Zack Colman
@zcolman.bsky.social
POLITICO climate & energy reporter
SIGNAL: zcolman.75
SIGNAL: zcolman.75
Reposted by Zack Colman
#COP30 "exposed the world as it is — haltingly and slowly tackling climate pollution, and fragmented by rising economic nationalism and protectionism, rather than the united, optimistic community of nations that produced the Paris climate agreement 10 years ago."
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
The world is fractured. The climate talks reflected that.
Delegates from nearly 200 nations — not including the U.S. — showed they could make some progress. But they deferred the hardest decisions.
www.politico.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:55 AM
#COP30 "exposed the world as it is — haltingly and slowly tackling climate pollution, and fragmented by rising economic nationalism and protectionism, rather than the united, optimistic community of nations that produced the Paris climate agreement 10 years ago."
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Past UN climate talks pushed nations to think bigger.
This year, it held a mirror up to a fractured world.
Our #COP30 wrap makes sense of this moment.
Me w/ @karlmathiesen.bsky.social @ziaweise.bsky.social & Sarah Schonhardt, edit by @bkingdc.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
This year, it held a mirror up to a fractured world.
Our #COP30 wrap makes sense of this moment.
Me w/ @karlmathiesen.bsky.social @ziaweise.bsky.social & Sarah Schonhardt, edit by @bkingdc.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
The world is fractured. The climate talks reflected that.
Delegates from nearly 200 nations — not including the U.S. — showed they could make some progress. But they deferred the hardest decisions.
www.politico.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Past UN climate talks pushed nations to think bigger.
This year, it held a mirror up to a fractured world.
Our #COP30 wrap makes sense of this moment.
Me w/ @karlmathiesen.bsky.social @ziaweise.bsky.social & Sarah Schonhardt, edit by @bkingdc.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
This year, it held a mirror up to a fractured world.
Our #COP30 wrap makes sense of this moment.
Me w/ @karlmathiesen.bsky.social @ziaweise.bsky.social & Sarah Schonhardt, edit by @bkingdc.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Zack Colman
Today is “crunch day” to make progress on fossil fuel language with Lula set to fly back to Belém. 82 countries in Europe, the Pacific islands, Latin America and Africa are edging toward a “roadmap” that various countries could agree to @zcolman.bsky.social writes www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Double down on push to abandon fossil fuels, 82 countries urge at climate summit
Governments across Europe, the Pacific islands, Latin America and Africa embraced the call. The United States did not.
www.politico.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Today is “crunch day” to make progress on fossil fuel language with Lula set to fly back to Belém. 82 countries in Europe, the Pacific islands, Latin America and Africa are edging toward a “roadmap” that various countries could agree to @zcolman.bsky.social writes www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
"It won’t be long before we have a queue of American governors begging BYD to set up electric car factories in the States."
As the US slams the door on climate, China makes it very clear at COP30 that it's open for business.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
As the US slams the door on climate, China makes it very clear at COP30 that it's open for business.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
China strides into US-sized gap at climate talks
In the Biden era, countries interested in clean energy “were motivated to buy things from the U.S.,” an African official says. But now Beijing has few rivals.
www.politico.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:58 PM
"It won’t be long before we have a queue of American governors begging BYD to set up electric car factories in the States."
As the US slams the door on climate, China makes it very clear at COP30 that it's open for business.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
As the US slams the door on climate, China makes it very clear at COP30 that it's open for business.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
The US isn't at COP. But China is -- in some very obvious ways.
Whether it will box out the US for the global EV and clean energy market is on minds here.
The latest from Belem:
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Whether it will box out the US for the global EV and clean energy market is on minds here.
The latest from Belem:
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
China strides into US-sized gap at climate talks
In the Biden era, countries interested in clean energy “were motivated to buy things from the U.S.,” an African official says. But now Beijing has few rivals.
www.politico.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:28 PM
The US isn't at COP. But China is -- in some very obvious ways.
Whether it will box out the US for the global EV and clean energy market is on minds here.
The latest from Belem:
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Whether it will box out the US for the global EV and clean energy market is on minds here.
The latest from Belem:
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
NEW: 350.org, the group that spearheaded opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline, has suspended US operations amid funding woes.
350 helped popularize the “Keep It In The Ground” movement that has become foundational to green activism.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
350 helped popularize the “Keep It In The Ground” movement that has become foundational to green activism.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Enviro group that helped lead Keystone Pipeline opposition suspends US operations
The group will keep three U.S. positions open in hopes of reviving operations in the future.
www.politico.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:01 AM
NEW: 350.org, the group that spearheaded opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline, has suspended US operations amid funding woes.
