⚡️ Clean energy optimism

Hey friends,

I started Climate Brief as a side project while I was in between jobs. But after a January snowboarding accident left me with a broken leg, as well as MCL and meniscus tears, it’s become a way to stave off severe boredom.

My focus has been rest and recovery, but I really want to come out of this period of my life with an accomplishment.

I want to hit 1000 subscribers by June 1. That’s the day I expect to be able to take my dog for a long walk again. This is where I need your help.

Please share Climate Brief on LinkedIn, Twitter, and directly with your friends and colleagues 🙏🏼.

This week’s debrief includes:

• Grim IPCC report highlights clean energy potential

• Ford EV business lost $2b while 711 adds charging stations

• $109m to audit supply chains for ESG compliance

Let’s dive in.

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🎯 THE BRIEF

⚡️IPCC report emphasizes catastrophe, but also clean energy potential

The recent IPCC report is a wake-up call to the world, stating that global temperatures are projected to rise by 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels in the first half of the 2030s.

Immediate and drastic action is necessary to prevent the world from overheating beyond a critical threshold for global warming. The report recommends cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and eliminating carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere by the early 2050s.

The transition away from fossil fuels, demand-side management techniques, and transitioning to electric transportation are some of the approaches suggested.

Governments worldwide must work together to reduce their carbon footprints and transition to cleaner, greener sources of energy. This will require political will, investment, and policy changes to enable the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Read more:

• AR6 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2023 via IPCC

• Climate Change Is Speeding Toward Catastrophe. The Next Decade Is Crucial, U.N. Panel Says via NY Times

• World hurtling toward critical global warming benchmark, but IPCC report highlights clean energy potential via Utility Dive.

🌎 CLIMATE NEWS THAT MATTERS

The latest developments in the emerging climate economy across energy, transportation, food, and more.

📈 BUSINESS

• Under fire over ESG, BlackRock says climate risks remain client priority

• Ford’s EV business lost $2 billion in 2022, offset by big profits in fleet and legacy units

• The next hot fast food menu item? Electric car charging

🏛 POLICY & POLITICS

• Fed money starts flowing for EV charging

• 5 things to know about Europe’s bid to stay in the clean energy race

• Geothermal Power, Cheap and Clean, Could Help Run Japan. So Why Doesn’t It?

• Stacey Abrams’ next act is the electrification of the US

• Treasury to release EV tax credit guidance next week

🚀 TECH & STARTUPS

• IntegrityNext raises $109M for a platform to audit supply chains for ESG compliance

• Amogy Secures $139 Million Series B-1 Round of Funding, Moving the Transportation Industry Closer to Clean Energy

• Startup Dive: Sakuu - 3D printing meets batteries..?

• New water treatment zaps 'forever chemicals' for good

🌎 SOCIETY & IMPACT

• We Need Better Climate Stories Than ‘Extrapolations’

• The gas stove wars are far from over

• EV owners are becoming increasingly frustrated with home charging

😎 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT