Exposure to “deadly urban heat” has tripled since the 1980s, due to a combination of rising temperatures and a growing number of people living in urban areas, the Guardian reports. This is according to a new study, which notes that deadly urban heat not affects nearly one-quarter of the planets population. It adds that the worst affected city is Dhaka where, from 1983-2016, Bangladesh’s capital experienced an increase of 575m person-days of extreme heat.“ It continues: “Other cities that underwent rapid population growth include Shanghai and Guangzhou in China, Yangon in Myanmar, Bangkok in Thailand and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Cities that had at least half of their heat exposure caused by global heating include Baghdad in Iraq, Cairo in Egypt and Mumbai in India.” A separate Guardian piece on the study notes that 17% of cities experienced an extra month of extreme heat days every year. The Hill, New Scientist and MailOnline also covers the paper.

Elsewhere, the New York Times covers an international study, which finds that over 2009-19, 14% of the world’s coral reefs were lost. It continues: “Especially alarming, the report’s editors said, is the trajectory. The first global bleaching event occurred in 1998, but many reefs bounced back. That no longer appears to be the case.” The Guardian adds that reef algae, which grows when coral is under stress, increased by 20% over 2010-19. And Reuters notes that scientists found “a 2% regain among coral reefs 2019, showing they can be resilient when given respite from the siege of factors working against them”. It adds: “If pressure is relieved on the coral reefs, they could flourish again within a decade to pre-1998 levels, the report said.”

Meanwhile, Miami Herald covers a new study which finds that the earths albedo (reflectiveness) is decreasing – driven by a reduction in cooling clouds. And MailOnline carries a range of stories reporting on other studies. The first finds that Arctic permafrost thaw “could release cold war era nuclear waste into the atmosphere”. A second says that melting polar ice is “warping Earth’s crust” and a third reports that the population of Antarctic Weddell seals is “much smaller than expected”. Finally, a fourth reports: “Mature trees can boost the amount of carbon dioxide they absorb.”

UK prime minister Boris Johnson has confirmed reports in yesterday’s Times that all of the UK’s electricity will come from “clean” sources [renewables and nuclear] by 2035, says BBC News. Speaking at a Conservative party conference, Johnson “said the proposed shift would help the UK decarbonise, while softening the impact of the kind of gas price fluctuations that have prompted fears of a winter energy crisis in recent weeks,” according to the Guardian. It notes that the UK generated 43% of its electricity from renewable sources in 2020, but that gas still accounts for “a significant proportion”. According to the Independent, Johnson “said a shift to renewable energy sources by 2035 would protect consumers from fluctuating import prices for oil and gas”. However, the Financial Times quotes energy analysts who call the pledge “extremely challenging” and note that “to achieve in just 14 years and would likely require a continued role for natural gas”. The newspaper continues: “The country’s dependence on the fossil fuel, which is the UK’s single biggest source of electricity generation accounting for almost 40 per cent of output, has been thrown into stark relief in recent months as wholesale prices for gas hit record highs. [Energy secretary Kwasi] Kwarteng said the crisis had demonstrated the need to ‘step up efforts’ to end the country’s vulnerability to international gas prices…But he admitted that hitting the 2035 target, which mirrors a similar pledge made by US president Joe Biden, would still involve some gas-fired power stations, although they would be fitted with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to lower their emissions.” The Times reports a warning from the head of energy firm SSE that the UK “may need more gas power stations”.

Meanwhile, the Guardian carries an analysis of the UK’s current energy sources and the Independent carries a warning from a senior Tory MP that “red wall families will be least able to afford Boris Johnson’s green agenda”. Elsewhere, Reuters highlights the UK’s goal of cutting emissions by 78% by 2035 and BBC News notes the incoming ban on the sale of petrol and diesel-powered cars. Bloomberg says that the UK “will reserve a key role for nuclear power in the nation’s electricity system as a backup for renewables”. The paper quotes Kwasi Kwarteng, who said: “The more I look at this, I think nuclear has to be part of the solution.”

In other UK news, Reuters reports that “British military personnel in combat fatigues arrived on Monday at a BP storage depot after the government ordered the army to help deliver fuel to tackle an acute shortage of truckers”. Separately, Reuters also reports that 127 drivers have applied for fuel trucker visas. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports that “UK energy regulator Ofgem is probing two power companies over whether bids to keep the nation’s grid stable were too high.” And the Times reports that Royal Dutch shell has “made a push into solar energy” by signing an agreement to develop projects with a combined export capacity of 100MW. And, according to DeSmog, Ed Miliband has called UK chancellor Rishi Sunak a “climate delayer” after he “said almost nothing about climate change in his speech at the Conservative Party conference today”.