350 helped popularize the “Keep It In The Ground” movement that has become foundational to green activism.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
350 helped popularize the “Keep It In The Ground” movement that has become foundational to green activism.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Trump is no longer content to stand aloof from the global alliance to combat climate change. His new goal is to demolish it.
@karlmathiesen.bsky.social & I explored Trump’s multi-prong strategy to instead build a coalition reliant on US fossil fuels.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
@karlmathiesen.bsky.social & I explored Trump’s multi-prong strategy to instead build a coalition reliant on US fossil fuels.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Trump’s fossil fuel crusade confronts the climate faithful
Pulling out of the Paris climate agreement was not enough, an ex-aide to the U.S. president says on the eve of a summit in Brazil: "You have to potentially destroy it."
www.politico.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Trump is no longer content to stand aloof from the global alliance to combat climate change. His new goal is to demolish it.
@karlmathiesen.bsky.social & I explored Trump’s multi-prong strategy to instead build a coalition reliant on US fossil fuels.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
@karlmathiesen.bsky.social & I explored Trump’s multi-prong strategy to instead build a coalition reliant on US fossil fuels.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
"A new survey of nine middle-income nations finds widespread concerns about climate change. Large majorities in these countries say global climate change is affecting the area where they live."
via @pewresearch.org
www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/...
via @pewresearch.org
www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/...
People in Middle-Income Countries Say Climate Change Is Affecting Their Community
Large majorities in nine middle-income countries say global climate change is affecting their community. About half or more in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico see a great deal of impact.
www.pewresearch.org
November 5, 2025 at 7:23 PM
"A new survey of nine middle-income nations finds widespread concerns about climate change. Large majorities in these countries say global climate change is affecting the area where they live."
via @pewresearch.org
www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/...
via @pewresearch.org
www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/...
"their work has proven less durable than they expected.”
Kelsey Tamborrino & Jessie Blaeser cover a Biden alumni autopsy of the admin's failure to protect its green legacy, which echoes many of the issues @politico.com uncovered in our Biden's Billions series.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Kelsey Tamborrino & Jessie Blaeser cover a Biden alumni autopsy of the admin's failure to protect its green legacy, which echoes many of the issues @politico.com uncovered in our Biden's Billions series.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Slow rollout throttled Biden’s big clean energy ambitions, former staffers say
An “executive branch machinery that defaulted to caution, process, and reactive strategies” undercut the ex-president’s massive energy and infrastructure programs, a report by his former staffers deta...
www.politico.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:53 PM
"their work has proven less durable than they expected.”
Kelsey Tamborrino & Jessie Blaeser cover a Biden alumni autopsy of the admin's failure to protect its green legacy, which echoes many of the issues @politico.com uncovered in our Biden's Billions series.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Kelsey Tamborrino & Jessie Blaeser cover a Biden alumni autopsy of the admin's failure to protect its green legacy, which echoes many of the issues @politico.com uncovered in our Biden's Billions series.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Nations remain far off-track of Paris climate agreement goals, with the planet almost certainly seeing long-term warming exceeding 1.5 C as soon as this decade, per the UN.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
UN: Nations well off-track of Paris climate agreement goals
U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement would erase another 0.1 C of progress.
www.politico.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Nations remain far off-track of Paris climate agreement goals, with the planet almost certainly seeing long-term warming exceeding 1.5 C as soon as this decade, per the UN.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
NEW: Trump won't send "high level representatives" to COP30 climate talks, WH confirms.
It remains unclear if career staff from agencies will attend.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
It remains unclear if career staff from agencies will attend.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
POLITICO Pro: White House: Trump won't send 'high level' officials to climate talks
The news comes as diplomats from around the world wonder how and whether President Donald Trump will disrupt the COP30 negotiations in Brazil.
subscriber.politicopro.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:59 PM
NEW: Trump won't send "high level representatives" to COP30 climate talks, WH confirms.
It remains unclear if career staff from agencies will attend.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
It remains unclear if career staff from agencies will attend.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
Trump's ability to delay a vote imposing a carbon emissions levy on global shipping is already scrambling negotiations for next month's COP30 climate talks in Brazil, @ziaweise.bsky.social reports.
www.politico.eu/article/trum...
www.politico.eu/article/trum...
Trump’s anti-climate crusade crashes EU’s COP30 preparations
A Greek veto prevents the EU from reendorsing a global carbon price on shipping in its position for next month’s climate summit.
www.politico.eu
October 21, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Trump's ability to delay a vote imposing a carbon emissions levy on global shipping is already scrambling negotiations for next month's COP30 climate talks in Brazil, @ziaweise.bsky.social reports.
www.politico.eu/article/trum...
www.politico.eu/article/trum...
