EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 11/10/23
PIPELINE NEWS
Iowa Capital Dispatch: Summit permit decision in Iowa not expected until next year
KGAN: Lengthy public hearing on Summit CO2 pipeline proposal ends; IUB says there's no timeline on when it'll make a decision
KTIV: Summit Carbon Solutions is optimistic about its permit after the conclusion of hearings in Iowa
KMA: Page County board discusses latest carbon pipeline developments
Bloomberg: Interior’s Trespass Claim Against Pipeline Skips Crucial Steps
Los Angeles Times: Chevron agrees to pay county $1.25M for cleanup of Talbert Channel oil leak
Crosscut: Pipeline rupture near Pullman leaves 36,000 without natural gas
Moscow-Pullman Daily News: Pipeline fixed, but miles to go
Media Matters: Third Republican presidential debate illustrated that Fox News' relentless misinformation about the Green New Deal and Keystone Pipeline is still paying dividends
WASHINGTON UPDATES
New York Times: Manchin Says He Will Not Seek Re-election, Dealing Blow to Democrats
The Hill: Court upholds Biden’s approval of Willow oil project
New York Times: Environmental Groups Cut Programs as Funding Shifts to Climate Change
E&E News: Sierra Club’s boss is at war with his staff. He blames them.
STATE UPDATES
Guardian: Texas produces twice as much methane as better regulated neighbor, study finds
WGLT: Another large crowd attends McLean County hearing on carbon sequestration strategy
Carlsbad Current-Argus: Eddy County agrees to issue $500M in bonds for new natural gas plant near Carlsbad
EXTRACTION
Politico: How an oil giant sought to green its image before a high-stakes climate summit
Associated Press: Fossil fuel interests have large, yet often murky, presence at climate talks, AP analysis finds
Associated Press: Canada says it can fight climate change and be major oil nation. Massive fires may force a reckoning
Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL): Direct Air Capture: Big Oil’s Latest Smokescreen
BBC: Bexley: Carbon capture plant raises concerns about wildlife
CLIMATE FINANCE
The Hill: ‘Close the f‑‑‑ing door’: Climate protesters interrupt Powell for the second time this month
Guardian: Lloyd’s of London insurers dominate underwriting of fossil fuel projects, study shows
TODAY IN GREENWASHING
Enbridge: Built to serve, driven to help and ready for anything
Garvin County News Star: Midship Pipeline donates $25,500 to local and county first responders
OPINION
New York Times: The Godfather of Climate Science Turns Up the Heat
PIPELINE NEWS
Iowa Capital Dispatch: Summit permit decision in Iowa not expected until next year
JARED STRONG, 11/9/23
“A monthslong evidentiary hearing for Summit Carbon Solutions’ pipeline permit in Iowa concluded this week with the final remaining testimony of landowners in the path of the company’s project,” the Iowa Capital Dispatch reports. “...The company had sought an IUB decision by the end of the year, but its evidentiary hearing went much longer than the company and the board had planned… “Rather than lasting six weeks, the hearing concluded about 11 weeks after it began. The company heralded its conclusion as “a significant event in the progress of the transformative pipeline project.” “...Ethanol producers that are able to sequester the carbon dioxide they would otherwise emit into the atmosphere have the potential to more than triple their profits, according to a study commissioned by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, which advocates for policies that benefit the ethanol industry. However, it’s unclear how much ethanol plants will benefit by connecting to Summit’s proposed system because their agreements have been shielded from public view. Those who oppose the project argue it’s improper for Summit to use eminent domain to obtain land easements from unwilling landowners because the project doesn’t benefit the public in a similar fashion as natural gas pipelines, electricity transmission lines or highways… “Landowners who oppose the project also worry about long-term damage to their farmland and underground tiling that might result from pipeline construction. They’re further concerned about pipeline ruptures that could endanger people and animals.”
KGAN: Lengthy public hearing on Summit CO2 pipeline proposal ends; IUB says there's no timeline on when it'll make a decision
Valeree Dunn, 11/9/23
“The Iowa Utilities Board is now marking the end of its longest public hearing ever,” KGAN reports. “A public hearing on Summit Carbon Solutions' proposed carbon capture pipeline lasted eight weeks in Fort Dodge, with testimony from more than a hundred landowners and dozens of witnesses. The IUB says it's also making the unusual decision to grant another 83 days of public comments into the record, which were filed before the hearing ended, allowing hundreds of public comments to become part of the proceeding… “The IUB says it has processed more than 7,600 filings in the docket, including nearly 2,000 regular exhibits, and 200 hearing exhibits over the eight weeks of public hearings on Summit's proposal… “There's no deadline for the IUB's final decision, and the board has the option whether to grant, deny, or modify the permit.”
