NEW: Eight facts about air conditioning amid an overheated global debate KEY FACT: Many European cities, on the world's fastest-warming continent, never needed AC in the past For some strange reason – I can't imagine why – many commentators prefer to ignore this

NEW – Eight facts about air conditioning amid an overheated global debate | @arunacsekhar.bsky.social @joshgabbatiss.bsky.social @mollylempriere.carbonbrief.org @zekehausfather.com Read here: buff.ly/EynMeIk

Amid the record-breaking heat over the last few weeks, a culture war has broken out over the rollout of air conditioning But lots of the claims are missing some key bits of context - not least that it hasn’t really been an issue in northern Europe previously, because it just hasn’t been this hot

Wading into the air conditioning culture wars. www.businessgreen.com/blog-post/45...

As Europe bakes in another heatwave, the AC discourse rumbles on. To add some data to the debate, here's a map of residential AC uptake around the world from some forthcoming research. Given the temperatures now regularly being experienced, people in Europe really just don't have a lot of AC.

RENEWABLES: They're still wildly popular with the British public, not that you'd realise from news coverage * Only 4% are opposed Even for wind/solar farms in your local area, opposition is very low * 74/68% would either be happy to have a local solar/wind farm, or don't care

NEW: Outspoken climate advocate António Guterres will step down as UN secretary general at the end of the year. My colleagues Aruna & Molly looked at where the candidates to replace him stand on climate change:

Q&A: Where do the UN secretary general candidates stand on climate change? ✍️ @arunacsekhar.bsky.social and @mollylempriere.carbonbrief.org Read here: buff.ly/pra6lfx

Blatant lobbying, not for the sake of our country, but for the fossil fuel industry, in which almost all the ultrarich - including, in all likelihood, the proprietors of these newspapers - are heavily invested. These people are not and never will be your friends. www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-...

Seems to be a lot of selective memory in UK's right-wing newspapers about schools not closing during the 1976 heatwave. I just checked and, yes, many schools did close early as well as allow parents to "keep their children at home if they wish". This clipping from London Evening News, 29 June 1976

"The night from Monday to Tuesday was the hottest ever recorded in France since measurements began in 1947" Prime minister holding a crisis meeting of ministers due to heatwave Garonne River temp reaches 28C, shutting down a nuclear power plant Hospitals: "Some patients can't take it anymore"

CCC: Faster electrification of UK will ‘put money back into people’s pockets’ ✍️ @daisydunne.carbonbrief.org @joshgabbatiss.bsky.social @mollylempriere.carbonbrief.org @orladwyer.carbonbrief.org @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org Read here ➡️ buff.ly/sVnDJ6w

After 18 months of R&D with a team of specialist academics, I'm VERY excited to say that @carbonbrief.org has just launched 'Project Cosmos'... ...the world's largest database of climate research Our hope is this becomes a major new resource interactive.carbonbrief.org/cosmos/index...

NEW – Bonn climate talks: Key outcomes from the June 2026 UN climate conference | @joshgabbatiss.bsky.social @mollylempriere.carbonbrief.org Read here: buff.ly/uLCxTxN

The global goal on adaptation has been Rule 16ed in Bonn - meaning parties leave with no agreed text. In the closing panel, parties have expressed their disappointment that such a significant agenda item has stalled

In the Bonn closing plenary, chairs confirmed that SB64 is finishing with no agreement on the mitigation work programme - the only formal agenda item on mitigation in the process, Panama for AILAC said there had been continued problems within the MWP,

People have gathered in Bonn to call for the just transition mechanism - or Belém-Antalya Mechanism (BAM) Their action includes several musical numbers with BAM included, from Solidarity Forever to We Will Rock You They have hit out at the empty words and promises seen at SB64, #Bonn #SB64

The Pope has thrown his weight behind a just transition, Speaking at Austrian World Summit, Pope Leo said: “It is not merely desirable but also genuinely possible that the progress at COP30 can be followed up with a just transition...” His comments come as discussion on the JTWP continues at Bonn

COP30 President Do Lago says adaptation is a “strong priority” for the Brazilian presidency this year, Brazilian lead negotiator Chagas says that the call to triple adaption finance was a key outcome of COP30, and parties now need to deliver on things, finding ways to make it happen #Bonn #SB64

Withdrawal of the Trump administration's US 🇺🇸 from the UN climate process has big implications for the UNFCCC budget. When it takes effect in Feb 2027: ⬇️ Core funding will fall by 21% – or €16.9m – in 2028-29 ⬆️ Remaining countries would have to increase contributions 27% to make up the shortfall

Chair of the LDCs, Ambassador Adao Soares Barbosa, says “adaptation must move from discussion to implementation” He called for the indicators to be operationalised, and for goal to the triple adaption finance - agreed at COP30 - to be referenced in the final global goal on adaptation text

I’m in Bonn for the UNFCCC intersessional, following adaptation, just transition, the mitigation work program and trade, If anyone fancies a coffee and a chat about those items, drop me a message!

Every couple of days renewables pass a landmark that seemed impossible a few years ago.

NEW: The UK's 7th carbon budget will be subject to a vote of the full House of Commons, following a half-day debate. Previous budgets were voted through after brief debate in a sub-committee. Background on the budget here: www.carbonbrief.org/...