Tensions are rising between Energy Sec. Chris Wright & the WH over a series of political missteps and policy disputes.
w/ @benlefebvre.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
w/ @benlefebvre.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
‘It just seems so messy’: How Chris Wright went wrong with the White House
Missteps in cutting clean energy spending and friction between staffers has led to questions about whether the former fracking company CEO will remain in the Cabinet.
www.politico.com
October 17, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Tensions are rising between Energy Sec. Chris Wright & the WH over a series of political missteps and policy disputes.
w/ @benlefebvre.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
w/ @benlefebvre.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
Trump & his Cabinet say wind & solar are making electricity more expensive.
Federal data say the opposite.
Our analysis showed states w/ > avg wind/solar generation & > avg acceleration of wind/solar since ‘21 were likelier to have < avg power prices.
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
Federal data say the opposite.
Our analysis showed states w/ > avg wind/solar generation & > avg acceleration of wind/solar since ‘21 were likelier to have < avg power prices.
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
The government’s own data rebuts Trump’s claims about wind and solar prices
The Trump administration has targeted renewable energy for driving up electricity prices, but POLITICO’s analysis shows states that are growing their wind and solar power typically have lower power co...
www.politico.com
October 7, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Trump & his Cabinet say wind & solar are making electricity more expensive.
Federal data say the opposite.
Our analysis showed states w/ > avg wind/solar generation & > avg acceleration of wind/solar since ‘21 were likelier to have < avg power prices.
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
Federal data say the opposite.
Our analysis showed states w/ > avg wind/solar generation & > avg acceleration of wind/solar since ‘21 were likelier to have < avg power prices.
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
Reposted by Zack Colman
Green power is sometimes the cheapest power — despite what Trump says.
The Trump administration has targeted renewable energy for driving up electricity prices, but our analysis shows states that are growing their wind and solar power typically have lower power costs.
The Trump administration has targeted renewable energy for driving up electricity prices, but our analysis shows states that are growing their wind and solar power typically have lower power costs.
Green power is sometimes the cheapest power — despite what Trump says
The Trump administration has targeted renewable energy for driving up electricity prices, but POLITICO’s analysis shows states that are growing their wind and solar power typically have lower power co...
www.politico.com
October 7, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Green power is sometimes the cheapest power — despite what Trump says.
The Trump administration has targeted renewable energy for driving up electricity prices, but our analysis shows states that are growing their wind and solar power typically have lower power costs.
The Trump administration has targeted renewable energy for driving up electricity prices, but our analysis shows states that are growing their wind and solar power typically have lower power costs.
Reposted by Zack Colman
Scoop by @zcolman.bsky.social for @politico.com: A Trump administration plan to boost civilian nuclear power would harvest the plutonium "pits" manufactured for nuclear weapons — raising concerns about the impact to U.S. defenses:
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
Trump’s nuclear power push stirs worries about US weapons stockpile
The scramble to build new reactors to supply power to AI data centers may include plutonium from the nation’s nuclear deterrent.
www.politico.com
September 29, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Scoop by @zcolman.bsky.social for @politico.com: A Trump administration plan to boost civilian nuclear power would harvest the plutonium "pits" manufactured for nuclear weapons — raising concerns about the impact to U.S. defenses:
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
The Trump admin has considered diverting plutonium that supports the nation's nuclear weapons arsenal to energy companies, raising national security concerns within the government.
I've got exclusive details here:
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
I've got exclusive details here:
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
Trump’s nuclear power push stirs worries about US weapons stockpile
The scramble to build new reactors to supply power to AI data centers may include plutonium from the nation’s nuclear deterrent.
www.politico.com
September 29, 2025 at 6:45 PM
The Trump admin has considered diverting plutonium that supports the nation's nuclear weapons arsenal to energy companies, raising national security concerns within the government.
I've got exclusive details here:
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
I've got exclusive details here:
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
Now on the Energy Dept’s banned words list: “Climate change,” “green” and “emissions.”
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
POLITICO Pro: Energy Dept. adds ‘climate change’ and ‘emissions’ to banned words list
It is the latest in a series of Trump administration efforts to dispute, silence or downplay climate change.
subscriber.politicopro.com
September 28, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Now on the Energy Dept’s banned words list: “Climate change,” “green” and “emissions.”
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
Trump admin is planning to expand its use of emergency orders requiring coal, oil and gas power plants to run past their retirement dates.
Details here:
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
Details here:
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
POLITICO Pro: Trump Energy Department eyes new must-run orders for power plants
The White House is concerned the retirement of any power plant able to produce round-the-clock “baseload” power would harm President Donald Trump’s economic goals.
subscriber.politicopro.com
September 25, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Trump admin is planning to expand its use of emergency orders requiring coal, oil and gas power plants to run past their retirement dates.