KTIV: Summit Carbon Solutions is optimistic about its permit after the conclusion of hearings in Iowa
Katie Copple, 11/9/23
“After eight weeks of hearings in Fort Dodge, the future of Summit Carbon Solutions’ proposed pipeline through Iowa is in the hands of the Iowa Utilities Board,” KTIV reports. “...We believe in what carbon capture and sequestration will do for the ethanol industry as a whole for rural Iowa and for rural Mid America,” Summit Carbon Solutions spokeswoman Sabrina Zenor told KTIV. “And we truly believe that this transformative project is necessary to ensure the future viability of rural America.” “...In South Dakota, we plan to refile as soon as we are ready, as soon as we find a path through each of the South Dakota counties that we are working with,” Zenor told KTIV. “Now, in North Dakota, we’re hopeful to have a rehearing around the Bismarck reroute in due time as well. We’re working through that process with the PSC in North Dakota.” “...Zenor told KTIV most along the route are excited about this project. “I think it’s just important to note 75% of people who are directly impacted by this pipeline, have signed voluntary easements with our company. That means that 75% of the people who are directly impacted have negotiated with our team and found mutual agreement in signing that easement,” she told KTIV. “They understand that we are providing fair compensation and that we are going to respectfully manage the land that we will touch in the construction process. And those 75%, an overwhelming majority of landowners in Iowa who are directly impacted by this pipeline project, understand that this project is necessary for the future of ethanol.”
KMA: Page County board discusses latest carbon pipeline developments
Ethan Hewett, 11/9/23
“Page County officials heard the latest on a proposed carbon dioxide pipeline in KMAland,” KMA reports. “Meeting in regular session Thursday night, the Page County Board of Supervisors heard from Montgomery County resident Jan Norris regarding Summit Carbon Solutions' proposed Midwest Express CO2 pipeline… "They could deny the permit, they could approve it with the use of eminent domain, or they could approve the permit with eminent domain and issue conditions with it," said Norris. "If approved with eminent domain, Summit will still have to go through every county's condemnation process and obtain other permits such as road crossings, conditional use permits, and water crossings. Whatever the outcome, it is likely to go to court." “...However, Norris adds there are still several unresolved safety concerns--chief among them the release of plume or dispersion modeling from Summit in the case of a pipeline rupture and the current lack of a buffer zone for residents, citing three structures only 400 feet from the proposed route and proximity to Shenandoah. Thus, she called on the board to join several other counties in continuing to develop carbon pipeline regulations. "Many (counties) have passed or are working on passing hazardous liquid pipeline ordinance and some setbacks from homes are 1,000 feet, others are a half mile, one is even 3,000 feet, and most include a two-mile (setback) from city limits," she said. "In Sioux City just this week, they passed a resolution opposing CO2 pipeline construction and operation." "...The IUB hearing is now over and the Shelby County court case is just two months away, so I implore you get to get moving on a local ordinance and establish setbacks for the residents of Page County," said Norris. "The clock is ticking--if the IUB grants Summit a permit and you do not have an ordinance in place, anything passed will not be enforceable to this project essentially grandfathering Summit in." “...Maher also floated whether a moratorium on hazardous pipeline projects would be possible to allow for developing an ordinance. However, Supervisors Chair Jacob Holmes says the board would look into their possibilities further this week and potentially have it as a discussion item on next week's agenda.”
Bloomberg: Interior’s Trespass Claim Against Pipeline Skips Crucial Steps
Shayna Greene, 11/9/23
“A pipeline company will continue its challenge against the Interior Department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs for reversing course on a decision that shut down an oil and gas pipeline in North Dakota, under a federal judge’s ruling,” Bloomberg reports. “The federal government brought counterclaims of trespass and ejectment against Tesoro High Plains Pipeline Co. LLC, and Judge Daniel M. Traynor of the US District Court of North Dakota decided Wednesday to separate those counterclaims and pause a decision on them until Tesoro’s administrative challenge is resolved…”
Los Angeles Times: Chevron agrees to pay county $1.25M for cleanup of Talbert Channel oil leak
SARA CARDINE, 11/8/23
“Chevron will pay Orange County $1.25 million for removing gallons of oil that leaked from a ruptured pipeline into the Talbert Channel in Huntington Beach last year, according to a settlement agreement reached Tuesday,” the Los Angeles Times reports. “A contractor crew working for the county’s Department of Public Works was enhancing the channel’s flood control capacity on Oct. 6, 2022, when a worker drove a segment of sheet piling into an abandoned pipeline near Indianapolis Avenue. Oil soon after began bubbling up into the waters of the channel, prompting immediate containment efforts… “Although the collaboration — coming one year after a ruptured underwater pipeline spilled 25,000 gallons of oil into the waters off Huntington Beach — was swift and effective, a dispute later arose in which Orange County and Chevron each alleged the leakage was the result of negligence on behalf of the other party. County officials claimed the oil company, which has owned the pipeline since the 1940s, failed to properly purge its contents when it was abandoned in the ’60s and was unable to provide record of its existence after the leakage occurred. Chevron contended the county, which cut and capped the pipe in 1997, should have removed any remaining oil inside the infrastructure upon discovery. As part of the settlement, Chevron has 30 days from the document’s Tuesday signoff to procure the required $1.25 million… “The document, however, does not exempt Chevron from taking future legal actions against the construction crew hired by the county or any other entities related to the incident.”
