His country is on fire, yet he seems keen to pump more of the gas that fuels the flames. He leads the only G7 nation that has increased emissions since 1990, but he’s rolling back policies that cut emissions.

Where is the climate hero we thought we elected?  Has he been captured, or is he planning some kind of master judo move that only he can understand?

Here are some of the key stories driving climate news from the past week:

Canada Policy

Questions remain about the Carney government’s stance on climate change, as he pauses the EV mandate but supports expanding oil and gas exports. Liberals are concerned and are forming an environmental caucus to prioritize green issues. Meanwhile, new data indicates most Canadians would switch to EVs and heat pumps if barriers were reduced.

• Climate takes another hit as Carney delays EV sales mandate – National Observer – September 5 –  Prime Minister Mark Carney paused the 2026 electric-vehicle sales target and ordered a 60-day review. Climate experts and opposition politicians say this retreat will weaken climate policy, limit EV availability, and hurt emissions goals. Carney says the change protects jobs and will be paired with industrial and climate measures, but critics are skeptical.
  
  
• Carney’s plan for nation-building in batches – National Observer – September 2 – Prime Minister Mark Carney will roll out major nation-building projects in batches, starting with port expansions like the Port of Montreal and Port of Churchill. He named Dawn Farrell to lead a new Major Projects Office to fast-track projects and attract private investment. Critics say the plan favours industry and fossil fuels and risks harming local ecosystems.
  
  
• Liberal MPs form environmental caucus as some want stronger climate focus from Carney – CBC.ca – September 5 – Liberal MPs are creating an environmental caucus to push climate change onto the party agenda. Some say Prime Minister Mark Carney has sidelined green initiatives since taking office. Others want a balance between energy development and climate action, and the government says it still supports climate programs.
  
  
• Canada is full of would-be clean tech adopters — if only they could – National Observer – September 3 – Many Canadians want EVs, heat pumps and energy-smart homes but do not buy them. The main barriers are upfront cost, housing and charging limits, and lack of clear information. Tailored incentives, rules and better outreach could help people make the switch.
  

COP 30

A new study shows that most policymakers, including UN climate negotiators, underestimate people’s support for climate action by about half.  In the run-up to COP 30, most countries are now late in submitting their 2035 climate targets, and the UN is reminding parties to hand in their assignments this month, while France complains they need more time.  Recognizing that nothing on earth kills more people than fossil fuels, a Canadian is leading a movement to negotiate a global non-proliferation treaty.

• Politicians underestimate support for climate action, limiting policies, study says – The Guardian – September 2 – Politicians often think fewer people support climate action than actually do. Research shows most people want to give money and see governments do more to fight global warming. Closing this gap can help leaders create bolder climate policies with public backing.
  
  
• UN pushes countries for new climate targets this month – Reuters – September 3 – The UN urged countries to submit stronger climate plans (NDCs) this September. Most nations, including China and the EU, have not updated targets to cut emissions by 2035. The UN said these plans are crucial as record heat and extreme weather worsen.
  
  
• France wants more time to clinch new EU climate target, diplomats say – Reuters – September 2 – France asked to send negotiations on the EU’s legally binding 2040 climate target to national leaders. Paris says the target may not be feasible and wants more time amid a domestic political crisis. That could delay or weaken the 2040 goal and complicate meeting mid‑September deadlines for 2035 plans.
  
  
• ‘Every company wants to produce the last barrel sold’: the plan to create a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty – The Guardian – September 2 – The fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty aims to stop new oil, coal, and gas projects to fight climate change. Many countries, cities, and groups support this plan to protect the planet and promote clean energy. The treaty focuses on fairness and helping poorer nations move away from fossil fuels with financial support.

Oil and Gas Industry

More evidence this week that the oil and gas sector may be entering its decline phase: Reuters produced a summary of oil and gas layoffs in 2024-25 and news from Texas that a large government subsidy program is failing to spur investment in new natural gas plants, as market forces there are favouring renewables.

• Global oil and gas company layoffs in 2024 and 2025 – Reuters – September 3 – Global oil and gas firms are cutting tens of thousands of jobs in 2024 and 2025. They blame falling oil prices, OPEC+ output rises and post-merger consolidation. Cuts include ConocoPhillips (20–25%), Chevron (15–20%), BP (~7,000 or 5%), Shell (20%) and Petronas (10%).
  
  
• Market headwinds have stymied a Texas plan to boost natural gas – Corporate Knights – September 2 – Texas set up a $7.2 billion fund to spur new natural gas power plants after deadly blackouts. But turbine delays, higher costs, and cheap solar-plus-battery projects have made gas plants hard to build. So far, only small loans have been approved, and Texas is likely to meet rising demand with renewables and storage.

