White House Launches Methane Task Force: The Biden administration on Wednesday hosted its first-ever White House Methane Summit, which coincided with the launch of a Cabinet-level task force aimed at “advanc[ing] a whole-of-government approach to proactive methane leak detection and data transparency, and support state and local efforts to mitigate and enforce methane emissions regulations.” The event at the White House primarily convened organizations that have focused on technologies to detect and fix methane leaks from the oil and gas system, including several organizations launching satellites whose purpose will be to identify and measure methane leak events, as well as groups like the BlueGreen Alliance, which convenes environmental and labor interests. Notably, methane gas industry representatives were not invited to participate in the event on Wednesday, though producers and lobbyists have had no shortage of opportunities to speak with the administration. While the summit and launch of the task force were welcomed by climate advocates and applauded for spotlighting methane, some noted that truly addressing methane’s crisis-level impact on climate change demands the Biden administration demonstrate greater commitment to decarbonization. “The harms to climate and the health of communities on the frontline of oil and gas extraction are nothing short of dire. This administration … must move forward with more accountability for industry and the inclusion of environmental justice communities as stakeholders,” said Lauren Pagel, policy director at Earthworks, one of the organizations that took part in Wednesday’s summit. “The administration’s commitment to methane reduction is important. But in order to live up to President Biden’s climate and justice goals, he must declare a climate emergency and stop the buildout of fossil fuel infrastructure.” (Politico Pro $, E&E $, Reuters, Common Dreams, The Hill; White House: Fact Sheet)

Millions Live in ‘Urban Heat Islands’: Some 41 million Americans live in “urban heat islands,” areas where the effects of living in cities with lots of concrete and not so many trees can cause temperatures to rise dangerously, according to new analysis from Climate Central. The analysis found the difference between urban built areas experiencing the heat island effect and their more rural surroundings is 8°F higher or more, resulting in far higher risk of heat-related illness, or even death. Cities with taller buildings, more density, and fewer trees experienced the greatest heat island effect. The cities with an urban heat island effect of at least 8°F are: New York, Houston, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, San Antonio, San Diego, Detroit, and Phoenix, but nearly all urban areas in the U.S. experienced at least some elevated temperature. In Detroit, New York, Dallas, New Orleans, and Houston, the heat island effect of at least 8°F impacts at least 70% of residents, and some neighborhoods representing at least 10% of Chicago, Washington, D.C., New York, and San Francisco experience at least 10°F higher temperatures. Previous research has shown that the urban heat island effect disproportionately impacts low-income areas and communities of color, as is the case with most climate impacts. Poorer areas and areas with greater proportions of people of color are more likely to have fewer trees and parks, while highways and other heavily-trafficked areas, as well as industrial areas, are systematically sited near communities of color. “People in urban heat islands experience the amplified effects of climate change, especially during summer heat streaks that force millions to face higher temperatures than their neighbors,” Jen Brady, Climate Central senior data analyst said. “Changes to the built environment can cool these neighborhoods, but until global temperatures stop rising, city residents will face increasingly steeper challenges to stay safe during periods of extreme heat.” (Washington Post $, NPR, NBC, Axios, CBS, The Hill, E&E $)

UPS Drivers Get AC in Trucks, Likely Avoiding Strike: The Teamsters Union and UPS on Tuesday reached a tentative deal to avert a strike when their contract expires on August 1, which included agreement on several key concessions to protect drivers from dangerous, climate change-driven extreme heat. The union won concessions that all trucks purchased after 2024 would be cooled, and forced overtime on scheduled days off and driver-facing cameras would be banned, as well as pay raises for both part time and full time workers, and higher starting salaries for part-time workers. Extended working hours and overtime can put workers at risk when temperatures are high, and drivers complained that surveillance cameras made them wary of taking needed breaks for water or rest.  “Air conditioning is coming to UPS, and Teamster members in these vehicles will get the relief and protection they’ve been fighting for,” Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien, said, declaring victory. Outdoor workers, including delivery drivers such as those working for UPS, are extremely vulnerable to extreme heat exacerbated by climate change. Workers typically have few protections from the heat, and industries have typically fought against efforts to enact such policies. On Wednesday, however, Democrats in Congress introduced legislation that would direct the Labor Department to create standards to protect workers against dangerous heat, including paid breaks in shaded or climate-controlled spaces, providing water, and requiring emergency response and transportation for workers experiencing heat-related illness. (Washington Post $, CNN, The Hill, Bloomberg $, What climate had to do with the potential strike: Time, E&E $, Heat safety bill: E&E $) 

ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE: Women experience greater burdens from extreme heat (E&E $), UN climate fund suspends project in Nicaragua over human rights concerns (Climate Home), Inmates at California prison say they’re sweltering as cooling systems fail amid heat wave (Sacramento Bee), DOJ, EPA announce agreement on Jackson sewage system after 2022 water crisis (The Hill, E&E $), Rural energy program draws scrutiny over Biden equity plan (E&E $)

NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US: Activists with disabilities want to lead the climate fight despite barriers in their way (The 19th* News)

COP28: In an ominous sign for COP28, G20 nations once again failed to reach a deal to phase down fossil fuels (Inside Climate News), G20 should lead way on energy transition plans at COP28 - event president (Reuters)

CLIMATE DIPLOMACY OF THE FUTURE: No United States President can walk back on climate change commitments now: John Kerry (The Hindu $)

NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN: Jim Skea to take helm at IPCC as world enters crucial climate decade (The Guardian, Reuters)

OLDER SHERIFF TAKES A SABBATICAL: EIA hits pause on publishing its Annual Energy Outlook (E&E $)

FOSSIL VOLATILITY: European gas prices slump as storage, renewables offset risks (Bloomberg $), Lower natgas rates, higher renewable use tamed Texas heatwave price spikes- EIA (Reuters), Russia gas output down 13% in first half after E.U. exports cut (E&E $)

🎂 HBD INFLATION REDUCTION ACT: IRA turns one (Politico Pro $), On anniversary of climate bill deal, Democrats want more (E&E $), Manchin uses spending bills to shape climate law (E&E $), Foreigners will benefit from U.S. climate subsidies, and that is good news (Wall Street Journal $)

PERMITTING: In reforming energy permitting, states rights looms large (Houston Chronicle), Biden’s climate deal still has an enormous hole (Politico)

TREASURY: Yellen picks new Treasury climate czar (Washington Post $)

SCOTUS: Environmentalists urge Supreme Court to stay out of pipeline case (Law.com)

EPA: EPA hiring spree aims for 1,800 new employees (E&E $)

DOE: Biden’s $250 billion lure to clean up the dirty legacy of fossil fuels (Vox)

LAWSUITS: Climate change lawsuits more than double in 5 years as impacts hit home (Reuters), Legal battles over climate change are already paying off (Vox, The Guardian)

YIKES: Court rejects Alaska bid for federal pollution cleanup (E&E $)

DOJ: Democrats beg DOJ to investigate Big Oil’s climate deception (ExxonNews)

WHITE HOUSE: Biden’s ‘Made in America’ pledge collides with his climate goals (Wall Street Journal $), Biden turns focus to extreme heat (E&E $), Here's what limits Biden on heat waves (E&E $), Biden to announce steps to help communities deal with extreme heat (New York Times $)

THE HILL: Democrats aim to yank pro-oil language from climate law (E&E $),

SENATE: Committee approves conservation, air quality bills (E&E $)

POLITICS: New political group launches to take on big oil over a ban on drilling near schools, hospitals (San Francisco Chronicle)

ELECTIONS: Vivek Ramaswamy runs as Trump 2.0 — an outsider with extreme proposals (Washington Post $)

YOU MATTER: 13 tips for lobbying your elected officials about climate change (Yale Climate Connections)

CITIES AND STATES: Cities can better afford renewable energy, EV and other climate projects with new tax incentives: report (Utility Dive), It’s so hot in Arizona, doctors are treating a spike of patients who were burned by falling on the ground (CNN), These thermal images show how Phoenix uses technology to keep cool (Washington Post $), ‘No one at the rudder' to help: Eastern Kentucky flooding, 1 year later (WBUR), Maine lawmakers approve bill to boost offshore wind development (Bloomberg $), Trump’s former head of the EPA has been a quiet contributor to Virginia’s exit from RGGI (Inside Climate News)

~ CALIFORNIA: California issues emergency watch for power grid amid heat wave (Bloomberg $)

~ ISN’T A STATE BUT SHOULD BE: D.C. could hit 100 degrees for first time in 7 years over coming days (Washington Post $)

FERC: Trump wants to control the nation's independent energy regulator (Washington Post $), Manchin stirs up FERC nominee guessing game (E&E $)

IMPACTS: Deep-sea researchers probe mystery of record ocean heat (Bloomberg $), Blistering heat spreads to U.S. Midwest as wildfire smoke lingers (New York Times $), On the coast of Greenland, early Arctic spring has been replaced by seasonal extremes, new research shows (Inside Climate News), Storms and wildfires kill seven in Italy as extreme weather continues (The Guardian), Climate collapse could happen fast (The Atlantic), Interactive map shows which US cities will be underwater in 2050 (The Hill)

HEAT: What “record-breaking heat” actually means (Vox), How heat waves form, and how climate change makes them worse (Vox), This CDC data shows where rates of heat-related illness are highest (NPR), Ocean temperatures around South Florida hit hot-tub levels (Reuters, The Guardian)