Crosscut: Pipeline rupture near Pullman leaves 36,000 without natural gas
Jacob Jones, 11/9/23
“More than 36,000 homes, businesses and public facilities lost natural gas service Wednesday in southeast Washington and parts of Idaho following a rupture in a pipeline near Pullman,” Crosscut reports. “School districts, government offices and businesses throughout the region remained closed without heat Thursday as Avista Utilities announced they would have to go meter-by-meter to restore gas service once the pipeline is repaired. Williams Cos., which owns the pipeline servicing the area, wrote in a statement to Crosscut that a third party ruptured an underground line just north of Pullman on Wednesday. No injuries occurred. Williams stated it had a repair team on site and it expected to have the pipeline fixed by later today. Avista called the service shutdown the largest natural gas outage in its history… “Restaurants throughout the area abruptly started closing their doors Wednesday evening when they lost natural gas for heating and cooking. Several school districts canceled classes and government agencies closed offices.”
Moscow-Pullman Daily News: Pipeline fixed, but miles to go
11/10/23
“The ruptured pipeline that has caused a widespread natural gas outage was fixed Thursday afternoon. But the ordeal isn’t over,” the Moscow-Pullman Daily News reports. “Williams Companies, which owns and maintains the underground pipeline that was accidentally pierced by a landowner 4 miles north of Pullman on Wednesday, announced Thursday afternoon that the pipe had been repaired. But that won’t mean immediate restoration of gas services to the more than 36,000 customers who have been affected. Avista Utilities, which provides the gas, must first purge the system, repressurize it, then relight gas appliances in a house-by-house process. The company said that will take an estimated three to five days… “The first step is shutting down gas lines at all of the homes, businesses, schools and other buildings affected by the outage. Avista crews fanned out across the region early Thursday morning to tackle that job, and also provided customers with instructions to do it themselves. Once that is done comes an even more daunting task: relighting the appliances at every affected building. Avista said that process could start as early as today, but didn’t provide a definitive timeline Thursday. The relighting must be done by an Avista service person, not the customer, the company said. The worker must enter each home to do the relighting, but will only do so if an adult is present… “The landowner was installing a drainage pipe when the mishap occurred. The landowner hasn’t been named. Rukke told the News it appears utility location services weren’t requested prior to the incident. “They did not utilize 811. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to call 811 two days before you dig.” “...He told the news the plow tore a large diameter hole in the 12.75-inch steel pipeline that was 41 inches deep at the site of the rupture. “It had adequate depth. The legal depth would probably be about 30 inches.” The agency sent two investigators to the rupture site Wednesday.”
Media Matters: Third Republican presidential debate illustrated that Fox News' relentless misinformation about the Green New Deal and Keystone Pipeline is still paying dividends
ALLISON FISHER, 11/9/23
“During the third Republican presidential debate, candidates invoked the “Green New Deal” and the “Keystone pipeline” — both staples of Fox News’ misleading coverage of climate and energy issues — in response to the moderators' questions around the Venezuelan regime and the rising cost of living in the U.S.,” Media Matters reports. “...Similarly, Fox has made the canceled Keystone pipeline a symbol of Biden’s energy policy, which the network has blamed for rising gas prices, and falsely claimed constructing the pipeline would make the U.S. energy-independent or less vulnerable to the global crude oil market. The moderators' handling of these right-wing media canards was mixed – and it suggests legacy media need to be better prepared to counter these false right-wing media narratives as the election season moves into full swing… “For years, Fox News hosts, anchors, and guests have touted the Keystone XL pipeline as a solution to domestic high gas prices and global energy insecurity, despite multiple fact checks to the contrary… “Sen. Scott, I'll start with you. What would you do the moment you take office to help Americans manage the cost of living? So we're talking about short-term here… “The first thing I would do as president of the United States is I would sign the XL Keystone pipeline and start seeing resources flow… “Moderator Lester Holt did follow up and challenged Scott on the idea that the pipeline would have any impact on current gas prices, noting, “Your time is up. But let me follow up. The idea of pumping gas, of turning on pipelines, that doesn't make gas cheaper that day.” “...Four years after Fox started pushing its misleading “Green New Deal” and “Keystone XL Pipeline” narratives, the misinformation persists, illustrating the network’s role in shaping the debate around energy and climate issues and the necessity of its media counterparts challenging Fox’s misinformation.”
