Norway's Supreme Court rules three North Sea oil and gas field approvals illegal because the state did not weigh the emissions from burning the fuel

The stories

29 on this beat today.

Every story told the same way: what happened, who is involved, why it matters, how it works, the truth and the good news.

1. 01

   Norway's Supreme Court rules three North Sea oil and gas field approvals illegal because the state did not weigh the emissions from burning the fuel

   3

   North Sea oil and gas field approvals ruled illegal

   by a majority of Norway's 11 Supreme Court judges [1]

   6 to 9

   barrels other suppliers make for every 10 Norway stops

   an estimate from studies cited in the debate [2]

   $3 billion

   Norway's pledge to a new rainforest fund, the biggest

   paid only if the fund reaches its full target [4]

   What happened

   • Norway's Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the state acted illegally in approving 3 North Sea oil and gas fields. [1]
   • A majority of its 11 judges found the state had not weighed the emissions released when that fuel is burned. [1]
   • The ruling does not cancel the permits or shut the fields straight away. [2]
   • Norway's government must now weigh the global harm from burning the fuel before it awards licences. [2]
   • Khan called Norway "Europe's largest petrostate", a country whose income leans on oil and gas. [2]
   • The ruling came 2 days after Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store told COP31 that "Norway will do its part". [2]
   • His speech did not mention Norway's ongoing expansion of oil and gas sites. [2]

   10 barrelsNorway stops

   ↓→

   6 to 9 barrelsOthers add

   Who is involved

   Environmental groups brought the case against Norway's government, and won. [1]

   Tessa Khan runs Uplift, a group that has fought two British oilfields in court. [2] She called it a "historical ruling". [2]

   • Environmental groups sued, and won
   • Norway's government approved the fields
   • Norway's Supreme Court the country's top court; 11 judges heard the case and a majority found the approvals illegal
   • Jonas Gahr Store Norway's prime minister; he told COP31 that Norway will do its part
   • Tessa Khan head of Uplift, a group that has fought British oilfields in court; she called the ruling historical

   How it unfolded

   1. 2 days earlier Store speaks at COP31
   2. Friday Supreme Court rules

   Why it matters

   Every new licence in Norway must now pass the same test of the harm from burning. [2]

   Other governments face the same fight: Uplift has taken the UK's Jackdaw and Rosebank fields to court. [2]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Why does Norway keep drilling at all?

      Norway argues its oil and gas is produced more cleanly than many other exporters' fuel. [2]

   2. 2

      And if Norway pumped less?

      It says Europe would then lean on countries with dirtier fuel and worse human rights. [2]

      Norway pumps less→Europe buys elsewhere→Dirtier suppliers gain
   3. 3

      Would leaving the oil in the ground still cut emissions?

      Studies estimate that for every 10 barrels Norway stops producing, other suppliers make 6 to 9 more. [2]

      10 barrelsNorway stops

      ↓→

      6 to 9 barrelsOthers add
   4. 4

      So why do campaigners still object?

      They call it "the drug dealer's defence": nearly every exporter has a reason to be the last one pumping. [2]

   5. 5

      Does Norway run on its own oil at home?

      No: hydropower makes 90% of Norway's electricity. [3] In September, 98.81% of new cars sold there were electric. [3]

      Power from water90%

      New cars that are electric98.81%
   6. 6

      Where else does Norway's money show up today?

      Norway has promised $3 billion to a new rainforest fund, the biggest pledge. [4] It pays only if the fund reaches its full target. [4]

      $3 billionNorway's pledge to the rainforest fund

   7. 7

      Is Norway the only one in a legal fight over oil?

      No: ExxonMobil has taken the EU to a private tribunal over a rule making oil firms build carbon storage. [5]

   8. 8

      So what is really going on?

      The court did not ban drilling; it made the state count the harm before saying yes. [2] Norway's government still decides. [2]

      Court sets the test→Government weighs the harm→Government still decides

   How it works

   Energy economists call this carbon leakage: oil one country holds back is partly pumped by another.

   Norway's government says that if it pumps less, Europe buys more from other countries instead. [2]

   Seen it before

   When one shop stops selling crisps, the same crisps still sell at the shop down the road.