WILDFIRES 

~ EUROPE: Greece wildfires are so intense they've spewed more emissions in a week than July wildfires in 2 decades (CBS), Greece wildfires erupt on mainland, killing two people (Reuters), ‘Like a blowtorch’: Mediterranean on fire as blazes spread across nine countries (The Guardian, CBS, Common Dreams, EcoWatch)

~ US: Crews battle untamed central Arizona wildfire, hundreds of homes under enforced evacuation orders (AP)

TYPHOON DOKSURI: Typhoon Doksuri leaves at least 6 dead and displaces thousands in the northern Philippines (AP, E&E $), Typhoon Doksuri pounds the Philippines, China up next (Yale Climate Connections)

WATER: Colorado River has lost 10tn gallons of water since 2000 due to climate crisis (The Guardian)

ALL THAT 👆 COSTS $$$$: The Skyrocketing Toll of the Billion-Dollar Climate Disaster (Bloomberg $)

RENEWABLES: It’s cheaper to cut down trees than build solar on rooftops. Can Massachusetts change that? (Energy News Network), Energy-hungry Europe to brighten profit at US solar equipment makers (Reuters)

BUILDINGS: Energy-efficient buildings save lives during extreme weather events: Department of Energy (Utility Dive)

LNG: Here’s why Russian LNG won’t stop flowing (Bloomberg $), Will Tellurian's revised $1 billion Driftwood deal be enough to save the project? (Houston Chronicle), Cheniere Energy eyes new gas pipeline connecting Louisiana expansion project (Greater Baton Rouge Business Report)

METHANE: Delaying methane mitigation increases risk of breaching Paris agreement climate goal, study finds (Phys.org)

OIL & GAS: Shell’s ‘obscene’ $5bn profits prompt outrage amid climate crisis (The Guardian), Flagging refining margins foreshadow softer profits for big oil (Houston Chronicle)

ORPHANED WELLS: Orphan Wells: A Looming Climate Change Threat and the Path to Remediation (AZO Cleantech)

PIPELINES: Critics: East Coast explosion reason to deny NW pipeline expansion (Public News Service), No injuries reported after gas pipeline explodes near Interstate 81 in Shenandoah County (The Virginian-Pilot)

COAL COUNTRY: Residents are at a loss after newspaper that bound community together shuts in declining coal county (ABC), Kentucky’s largest solar farm sited at former Appalachia coal mine (Power), After decades of delays and broken promises, coal miners hail rule to slow rise of black lung (AP)

GRID:‘A tripling of electrical output’: Tesla’s Musk urges power sector to anticipate higher demand (Utility Dive)

EVs: EVs will bring ‘unprecedented’ power demand, but their flexibility can improve grid reliability, utilities say (Utility Dive)

POWER UP: Big carmakers unite to build a charging network and reassure reluctant EV buyers (NPR, Washington Post $, New York Times $, Wall Street Journal $, The Hill), Xcel files new EV charging network proposal in Colorado after Tesla connector news upends market (Utility Dive)

ADAPTATION: It only gets worse (The Nation)

AVIATION: Jetting off to the sun? The adverts are selling you a ticket to climate disaster (The Guardian)

AGRICULTURE: Some farmers are skeptical about a payment plan to get them to use less water (NPR)

BOOKS: For this smoky summer, 12 new books and reports on wildfires (Yale Climate Connections)

CLIMATE COVERAGE MATTERS: The Iowa meteorologist who quit after death threats got nice e-mails, too (Heated $)

BUSINESSES: Focus: P&G drops forest pledge, drawing ire of green groups, investors (Reuters)

CARBON PRICING: Carbon credits could be labeled 'high quality' later this year (E&E $)

CARBON REMOVAL: Why sucking CO2 out of the atmosphere can’t undo all the effects of climate change (The Verge), IRA 'turbocharged' carbon capture tax credit, but challenges persist: experts (S&P Global)

TRUCKS: EU’s next climate push: decarbonising truck deliveries (Energy Monitor)

RAIL: An AI startup is helping North American diesel trains clean up their act (Bloomberg $)

HEALTH: With climate change, health care providers should be more mindful of heat-related illness, doctors say (CNN)

MOOD: Is it possible to be optimistic about climate change? (CNN), We must imagine the climate futures we want to build (Prism Reports)

YOUTHS: No one is too young to fight for climate justice (Prism Reports)

INNOVATION: Green retrofitting can be cheaper and less disruptive than replacement (FT $), Whitest-ever paint could help keep the world cooler, researchers say (The Hill), An energy correspondent hunts for alternatives (New York Times $)