WASHINGTON UPDATES
New York Times: Manchin Says He Will Not Seek Re-election, Dealing Blow to Democrats
Luke Broadwater, 11/9/23
“Senator Joe Manchin III, the conservative West Virginia Democrat known for bipartisan deal-making and also for frustrating some of his party’s most ambitious policy goals, announced on Thursday that he would not seek re-election, dealing a blow to Democrats’ chances of holding the Senate next year,” the New York Times reports. “Instead, Mr. Manchin, who was likely to face a strong Republican challenger to keep his Senate seat in a deeply red state, said he would continue exploring whether there was an appetite in the country for a centrist third-party bid for the presidency. That prospect has alarmed many Democrats, who fear such a run could doom President Biden’s hopes of remaining in the White House. “After months of deliberation and long conversations with my family, I believe in my heart of hearts that I have accomplished what I set out to do for West Virginia,” Mr. Manchin, 76, said in a video news release. “I have made one of the toughest decisions of my life and decided that I will not be running for re-election to the United States Senate, but what I will be doing is traveling the country and speaking out to see if there is an interest in creating a movement to mobilize the middle and bring Americans together.”
The Hill: Court upholds Biden’s approval of Willow oil project
RACHEL FRAZIN, 11/9/23
“A federal court Thursday upheld the Biden administration’s approval of a massive oil drilling project in Alaska, over objections from environmentalists,” The Hill reports. “Judge Sharon Gleason, an Obama appointee, upheld the approval, finding that the Biden administration took adequate steps to assess the project’s impacts in areas challenged by the plaintiffs… “In light of the decision, ConocoPhillips said it would move ahead with construction plans for this winter… “While Thursday’s opinion is a significant blow to the project’s opponents, they are planning to appeal. “We are entirely confident in our claims, and plan to appeal to the higher court,” Erik Grafe, an attorney with Earthjustice, told The Hill. “Beyond the illegality of Willow’s approval, Interior’s decision to greenlight the project in the first place moved us in the opposite direction of our national climate goals in the face of the worsening climate crisis.”
New York Times: Environmental Groups Cut Programs as Funding Shifts to Climate Change
Ralph Vartabedian, 11/8/23
“A significant shift in donor contributions to nonprofits fighting climate change in recent years has left some of the nation’s biggest environmental organizations facing critical shortfalls in programs on toxic chemicals, radioactive contamination and wildlife protection,” the New York Times reports. “The Natural Resources Defense Council is shutting down its nuclear mission and has laid off its top lawyer in the field, Geoffrey Fettus, who led decades of litigation against the Energy Department to force radioactive waste cleanup and halt the creation of a nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. The NRDC is not alone. The Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife and the Environmental Working Group, which have been at the forefront of efforts to clean up waste water, regulate pesticides and adopt tougher standards for atomic power plants, are facing similar financial problems. “Most environmental programs don’t have significant toxics programs anymore,” Ken Cook, founder and president of the Environmental Working Group, which still devotes nearly half its budget to battling toxics in food, personal care items, cleaning products and water, told the Times. Meanwhile, global spending to fight climate change by environmental groups and other nonprofits reached $8 billion in 2021, most of it in the United States and Canada, according to a survey released in September by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy… “Leaders of some legacy environmental groups largely agree that climate change, given its wide range of increasing global effects, is a top priority. But they warn that toxics in communities across the nation remain an immediate threat to human health and animal habitats. There is also concern about the growing acceptance of nuclear energy as a “clean” source of electricity.”
E&E News: Sierra Club’s boss is at war with his staff. He blames them.
