disinformation work. The firm was founded in 1952 by Daniel Edelman, who was “an early proponent and practitioner of 'astroturfing': creating fake grassroots groups, with their funding by industry obscured, to counter real environmental and public health activism.”

The PR firm has since worked for fossil fuel industry(-backed) organizations, including the American Petroleum Institute, the National Association of Manufacturers, American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, and the American Legislative Exchange Council.

After coming under fire from Clean Creatives’ star-studded #EdelmanDropExxon campaign in 2021, Edelman made a series of attempts to greenwash its oil-stained reputation. According to The New York Times, Richard Edelman, CEO and son of Daniel Edelman, organized a video call in November 2021 with all Edelman  employees to wax poetic about the great threat of climate change before bluntly saying “No,” the firm would not walk away from its fossil fuel clients because “the energy industry was in transition and needed Edelman’s services.” (How noble!) That month, Edelman also released its first ever Trust Barometer Special Report on Climate Change in an attempt to prove just how much the firm cares about the planet.

In November 2022, Edelman rolled out the sequel, the 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report on Trust and Climate Change.

Though it's not as overtly biased as other polling we've seen recently, the report certainly takes pains not to address the elephant in the room: Public trust has been damaged by decades of fossil fuel disinformation, some of which Edelman created. Instead of partisanship and propaganda, the survey focuses on the personal. For example, the fourth section of the report focuses on individual lifestyle changes as a solution to climate change. Edelman uses the results from this section to recommend that individuals “make greener choices.” That’s right: You’re the problem, not the multi-billion dollar fossil fuel corporations paying PR companies for disinformation and funding Republicans to block climate policy that would make necessary systemic improvements to address fossil fuel pollution.

In contrast, Amanda Edelman and Andrea Hagelgans emphasize a different potential solution. In their Fortune piece, they highlight actions by businesses and conclude on a positive note, writing that "Gen Zers have the power to influence older generations," and that "Edelman's Trust research shows that Gen Z's impact spreads to older generations in the workplace…"

Perhaps, then, Amanda Edelman, COO of Edelman's Gen Z lab, should talk to Richard Edelman, the CEO of the firm. As part of his continued attempts to greenwash the company’s record, Richard gave a "climate update" back in January in which he declared that the firm would “Focus on a just transition” and “Hold [itself] accountable.”

It is hard to say what accountability for decades of disinformation would look like, but for a start, Amanda could suggest that Edelman stop just marketing its green credentials and instead take action to restore the public's trust by opening up its playbook and letting the world see what tactics it has used to manipulate the public.

While Edelman might be contractually forbidden from admitting the dirty specifics of its past work, the firm could still potentially reveal which general tactics it uses across campaigns. For example, does it recommend that companies place op-eds in outlets like Fortune that say all the right things about needing to take action aligned with Gen Z's values while also publishing their own blog posts using Big Oil's beloved tactic of emphasizing individual "carbon friendly behaviors, products, and lifestyle choices"?

If Edelman truly wanted to redeem itself, it could reveal to reporters and researchers the ways in which public relations professionals erode public trust in media and government so that their industry clients won't face public demand for regulations. The firm could also work with activists to identify weak spots in the industrial opposition to climate policy and give the public an example of a company that takes full responsibility for its past harms.

Most of all, Edelman could simply stop working for the fossil fuel companies that are responsible for the climate crisis.

Of course, all this would be a pretty big demand for someone like Amanda to make of the CEO, given that she's only recently completed grad school and has only been at the company for a little over a year.

But what father can say no to a request from his daughter, especially during the holiday season?

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