Renewable Energy

There was a lot of coverage this week about the Trump administration’s attempts to undermine offshore wind development in the US, including revoking licenses for nearly completed projects and, surprisingly, ordering government agencies, including the departments of “War” and Health, to develop policies against offshore wind.  Despite their early stage and modest accomplishments, companies researching fusion are attracting eye-watering amounts of investment.

• Trump is going after wind energy. How will the industry survive? – Corporate Knights – September 4 –  The Trump administration has halted offshore wind projects and cut federal support, including a stop-work order on Revolution Wind. This political risk scares investors and will raise costs and slow industry growth. Offshore wind is already fragile because of complex permitting, weak U.S. supply chains, and local opposition.
  
  
• White House Orders Agencies to Escalate Fight Against Offshore Wind – New York Times – September 3 – The White House is directing many agencies to stop offshore wind projects, citing health and security concerns. Experts say these worries are mostly unfounded and part of a political push against wind energy. Several wind farms already approved or under construction are now facing delays or cancellations.
  
  
• Energy Secretary Attacks Offshore Wind and Dismisses Climate Change – The New York Times – September 6 – Energy Secretary Chris Wright criticized offshore wind energy and downplayed climate change, calling it “not incredibly important.” He defended blocking a major wind farm project, saying it raises electricity costs and harms American jobs. Experts disagreed, saying wind power creates jobs and provides affordable, clean energy for millions of homes.
  
  
• Investment in fusion energy is spiking – Corporate Knights – September 3 – Investments in fusion energy are surging worldwide. Commonwealth Fusion Systems raised $863 million, bringing its total to about $3 billion and drawing many types of investors. CFS aims for a prototype by 2026 and a grid-scale plant in Virginia in the early 2030s, with Google as a buyer.

Carbon Pricing

Carbon pricing is poised to play a more significant role in trade, particularly with the EU, as measures to tighten carbon tariffs are being strengthened.

• EU drafting plans to prevent circumvention of carbon border tariff – Reuters – September 3 – The EU will propose measures this year to stop companies dodging its carbon border tariff that starts in January. Officials fear firms could send low-carbon goods to Europe while selling high-carbon goods elsewhere to avoid the levy. The Commission is considering fixed CO2 values per country or company and extending the rules, a plan industry backs, but exporters may resist.

Sustainable Finance

More investors are recognizing climate risks in their decisions, with news this week that Dutch pension giants are pulling billions away from fossil fuel investments.

• The transatlantic rift over sustainable investing just got deeper – Corporate Knights – September 5 –  Dutch pension PFZW pulled $17 billion from BlackRock over climate concerns. Europe still backs ESG while many U.S. investors are pulling back. The split shows investors want asset managers to manage climate risk or lose business.
  
  
• BlackRock, LGIM Lose $34 Billion in Mandates from Dutch Pension Fund’s Shift to Sustainability-Focused Investment Policy – ESG Today – September 4 –  Dutch pension fund PFZW pulled about €29 billion (US$34 billion) in mandates from BlackRock and LGIM as it shifts to a sustainability-focused, more active investment policy. Under Investment Policy 2030 it cut listed-equity holdings from roughly 3,500 companies to about 800 and improved Paris Alignment and carbon intensity scores. PFZW selected new active managers (Robeco, Man Numeric, Acadian, Lazard, M&G, Schroders, UBS, PGGM) who must meet strict sustainability and stewardship standards.

Carbon Capture

Researchers are raising concerns about carbon capture and storage, finding that the earth’s capacity to safely store carbon may be far less than thought.

• Storing carbon underground? There’s less room than we thought, new study suggests – CBC.ca – September 3 –  A new study finds much less safe underground space for CO2 than thought — about 1,460 billion tonnes instead of roughly 12,000. That means storage can only cut global warming a little and should be treated as a scarce resource. Experts say the technology is still unproven at a large scale and would be expensive and hard to build quickly.

Business Emissions

More evidence that businesses, especially in North America, are in a “climate recession” while a major  European bank bucks the trend and reaffirms its commitments.

• Google deletes net-zero pledge from sustainability website – National Observer – September 3 –  Google quietly removed its 2030 net-zero pledge from its sustainability website and tucked it into an appendix. The company says it is still committed, but rising AI energy use and expanding data centres make net-zero harder. Critics say this reflects a wider tech struggle to meet climate goals amid soaring power demand and political pressure.
  
