Daily Briefing: Trump ‘to rescind’ more carbon rules | $1.3tn climate goal ‘under threat’ | China’s EV goal

14.09.26

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News

US: Trump EPA to rescind carbon standards for coal, gas power plants

Zahra Hirji, Ari Natter and Jennifer A Dlouhy, Bloomberg

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to formally rescind carbon pollution standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants as soon as today, reports Bloomberg. Citing “people familiar with the matter”, the outlet says this latest rollback of major climate policies by the Trump administration “is expected to come on the sidelines of a G20 energy ministers’ meeting in Houston”. The EPA first proposed rolling back the power-plant climate rules last summer, the outlet says. This latest move would include a “separate rule repealing the federal finding that greenhouse gases from power plants specifically pose a threat, effectively a separate endangerment finding for power plants under the Clean Air Act”, it notes. The New York Times says the move would “complete the administration’s erasure of the most consequential climate policies” of presidents Obama and Biden. It adds: “If the move survives expected legal challenges, it could also prevent future administrations from regulating greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.”

Meanwhile, on Friday, a federal appeals court “threw out an order” from Trump’s administration that had forced ‌a Michigan coal plant to remain open beyond its planned retirement, reports Reuters. The unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel “found the Department of Energy exceeded its authority under a rarely used emergency provision of federal law”, the newswire says. The ruling is a “setback for the administration’s ⁠efforts to preserve coal-fired generation at a time when US demand for electricity has soared due largely to the expansion of data centre”, it adds. The challenge was brought by attorneys-general from Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois, as well as environmental groups, says the Financial Times. The Trump administration could choose to appeal the ruling, says Politico, although the “justice department declined to comment on the decision”. The New York Times, Associated Press and Inside Climate News also carry the story.

MORE ON US

A US judge has ruled that the Trump administration broke the law by ordering the Federal Emergency Management Agency to cut its workforce in half, reports Reuters.
Inside Climate News: “The Trump administration wants to fast-track Arctic drilling.”
Tesla is “reclaiming” the US electric vehicle market “as legacy automakers retreat”, reports the Wall Street Journal.
Financial Times: “Trump’s vision of Alaska as LNG superpower confronts an $80bn test.”
A gas export terminal on the Gulf coast of Texas has routinely violated air pollution permits for years with little consequences from state regulators, reports Inside Climate News.
DeSmog: “Carbon capture is booming. So is the push to shift oversight to states.”

Saudi Arabia shuts east-west pipeline that bypasses Hormuz after attacks

Malcolm Moore, The Financial Times

Saudi Arabia has shut down its “crucial” east-west pipeline after it was attacked on Thursday, reports the Financial Times, “threatening a vital alternative route for crude exports from the Gulf and putting more upward pressure on oil prices”. A source at the Saudi energy ministry said operations along the pipeline have been halted as a “precautionary measure”, the newspaper says, with no timeline on when it would be restored. The 1,200km pipeline has “allowed the kingdom to continue to export millions of barrels of crude a day despite Iranian restrictions on tankers passing through the strait of Hormuz”, the article notes. The New York Times describes the pipeline as a “lifeline”. The halt threatens 4% of global oil supply, says Reuters. The Guardian says Saudi Arabia will “run out of oil ⁠stocks for export…within days” if the pipeline is not restored. US president Donald Trump said that Iran was “probably” behind the drone attack, reports another Reuters article. Iraq said the attack from its territory, reports the Associated Press. There is further reporting by CNN, CNBC and the Wall Street Journal.

On Friday, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said that it no longer expects the strait of Hormuz to reopen to shipping this year and warned that 2026 and 2027 will be “a lost period” for growth in global oil demand, reports the Financial Times. In its monthly report, the IEA said it expected global demand to fall by 2.5m barrels a day this year, a much bigger drop than its previous estimate, the newspaper notes. The report also says that, although demand is weakening under the weight of high fuel prices, supply is “falling even faster”, notes Reuters, “forcing inventories to be depleted at a record pace”. A separate Reuters article says that the IEA has “again revised down the outlook for Russia’s oil production due to ongoing Ukrainian drone attacks on ‌energy infrastructure”. On Sunday, Trump called on Ukraine to stop targeting Russian oil refineries in light of the surging fuel prices, reports Politico. Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal also cover the IEA report.

MORE OIL NEWS

Trump suggested yesterday that the US could stay in Iran and “keep the ‌oil”, reports Reuters, drawing a parallel with a US push to take control of a fifth of Venezuela’s oil reserves.
A “top policymaker” has warned that the European Central Bank will have to raise interest rates further if oil prices continue to hover around $100 a barrel, reports the Financial Times.