Robin Bravender, 11/9/23
“Ben Jealous bursts into Sierra Club’s downtown Washington office on a recent weekday morning wearing a plaid collared shirt under a fleece L.L. Bean vest. He’s leaned into his role atop the venerable environmental group, giving off a hip, tree-hugger, dad vibe,” E&E News reports. “...He’s openly feuding with a staff union that represents his employees, a fight that’s flaring tensions at a storied organization that’s already seen years of internal strife. Staffers who were at first enthusiastic about Jealous’ hire are now furious that one of his early moves was to announce layoffs across the organization, including laying off the group’s entire equity team. But Jealous is unapologetic about the moves he’s made so far, even as he faces the wrath of some of his employees. And as the fight playing out inside Sierra Club and in the press has escalated, Jealous puts the blame squarely on the Progressive Workers Union (PWU), which represents Sierra Club staffers. PWU “has run a corporate campaign against the Sierra Club for years,” Jealous told E&E News in an interview. “That’s just a dynamic I haven’t seen before.” Generally, Jealous is a big fan of unions, he told E&E… “But he takes a different tone when it comes to PWU which represents about 340 Sierra Club employees. “Their tactics in attacking the brand of this organization for years are unique,” Jealous, the Sierra Club’s first Black executive director, told E&E. He accused the union of sending reporters to Sierra Club’s leaders with “multiple lies” that “follow racist tropes about Black leadership.” That, he told E&E, “is the most disheartening tactic I’ve experienced,” and “it is uniquely destructive.” E&E News spoke to 22 current and former Sierra Club employees and board members about Jealous’ tenure so far for this story. Most were granted anonymity to speak about internal workplace conditions. Staffers accuse Jealous of being disrespectful about how the layoffs were conducted, surrounding himself with an insular senior team that he hand-picked from his previous jobs, and plunging morale even lower inside the group by fighting with the union. He’s also faced criticism about spending money to renovate his Washington office as the group was tightening its budget. And some employees worry that the former Maryland gubernatorial candidate wants to use his Sierra Club post and its donor network to further his political career.”
STATE UPDATES
Guardian: Texas produces twice as much methane as better regulated neighbor, study finds
Oliver Milman, 11/8/23
“Oil and gas production in Texas is spewing out double the rate of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, than in the more regulated state of New Mexico, new satellite data shared with the Guardian shows, prompting calls for tougher curbs of “super-emitter” sites that risk tipping the world into climate breakdown,” the Guardian reports. “Satellite imaging of methane leaks across the Permian basin, a vast geological feature at the heart of the US oil and gas drilling industry, show that sites in Texas have emitted double the amount of the gas than in New Mexico, per unit of production, since 2019… “The new satellite data, gathered by Kayrros, a French climate technology company, shows that methane is being leaked at a far higher rate from sites in Texas compared with neighboring New Mexico. Despite increasing its own oil production in recent years, New Mexico has no site with repeated methane leaks, unlike in Texas, which Kayrros said is likely due to a 2021 state law aimed at curtailing methane emissions from industry. “The effect that methane has on the global climate is devastating,” Antoine Rostand, chief executive of Kayrros, told the Guardian. “Good operators will re-inject the gas while others will vent it, which means it’s very easy to eliminate leaks of methane that would have a massive impact upon the climate.” Rostand told the Guardian the difference between visible leaks in Texas and New Mexico is “huge” and should spur governments in the US and other countries to crack down on this pollution. “It seems the regulation in New Mexico has had an impact without hurting business,” he told the Guardian. “It’s a message of hope because it shows that if you have regulation it works. Governments need to take up their responsibilities with this.”
WGLT: Another large crowd attends McLean County hearing on carbon sequestration strategy
Colin Hardman, 11/8/23
“The topic of carbon dioxide sequestration saw the latest of many hotly contested local meetings of the McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals on Tuesday night. And, once again, a large public turnout to discuss the county's strategy going forward caused the meeting to exceed its three-hour limit, prompting another meeting next week,” WGLT reports. “Applicant OneEarth Energy is seeking a special-use permit to build three sequestration wells in cooperation with agricultural landowners in the county. The wells would be used to confine carbon underground after it is captured at OneEarth’s ethanol production plant in Gibson City. The wells would require a pressurized pipeline to transport CO2 to the wells, though this aspect could not be considered by the county Zoning Board of Appeals. Any pipeline would be handled at the state commerce commission level, while the board deals with permitting the wells themselves… “Of the dozens of public attendees, most opposed granting the permit. Nearby landowners on both sides of the issue were in attendance. Members of advocacy group Illinois People’s Action (IPA) were present as they have been at previous meetings. IPA executive director Don Carlson emphasized complaints about OneEarth’s lack of transparency… “After the meeting, county building and zoning director Phil Dick clarified that it is possible OneEarth could potentially receive a zoning permit now, but without the EPA’s go-ahead, no building permit can be approved. Even so, accusations that the early application is an attempt to avoid any future state level regulation were common… “The board will meet again Nov. 14 at the Government Center.”
