Sign In or Create an Account.

By continuing, you agree to the Terms of Service and acknowledge our Privacy Policy

Politics

Kamala Harris’ DNC Speech Barely Mentioned Climate Change

On the convention’s final day, stormy weather, and hail damage

Kamala Harris’ DNC Speech Barely Mentioned Climate Change
Heatmap Illustration/Getty Images

Current conditions: Storm Lilian left thousands without power in England • A large fire on the Portuguese island of Madeira threatens the UNESCO-listed Laurissilva forest • Tropical Storm Hone will bring high winds, rain, and strong surf to Hawaii this weekend.

THE TOP FIVE

1. Kamala Harris only mentions climate change once in DNC acceptance speech

The Democratic National Convention came to a close last night, culminating in a speech from presidential nominee Kamala Harris (but not, unfortunately, a surprise performance by Beyoncé ). Harris only mentioned climate change once in her speech, in a comment warning that “the freedom to breathe clean air, and drink clean water and live free from the pollution that fuels the climate crisis” are at stake in the November election. Going light on climate is certainly a deliberate strategic choice, one aimed at avoiding upsetting any voters in natural gas swing states like Pennsylvania. Some environmental advocates seem to be giving her a bit of a grace period, but pressure will build as Election Day nears for her to outline in detail her climate and energy platforms.

2. Hurricane forecasters warn of ‘supercharged September’

Meteorologists from AccuWeather are warning about the potential for “back-to-back tropical threats” in the Atlantic in the coming weeks, forecasting up to 10 named storms between August 27 and September 30. The average for that time frame is six storms. The agency says dry air and Saharan dust have kept the Atlantic relatively quiet but that these conditions are lifting now. “With extremely warm water temperatures, less disruptive wind shear, and less dry air, we could see a storm organizing every few days,” said AccuWeather lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva.

AccuWeather

3. Study: Most climate policies fail to cut emissions

A new study published in the journal Science found that very few of the climate policies put in place over the last 25 years have actually reduced greenhouse gas emissions in any meaningful way. Of the 1,500 policies implemented across the globe since 1998, just 63 were found to reduce emissions, and only by 1.8 billion metric tons of CO2. That falls far short of the amount of emissions we need to eliminate by 2030 in order to meet targets set out in the Paris Agreement. So what’s working? “Most of those emissions reductions were tied to price instruments like changes in carbon prices, energy taxes and fossil-fuel-subsidy reforms,” notedThe New York Times. “And most emissions reductions gained strength in numbers: They happened from the combination of multiple national policies, instead of just one stand-alone policy.”

4. Flooding strands millions in Bangladesh

About 3 million people are stranded in Bangladesh after heavy monsoon rains triggered widespread flooding across the eastern and southern parts of the country. Bangladesh’s Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre said 11 rivers had dangerously high water levels. “These are the worst floods we have seen in three decades,” said Dr. Md Liakath Ali, director of climate change, urban development, and disaster risk management for international development organization BRAC. “Entire villages, all of the families who lived in them, and everything they owned – homes, livestock, farmlands, fisheries – have been washed away. People had no time to save anything.”

Flooding in Moulvibazar, northeastern Bangladesh. BRAC

Up to 6 inches of rain are forecast for eastern Bangladesh over the next three days. Bangladesh is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries when it comes to climate change, which scientists say is making such extreme weather events worse. A report published earlier this year noted that between 2000 and 2019, Bangladesh experienced 185 extreme weather events, and warned that the country’s adaptation measures would struggle to keep up with a rapidly changing climate, especially without new finance efforts.

Get Heatmap AM directly in your inbox every morning:

* indicates required
  • 5. Terrasmart introduces tool to prevent hail damage at solar farms

    A company called Terrasmart, which provides solar panel trackers, is rolling out a new hail-resistant feature. The tool, called TerraTrak, will link with weather data from AccuWeather to see when a hail storm is forecast and automatically change the panels’ tilt to a “stow” position so they’re less likely to sustain damage. FTC Solar rolled out a similar tool earlier this summer. In March, a hail storm smashed thousands of panels at a solar farm in Texas. Terrasmart said insurance industry reports indicate that “hail accounts for less than 2% of solar project insurance claims by volume – but more than 50% of total dollar losses.”

    THE KICKER

    Consulting firm Wood Mackenzie expects nearly 30% of new solar systems installed at homes this year to also be paired with battery storage, as more homeowners invest in back-up power for when extreme weather causes grid outages.

    Yellow

    You’re out of free articles.

    Subscribe today to experience Heatmap’s expert analysis 
of climate change, clean energy, and sustainability.
    To continue reading
    Create a free account or sign in to unlock more free articles.
    or
    Please enter an email address
    By continuing, you agree to the Terms of Service and acknowledge our Privacy Policy
    Climate

    The Bill Gates Era of Climate Giving Has Ended

    Breakthrough Energy is winding down its policy and advocacy office, depriving the Inflation Reduction Act of a powerful defender.

    Bill Gates.
    Heatmap Illustration/Getty Images

    This is part of a Heatmap series on the “green freeze under Trump.

    A major chapter in climate giving has ended.

    Keep reading...Show less
    Blue
    Elon Musk.
    Heatmap Illustration/Getty Images, Tesla

    Tesla already looked beleaguered last week as a tumbling stock price tied to public anger at CEO Elon Musk wiped out more than a half-billion dollars in value. The slide erased all the gains the company had garnered since new Musk ally Donald Trump was reelected as president. On Monday the stock went into full freefall, losing 15% of its value in one day. By Tuesday, Trump had to pose with Tesla vehicles outside the White House to try to defend them.

    With a crashing market valuation and rising rage against its figurehead, Tesla’s business is in real jeopardy, something that’s true regardless of Musk’s power in the federal government. If he can’t magically right the ship this time, this self-sabotaging MAGA turn will go down as one of the great self-owns.

    Keep reading...Show less
    Politics

    AM Briefing: Climate Grants Terminated

    On Lee Zeldin’s announcement, coal’s decline, and Trump’s Tesla promo

    The EPA’s $20 Billion Climate Grants Have Been Terminated
    Heatmap Illustration/Getty Images

    Current conditions: Alaska just had its third-warmest winter on record • Spain’s four-year drought is nearing an end • Another atmospheric river is bearing down on the West Coast, triggering evacuation warnings around Los Angeles’ burn scars.

    THE TOP FIVE

    1. Zeldin terminates $20 billion in climate grants

    EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said yesterday he had terminated $20 billion in congressionally-approved climate change and clean energy grants “following a comprehensive review and consistent with multiple ongoing independent federal investigations into programmatic fraud, waste, abuse and conflicts of interest.”

    Keep reading...Show less
    Yellow