Need ‘orderly & inclusive’ energy transition, fossil fuels will continue playing key role: BRICS declaration

Pratyush Deep, The Indian Express

A declaration from the 2026 BRICS summit in New Delhi has acknowledged the “important role” of fossil fuels while calling for a “just, orderly, equitable and inclusive” energy transition, reports the Indian Express. In the document, issued on Saturday, the 11 BRICS nations stressed the principle of “technological neutrality” and “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities” in pursuing energy transitions, while recognising that countries’ pathways would need to take into account their respective national circumstances, the outlet says. The declaration also “called for greater cooperation on smart grids, energy storage and critical minerals”, says the Times of India. Much of the coverage, including Al Jazeera and Reuters, focuses on the declaration’s “deep concern” over the war in the Middle East and its calls for “maximum restraint”.

BBC News says that the summit “succeeded in delivering a joint declaration when divisions among members have rarely been so glaring”. The Associated Press reports on the address by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, in which he warned: “Pandemics, climate disasters and supply-chain disruptions have shown that in today’s interconnected world, no crisis remains confined to a single region.” Al Jazeera has the “key takeaways” from the summit.

UK delays Jackdaw gasfield decision until after byelection in Starmer seat

David Sheppard, The Financial Times

UK government ministers have pushed back a decision on a new gasfield in the North Sea until October at the earliest, reports the Financial Times, as the Labour party prepares for a byelection “that will pitch it against the Greens” in the constituency of former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer. The newspaper continues: “The move, described by one Labour figure as a ‘political decision’…means a further delay to the Jackdaw project, which has been subject to years of legal and political wrangling.” However, “one Labour official disputed that the announcement on Jackdaw…had been delayed, arguing that a firm date for a decision had never been set”, the article adds. Green party leader Zack Polanski – who will contest the seat for his party – has said a vote for him would be a vote against Jackdaw, reports the Guardian. The delayed decision is also covered by the Guardian, Sun, Daily Telegraph and Reuters, as well as making the Daily Mail’s frontpage.

The Times reports on a survey of more than 100 economists and policy researchers suggesting “eight in 10” back the approval of new oil and gas licences in the North Sea. A separate poll, also covered by the Times, says that “seven in 10” people in Scotland are also in favour of new licences. The Guardian has mapped the “£150bn megaproject” to overhaul the UK electricity grid. More than 120 organisations, including businesses and charities, have called for the removal of “hidden taxes” added to energy bills to help reduce costs for consumers and prevent businesses closing, reports the Guardian. The net-zero-sceptic Daily Telegraph reports on a subsidy “loophole” for windfarm owners and how a “net-zero dam” threatens a Welsh “beauty spot”. The Sunday Express claims that “Labour’s drive towards net-zero energy is fuelling controversial plans to turn off Freeview television signals”.

MORE ON UK

The Times covers Carbon Brief analysis on the impact of the recent heatwaves on life-threatening emergencies. The Guardian says that pupils “missed 15m hours of school time” during the UK’s June heatwave.
The Times and Guardian reports on how heatwaves are affecting food production in the UK.
Scientists investigating the damage caused by severe wildfires across Wales this summer say the impact has been “catastrophic”, reports BBC News.
The Guardian: “Beyond the heatwave: what it really takes for climate warnings to cut through in the UK.”
The hard-right, populist Reform UK party has vowed to scrap a cement carbon capture project backed by the National Wealth Fund and Centrica, reports the Times.
Public polling for Politico reveals that “Reform’s upbeat take on extreme heat falls flat with voters”.

US pressure on development banks to scrap climate finance goals

Attracta Mooney, The Financial Times

The UN agreement to provide $1.3tn in climate finance is “under threat”, reports the Financial Times, as “multilateral lenders are expected to follow the World Bank in dumping green targets after intense US pressure”. It continues: “At least two multilateral development banks, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Asian Development Bank, were in discussions about scrapping climate-finance targets, people familiar with talks said. It comes after the World Bank in June said it would ‘retire’ a target for 45% of its financing to go to projects that offered climate ‘co-benefits’.” The article quotes a “senior development finance expert”, who said the banks are “kowtowing to US pressures…It will have enormous consequences”. Removing the targets would “make it harder for developed nations to meet their obligations to provide international climate finance”, the FT says, adding: “Countries previously agreed to mobilise at least $300bn annually for developing nations by 2035 and work towards reaching $1.3tn over the same period.”

Turkey says it has ‘final decision’ at COP31 despite Australia running negotiations

Joe Lo, Climate Home News

Climate Home News reports on how “uncertainty persists over how COP31 will be managed” later this year. It explains: “Turkey’s environment minister told journalists this week his country will have the final say at the UN climate conference despite a deal that gave Australia the role of chairing the negotiations in return for withdrawing its bid for the summit.” While previous COPs have occasionally been hosted by one country and presided over by another, the outlet says, “COP31 will be the first UN climate summit with the powers of the presidency split between two countries”. It notes that when COP31 president-designate Murat Kurum was asked how the “co-presidency” would resolve any differences that emerge during the negotiations, he responded: “Turkey and Australia are not co-presidents. Turkey is the president of COP31 and Australia is the president of negotiations. We are in consultation with Australia, but the final decision lies with the presidency of COP31.”

