The Trump administration sent shockwaves through the energy industry on Friday when it announced proposals for new subsidies for coal-fired and nuclear power plants. The US energy secretary Rick Perry sent a message to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proposing funding for power plants that provide “essential energy and ancillary reliability services” — while making clear that only coal and nuclear generators are likely to qualify. Perry asked for “quick action” from the commission to protect coal and nuclear plants that are facing closure, The Hill reports. He added that new regulation could be needed to protect the resilience of the electric grid, which he said has been threatened by coal and nuclear plant closures in recent years. Perry is seeking the new regulation in the name of electric grid resilience, which he said is threatened by coal and nuclear plant closures in recent years. His comments come a month after a report from the Department of Energy concluded that coal and nuclear plant closures could cause future resilience problems, although grid operators are currently handling the challenges well. The move drew criticism from renewable energy groups and environmentalists concerned that such incentives were unfair and could lead to an increase in emissions from coal plants, Reutersreports. The American Wind Energy Association blasted the effort, saying it would “upend competitive markets.” AWEA spokesperson Amy Farrell said: “The best way to guarantee a resilient and reliable electric grid is through market-based compensation for performance, not guaranteed payments for some, based on a government-prescribed definition.” The Washington Post also has the story.

The Scottish Government is set to announce a ban on fracking, it was revealed today. Ministers are close to finishing a permanent ban, replacing the moratorium they started in January 2015. “All roads now lead to a ban and I expect a ministerial statement to parliament this week,” said Mark Ruskell MSP, Scottish Green environment spokesperson. The Scotsman reports that Labour has pledged to bring forward a fracking ban if the Scottish Government fails to act. “Anything less than an outright ban of onshore fracking in all its forms would be a betrayal by the SNP Government of our climate change commitments, our communities and the job opportunities now and for future generations in clean, renewable energy,” said Scottish Labour environment spokesperson Claudia Beamish. Carbon Brief recently published a Q&A on the return of fracking in the UK.

Top investment groups have called for US energy companies to address the risks associated with climate change. An analysis of shareholder votes at this year’s annual meetings showed investors are increasingly demanding information on climate risks, often voting for improved disclosure against company board recommendations. In votes at seven of the largest US energy companies, including BlackRock and Vanguard, the 30 largest investors switched their votes to support disclosure on climate risk a total of 38 times.

A proposed ban on wood-burning stoves in central London will not be enforced against householders and will only be in operation at certain times of the year, it was revealed today. Under Sadiq Khan’s plans, commercial uses such as hotels will face wood-burning stove restrictions from 2025. The stoves could be banned during episodes of high air pollution, Khan said. His action comes after research revealed that wood-burning in the capital accounts for up to 31% of the city’s particulate pollution, up from 10% in the past. “Non-transport sources contribute half of the deadly emissions in London so we need a hard-hitting plan of action to combat them similar to moves I am taking to reduce pollution from road vehicles,” he said. On Saturday, the Evening Standard explored how the ban could affect London’s wood-fired pizza restaurants.

Renters living in draughty homes could pay £1bn extra in energy bills because of a government loophole that lets landlords off the hook, a charity warned today. Landlords are to be banned from renting out draughty homes from April 2018 under new housing regulations aimed to protect tenants and slash emissions. But they will be able to apply for exemptions, meaning many homes may not be upgraded, campaigners have argued. If all the landlords of the 300,000 properties eligible for exemptions apply to the scheme, tenants could pay an extra £1bn in bills over the next five years, climate charity 10:10 has claimed. “Rather than letting landlords off the hook, the government should be backing tenants by closing the loophole and capping the cost for landlords instead to ensure fairness to all concerned,” said Emma Kemp, a campaigner at 10:10.

Ireland has “failed spectacularly” to tackle climate change over the last 15 years, the Citizen’s Assembly has been told. This weekend the 99-member assembly was asked to consider how the Ireland could be a world leader in addressing global warming. “Ireland has failed spectacularly on climate change over the past 15 years,” said researcher Joseph Curtin of University College Cork and the Institute of International and European Affairs. “It has not stepped up to the plate. Let’s be realistic; start by doing our fair share, then we can aspire to leadership.” The Irish edition of The Times reports that a lack of leadership was blamed for Ireland’s inaction over climate change. “The takeaway message from the speeches and the discussion was the real lack of political leadership in Ireland,” said Jerry Mac Evilly, policy co-ordinator with Stop Climate Chaos, a coalition of charities and NGOs. “Time and again the assembly asked ‘why is Ireland a laggard?’ and it emerged that the real impediment was government inaction.” The Environmental Protection Agency has previously forecast that, by 2020, the country would have cut its emissions by only 4 to 6% from 2005 levels, despite a legally binding 20% target.

Opec’s decision to curb oil production in an attempt to boost prices is finally bearing fruit, Emily Godsen reports in The Times. In November, Opec members agreed to cut oil production by 1.2 million barrels a day. The aim was to drain a global glut of crude. “For much of the first half of this year it looked as if the strategy was failing, undermined by American frackers, who kept pumping more crude,” she writes. “As the US rig count rose, the gains in the oil price after the November deal were erased.” However, in recent months there have been signs that America’s drillers have been forced to slow down and prices have now hit a two-year high.

“Climate change is making airport planners think again,” writes Mike Ives in the New York Times. In an extended feature, he explores the challenges that climate change will bring for the airport industry. “Low-lying airports may become increasingly vulnerable to storm surges,” he says. “Hotter temperatures may cause tarmac to melt, restrict takeoff weights or require heavier aircraft to take off later in the day.” Meanwhile, Ars Technica explores why EasyJet’s pledge to build an all-electric commercial carrier plane in a decade could be “more than just fantasy”.

Climate change could improve the suitability of Great Britain for 44% of its breeding bird species by 2080, a new study says, while causing a decline for 9%. Researchers used data from citizen science bird surveys in the UK and France to predict spatial patterns of future climatic suitability throughout Great Britain for 124 breeding bird species. Were these suitability projections to translate into population changes, conservation listing status by 2080 would improve for 28 species, the researchers say, and worsen for 10 species. Of the latter group, most are already red-listed for their severe long-term population declines, the researchers note, which suggests “species already of concern are likely to be impacted hardest” by climate change.

The frequency of heavy rainfall events across the world is likely to increase until the late 21st century under 1.5C and 2C of warming, a new modelling study suggests. Simulations of emissions scenarios consistent with 1.5C and 2C above pre-industrial levels show increases until around 2070, the study finds, before the trend weakens. The increases in heavy rainfall events are similar for 1.5C and 2C until around 2035, the researchers say, after which 2C brings higher frequencies than 1.5C.