   The truth

   • What is really going on Norway's Supreme Court ruled that the state must weigh the emissions from burning its oil and gas before it approves fields, but the 3 fields keep their permits for now. [2]
   • Why it works on people A court win sounds like a ban, but this ruling sets a test Norway's government must apply, and it still decides. [2]
   • Nobody knows yet

     How many barrels a cut in Norway would really save.

     The estimate that other suppliers make 6 to 9 of every 10 barrels comes from studies the report does not name. [2]

1. 02

   ExxonMobil takes the EU to a tribunal

   What happened

   • Three ExxonMobil companies have filed for arbitration against the European Commission, a Commission document seen by Euronews shows. [5]
   • ExxonMobil objects to an EU rule that producers help build storage for carbon dioxide. [5] The EU goal is 50 million tonnes a year by 2030. [5]
   • The rule covers 44 big oil and gas producers in the EU. [5]
   • ExxonMobil says the goal is impossible because permits are slow and costs are high. [5]

   How it unfolded

   They use the Energy Charter Treaty, a post-Cold War deal letting energy firms sue governments over expected profits. [5]

   Why it matters

   The case tests whether the EU can make oil and gas firms pay to build carbon storage. [5]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      How far is the EU from its goal?

      The EU can store 3.54 million tonnes a year today, and projects add up to 27.1 million. [5]

      Million tonnes a year

      Stored today3.54

      Projects planned27.1

      2030 goal50
   2. 2

      Who carries the cost if the rule stays?

      The rule puts the bill on oil and gas producers, not on taxpayers or voluntary investors. [5]

      Oil and gas firmspay

      vsvs

      Taxpayersdo not

   How it works

   Lawyers call this investor-state arbitration: a treaty lets a foreign company claim money from a government.

   ExxonMobil says the rule breaks the treaty's promises of fair treatment and protection from seizure. [5]

   Seen it before

   A neighbour who promised you a quiet garden can be asked to pay if they later build a noisy shed.

   The truth

   • The document does not say how much money ExxonMobil wants. [5] ExxonMobil did not answer Euronews. [5]
   • Nobody knows yet

     How much money ExxonMobil wants from the EU.

     The Commission document gives neither the sum sought nor the EU's exposure, and ExxonMobil did not reply. [5]

2. 03

   A record El Nino reaches Monterey Bay

   What happened

   • Scientists say the effects of a historic El Nino have reached Monterey Bay on California's coast. [7]
   • El Nino is a spell of unusually warm water along the Pacific's equator. [7]
   • About 200 feet down, the water layer called the thermocline has climbed 8C above average. [7]
   • The tiny ocean plants that feed the food chain have dropped by a factor of 10. [7]
   • Kelp forests have started to die. [7] When kelp goes, about 40% of the species living in it can go too. [7]
   • Hundreds of starved seabirds have washed ashore between San Francisco and Los Angeles. [7]

   Why it matters

   NOAA, the US weather agency, gives a better than 83% chance of a "very strong" El Nino this winter. [15]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Why are the seabirds starving?

      Scientists think warm water has pushed the fish the birds eat into deeper water. [7]

      Water warms→Fish swim deeper→Seabirds go hungry
   2. 2

      Has this happened before?

      In 2015 and 2016, about 62,000 dead or dying murres, a kind of seabird, washed up from California to Alaska. [7]

      62,000dead or dying murres in the last big warm spell

   How it works

   Ecologists call kelp a foundation species: one living thing that many others depend on for food and shelter.

   Without kelp, hungry sea urchins graze the reef bare and eat any new kelp that sprouts. [7]

   Seen it before

   Cut down the one big tree in a playground, and its shade and its birds go with it.

   The truth

   • The full toll on birds, fish and sea mammals will not be counted until next spring. [7]
3. 04

   Midwives say El Nino threatens births

   What happened

   • The International Confederation of Midwives warns that El Nino raises the risk of death in childbirth for millions of women. [8]
   • About 15 million babies are due in November and December in countries rated high-risk for El Nino. [8]
   • That is 2 in every 3 births in the world. [8]
   • They include Nigeria, Chad, South Sudan, Somalia and Afghanistan, where mothers already die at some of the highest rates. [8]
   • In southern Malawi, heat above 40C is expected to keep pregnant women from check-ups, a midwife says. [8]

   Why it matters

   Floods and heat can cut a woman in labour off from the nearest hospital. [8]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Why does a weather pattern reach a hospital ward?

