I’m at the First International Conference for Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels (it’s the academic chapter today). I wonder if I’m the only New Zealander in attendance? As the NZ government is not coming.

On my way to Santa Marta, Colombia for the First International Conference on Transitioning Away From Fossil Fuels. Hit me up if you’ll be there too!

The First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels is set to begin next week with gov'ts from +50 countries gathering in Santa Marta, Colombia to advance a just, orderly, & equitable transition. But what should credible plans look like? IISD’s @nataliejones.bsky.social explains 👇

The next tipping point in the energy transition is approaching. Overall, solar has already been cheaper than fossil power for a while, but upfront costs used to be higher. That's no longer the case. Solar is now competitive upfront AND has vastly lower operating costs (no fuel).

NEW: North Sea misinformation is rife in UK media, as the O&G lobby uses the energy crisis to push gov to issue new licences We tackle myths on emissions, tax, bills, jobs One key point is new drilling will barely change future output, as the basin is in decline www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-ni...

New publication alert! In the wake of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)'s Climate Change Advisory Opinion in July 2025, many questions have emerged about the implications of the opinion for various aspects of climate policy. www.iisd.org/projects/int...

A thread -- which world leaders are calling for a shift to clean energy as a security investment in light of Iran War? First up, French President Macron: "...everything we do to more toward the transition is also about reducing our dependence.." (1/x) #cleanenergyisnationalsecurity

NEW: Brief on roadmaps - what does a good roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels look like? Drawing on extensive case studies. Read the brief & accompanying case studies here: www.iisd.org/publications...

this is fine this is fine this is fine

Today's must-read: "Europe faces a clear choice: allegiance to the US, fossil energy dependence and declining living standards for the majority or an independent foreign policy anchored in green development and wellbeing." transitionsecurity.org/trillion-dol...

US LNG companies to enjoy windfall profits from war started by US government

In current circumstances, investing in more LNG seems a bizarre choice at best. Why lock the world into more insecure, volatile, unsustainable energy supply? But that's what the Italian export credit agency, SACE, is considering doing in Argentina. @recommon.org

The war on Iran likely brings a new oil price shock and windfall profits. So, who stands to win? Our research shows: Last time around (2022), the US reaped the largest fossil fuel profits of any country ($377bn). 50% went to the top 1%, only 1% to the bottom 50%. A🧵

My thoughts are with the ordinary people of Iran and all countries in the Middle East/Gulf region affected by this war. My thoughts are also with the people of countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, who will be the hardest hit by rising oil prices due to the Strait of Hormuz closure.

We should not be subsidising fossil fuels. And it's a whopper of a subsidy: The fuel+capital+operating cost of LNG (via BCG "Energy to Grow" report) is $44/GJ, half of that capital+O&M costs, if its for dry-year cover only. So paying the fixed costs with a levy HALVES the LNG price... 1/-

"European countries now reliant on US liquified natural gas shipments, creating risk of higher bills amid recent tensions" We in the climate space have been warning against this for years now. The Adults In The Room all kept insisting we had to switch gas providers for "energy security". Well, look

New analysis out today from Rhodium Group showing data centres were one of the major drivers of the first rise in total economy-wide emissions in the US in years Uncontrolled growth of demand has helped boost coal growth, in conjunction with the LNG export boom -> rhg.com/research/us-...

I very commonly get asked for my advice to current students seeking jobs in the climate space. So I wrote it up: nataliejon.es/2025/12/09/m... What did I miss?

Great climate news: the UK’s publicly-backed export credit agency, UKEF, is withdrawing $1.15b in support for a hugely damaging gas project in Mozambique: www.ft.com/content/b2ea...

🤥The #COP30 presidency said ~80 countries opposed a fossil fuel roadmap but that included 42 members of the Least Developed Countries bloc which denies taking that position. 14 countries were listed as both for and against! 🔥 investigation by @carbonbrief.org www.carbonbrief.org/revealed-lea...

Many of us were wondering about this supposed "opposed" list during COP30. Great to have it clarified! Notably, many of these opposing countries didn't speak out publicly/in negotiations against the roadmap idea -- perhaps not wanting to face criticism.

SCOOP: Carbon Brief has exclusively obtained a list of 84 countries "opposed" to adding a fossil-fuel roadmap to COP30 deal – but our analysis found a series of contradictions & likely errors For eg 14 on list are also roadmap "supporters" Read more➡️ www.carbonbrief.org/...