As the gas shortage across Europe continues, Politico reports that the high power prices are “prompting fears of a backlash against the EU’s green deal policies, highlighted during Monday’s eurozone finance ministers’ meeting”. It continues: “The bloc’s 2050 target of becoming climate neutral is already making it more expensive to emit CO2 and burn fossil fuels, but there’s worry that the project could be undermined by current jitters over energy prices.” It adds that different capitals are proposing “radically different strategies to keep gas and power bills in check”. Reuters reports that both France and Spain have called for “a coordinated European response to the surge in global energy prices to protect the poorest citizens and the competitiveness of companies, and to safeguard Europe’s ambitious plan to stop emitting CO2 by 2050”.

Meanwhile, the Financial Times reports that the chief executive of the Czech energy group EP Infrastructure has said that the EU should classify gas as a “transition fuel” to green energy it it wants to meet emission targets. Elsewhere, Bloomberg says that nuclear is “emerging as a green back-up option for renewables in Europe and to help reduce reliance on foreign supplies of natural gas”, in a piece that highlights the recent gas shortage across the continent. And Nasdaq reports that European coal futures have climbed to a 13-year peak.

In other energy news, the Times reports that oil prices jumped to a three-year high of more than $81 per barrel last night. This has been driven by “big producer nations” sticking to their plans of “only a gradual increase in output next month”, according to the newswire. “Oil companies and OPEC are not eager to produce more [fuel] because they worry prices will drop,” the New York Times adds. Reuters reports that “three of the world’s biggest oil traders were at odds about where the oil price would be this time next year”. However, traders agree on lower gas prices next year, the newswire adds. Meanwhile, Reuters reports that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline between Russia and Germany has started filling one of its two pipelines with natural gas for tests.

The Guardian covers new analysis from Carbon Brief which reveals “the nations with the greatest historical responsibility” for climate change. The paper notes that six of the top 10 nations “have yet to make ambitious new pledges to cut their emissions” before the COP26 summit next month. It continues: “The six include China, Russia and Brazil, which come only behind the US as the biggest cumulative polluters. The UK is eighth and Canada is 10th. Carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for centuries and the cumulative amount of CO2 emitted is closely linked to the 1.2C of heating the world has already seen. At the UN negotiations, historical emissions underpin the claims for climate justice made by developing nations, along with the disparity in wealth of nations. Countries that grew rich on fossil fuels have the greatest responsibility to act, developing nations say, and to provide funding for low-CO2 development and protection against the impacts of global heating.” The analysis includes, “for the first time, emissions from the destruction of forests and other changes in land use alongside fossil fuels and cement production”, the paper says. The article quotes Carbon Brief’s policy editor Dr Simon Evans, who adds: “We can’t ignore CO2 from forestry and land use change, because it makes up nearly a third of the cumulative total since 1850. Once you include that, it’s really striking to see Brazil and Indonesia vaulting into the top 10.”

A range of organisations involved in hosting COP26 next month have “raised concerns about delays and the unusually high cost of building pavilions”, the Financial Times reports. It continues: “Seven environmental and governmental groups told the FT they were taken aback by the large sums quoted for the construction of pavilions, as labour and materials shortages delay planning and drive up prices…The resulting delays have prompted questions about whether construction will be completed in time for the UK-hosted summit, which is less than four weeks away.” Meanwhile, the Scotsman reports that ScotRail workers have voted to take part in a series of strikes during the summit, as they demand “a fairer pay settlement”. The newspaper continues: “Unite’s engineering members will now take part in a series of 24-hour ‘stoppages’ on 18-19 October, 1-2 November, 10-11 November, and 12-13November…The union said its latest round of industrial action would ‘severely disrupt’ [COP26].” Meanwhile, the Press Association reports that the public are “being urged to be ‘extra eyes and ears for the police’ during COP26 in a drive to combat crime, including terrorism”.