Carlsbad Current-Argus: Eddy County agrees to issue $500M in bonds for new natural gas plant near Carlsbad
Mike Smith, 11/9/23
“Eddy County agreed to issue $500 million in industrial revenue bonds to Pronto Midstream for the construction of a natural gas processing plant near Carlsbad,” the Carlsbad Current-Argus reports. “Eddy County Manager Roberta Gonzales said the Eddy County Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution declaring the intent to sell the industrial revenue bonds (IRBs) on Oct. 3 to the Texas-based company. “The proceeds of the bond would be used to acquire, construct and equip a natural gas processing plant located approximately 25 miles east-northeast of Carlsbad,” read a memorandum written by Gonzales and Eddy County Attorney Cas Tabor. The memo noted pipelines, compressor stations and acid gas injection wells will be part of the construction work.
EXTRACTION
Politico: How an oil giant sought to green its image before a high-stakes climate summit
CORBIN HIAR, 11/10/23
“The oil and gas executive helming the next United Nations climate summit warned world leaders in September that global warming is “our common enemy” — and that “we are running short on time” to defeat it,” Politico reports. “Weeks afterward, Sultan al-Jaber told his fellow petroleum producers that “for too long, this industry has been viewed as part of the problem.” Slashing climate pollution, he said later at an Arctic gathering in Iceland, “is a massive task that will require nothing short of global unity.” But the actions and plans of the United Arab Emirates petroleum company that al-Jaber heads are raising questions about his agenda as he prepares to lead a global debate about turning away from fossil fuels. Over the next five years, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. has committed to spending $150 billion as part of an effort to expand its oil and gas operations, which last year dumped more planet-warming gases into the atmosphere than over 130 countries. Meanwhile, a “high” probability exists that the company will fail to deliver on its promises to effectively eliminate those emissions within a couple of decades, according to an internal communications strategy document from December 2022 obtained by POLITICO’s E&E News… “As the summit’s president, al-Jaber is in a prime position to shape the outcome of negotiations over whether, and how fast, countries should shut down their oil, gas and coal production. And as the UAE’s leading fossil fuel executive, he’s making plans to ensure that oil and gas keep their place as the world’s dominant energy sources — while insisting they can be part of the solution on climate change. The strategy document sheds new light on the company’s efforts to brace for the controversies awaiting it this year — and to boost its green credibility even as it pursues “accelerated growth.” The previously undisclosed document, each page of which is labeled “strictly confidential,” outlines efforts to downplay the company’s plans to expedite drilling while promoting its forays into capturing carbon and planting mangroves. That’s on top of the UAE government’s own extensive public relations and lobbying effort to build its — and al-Jaber’s — image as environmental leaders, a campaign that E&E News chronicled earlier this year.”
Associated Press: Fossil fuel interests have large, yet often murky, presence at climate talks, AP analysis finds
SETH BORENSTEIN AND MARY KATHERINE WILDEMAN, 11/8/23
“The badges said they were there to participate in negotiations to curb climate change. They stated affiliations like the government of Brazil, Indigenous organizations of the Amazon, the Climate Registry. But in reality, the livelihoods of these participants were more aligned with what’s keeping the problem going: fossil fuels,” the Associated Press reports. “Close to 400 people connected in some way or another to fossil fuel industries attended last year’s United Nations climate talks in Egypt, a grouping that was larger than all but two of the national delegations sent by countries, according to a data analysis of the more than 24,000 participants by The Associated Press. As United Nations leaders, scientists and others called for an eventual elimination of coal, oil and natural gas, various delegations included attendees who in some way owed part or all of their paychecks to fossil fuel burning. Many of these same people, and possibly even more connected to fossil fuels, will likely be at this year’s official climate talks, known as Conference of Parties or COP, being hosted by the United Arab Emirates, a major oil producing country. “There’s outsized influence,” Center for Biological Diversity’s Jean Su, who sits on the board that represents civil society and environmental groups at these meetings, told AP. “These COPs are often wining-and-dining fests for fossil fuel corporations that want to profit off of climate.” “...The (COP) process is broken,” Su told AP. “It’s deeply frustrating.”