#Breaking | The Gov't of the UK has adopted a policy to ban new oil and gas exploration. 👏 With this plan—which includes just transition elements for workers & communities—the UK becomes the 🌎's largest producer so far to end new licensing. 🧵1/4 @nataliejones.bsky.social

Huge news from the UK today: after UN climate talks in which there was a massive fight over language on fossil fuels, the UK government today announced that it will in fact be keeping many millions of barrels of oil & gas in the ground. Deeds rather than just words for a change! 🧵

👀 So while all eyes were on the budget, Ministers just slipped out their North Sea Future Plan. While it’s good to see them stick to manifesto pledge not to grant new licenses, it’s a shame to see approval of “tiebacks” to existing fields - unnecessary concession that undermines climate messages

The BBC is reporting that today the UK government will announce that restrictions on new oil and gas licenses will be relaxed. Specifically, exploration that extends existing fields ("tie-backs") will be allowed. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

It's day 13 of #COP30 and it may be the last day, for real this time. Several "L docs" have dropped--ie text in decision format--but we're still waiting on the big one (the "mutirao text").

Of course France will say this, but if you ask India, they'll say the EU is blocking on finance and this is the main obstacle to a deal.

It’s very hard to see what the opposition is to a roadmap beyond ‘we just want to burn lots more fossil fuels’. It’s just a promise to discuss a roadmap and it’s for a ‘transition away’ from fossil fuels, not a full phase out. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

It's day 12 of #COP30 and finally we have movement on the text. In summary, it looks like the small minority of opponents of transitioning away from fossil fuels have been allowed to run roughshod over this text. But let's dive in...

It's day 11 of #COP30 and it's the second dawn without a new text. Looks to be another fairly quiet day today until we get that draft text.

It's day 10 of #COP30 and several media are reporting more than 80 countries support a roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels. Meanwhile, we're waiting on new text that was promised to drop this morning...

And, more importantly, @carbonbrief.org :'(

It's day 9 of #COP30 and there are several new texts out overnight. Let's dive in...

It's day 8 of #COP30 and overnight we got the first informal note on the Presidency consultations on four of the most contentious issues of COP: NDCs, BTRs, 9.1 (provision of finance) and unilateral trade measures. unfccc.int/sites/defaul... Here are some highlights:

History doesn't repeat, but it rhymes, a #climatefinance story: After the $100bn climate finance goal was agreed in 2009, the UN Secretary General created a High-Level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing (AGF) to study potential sources of revenue to meet the new goal, led by the PMs of 🇪🇹&🇳🇴

Good morning #COP30 watchers! It's day 6 of COP30 and here's what I'm keeping a close eye on today:

It's day 5 of #COP30 and here's what I'm watching today: 1️⃣ Partnerships for a Just Transition: Accelerating Action on Methane Reduction and Planning for the Transition Away from Oil and Gas - 10:30am in the Nigeria Pavilion Interested to see if there are any announcements to be made at this event.

It's day 4 of #COP30 and here's what I'm watching today: 1️⃣ The third contact group on Article 2.1(c) (Paris Agreement overarching finance goal) begins now. After the Arab Group blocked production of text last night, what will happen next?

Good thread from Dave about the new IEA "Current Policies Scenario" making a lot of the headlines. Here is a very quick mock-up I made of what this scenario assumes for solar PV additions through to 2035, with historical context. I'll let you decide whether this seems likely.

It's day 3 of #COP30 and as an experienced COP-watcher, here's what I'm watching today: 1️⃣ First up, right now informal consultations begin on Article 2.1(c) -- the goal of the Paris Agreement that's about aligning financial flows with low-carbon, climate-resilient development.

NEW: Global fossil fuel use will peak before 2030 – unless 'stated policies' are abandoned Contra some terrible news coverage, IEA World Energy Outlook shows coal near peak, oil peaking by 2030 & gas by 2035 (see chart) What's going on? 🧵 + cool charts www.carbonbrief.org/iea-fossil-f...

🤡OIL DEMAND WILL KEEP RISING🤡 What are the IEA assumptions that make rising oil demand so improbable?

Huge COPs are an equity issue. We don't hear marginalised voices above the din of who can afford the pavilions, flights, comms teams, or hosting. theconversation.com/the-un-clima...

📢China's emissions are flatlining 📢https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-chinas-co2-emissions-have-now-been-flat-or-falling-for-18-months/

🚨Colombia just supported in #COP30 plenary the fossil fuel roadmap idea. That brings the number of countries supporting it out loud in negotiations to 8 (that I have heard)

Intrigued to see that in #COP30 plenary speakers are being cut off if they go over the allotted time for statements (3 minutes?) Has that ever happened before?

🚨Switzerland for EIG supports Lula's roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels -- in discussions on the UAE Dialogue. Others, including Saudi Arabia for LMDCs, and India, strongly oppose "adding new elements" to the discussion.

Last night at #COP30 the presidency consulted on four crucial topics: response to NDCs, transparency (BTRs), article 9.1 (provision of finance by developed countries), and unilateral trade measures. These four elements will be key to the outcome, despite being dropped from the official agendas.

Some bad news at the start of #COP30 Last week, you'll recall the UN's synthesis report of national climate plans (NDCs) said current NDCs will result in a 17% decrease in emissions by 2035 if fully implemented. Well, there's been an update, and now it's down to 12%. unfccc.int/sites/defaul...