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Peter Campbell, The Financial Times
The Financial Times covers new advice from the Climate Change Committee (CCC), which says expanding Heathrow airport is “incompatible with the UK meeting its legally binding climate targets”. The CCC says a third Heathrow runway would “release 4.5 megatonnes of CO2 or equivalents a year by 2054…even with the expected take-up of cleaner fuels and newer aircraft”, according to the newspaper. [See Carbon Brief’s article for more on the emissions impact.] BBC News says the advice notes that expansion can proceed if the industry “funds cleaner fuels and pays for machines that suck carbon dioxide out of the air”. The Guardian quotes Nigel Topping, the CCC chair, as saying: “The government should legislate policies that require the aviation industry to fully address all of their emissions by 2050, either directly or by purchasing engineered removals.” The story is also covered by Reuters, the Daily Mail and others.
MORE ON UK
Cost increases for petrol, diesel and plane tickets “pushed UK inflation up to its highest level in six months in the year to August”, reports BBC News. The Guardian: “Record heatwaves bring Britain’s second-best butterfly season in 16 years.” BusinessGreen reports on a new study finding that at least £511bn is needed by 2040 to achieve the UK’s clean energy and net-zero goals. Trade body Offshore Energies UK has “called on Labour to scrap the windfall tax on fossil fuel firms three years early”, reports the Guardian. The Times, Daily Mail and Sun report that more than 100 British and other tourists fled wildfires on an island in Croatia.
Jamie Smyth, The Financial Times
Oil and gas major ExxonMobil has received permission to store carbon dioxide emissions underground in Texas, reports the Financial Times. The newspaper says the approval follows a “high-stakes battle with opponents over safety and economic objections”. The decision advances the company’s $5bn (£3.7bn) plan to “build the world’s largest carbon capture pipeline network on the US Gulf Coast”, adds the Financial Times. Bloomberg reports: “The permit allows ExxonMobil to inject as much as 53m tons of carbon dioxide over a 13-year period from industrial emitters along the Gulf coast into rock strata about one mile (1.6 kilometers) underground for permanent storage.”
MORE ON US
The Daily Telegraph reports that US politicians could be considering an export ban on diesel which could “squeeze supplies to Europe just as prices skyrocket”. Reuters: “Trump administration appeals ruling blocking EPA from sending California auto emissions rules to Congress.” Inside Climate News: “How the end of USAID eroded global environmental goals.” US energy chief Chris Wright says crude oil should return to Saudi Arabia’s east-west pipeline within days, reports Reuters. Inside Climate News: “Congressional Republicans aim to shield fossil fuel companies from climate lawsuits.” Reuters: “Texas moves to penalise data centers for water violations.”
Sara Sneath, The Guardian
A new report finds that the energy portfolios of “20 private equity firms produce 1.5bn tonnes of greenhouse gases a year, more than the annual emissions of any country except China, the US, India and Russia”, reports the Guardian. The report, from the Private Equity Climate Risks consortium, notes that the energy investments from these companies include “significant fossil fuel assets”, the newspaper says. Put together, these total “15,000 miles of pipelines, 124GW of power generation capacity across 370 fossil fuel-powered plants and hundreds of oil and gas fields”, it adds.
Kate Abnett, Reuters
The European parliament voted yesterday in favour of removing a clause to “let the EU suspend its carbon border levy if it makes imported goods more expensive”, reports Reuters. The newswire says the changes to the levy, known as the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), “set[s] up a clash with member countries who are in favour of the emergency brake”. It notes: “EU countries and the European parliament will now negotiate the final rules, which will also extend the border fee to new products like washing machines and car parts.”
MORE ON EUROPE
Reuters reports that European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is due to call for EU “solidarity in tackling climate change” and other issues in her annual speech to the European parliament later today. European parliament president Roberta Metsola says there is a “sense of urgency” to prepare for increased extreme weather in Europe after this year’s "disastrous summer”, reports Politico. Reuters: “Poland to revive windfall tax on oil firms, use proceeds for fuel price relief.” Euractiv says a draft EU negotiating mandate for the COP31 climate summit suggests a “tighter focus as global resolve weakens”. The Financial Times: “Orsted boss says Europe must act on ‘unfair’ Chinese wind turbine makers.” The European Space Agency has launched two climate observation satellites into orbit, reports Deutsche Welle.
Tian Zhongquan and Gao Jing, Xinhua
A new report released at China’s annual carbon market conference said the market saw 235m tonnes of emissions traded in 2025, up almost 25% year-on-year, says state news agency Xinhua. Ecology and environment minister Huang Runqiu said at the conference that China will strengthen the carbon market’s role in emissions reduction and deepen cooperation with other countries, says state news agency China News Service. Selwin Hart, the UN secretary general’s special adviser on climate action and a just transition, said that China can help developing countries design carbon-pricing systems, says business news outlet Yicai. Brazil’s carbon market secretary Cristina Reis says China and Brazil can “pursue bilateral cooperation” on carbon markets, reports state broadcaster CCTV. Kurt Vandenberg, director general for climate action for the European Commission, said carbon markets are the “most cost-effective” way to reduce emissions, says local newspaper Hubei Daily. China.com reports that climate representatives from South Korea, the UK and Norway were also present.
MORE ON CHINA
China’s oil throughput “rose for a second straight month in August, supported by strong fuel exports”, reports Reuters. China’s coal-fired power generation fell 4.3% in August, while wind rose 7.9% and solar increased 10.3%, reports BJX News. China’s foreign minister Wang Yi told his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot that protectionism will “hamper the process of green transition”, reports the South China Morning Post. Chinese president Xi Jinping called for China to work with other countries to “tackle major scientific challenges related to climate change, energy and the environment”, according to Qiushi. A new “five-year plan” for electronic equipment calls for expanding applications such as space-based and offshore solar power, according to BJX News. Caixin reports China’s NEV output grew 21.9% in August, but solar cell output contracted 12.9% amid efforts to address overcapacity. The NDRC has allocated 30m yuan to support Hainan province following heavy rainfall and flooding, reports Xinhua. Jiemian cites an expert saying that “weather-related factors” have become “key” variables determining the supply and demand, safety and market trading stability of the power system. China’s largest international offshore oil and gas engineering project started construction in eastern China’s Shandong province yesterday, reports Global Times.
Prabhakar Jha, Mint
The US house of representatives has “moved a bill imposing 100% tariffs on India and four o |
