fossil fuels

An ABC Four Corners investigation says it has obtained the largest ever set of leaked internal documents from mining giant BHP. The files reportedly show the company locking in continued fossil fuel use while publicly presenting itself as committed to a green transition. The report has drawn attention to the gap between BHP's climate messaging and its actual investment plans, reviving debate over corporate greenwashing in the resources sector.

Oil spills linked to the war are spreading through the Strait of Hormuz toward coral reefs and mangrove ecosystems, raising alarm among environmental groups. Greenpeace warns that fossil fuel dependence is placing people, nature and economies at risk, and is calling for a shift to clean, decentralised energy to prevent future damage.

Commenters are arguing that many governments have been captured by the fossil fuel industry and petrostates, leaving taxpayers effectively funding the burning of oil, gas and coal. They cite a Scientific American figure of $4.5 trillion a year in global fossil fuel subsidies, framing the money as public support for the very emissions governments claim to be cutting.

A new claim ties Shell's oil pollution to nearly a quarter of global heatwaves, prompting calls for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to make fossil fuel companies pay compensation for extreme weather damage. Andy Burnham is associated with the campaign, and climate campaigners are urging the UK government to hold major polluters financially accountable for climate-related losses.

Scientists and commentators are weighing what is driving this summer's extreme heat, pointing to a combination of El Niño conditions and long-term climate change caused by burning fossil fuels. Greenhouse gas emissions are pushing global temperatures higher, making heatwaves more frequent and intense, and some warn that 2027 could bring even worse conditions as these factors compound.

A Senate report claims major fossil-fuel companies that answered Donald Trump's calls for donations are now positioned to receive billions in benefits, leaving US taxpayers facing higher bills. The report describes the arrangement as a 'bargain' between the president and major polluters, drawing criticism from climate campaigners and scrutiny of the links between political donations and favorable energy policy.

Saudi oil scientists, including staff linked to Aramco, have ended up contributing to the IPCC's most important climate reports, the Guardian reports. The revelation raises questions about fossil fuel industry influence over the scientific assessments that underpin global climate policy, and critics argue that oil-producing states have gained outsized sway over how climate science is framed and communicated to governments.

Commentators are revisiting how fossil fuel interests and allied politicians have repeatedly moved the goalposts on renewable energy as it outperforms their predictions. One example cited: during a 2013 Australian Senate renewable energy debate, Barnaby Joyce dismissed the idea of solar reaching even a 5% target, calling it something that was 'never going to happen' — a claim now contradicted by solar's rapid growth.

Power utilities are increasing their use of fossil fuels to keep up with rising electricity demand, according to a report by Public Health Watch. The development raises concerns about the impact on air quality and public health, as grids that might otherwise be shifting toward cleaner sources lean back on coal, oil and gas to meet consumption growth.

Bangkok, a city of tens of millions, is increasingly at risk from climate-related sea level rise and flooding, with warnings that many residents may eventually need to relocate. Commenters are framing the situation as a failure of political will, accusing oil industry interests and aligned politicians of delaying action on the emissions driving the crisis.

A commentary column by Whitcomb argues that the Trump administration's embrace of diesel reflects desperation on energy policy, while solar power looks increasingly promising. The piece also touches on a segment referred to as "Rudy Cheeks." Readers following US energy debates are weighing the contrast between backing fossil fuels and solar's growing competitiveness.