Meanwhile, Associated Press reports that Pope Francis and dozens of other religious leaders have “signed a joint appeal to governments to commit to ambitious targets at the upcoming UN climate conference, while promising to do their own part to lead their faithful into more sustainable behaviour”. According to the Hill, the letter states: “We have inherited a garden; we must not leave a desert to our children”. Reuters also covers the appeal. Elsewhere, Reuters reports that former US vice president Al Gore “is hopeful China and the US will set aside their differences at [COP26], just as they came together in 2015 to help hammer out the Paris Agreement”.

The Washington Post reports that a large oil spill, which started over the weekend and continues to spread across the coast of southern California, is “raising fresh questions about the safety of US pipelines”. According to the newspaper, climate activists plan to protest outside the White House next week, to call on Biden to block all new fossil fuel projects. It adds that the accident allowed 127,000 gallons of oil into the water and has shut down miles of beaches, threatening wildlife and wetlands. Meanwhile, the Hill reports that “several California Democrats are calling for limiting or halting offshore drilling in the wake of a major oil spill off the state’s coast this weekend”. Reuters and the Hill report that a ship anchor is currently suspected to be the cause of the leak. According to Reuters, the White House “says it is working with local governments to contain oil spill”. Separately, Reuters reports that as of Monday, over 4,000 gallons of oil had been recovered. Elsewhere, BBC News reports that this is “thought to be one of the largest oil spills in the state’s recent history and the Guardian carries pictures of the oil spill. Forbes also covers the spill. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times reveals that the owner of the offshore oil operation “had emerged from bankruptcy just four years ago and amassed a long record of federal noncompliance incidents and violations”.

Elsewhere, Reuters reports that Royal Dutch Shell have restated production at a platform in the Gulf of Mexico, following a period of repairs in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida.

At the International Air Transport Association (Iata) annual meeting yesterday, a Chinese airline pushed back against a proposed pledge to go net zero by 2050, saying the deadline should be pushed back a decade, the Daily Telegraph reports. However, according to the newspaper, the motion to delay the deadline was not seconded, and so was dismissed. It continues: “Nonetheless, other Chinese state-owned airlines raised concerns about the policy being at odds with orders from Beijing.” Meanwhile, the Financial Times covers the pledge from airlines to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, but adds that “carriers admit targets will be tough to meet as industry is difficult to decarbonise”. The paper adds that aviation accounts for roughly 2% of global emissions and is “one of the most difficult industries to decarbonise”. It continues: “The industry’s road map relies on 65% of emission reductions coming from sustainable aviation fuel, which is significantly less polluting than traditional jet kerosene, but currently in very short supply.”

In other China news, Reuters covers a warning from China’s banking regulator that “lenders including policy banks must ensure that the financing needs of the coal and power sectors are met so that consumer heating during winter is not affected”. Separately, Reuters reports that the energy crunch in China “may boost overseas metal production”. Meanwhile, the South China Morning Post reports that China’s switch from funding coal-fired power plants to renewable energy projects overseas will be “slow and challenging”, according to industry observers. And the South China Morning Post also carries an opinion piece by researcher Peter Chang entitled: “Dysfunctional US-China relationship and divided America hinder efforts to tackle global crises.”

In other news, Bloomberg reports that India’s coal crisis could last for six months. Meanwhile, Reuters reports that India’s coal ministry has asked state-run Coal India to “diversify its interests to areas such as electric vehicles and charging stations”. And, separately, Reuters reports that Reuters reports that India will introduce flexible fuel vehicles soon, to help to country achieve its aim “20% ethanol-blending with gasoline” by 2025. Meanwhile, Reuters reports that Japan “aims to expand renewable energy as much as possible and restart nuclear power plants whose safety has been confirmed”.

News law will soon be passed giving courts the power to stop activists from attending demonstrations, BBC News reports. According to the outlet, the “Criminal Disruption Prevention Orders” will be unveiled by the home secretary Priti Patel at the Conservative conference and will “target disruptive activists or those likely to commit crime.” It adds that the new laws come after weeks of disruption to UK motorways by climate protestors. It continues: “On Monday, Insulate Britain activists were confronted by angry drivers as they blocked more London roads, including the entrance to the Blackwall Tunnel, Wandsworth Bridge, Arnos Grove and the Hanger Lane gyratory. In a video captured by LBC, a motorist told demonstrators she was desperate to see her 81-year-old mother in hospital, asking them: “How can you be so selfish?” The i newspaper covers yesterday’s demonstration in London, noting that 50 people blocked four sites around the city. The outlet also highlights the motorist who was blocked from seeing her mother. The Daily Telegraph covers the protests under the heading, “Driver en route to sick mother pleads with Insulate Britain protesters blocking four major routes in London”, and the Independent also focuses on this story.

