This weekly round-up brings you key climate news from the past seven days, including a youth-led climate lawsuit against the Swedish government and a fossil fuel partnership at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
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1. Swedish Youth Sue Government Over Climate Inaction
A group of young activists has launched a high-stakes legal challenge against the Swedish government, alleging that the nation’s current climate targets are not only inadequate but a violation of international law.
The lawsuit, filed Friday by youth-led organization Aurora, builds on the argument that Switzerland is not doing its “fair share” to limit global warming to 1.5C. The plaintiffs also argue that current national plans exclude high-polluting sectors, meaning the government is only accounting for less than half of the emissions under its actual control.
“Those who pollute the most have a duty to pull their weight in the global effort to fight climate change,” said Ida Edling, Aurora’s spokesperson. “We still have a chance to get out of planetary crises and build a safe and just world, but only if rich and high-emitting states like Sweden stop breaking the law and start immediately transforming their societies. We cannot let the state burn our chance.”
Full story here.
2. Secretive US Climate Skeptic Panel Tasked With Writing Contentious Global Warming Report Violated Law, Court Rules
The Trump administration violated federal law when it secretly formed a climate science advisory group to work on a contencious global warming report, a court has ruled.
The Department of Energy did not publicly disclose that the Climate Working Group, comprised of five climate change skeptics, was behind a report released in July which downplayed the risks of global warming. The report contends that mainstream climate science is exaggerated and overlooks the positive effects of climate change. It wrongly claimed, for example, that sea level rise is not accelerating, and that increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere will be beneficial for plant growth.
On Friday, the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts said the Energy Department violated federal law by secretely convening the group, which “not merely ‘assembled to exchange facts or information,’ but rather provided substantive policy ‘advice and recommendations’ to the Department of Energy.”
The 1972 Federal Advisory Committee Act prohibits federal agencies form recruiting or relying on secret groups to formulate policy.
Full story here.
3. ‘Absurd’: Greenpeace Calls Out Winter Olympics Sponsorship With Fossil Fuel Giant Eni
Greenpeace Italy has urged the organizers of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy’s Alps to end their “absurd” partnership with Italian oil and gas giant Eni.
As one of the world’s largest contributors to planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, Eni has been accused of using the event to greenwash its image while playing a key role in driving the climate crisis.
“The Olympic values of respect for people and the environment matter, that’s why Greenpeace is calling for the International Olympic Committee to drop oil and gas sponsorship from the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games and commit to ending fossil fuel sponsorship across all Olympic Games,” said Greenpeace Italy’s climate campaigner Federico Spadini.
Full story here.
4. Amsterdam, Florence Become Latest Cities to Ban Fossil Fuel Ads
The Dutch capital of Amsterdam and the Italian of Florence have approved bans on fossil fuel advertisements, joining dozens of cities worldwide that have introduced restrictions on the promotion of polluting products.
Last month, Amsterdam’s city council passed a legally binding ban on ads for fossil fuels and meat products in a 27-17 vote, becoming the first capital city to fully prohibit such ads. The ban, set to kick in on May 1, spans high-carbon products and services like flights, petrol and diesel vehicles, gas heating contracts and meat products across all public spaces in the city, including on public transport.
On Tuesday, Florence followed suit, becaming the first Italian city to adopt a ban on fossil fuel advertising in public spaces in an 18-3 vote. “By approving this motion, Florence chooses to lead Italy in a necessary cultural and symbolic shift to address the climate crisis,” said Florence City Councilor Giovanni Graziani.
To date, over 50 cities, mostly European, have either restricted such ads in specific areas or tabled motions to introduce formal limitations. Some – including several Dutch municipalities, Stockholm, Edinburgh and Sydney – have banned them altogether.
Full story here.
5. ‘Complete Insanity’: Trump’s Coal Revival Effort Gets a Mascot
The Trump administration has turned to a mascot to promote its efforts to revive the dying and dirty coal industry.
US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum posted a seemingly AI-generated picture of himself alongside “Coalie” on social media last month. Dressed in a helmet, boots, and gloves, Coalie was met with widespread backlash online, with critics calling the initiative “complete insanity” and “criminally negligent.”
Coal remains the dirtiest fossil fuel: it is the single-largest source of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels, accounting for 40% of the total, and is responsible for over 0.3C of the 1.3C increase in global average temperatures since the Industrial Revolution. It is also a major contributor to air pollution.
Full story here.
