Opinion:
¶ “Tariffs Are A Distraction And The End Of Globalization Is A Myth” • Many in the administration blithely assume slapping tariffs on everything will solve a host of economic problems, but according to Bloomberg’s Chris Bryant, something unexpected is happening. International commerce is simply adjusting its flow to go on a path of less resistance. [CleanTechnica]
MAERSK HANOI (Petar Milošević, CC BY-SA 4.0)
World:
¶ “Norway, Sweden And Finland: Climate Change Made July Heatwave Ten Times More Likely, Study Says” • Human-caused climate change made a two-week-long heatwave in Norway, Sweden, and Finland around 2°C (3.6°F) hotter and at least ten times as likely, according to a rapid analysis by World Weather Attribution. [Euronews]
¶ “Heat Extremes Driven By Climate Change Are Behind A ‘Staggering’ Decline In Tropical Birds, Study Warns” • Extreme heat driven by climate change caused tropical bird populations to decline by up to 38% since the 1950s, scientists have warned. A first-of-its-kind analysis was published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution. [Euronews]
Flamingos (Dattatreya Patra, Unsplash)
¶ “New Draft Of Plastic Pollution Treaty Would Not Limit Plastic Production” • Negotiators working on a treaty to address the global crisis of plastic pollution are discussing a new draft of the text that would not limit plastic production. About 100 countries want to limit production but powerful oil and gas-producing nations oppose production limits. [ABC News]
¶ “Rising Seas Could Put Easter Island’s Moai At Risk By 2080, Study Warns” • By the end of the century, rising sea levels could push powerful seasonal waves into Easter Island’s fifteen iconic moai statues, according to a study published in the Journal of Cultural Heritage. About fifty other cultural sites in the area are also at risk from flooding. [ABC News]
Moai (Hal Cooks, Unsplash)
¶ “Global EV Sales Up 27% In 2025 Despite Anti-Electrification Policies In The US” • In a sharp rebuke to the anti-electrification agenda in the US, global EV sales are up 27% over last year, with some legacy automakers indicating the potential for a successful transition to electric mobility, according to a report from the UK firm Rho Motion. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Ørsted Lifts Morgan Objection After Wake Effect Deal” • Ørsted has withdrawn its wake effect objections to JERA Nex BP and EnBW’s 1500-MW Morgan offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea. The Danish developer and Japanese-UK-German tie-up have reached an agreement, the latter has told the UK Energy Secretary in permitting filings. [reNews]
Worker at a wind turbine (Ørsted image)
¶ “Germany Awards 2.27 GW In PV Tender” • The German federal network agency has awarded 2,271 MW of capacity in its latest tender for ground-mounted and certain non-building solar installations. The 1 July 2025 auction was oversubscribed, with 313 bids totalling 2.82 GW competing for 2.266 GW on offer. The average price at €0.0484/kWh. [reNews]
¶ “Macquarie Backs 218-MW Finnish Onshore Platform” • €51 million in second lien financing was provided by Macquarie Asset Management to an eight-site onshore wind platform in Finland. The 218-MW portfolio, in central and southern Finland, is owned by funds managed by Helsinki-based renewable energy investor Taaleri Energia. [reNews]
Wind farm (Taaleri Energia image)
¶ “Governments Are Avoiding Renewable Energy Goals – And It Matters” • At the COP28 climate summit in December 2023, 133 countries pledged to triple global renewable capacity by 2030. This is the single biggest step we can take this decade to keep as close as possible to the 1.5°C global warming limit. They haven’t even come close. [Climate Home News]
US:
¶ “Energy Storage Breakthroughs Enable A Strong And Secure Energy Landscape” • Researchers are making breakthroughs at the Argonne National Laboratory in every stage of the energy storage lifecycle, from discovering substitutes for scarce, critical materials to pioneering applications to making recycling more cost effective. [CleanTechnica]
Researcher (Mark Lopez, Argonne National Laboratory)
¶ “Wait, The US Wind Industry Is Coming Back?” • Almost the entire US wind industry went into hibernation after US President Donald Trump took office in January, sending thousands of good paying jobs down the drain. However, the wind will continue to blow long after January 20, 2029, and we can hope for a peaceful transition. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Vestas Bullish On US Prospects” • Henrik Andersen, Vestas chief executive, is confident that the US onshore wind sector will continue to grow throughout the rest of the decade, despite uncertainties at the federal policy level. The Vestas boss said the company was buoyed by the announcement of an additional 950-MW US order in its Q3 intake. [reNews]
Henrik Andersen (Vestas image)
¶ “E&C Democrats: The DOE Is Illegally Influencing NRC And Undermining Nuclear Safety Protections” • Three Democrats in the Energy and Commerce Committee wrote to Chris Wright, the Energy Secretary, expressing concerns about reports the DOE is attempting to exert improper influence over the NRC, which is independent by law. [Democrats, E&C]
¶ “DOE Announces The Selection Of Eleven Projects For New Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program” • The US DOE has selected eleven projects for a nuclear reactor pilot program, with hopes of fully developing three of the projects by July 2026. The DOE will expedite these projects through its authorization procedure for nuclear reactors. [Inside Climate News]
Have a jovially celebratory day.
geoharvey 