UN Seeks Climate Law Opinion From International Court Of Justice: The United Nations General Assembly adopted a historic resolution on Wednesday, requesting an advisory opinion on climate change from the International Court of Justice. That advisory opinion will not, itself, be legally binding, but could clarify legal obligations under other international agreements (including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which the U.S. has ratified, and UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which the U.S. alone has not ratified). While the U.S. did not formally object to the resolution, a State Department spokesperson said the U.S. believes "Launching a judicial process … will likely accentuate disagreements and not be conducive to advancing our ongoing diplomatic and other processes." Proponents, like Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau, hailed the resolution as “a win for climate justice of epic proportions.” “We are just ecstatic that the world has listened to the Pacific youth,” said Cynthia Houniuhi, president of Pacific Island students fighting climate change (PISFCC). “Through no fault of our own, we are living with devastating tropical cyclones, flooding, biodiversity loss and sea level rise. We have contributed the least to the global emissions that are drowning our land." (AP, The Guardian, Axios, Reuters, E&E $, Inside Climate News, New York Times $; U.S. statement: Washington Post $)

Exxon Opponents Hacked In 2016: Multiple entities seeking to hold ExxonMobil accountable for making huge profits from selling a product it knew, but publicly denied, was destabilizing the global climate were hacked ahead of a 2016 meeting, the Wall Street Journal reports. The India-based company BellTroX, sent the spear-phishing emails and did the hacking on behalf of Israeli private detective Aviram Azari, who federal prosecutors said worked for "Israeli, European, and U.S. companies.” Exxon denies involvement. Lee Wasserman, head of the Rockefeller Family Fund, told The Journal he hoped Azari would say who he was working for. "The defendant [Azari] did not decide on his own to follow and target climate advocates in the U.S. from halfway around the world. He was clearly working for corporate actors in this country,” Mr. Wasserman said. (Wall Street Journal $) [Read the Denier Roundup, below, for more. — Ed.]

NTSB Investigating Pennsylvania Gas Explosion: Federal officials are investigating how a methane gas pipeline exploded in West Reading, Pennsylvania, last Friday, killing seven and sending 10 more to the hospital, the National Transportation Safety Board announced Tuesday. While the exact cause of the explosion is still under investigation, "Initial findings by the NTSB investigator who had been at the site indicates an accident involving a natural gas pipeline ... causing the explosion at the Palmer factory," a statement from an NTSB spokesperson said. Gas pipeline explosions and other incidents are not uncommon. A major leak from a gas pipeline is reported to federal regulators more than every other day. (AP, CBS; NTSB statement: WGAL)

(ENVIRONMENTAL) RACISM: Study: Black homicide victims are less humanized in media (Black Wall Street Times)

COP28: The West agreed to pay climate reparations. That was the easy part. (The Atlantic)

FOSSIL FUELED ENERGY CRISIS: EU countries seek legal option to stop Russian LNG imports (Reuters)

CLIMATE LITIGATION: New York considers first-in-the-nation bill to charge fossil fuel companies for climate change destruction (City Limits (NYC)), Swiss seniors take government to European court over climate (AP, Reuters), European court hears landmark lawsuits that could shape climate policy (Climate Home)

(CLIMATE) DIPLOMACY: Is it time for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty? (Energy Monitor), Switzerland and France accused of lack of climate action in ECHR hearing (The Guardian), US pushes for business investment in Africa to counter China’s reach (Wall Street Journal $), US, Japan ink trade deal around EV battery materials (Utility Dive)

• EU: EU reaches provisional deal to raise renewable energy target (AP), EU countries approve 2035 phaseout of CO2-emitting cars (Reuters), Nuclear dispute hangs over EU renewable energy talks (Reuters), Climate change policies should not become trade weapon - Stellantis CEO Tavares says (Reuters), China threatens retaliation if Kevin McCarthy meets Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen (Wall Street Journal $)

MENTAL HEALTH: Who suffers from climate anxiety? Not exactly who you might think (Heatmap $)

INFLATION REDUCTION ACT: Canada’s C$80B response to US clean energy push: ‘We will not be left behind’ (E&E $), Canada offers C$35 bln green tax credits but still trails generous US incentives (Reuters)

AGENCIES: Climate financing is finally here, but will there be equity? (Boston Globe $), FEMA gives extra money to states for low-carbon materials (E&E $), Morale rises at EPA and DOE, falls at Interior (E&E $), Should US save small farms? Lawmakers give Vilsack an earful (E&E $)

EPA: ‘Broken’ system propels air toxics monitoring gaps (E&E News), Advocates rally at EPA HQ for tighter soot limits (E&E $), EPA watchdog staffs up to oversee infrastructure law (E&E $), Republicans grill Regan over Clean Water Act rule (E&E $)

DOE: US energy officials release strategy to boost offshore wind (AP, The Hill)

DOI: Biden administration moves ahead with massive Gulf of Mexico drilling auction, weeks after approving Willow Project (CNN, The Hill), Biden admin's huge Gulf oil sale rakes in $264M (E&E $, Politico Pro $, Reuters)