  
• Deutsche Bank Maintains Net Zero Goals in Updated Transition Plan – ESG Today.com – September 2 – Deutsche Bank published an updated Transition Plan and reaffirmed its 2030/2050 sector targets and 2050 net‑zero goal. It has set divisional carbon budgets, linked them to executive pay, and added climate rules across risk, client approvals and reporting. The bank says financed emissions fell in parts of its loan and real‑estate portfolios and operational emissions have dropped sharply since 2019.

Legal Challenges

Indonesian island residents are launching a groundbreaking legal challenge against a global cement manufacturer due to climate change threats. Meanwhile, the Financial Post published a pouty opinion criticizing an activist group’s complaint to the Alberta Securities Commission, accusing two oil and gas companies of misleading investors with net-zero pledges while simultaneously expanding production.

• Swiss court to consider climate case by Indonesia islanders against Holcim -Reuters – September 1 –  A Swiss court will decide if it can hear a climate lawsuit by four residents of Indonesia’s Pari Island against cement maker Holcim. They say Holcim’s emissions helped cause flooding and want 3,600 francs to protect their homes. Holcim says it has cut CO2 from operations by more than 50% since 2015 and uses low-emission technologies.
  
  
• Opinion: Companies’ net-zero pledges come back to bite them – Financial Post – September 3 – An activist group, I4PC, has accused Cenovus and Enbridge of misleading investors about how they will meet net-zero pledges. Bill C-59 targets greenwashing and allows big fines and activist-driven complaints. The author says this weaponizes regulation against oil and gas and urges companies to abandon net-zero and defend Canada’s prosperity.

Disinformation

A lot of real scientists denounce the Trump administration’s climate report as an effort to fabricate a rationale to roll back climate action. A program to fight hail damage in Alberta is working to counter conspiracy theories. 

• Scientists Denounce Trump Administration’s Climate Report – The New York Times – September 2  –  More than 85 scientists condemned a Trump Energy Department report that downplayed the dangers of climate change. They say the report is full of errors, misquotes, misleading graphs, and cherry-picked data, and it lacked proper peer review. The administration is using the report to justify rolling back limits on greenhouse gases and to weaken climate regulations.
  
  
• Over 85 scientists say Energy Dept. climate report lacks merit – Reuters – September 2 –  More than 85 leading climate scientists say the Energy Department’s climate report is not scientifically sound. Their 400+ page review says the report relied on debunked work, misread studies, and lacked peer review. The report was written by five scientists handpicked by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who defends it, and it drew over 2,000 public comments.
  
  
• To fight hail damage, Alberta insurers take to the skies – National Observer – September 2 – Small planes seed Alberta storms with silver iodide to make hail form as smaller, less damaging stones. Funded by insurers, the program likely cuts property damage but does not stop all hail and needs more study. Some people fear environmental harm or “chemtrails,” but scientists say doses are low and seeding probably does not increase rainfall.

Wildfires

Summer may feel over, but the record levels of wildfires driven by fossil fuel use continue to rage around the world.

• Wildfires are fuelling air pollution, UN weather body says – Reuters – September 5 –  Wildfires made worse by climate change added a lot to air pollution last year. This pollution raises health risks and hits hotspots like the Amazon, Canada, Siberia and central Africa. The WMO says climate change and air quality must be tackled together, though places like Eastern China saw some improvement.
  
  
• Fossil-Fueled Climate Heating Set the Stage for Devastating Fires in Spain and Portugal This Summer – Inside Climate News – September 4 – Fossil-fuel-driven warming made the heat and drought that sparked Spain and Portugal’s summer fires much more likely and more intense. Those fires killed people, forced mass evacuations, and sent smoke across Europe while straining firefighting resources. Scientists say urgent cuts to greenhouse gas emissions and better land and fire management are needed to prevent worse fires.
  
  
• California Wildfire Burns Homes In Historic Gold Rush Town – Weather.com – September 4 – A lightning-caused wildfire is burning homes in the historic Gold Rush town of Chinese Camp, California. The blaze has destroyed at least five homes and burned nearly 11 square miles while remaining uncontained. The whole town and nearby areas are under evacuation orders, but no injuries or deaths have been reported.

Drought

Countries such as Cyprus and Iran are facing severe challenges to their water supplies, serving as an early warning of potential issues that other nations may soon encounter.

• Cyprus steps up desalination as worsening droughts parch the island – Reuters – September 2 – Cyprus faces a worsening water crisis as rainfall falls and temperatures rise. The government is expanding desalination to supply most drinking water and stop relying on rain. Critics warn desalination is costly and can harm marine life, and experts call for better farming and soil care to prevent desertification.