🔔Later today, Carbon Brief is launching Cited, a new fortnightly newsletter all about climate research. 📃It will capture the latest studies, preprints and media coverage. ✉️The first edition is coming this afternoon! ⏬ Sign up now bit.ly/4dVGEbz

🚨📨LAUNCHING TOMORROW📨🚨 WHAT: Cited, Carbon Brief's new newsletter WHEN: In your inbox every other Tuesday WHY: The latest climate science, digested WHO: By our awesome team of science journalists SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE: bit.ly/49NpiLx

++Launching TOMORROW++ Carbon Brief's brand new fortnightly newsletter called 'Cited' It will summarise the past 14 days of new climate research that you need to know about. We are trawling through all the key journals so you don't have to. Make sure you sign up in time... bit.ly/4erDOv4

I see a lot of charts everyday. Few make me go: THIS IS CRAZY. www.carbonbrief.org/ai-boom-mean...

NEW from me: China’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions grew by 2% in the first quarter of 2026, with power sector emissions rising 4%, after a rise in the amount of “wasted” wind and solar power. Emissions remain below the peak in early 2024.

BREAKING: UK govt is targeting 87% cut in emissions by 2040 under the 7th "carbon budget" It says meeting this target will boost energy security, lower bills, create jobs and growth, improve quality of life – and tackle the "climate crisis"

Q&A: How UK’s seventh carbon budget will deliver ‘£865bn’ in economic benefits ✍️ @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org Read here: buff.ly/40RIFkU

Media reaction: UK and Europe’s ‘mind-boggling’ May heat and climate change ✍️ @ayeshatandon.carbonbrief.org @daisydunne.carbonbrief.org @joshgabbatiss.bsky.social @mollylempriere.carbonbrief.org Read here ⬇️

This is such a weak, imprecise, and shabby argument from Blair.

Somewhat incredibly, Tony Blair has chosen the week that the UK's temperature record for May has been smashed by more than 2C to reiterate his hot take on net-zero Job done, though, as all the UK media is now leading with him saying "drill, baby, drill" rather than the exceptionally extreme weather

New report from IRENA confirms that "in prime solar and wind regions, hybrid solutions combined with storage deliver round-the-clock power at lower costs than fossil fuels." Renewables+storage = round-the-clock power, cheaper than fossil fuels, in an ever-widening set of geographies. Pretty cool.

Global solar power output grew by 30% in 2025 and overtook wind for the first time on record 📈 A decade ago, wind power generated three times more electricity than solar. ember-energy.org/lat...

NEW The UK will adopt one of the world’s most ambitious climate targets as Labour takes on Reform opposition to net zero and moves to neuter the Green Party’s rise. Ministers have accepted @thecccuk.bsky.social's recommendation for an 87% cut in emissions by 2040 👇 www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...

NEW | Wind and solar just produced more electricity than gas globally for the first month on record In April, they produced 531 TWh (22%), compared with 477 TWh (20%) for gas. Wind and solar generation has more than doubled in the last five years.

NEW – New coal plants hit ‘10-year’ global high in 2025 – but power output still fell | @mollylempriere.carbonbrief.org @globalenergymon.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/6ULYS42

"Tice’s comments came in a combative interview where he threatened to walk out when presented with information from the [IPCC]. Tice…declined to name advisers who convinced him the scientific consensus was wrong." Extraordinary interview by @akshatrathi.bsky.social & @oliviarudgard.bsky.social

JUST RELEASED: 14 million battery-electric cars sold globally in 2025 says @iea.org. China: 8.2m. Europe: 2.9m (28% of new cars). Norway: 97%. US flat at 1.2m. In 2015 the world sold 330,000 BEVs. Ten years later, 14 million. Long-read coming on Bright Spots 👇 janrosenow.substack.com

NEW – CCC: Investing in ‘urgent’ UK adaptation action ‘cheaper than climate damages’ | @joshgabbatiss.bsky.social @mollylempriere.carbonbrief.org @giulianaviglione.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/52cM8NZ

Every now and again, it's worth popping quickly onto the Telegraph's website to remind yourself just how hysterically and ludicrously obsessed they are with Ed Miliband and net-zero. Just from the past few days...

NEW – Analysis: UK no longer top UN Green Climate Fund donor after latest aid cut | @joshgabbatiss.bsky.social Read here: www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-...

We've built - and are now maintaining - a unique resource, as my colleague @ayeshatandon.carbonbrief.org explains here...

🚨 NEW | 15% of #Britain’s electricity generation is already independent from the gas power price, securing price stability amid the energy crisis 🔒💷 This is set to more than double to a third (36%) of British power by 2030 🌪️☀️📈 (🧵 1/3) ember-energy.org/lat...

Tony Blair Institute is once again issuing press releases attacking climate policy in support of a report that seems to be mainly calling for more better managed grids and faster electrification.

NEW – Q&A: How countries got the global ‘net-zero’ shipping deal ‘back on track’ | @mollylempriere.carbonbrief.org @joshgabbatiss.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/Wt4M04G

THREAD: A heat-pump tumble dryer could save households more than £700 Lots of overblown reaction to govt phasing out standard dryers – reminds me of when 2009 Mail frontpage wailed about "beloved" incandescent bulbs But heat pump dryers are just a much better technology 1/5

Hola from Santa Marta! The 1st transition away from fossil fuels conf has kicked off with 3 new science initiatives 🌎A new Science Panel for Global Energy Transition 🌎A science-led "synthesis report" with 12 action insights 🌎A "roadmap" for Colombia to get away from FFs More on each one below...