Meanwhile, an editorial in the Daily Mail criticises the protestors, calling them “moronic” and asking “what is the earthly point of these protests anyway? Britain could hardly be more ambitiously green, with Boris Johnson pledging that all our electricity will come from renewable sources by 2035.” Similarly, an editorial in the Sun calls the protestors “eco-psychos”, saying that “anyone who, in making some political point, deliberately delays paramedics as they race to save lives deserves years behind bars”. Elsewhere, Times columnist Melanie Phillips says that we are “sliding from protest rights to mob rule”, adding: “Zealot activists have shown contempt for the law and the government is only fuelling the hysteria.” Meanwhile, Reuters covers Extinction Rebellion protests in Zurich.

The Guardian has published another article in its “insider” column, written anonymously by the “secret negotiator”. The writer highlights the pledge made in 2009 that rich nations would give at least $100bn per year in climate finance to poor countries over 2020-25, but says the target has been “missed”. It continues: “These sorts of sums might sound small compared to what big countries are spending on Covid, but they would make a huge difference to us on the ground. It also notes that the $100bn sum is not spread evenly, adding that that “The biggest developing countries take most of the available funds.” It adds: “What is worse, a lot of the money is coming in the form of loans, not grants – about two-thirds of climate finance is loans. This is creating a climate debt trap. We are already in a debt trap because of Covid, and it’s getting worse. How do you expect us to take on more loans, get ourselves even deeper into debt, for something we did not cause in the first place?” The author concludes by suggesting a “debt-for-adaptation swap”, in which “instead of developed countries insisting that we repay our current loans in hard currency, which is difficult for us, those repayments could be converted into local currency and spent locally on adaptation”. It author says that this idea has already been suggested by Germany, and adds that “we hope other countries will take it up”.

In other UK comment, the financial editor of the Times, Patrick Hosking, questions analysis which claims that people can do 21 times more to reduce global warming by altering their pension savings than by stopping flying, going vegetarian and switching to a renewable energy supplier combined. “The flaw in the analysis is that choosing to own different assets does nothing to cut emissions,” Hosking says. He continues: “The risk is the ‘21 times’ message is so seductive it will deter people from behavioural changes, such as flying less, which could irrefutably cut emissions, because they mistakenly believe a painless tweak to their pension can do all the heavy lifting required.” Elsewhere, writing in the Daily Telegraph, journalist and politician Patrick O’Flynn says that in the race to achieve net-zero emissions, Boris Johnson has “become a true believer, ready to follow the cause with the zeal of a convert”. He concludes: “The weather is getting more chilly, the nights are drawing in and even this prime minister’s warmest words are going to be no substitute for affordable central heating if we have a harsh winter. Somewhere in the chasm between the rampant opportunism of the past and the naïve idealism of right now lies a happy medium waiting to be located.” (It should be noted that O’Flynn wrote a very different article recently for the Daily Express.) The Daily Telegraph also has an opinion piece by climate contrarian Bjorn Lomborg. And Matthew Lynn, a financial columnist for the Daily Telegraph, writes that “Tesla can still be overtaken in the electric car race”.

New research explores how human emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and air pollution have affected atmospheric rivers (ARs) – filamentary conduits of intense water vapour transport in the extratropics. Using climate models, the researchers find that “there was little to no change in mean AR characteristics in 1920–2005 due to opposite but equal influences from industrial aerosols, which weaken ARs, and GHGs, which strengthen them”. Despite little historical change, “the simulations project steep intensification of ARs in the coming decades”, the authors note. An accompanying News & Views article says that “ARs will become stronger and will bring more precipitation to many regions around the world”. (Earlier this year, Carbon Brief published a guest post about the role of ARs in the UK’s weather.)

Energy and climate change mitigation analysis rooted in economic relationships alone is “largely disconnected from the advancement of well-being”, a new perspective paper says. The authors propose “an interdisciplinary research agenda that relates energy use to individual well-being through consumption by building bridges between the social sciences, energy–economic models and climate policy analysis”. They argue that, “through these linkages, we may better characterise the potential for less harmful and more meaningful consumption that improves human well-being while reducing carbon emissions”.