Details here:
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
Details here:
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Zack Colman
China NDC for 2035
-Net economy wide GHG emissions by 7-10% from peak levels
Increase share of non-fossil fuels in total energy consumption to over 30%
-Expand installed capacity of wind and solar power to over 6x the 2020 levels, striving to bring the total to 3600 GW
-Net economy wide GHG emissions by 7-10% from peak levels
Increase share of non-fossil fuels in total energy consumption to over 30%
-Expand installed capacity of wind and solar power to over 6x the 2020 levels, striving to bring the total to 3600 GW
September 24, 2025 at 6:38 PM
China NDC for 2035
-Net economy wide GHG emissions by 7-10% from peak levels
Increase share of non-fossil fuels in total energy consumption to over 30%
-Expand installed capacity of wind and solar power to over 6x the 2020 levels, striving to bring the total to 3600 GW
-Net economy wide GHG emissions by 7-10% from peak levels
Increase share of non-fossil fuels in total energy consumption to over 30%
-Expand installed capacity of wind and solar power to over 6x the 2020 levels, striving to bring the total to 3600 GW
Energy Sec. Chris Wright said Trump admin will "probably" provide credit support to $44B Alaska LNG project that has struggled to attract private investors.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
POLITICO Pro: Wright: DOE likely to offer Alaska LNG credit support
The Trump administration is exploring ways to bring the Alaska project to fruition given its struggles to attract funding
subscriber.politicopro.com
September 24, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Energy Sec. Chris Wright said Trump admin will "probably" provide credit support to $44B Alaska LNG project that has struggled to attract private investors.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
Trump's election and rapid-fire dismantling of environmental rules stunned the climate movement into inaction.
Green groups are now re-emerging with contrasting visions for activism that will look different than the Resistance era.
My latest here:
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
Green groups are now re-emerging with contrasting visions for activism that will look different than the Resistance era.
My latest here:
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
Shell-shocked green movement searches for how to counter Trump
Environmental groups that have watched President Donald Trump shred their climate victories are beset by internal divides, slumping fund-raising and a debate on how to fight back.
www.politico.com
September 22, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Trump's election and rapid-fire dismantling of environmental rules stunned the climate movement into inaction.
Green groups are now re-emerging with contrasting visions for activism that will look different than the Resistance era.
My latest here:
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
Green groups are now re-emerging with contrasting visions for activism that will look different than the Resistance era.
My latest here:
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
DOE dissolved the Climate Working Group that wrote a report criticizing long-established climate science.
Department argued in court the move should shelve a lawsuit that the group violated federal law.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
Department argued in court the move should shelve a lawsuit that the group violated federal law.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
POLITICO Pro: DOE says it dissolved research group that wrote its controversial climate report
The department said the end of the Climate Working Group means environmental groups' complaint over alleged Federal Advisory Committee Act violations is no longer valid.
subscriber.politicopro.com
September 10, 2025 at 12:14 PM
DOE dissolved the Climate Working Group that wrote a report criticizing long-established climate science.
Department argued in court the move should shelve a lawsuit that the group violated federal law.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
Department argued in court the move should shelve a lawsuit that the group violated federal law.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski is personally reviewing FEMA contracts, where his virtual veto power is slowing routine decisions & operations, admin officials told @myahward.bsky.social and I.
www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
Lewandowski’s veto power over DHS contracts frustrates admin officials: ‘Corey is part of the problem’
His involvement has contributed to a bottleneck at the agency that has rankled members of the administration.
www.politico.com
August 27, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski is personally reviewing FEMA contracts, where his virtual veto power is slowing routine decisions & operations, admin officials told @myahward.bsky.social and I.
www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
Trump pledged to help Appalachia recover from Hurricane Helene.
But projects to build housing & lower utility bills there have been downsized & paused as his EPA withholds $20B of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grants.
Read more here: subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
But projects to build housing & lower utility bills there have been downsized & paused as his EPA withholds $20B of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grants.
Read more here: subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
POLITICO Pro: How Trump's move to kill clean energy cash is stunting Helene recovery
EPA's termination of a key grant program has forced the scaling back of programs to address housing shortages and reduce energy bills in rural Appalachia.
subscriber.politicopro.com
August 22, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Trump pledged to help Appalachia recover from Hurricane Helene.
But projects to build housing & lower utility bills there have been downsized & paused as his EPA withholds $20B of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grants.
Read more here: subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
But projects to build housing & lower utility bills there have been downsized & paused as his EPA withholds $20B of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grants.
Read more here: subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...