fossil fuels

An ABC Four Corners investigation says it has obtained the largest ever set of leaked internal documents from mining giant BHP. The files reportedly show the company was locking in fossil fuel use while publicly stating it was committed to going green, raising questions about the gap between its climate messaging and its actual business plans.

Climate activists are protesting the rapid expansion of AI data centers and Amazon's plan to build what would be the largest gas-fired power plant in the United States, arguing the tech boom is driving new fossil fuel infrastructure. Coverage highlights growing tension between the energy demands of artificial intelligence and climate commitments, with campaigners calling on major tech companies to curb emissions.

Oil spills linked to the war are spreading through the Strait of Hormuz toward coral reefs and mangrove ecosystems, raising alarm among environmental groups. Greenpeace warns that fossil fuel dependence is placing people, nature and economies at risk, and is calling for a shift to clean, decentralised energy to prevent future damage.

Scientists and commentators are weighing what is driving this summer's extreme heat, pointing to a combination of El Niño conditions and long-term climate change caused by burning fossil fuels. Greenhouse gas emissions are pushing global temperatures higher, making heatwaves more frequent and intense, and some warn that 2027 could bring even worse conditions as these factors compound.

A new claim ties Shell's oil pollution to nearly a quarter of global heatwaves, prompting calls for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to make fossil fuel companies pay compensation for extreme weather damage. Andy Burnham is associated with the campaign, and climate campaigners are urging the UK government to hold major polluters financially accountable for climate-related losses.

Commenters are arguing that many governments have been captured by the fossil fuel industry and petrostates, leaving taxpayers effectively funding the burning of oil, gas and coal. They cite a Scientific American figure of $4.5 trillion a year in global fossil fuel subsidies, framing the money as public support for the very emissions governments claim to be cutting.

A Senate report claims major fossil-fuel companies that answered Donald Trump's calls for donations are now positioned to receive billions in benefits, leaving US taxpayers facing higher bills. The report describes the arrangement as a 'bargain' between the president and major polluters, drawing criticism from climate campaigners and scrutiny of the links between political donations and favorable energy policy.

Power utilities are increasing their use of fossil fuels to keep up with rising electricity demand, according to a report by Public Health Watch. The development raises concerns about the impact on air quality and public health, as grids that might otherwise be shifting toward cleaner sources lean back on coal, oil and gas to meet consumption growth.

Scientists linked to Saudi Arabia and its state oil company Aramco have worked on major IPCC climate assessment reports, the Guardian reports. The revelation has raised questions about conflicts of interest in the UN-backed body, whose findings underpin global climate policy, and about how the oil industry influences the science used to judge its own products.

Bangkok, a city of tens of millions, is increasingly at risk from climate-related sea level rise and flooding, with warnings that many residents may eventually need to relocate. Commenters are framing the situation as a failure of political will, accusing oil industry interests and aligned politicians of delaying action on the emissions driving the crisis.

Commentary is revisiting the fossil fuel industry's changing arguments against renewable energy, highlighting how denial tactics have evolved as clean energy keeps outperforming skeptics' predictions. One example cited: Barnaby Joyce said during a 2013 Australian Senate debate that a 5% solar target was never going to happen, a claim since overtaken by solar's rapid growth. Critics argue industry messaging now shifts from outright denial to attacking the pace and cost of the transition.

Critics are accusing the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board of risking the retirement savings of 22 million Canadians by backing gas power plants meant to serve AI data centres. The argument is that the pension fund should act in contributors' best interest, not gamble on fossil fuel infrastructure whose value could erode as clean energy advances and AI demand shifts.

Commentary argues that building new gas power plants to feed the booming electricity demand of AI data centres exposes pension funds and retirement savers to financial risk. The concern is that expensive gas infrastructure could become stranded as clean energy grows and climate policy tightens, leaving investors who backed it with losses while locking in carbon emissions.

A new commentary by Whitcomb argues that the Trump administration's embrace of diesel reflects desperation as solar power grows increasingly competitive. The piece also touches on Rudy Giuliani, referred to as 'Rudy Cheeks'. The column frames the administration's energy policy as fighting a losing battle against cheaper renewable alternatives.