Associated Press: Canada says it can fight climate change and be major oil nation. Massive fires may force a reckoning
SUMAN NAISHADHAM AND VICTOR CAIVANO, 11/9/23
“During a May wildfire that scorched a vast swath of spruce and pine forest in northwestern Canada, Julia Cardinal lost a riverside cabin that was many things to her: retirement project, gift from from her husband, and somewhere to live by nature, as her family had done for generations,” the Associated Press reports. “That was our dream home,” Cardinal, a member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, told AP as she scanned the cabin’s flattened, charred remains in September. “It’s like a displacement.” “...Home to dense forests, sweeping prairies and nearly a quarter of the planet’s wetlands, Canadian leaders, including liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have long insisted the country can exploit its natural resources while protecting biodiversity and leading the global fight against climate change. But the seemingly endless fire season, which created hazardous air in many U.S. states thousands of miles away, is putting a spotlight on two aspects of Canada that increasingly feel at odds: the country’s commitment to fighting climate change and its status as the world’s fourth-largest oil producer and fifth-largest gas producer — fuels that when used release carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere and intensifies the dry conditions for wildfires to swallow millions of acres. “They’re portraying Canada as environmental,” Jean L’Hommecourt, an environmental advocate belonging to the Fort McKay First Nation, told AP. “But the biggest source of the carbon is here.” “...Part of Canada’s reasoning to produce so much oil and gas in the 21st century is that it’s a stable democracy with stricter environmental and human rights laws than other oil giants that the West has historically relied upon… “But climate scientists warn that current levels of oil and gas production will mean Canada won’t reach net zero emissions, never mind the additional contributions to climate change from wildfires along the way.” “...There’s no way Canada can reach our 2050 target if oil and gas doesn’t do its fair share,” Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s minister of environment and climate change, told AP.
Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL): Direct Air Capture: Big Oil’s Latest Smokescreen
11/8/23
“As our window to prevent catastrophic climate impacts narrows, technological fixes like direct air capture (DAC) are gaining dangerous momentum. While pulling pollution out of the atmosphere might sound like a good idea, DAC and other carbon capture schemes are unproven, expensive, and may actually accelerate climate change,” according to the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL). “Direct Air Capture: Big Oil’s Latest Smokescreen underscores that DAC will do more harm than good by perpetuating the lifespan of fossil fuel infrastructure and diverting resources away from more effective and proven climate solutions. The brief takes a closer look at US oil giant Oxy’s plans to make DAC the technology that will preserve the fossil fuel industry for decades to come, a proposal that has caught the attention of many, including COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber. The brief exposes problematic ties between Al Jaber and Oxy, and warns that DAC is a dangerous distraction that props up the fossil fuel industry on the public’s dime. The brief concludes that governments must focus attention, public funds, and the little time we have on safe, proven, and readily available solutions, including scaling up renewable energies.”
BBC: Bexley: Carbon capture plant raises concerns about wildlife
11/9/23
“Plans for two carbon capture plants on a nature reserve have raised concerns over its risk to wildlife,” the BBC reports. “Nature charity CPRE told BBC residents were "furious" as Crossness Nature Reserve could not afford to lose any land. The new plant in Bexley is designed to capture carbon dioxide from the two waste processing facilities run by the Cory Group in the area… “However, concerns have been raised on the impact of destroying six acres of grazing marshland habitat in the nature reserve… “She told BBC locals were "hugely worried" about the project, fearing local waterways could be contaminated by chemicals on the site and once the biodiversity was lost it would be impossible to recapture. She also questioned the viability of carbon capture plants, saying they would become a "white elephant" for the community.”
CLIMATE FINANCE
The Hill: ‘Close the f‑‑‑ing door’: Climate protesters interrupt Powell for the second time this month
TAYLOR GIORNO, 11/9/23
“Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell was interrupted by climate protesters Thursday during public remarks for the second time in the past month,” The Hill reports. “The protest came during Powell’s opening remarks at the International Monetary Fund’s annual research conference in Washington, D.C. A man could be heard saying “close the f‑‑‑ing door” before the livestream went out. “We don’t have anything on that for you right now. If that changes, we’ll be in touch,” said a Fed spokesperson when asked if Powell was the man heard swearing on the stream. When the stream resumed, the moderator said that while climate issues were important, they were not the topic of the panel… “The Fed has faced pressure from climate activists and progressive lawmakers to use financial regulations push the U.S. away from fossil fuels. Powell and Fed officials across the ideological spectrum have rejected those calls.”