• ON THE HILL: Haaland questioned on Capitol Hill: 4 takeaways (E&E $), Haaland commits to King Cove solution after withdrawing Trump-era land deal (Politico Pro $), Republicans grill interior chief on mining of critical minerals (Washington Post $)

DOT: Buttigieg urged to block tax-exempt bonds for oil railroad (E&E $)

TREASURY: Yellen calls climate change ‘existential threat’ after GOP lawmaker labels it ‘Trojan horse’ for spending (The Hill), Yellen rejects World Bank capital increase, expects US nominee to lead lender (Reuters), 4 things to know about Treasury's guidance on EV credits (Washington Post $)

EXECUTIVE BRANCH: To fight warming, DoD's climate boss wants better buildings (E&E $)

WHITE HOUSE: Biden starts tour of America’s EV supply chain (E&E $), Biden: GOP wants to 'cede our clean energy future to China' (E&E $), Kamala Harris focuses on women’s economic inclusion and leadership on last day in Ghana (The 19th* News), Why Biden’s oil policies upset both oil companies and environmentalists (Washington Post $), Unheralded environmentalist: Jimmy Carter’s green legacy (Yale Environment 360)

HOUSE: House lawmakers spar over Ohio train wreck response (E&E $), House Republicans are chipping away at landmark climate law (E&E News), Moderate Dems push for climate funding in farm bill (E&E $), Twitter restricts Greene’s congressional account over ‘vengeance’ post (The Hill), House GOP to pass energy package with eye on gas prices, 2024 (Washington Post $), Why the Republicans’ 'Lower Energy Costs Act' won’t lower energy costs (New Republic)

SENATE: Whitehouse tees up counter narrative to GOP energy plan (Politico Pro $), GOP senator on gun control: Congress has gone ‘about as far as we’re going to’ (The Hill), Senate approves measure overturning Biden clean water regulations, setting up likely veto (The Hill)

ELECTIONS: The Youth Interest PAC, founded by Mejia campaign alums, will fund progressive campaigns (Teen Vogue)

CITIES AND STATES: ‘Heat-pump coaches’ help neighbors ditch fossil heat in Massachusetts (Canary Media), Colorado eyes 100% EV goal while aiming to curtail car use (E&E $), Connecticut bill would raise bar for permitting facilities in already polluted areas (Energy News Network), North Carolina removes permit requirements for handguns day after Tennessee school shooting (Black Wall Street Times, AP, WRAL)

• CALIFORNIA: How California took on Big Oil (E&E $)California law targets oil companies for price gouging (NBC), How Newsom fell short of the oil penalty he wanted but still scored a political win (LA Times $), California reparations task force says state owes Black residents $800 billion (The Root, NPR, AP)
• NEW YORK: Cap-and-no-trade: Emissions cap policy faces budget fight in N.Y. (E&E $), NYC mayor's new scheme in ongoing rat war: A composting mandate (Gizmodo), In rare show of force, House Democrats pressure Hochul on climate bill (New York Times $)

FERC: AES, Exelon, others urge FERC to reject West Virginia PSC push to open confidential PJM committee (Utility Dive)

IMPACTS: Another powerful Pacific storm hits soggy, snowy California (AP, Axios), It’s not just oceans that are rising. Groundwater is, too. (Grist), Dangerous storms, tornadoes may target Midwest, South (AP), Lessons from a country on the front lines of climate change (NPR), Sea levels are rising — and it's going to get worse. Here's how some communities are adapting (CBS), Rising Antarctic ice melt will dramatically slow global ocean flows, study finds (Reuters)

HEAT: California’s desert trees can’t take the heat: study (The Hill), Google plans to share heat alerts in search (The Verge)

WILDFIRES: Climate change helps breed springtime wildfires in Spain (AP), When wildfires choke California, this activist gets masks to those who need them most (Grist), Officials warn of wildfire risk as Southwest US dries out (AP)

HURRICANES: Goodbye Fiona and Ian, hello Farrah and Idris: Hurricane name lists updated (Washington Post $)

POLLUTION: A barge carrying methanol broke free in the Ohio river (NPR)

RENEWABLES: Here’s where renewable power is increasing (and where it’s not) (Minnesota Reformer), 4 lawsuits threaten Vineyard Wind (E&E News), Innovative technology emerges to support offshore wind siting, logistics (Utility Dive), Let the sunshine in: Solar array bringing energy to The Village at Orchard Ridge (Winchester Star), US renewable power surged ahead of coal for the first time last year (Grist, E&E $)

WORKERS: US faces electrician shortage as it tries to go green (Wall Street Journal $)

BATTERIES: Company plans first-of-a-kind battery gigafactory in KY. (E&E $), Freyr explores coalition with Caterpillar, Siemens, two others to scale up green battery production (Utility Dive)

METHANE: Exxon extends Permian methane monitoring from its new Houston-area base (Houston Chronicle)

OIL & GAS: New Shell CEO faces big dilemma: Should the company pump more oil? (Wall Street Journal $), Dallas Fed: Oil industry growth stalls amid banking worries (Politico Pro $)