DAM EXPENSIVE: Researchers create calculator to predict dam removal costs (E&E $)

MINING: Alaska is facing a massive mineral boom, but at what cost? (Grist)

WILDLIFE: German forests face threat from bark beetles following years of drought (NPR), Swiss bird centre saves winged victims of extreme heat (Reuters), Climate change threatens 771 endangered plant and lichen species (Phys.org), Forests are losing their ability to hold carbon (Scientific American)

INTERNATIONAL: NSW considering ‘all options’ to keep power bills down as coal cap end date looms (The Guardian), Electricity prices down almost 60% a year on from Australia’s short-lived energy crisis (The Guardian), Young Bangladeshis push for climate action but workers left out (Context), Will China ever be able to kick coal? (OilPrice), EU plans to buy new firefighting planes as climate crises worsen (Reuters), Germany's updated hydrogen strategy sees heavy reliance on imported fuel in future (Reuters), Greek hotels fear a burning future: ‘Even the animals are moving away’ (New York Times $), Monsoon’s fury sours romance of wet season travel in India (New York Times $), It’s so hot, they’re growing mangoes in Italy (Wall Street Journal $), As El Nino fuels fire risk, Southeast Asia braces for haze crisis (Context), How climate change is redrawing the border between Switzerland and Italy (Euractiv), A commitment to green policy is tested by an election win (New York Times $)

• Heat waves and the sweep of history (The New Yorker, Bill McKibben $)
• A few hot St. Louis days don't prove climate change. Centuries of data do. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Editorial Board)
• Cities must prepare for deadly heat (Bloomberg, The Editors $)
• DeSantis can say what he likes. The climate crisis is coming to Florida (Open Democracy, Chrissy Stroop)
• Why Chile’s new approach to lithium matters globally (Bloomberg, James Attwood $)
• The road to clean steel runs through electric vehicles (Energy Monitor, Mat McDermid, Justin Guay, Hilary Lewis and Chris Alford)
• What I learned when I tried installing a wind turbine on my house (Washington Post, Michael Coren $)
• Sleepwalking toward climate catastrophe (The Messenger, Paul Bledsoe)
• Oman shows how a fossil fuel producer can embrace clean energy (Al Jazeera, Salim Al Aufi, Fatih Birol)
• Don't ignore your climate anxiety (TIME, Susan Clayton)

Fox Business Host Larry Kudlow Apparently Thinks Europeans Don't Have Light Bulbs Or Pizza

Hey, are there any Europeans in the audience? Can someone please let us know if y'all are doing alright? Because from what we hear (via a Daily Caller regurgitation of a Fox Business clip of Larry Kudlow) things are downright prehistoric over there. 

"They Will Turn Us Into Europe,'' warns The Daily Caller's headline, quoting Kudlow's warning about the Biden administration’s proposed regulations that would require appliances to be more efficient. In other words, the government is telling companies to innovate and make their products consume less energy to save consumers money (and reduce the emissions driving climate change). 

But according to Kudlow, a host on Fox News's business audience-aimed channel, these regulations "will turn us into Europe, which doesn't even have a lot of this stuff the way we do.” He explains, “What's this stuff? Well, for starters, how about shower heads, air conditioners, toilet flushing, light bulbs, washers and dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, gas cars and trucks, coal fired pizza ovens, microwaves, and that's just for starters." 

…What? Europe doesn't have toilet flushing or light bulbs? Or pizza ovens!? (And if people lived there for thousands of years without air conditioners, but now they feel like a requirement just to survive, isn't that just a sign the climate's warmed?) 

Now, you may be thinking that this is an unfair interpretation and Kudlow is merely listing the things Biden’s proposed regulations would require companies to innovate. But no, Kudlow then claimed that "Joe Biden wants to take them away from us all in the name of climate change…" and quoted the estimated carbon reductions of these new rules (2.4 billion tons of greenhouse gasses, about 10 million homes worth) in a belittling fashion. "You mean all this for ending my ceiling fan, all this? My dehumidifier, my battery charger, my pool pump?" 

Again, what? No one's getting rid of ceiling fans! If anything, it's the kind of thing climate activists encourage the use of as it's more energy efficient and can make it feel 7°F cooler before you even have to turn on the A/C. 

And where in Europe has Larry Kudlow visited where they don't have pizza ovens or toilet flushing or shower heads or pools or ceiling fans? Certainly not Italy, given that Italians literally invented pizza and even ancient Romans enjoyed a basic form of A/C and cooling swims in the frigidarium!

Oh, and another fun fact: As air warms, it can hold more water, so if Kudlow's finding himself increasingly dependent on a dehumidifier, A/C, and cooling off in a pool, maybe, just maybe, it has something to do with all those greenhouse gasses warming the planet!

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