Guardian: Lloyd’s of London insurers dominate underwriting of fossil fuel projects, study shows
Julia Kollewe, 11/8/23
“Insurers operating in the Lloyd’s of London market are the world’s biggest underwriters of fossil fuel projects, research has found,” the Guardian reports. “Fifty years after the insurance industry first warned about the impact of the climate crisis, it is continuing to contribute to the climate emergency, the Insure Our Future campaign, a global group of 24 NGOs, said in its annual “scorecard” on 30 major insurers and their involvement in fossil fuels. Insuring coal, oil or gas projects earned the industry about $21.25bn last year, according to research commissioned for the report from Insuramore, a market intelligence firm. Insurers on the Lloyd’s market are collectively the world’s biggest fossil fuel underwriters, with an estimated $1.6bn to $2.2bn in annual premiums, it found. Among the biggest Lloyd’s names are Hiscox and Beazley. The Top 10 individual insurers of fossil fuel projects are the Lloyd’s insurer Aegis, the People’s Insurance Company of China, Russia’s Sogaz, Germany’s Allianz, France’s Axa, Canada’s Fairfax Financial, Switzerland’s Zurich and the US insurers Chubb, W.R. Berkley and AIG… “Despite this, Insure Our Future said most insurers continued to support projects to boost oil and gas production, even though they were incompatible with the 1.5C Paris climate target. Peter Bosshard, global coordinator of the campaign, told the Guardian: “Most insurance companies continue to ensure new oil and gas projects – pipelines, [liquefied natural gas] terminals and gas-fired power plants – which will lock in demand for decades to come – at a time when the climate crisis is escalating and when insurance companies are withdrawing from many regions because they consider the climate risks too high.”
TODAY IN GREENWASHING
Enbridge: Built to serve, driven to help and ready for anything
11/9/23
“There comes a point in every Veteran’s life when their time in service winds down,” according to Enbridge. “...For more than 70,000 North American veterans, one of those places is on Team Rubicon, a non-profit organization with operations in both the United States and Canada that leverages the skills and training of servicepeople, first responders and civilians, and mobilizes them to help communities around the world prepare, respond and recover from humanitarian crises and natural disasters, be it floods, fires, earthquakes or hurricanes… “Enbridge established a partnership with Team Rubicon in 2021, contributed a $100,000 Fueling Futures grant to each of the American and Canadian chapters in 2022, and will continue to support Team Rubicon in the future. Enbridge recognizes the importance of the organization’s humanitarian work to support people when disaster strikes, and serving Veterans aligns with our company’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion commitments.”
Garvin County News Star: Midship Pipeline donates $25,500 to local and county first responders
11/9/23
“Midship Pipeline announced today the donation of $25,500 to first responders and volunteer firefighters in Tatums, Oklahoma, and surrounding communities to help purchase much-needed equipment and other resources to continue to serve Garvin County residents,” the Garvin County News Star reports. “This gift is part of a more than $75,000 donation to organizations in the three counties where Midship has compressor stations.”
OPINION
New York Times: The Godfather of Climate Science Turns Up the Heat
David Wallace-Wells, 11/8/23
“In a paper published on Thursday and much debated among his colleagues since it was first posted as a preprint last December, Hansen, known as the godfather of climate science, and a group of like-minded colleagues made several alarming claims that all point in the same direction: that the world’s climate is significantly more sensitive to carbon emissions than scientists have acknowledged or the public appreciates, and that as a result, even those most focused on climate risks have been systematically underestimating how much warming the planet is likely to see over the next couple of decades,” David Wallace-Wells writes for the New York Times. “The more ambitious goal of the Paris Agreement, to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, is “deader than a doornail,” Hansen said in introducing the paper. The agreement’s less ambitious goal, to which the signatories formally agreed, limiting warming to less than two degrees Celsius, is on its deathbed… “On the scientific front as well, Hansen, now 82, has been plotting a proudly independent course, warning again and again that warming would be worse than expected and that the scientific community had placed too much emphasis on climate models rather than direct observation and emphasizing what he has long called the “Faustian bargain” the world has made with pollution by aerosols like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and black carbon, or soot, which cool the planet even though they are produced largely by the same processes that emit the carbon that warms it… “This all may sound quite technical, but if the world decarbonizes pretty rapidly, different climate sensitivities could mean the difference between two degrees Celsius of warming and three, and if we decarbonize more slowly, that could make the difference between three and four… “The debate also teaches that for all we have advanced our understanding of the earth in recent decades, an awful lot about the climate future remains unsure. Over the decades, climate scientists have talked about these risks in a variety of ways, invoking the precautionary principle or emphasizing the fat-tail risks of unlikely catastrophic surprises. Others have used a more colorful phrase to describe these potential risks: the monsters behind the door.”