HYDROGEN: Electric generators will fill a critical role in developing hydrogen in the LA area, analysis finds (Utility Dive), Is cheap, clean hydrogen possible? The ​‘green hydrogen’ battle, continued (Canary Media)

NUKES: Energy company: Minnesota leak fixed, plant to reopen soon (AP)

GRID: PJM overstates risks of shift to renewables, enviros say (E&E $)

EVs: Americans are willing to pay more to reject Chinese EVs (Heatmap $), Why America’s EV chargers keep breaking (E&E News), Why electric vehicle tax credits could confuse consumers for months (Washington Post $), Why you may choose to lease — rather than buy — your next electric car (Washington Post $)

POP CULTURE: ‘Extrapolations’ and the peril of climate cringe (New York Times $), ‘How do you laugh about death?’: The comedians tackling climate change (The Guardian)

EDUCATION: Nonprofit helps high schoolers campaign for clean energy and climate policies (Yale Climate Connections)

CARBON CAPTURE: Tax incentives start rush for carbon capture projects in Louisiana (Floodlight)

FINANCE: Climate funding gets squeezed by volatile markets (Wall Street Journal $)

INTERNATIONAL: As hydropower dams quell the mekong’s life force, what are the costs? (Mongabay), UK ‘strikingly unprepared’ for impacts of climate crisis (The Guardian), UK scientists urge Rishi Sunak to halt new oil and gas developments (The Guardian), Australia ends ‘wasted decade’ with emissions reduction law, leader says (Washington Post $)

• We need to take climate injustice to court (TIME, Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau Ma'aukoro op-ed)
• The UK’s ‘green day’ has turned into a fossil fuel bonanza – dirty money powers the Sunak government (The Guardian, George Monbiot op-ed)
• How Buddhism can inform climate activism: a conversation with Kritee Kanko (Yale Climate Connections, interview)
• Mourning family and climate change in the age of loss and damage (Environmental Health News, Robbie Parks op-ed)
• Biden’s inflation reduction act betrayal (Wall Street Journal, Sen. Joe Manchin op-ed $)

Who Paid To Hack Exxon's Climate Critics? Actually, Probably Not Exxon… 

Yesterday, The Wall Street Journal's Christopher Matthews reported BellTroX, an IT firm based in New Dehli, India, targeted a group of climate activists and funders in 2016 with spear phishing messages just three days before they were scheduled to discuss ExxonMobil's climate disinformation. 

Months later, in April 2016, The Washington Free Beacon published a story with a private email about the meeting, which was convened by the Rockefeller Family Fund and included Bill McKibben, and staff from Greenpeace, Public Citizen, and other advocacy organizations. 

While Exxon denied culpability, the company "eventually cited the email on its website," as part of its legal counter-attack against those seeking to hold it accountable for decades of climate denial and/or the costs of climate impacts we could've avoided. 

Exxon has not been formally accused of hiring Aviram Azari, an Israeli private detective who Matthews reports hired BellTroX. Azari pleaded guilty to hacking, wire fraud, and identity theft in 2022, and there haven't been any other public charges brought in relation to the case. 

But Azari was certainly not acting alone. "According to court documents," Matthews reported, "Mr. Azari would provide the Indian hackers with information on the main targets for each hacking project as well as on individuals who were connected to the main targets, such as family, friends or co-workers." 

Climate activists were far from the only targets, as Azari has admitted that now-defunct German company Wirecard was also a client whose short-sellers and journalistic and regulatory investigators were targeted. Wirecard denied any "direct or indirect contact with a hacker group from India,” which is a very specific sort of denial that would still allow for the company to have contact with a hacker group it believed to have been from anywhere other than India. 

Exxon's denial was a bit more firm, with a statement that the company “has no knowledge of Azari, had no involvement in any hacking activities and has not been accused of any wrongdoing. To be clear, ExxonMobil has done nothing wrong.” 

But like Wirecard's very-specific-denial, this statement leaves room for Exxon having knowledge of someone else working with someone like Azari, and having done something wrong on the company's behalf but without having given them the details to ensure the company's executives can maintain plausible deniability. (Unrelated: last year an ExxonMobil lobbyist admitted the company used "shadow groups to work against" climate efforts in secret.) (Also unrelated: ExxonMobil reportedly directs site content at Energy In Depth, which is actively using emails of ExxonMobil critics as part of its years-long campaign to defend the company, and industry, with the help of some friends like tobacco-turned-fossil-fuel-backed lawyer Chris Horner.)  

Rockefeller Family Fund director Lee Wasserman told Matthews that "the defendant" Aviram Azari, "did not decide on his own to follow and target climate advocates in the U.S. from halfway around the world. He was clearly working for corporate actors in this country." 

What a mystery! Who could possibly guess which corporate actor would hire hackers to target a meeting of ExxonMobil's critics? Who can (safely) say? Certainly not us! 

Anyway, be sure to enable your two-factor authentication and otherwise shore up your security!

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