MORE ON COP31

Politico: “This climate problem isn’t on the UN agenda – data centres”

China sets 70% EV goal for new car sales in five-year plan

Linda Lew, Bloomberg

China aims for “new energy vehicles” to account for 70% of new passenger vehicle sales and 40% of new commercial vehicle sales by 2030 in its new “five-year plan” for the sector, reports Bloomberg. The outlet adds that the 70% target is likely to “be achieved ahead of time”, as surging oil prices “accelerate the take up” of NEVs. State-run newspaper China Daily says that, according to the plan, the automotive sector is expected to “reinforce its role as a pillar” of China’s economy, achieve carbon peaking before 2030 and accelerate the “green and low-carbon transformation of the automotive supply chain”. The plan also calls for developing several vehicle manufacturers that rank among the world’s top 10 by sales and auto parts suppliers that enter the global top 100, reports state news agency Xinhua. It also supports companies in strengthening their “global operating capabilities”, adds the newswire.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reports that Chinese authorities are introducing cost accounting as a tool to tackle “low-price disorderly competition” in a notice issued last week. The document contains “specifics of the cost accounting required to determine if products are priced below cost”, according to the outlet. State broadcaster CCTV also covers the story, saying that the new policy targets “important industrial products”. Xinhua carries the full text of a new regulation on “market regulation offices”. International auto brands have been offering discounts of more than 20% on vehicles that are made in China and powered by internal combustion engines, reports the South China Morning Post. Bloomberg says China has “temporarily suspended construction of new projects to manufacture power and energy-storage batteries, pending a year-end review of industry capacity”, citing Chinese financial outlet Caixin.

MORE ON CHINA

Xi said at the BRICS summit that global south countries “must improve global climate governance and promote the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement”, according to Xinhua.
Tsinghua University’s Gao Yuning writes in People’s Daily that the key to enhancing global climate governance lies in “sharing green technologies” and helping global south countries “build green development capacity”.
The Washington Post quotes a Chinese spokesperson saying that China and the US hope to reach an agreement on “lowering import taxes soon”. The South China Morning Post reports Beijing is looking to send a group of executives, including EV company heads, to accompany Chinese president Xi Jinping to Washington.
China says APEC has agreed to establish a new “AI+Energy” special task force, according to BJX News.
Reuters: “How China’s oil majors helped Beijing prepare for an energy crisis.”
Caixin reports Southeast Asian countries bought a record $20bn of Chinese clean-energy products so far this year, up 50% from a year earlier.

Comment

We can turn the tide on the climate crisis by 2030

Prince William, The Independent

Writing for the Independent, Prince William says that the wildfires seen over this northern-hemisphere summer are a “powerful reminder of the risks associated with a warming climate”. He says that the fires “bring into focus the challenges posed by weather patterns that are becoming less predictable and more extreme”, warning that the “crisis demands urgency”. Highlighting examples from his “Earthshot prize”, William puts his optimism in the “solutions that are already making a difference”. He writes: “Wildfires have captured the world’s attention, but work to reduce their risk and limit their impact is already underway – as are solutions to clean our air, fix our climate, revive our oceans, eliminate waste and restore nature.” He concludes: “We can, and must, make the remainder of this decade count.” The Independent carries an editorial in support of William’s comments.

In other UK outlets, science writer Helen Pilcher has an article in the Guardian on the “staggering” complacency shown in the summer’s extreme weather. Times Radio business presenter Dominic O’Connell has a column in the Times on how the UK car industry is “approaching the end of the road”. Editorials in the Sun, Daily Mail and Sunday Times criticise prime minister Andy Burnham for delaying the decision on the Jackdaw gas field. Commentators in the Daily Express and Scotsman argue in favour of North Sea drilling and against net-zero.

MORE COMMENT

The Financial Times has a “big read” on how solar power has become “offensively cheap”.
Reuters energy columnist Ron Bousso: “Oil markets survived the Iran war sprint. Now comes the marathon.”
The Financial Times “Market Insights” column asks “how high might natural gas prices go?”
In the New York Times, author Terry Tempest Williams has a guest essay criticising the Trump administration for its efforts to “defang” the Endangered Species Act.
Rosa Galvez, an independent senator for Québec, in the Guardian: “Climate integrity means being honest about the gap between emissions reduced on paper and emissions reduced in the atmosphere.”

Research

“Temperature anomalies” increase emotional and physical “intimate partner violence” across sub-Saharan Africa, with rural, less-educated women facing the greatest risk of temperature-related violence | Global Environmental Change
An assessment of drought over 1981-2014 detects “no significant acceleration” in global “drought trends” | Communications Earth & Environment
Antarctic September sea ice volume fell by 27% over 2014-16, with the biggest loss occurring between September 2015 and September 2016 | Earth and Space Research

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