      When the power fails, Malawian midwives deliver babies in hot wards or by torchlight. [8]

   2. 2

      What does a failed rainy season do?

      Farming families in Malawi cannot afford the bus fare to a clinic, so problems go untreated. [8]

      Rains fail→No money for the bus→Problems untreated

   How it works

   Public health workers call this a compound risk: two dangers at once are worse than each alone.

   Women there already face some of the world's highest death rates in childbirth, so one blocked road adds to it. [8]

   Seen it before

   A flat tyre is a nuisance on a busy street, but a danger on an empty road at night.

   The truth

   • The warning comes from a group of midwives, not from a count of deaths so far. [8]
4. 05

   October was the hottest month on record

   What happened

   • NOAA's climate data centre says October 2026 was 1.43C above the 20th-century average. [9]
   • That is the biggest gap above average for any month since records began in 1850. [9]
   • It beat the old October record, from 2023, by 0.08C. [9]
   • Sea surface temperatures set an all-time record for a 5th month running. [9]

   Why it matters

   NOAA says El Nino drove record warmth across the central and eastern tropical Pacific. [9]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Is it all El Nino?

      No: this was the 50th October in a row above the 20th-century average. [9]

      50Octobers in a row above average

   2. 2

      When were the warmest Octobers?

      All 10 of the warmest Octobers on record have come since 2015. [9]

      10 of 10

      warmest Octobers, all since 2015

   How it works

   Climate scientists call this an anomaly: the gap between a month and its long-run average.

   NOAA compares October with the 20th-century average, so 1.43C means that much warmer than a typical October back then. [9]

   Seen it before

   A child measured against a door frame each birthday shows growth by the gap from last year's mark.

5. 06

   The polar vortex breaks down early

   What happened

   • On 10 November the polar vortex broke down, its winds reversing to blow weakly from the east. [16]
   • It is the earliest breakdown since weather balloon records began in the 1950s, beating the old record by 18 days. [16]
   • Scientists at ECMWF, Europe's forecasting centre, told AFP it was "the earliest stratospheric vortex disruption that has been observed". [17]

   How it unfolded

   The polar vortex is a ring of high, cold winds that keeps freezing air over the North Pole. [16]

   A breakdown came before the 2018 UK cold snap called the Beast from the East. [16] Its blizzards killed 10 people. [16]

   Why it matters

   A breakdown can let Arctic air spill south into Europe, North America and East Asia. [17]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Is the record El Nino to blame?

      The Met Office's Adam Scaife suspects an El Nino influence, but says "we don't know that for sure". [16]

   2. 2

      What else could have done it?

      Andrew Charlton-Perez at the University of Reading says a high-pressure system over Scandinavia probably mattered more. [16]

   How it works

   Meteorologists call this a sudden stratospheric warming: air rushes in high over the pole and warms it.

   Air rushing in over the pole raises pressure and temperature, as pumping a bike tyre warms it. [16]

   Seen it before

   Open the freezer door and the cold air spills out across the kitchen floor.

   The truth

   • Nobody knows yet

     Whether the record El Nino broke the polar vortex early.

     The Met Office's Adam Scaife suspects some influence, while Reading's Andrew Charlton-Perez thinks a high-pressure system over Scandinavia mattered more. [16]

6. 07

   COP31's first draft is still to come

   What happened

   • COP31's first week ended on Friday with most of the 90-plus leaders gone home. [18]
   • Negotiators now work on the "cover decision", the final text agreed at the end of the summit. [18]
   • Australia's Chris Bowen, who chairs the talks, issued a list of "reflections" summing up what countries asked for. [18]
   • Countries had until late Saturday to respond, and a first draft is due early next week. [18]

   How it unfolded

   Past cover decisions made big promises: in 2021 to "phase down" coal, in 2023 to "transition away" from fossil fuels. [18]

   1. Saturday countries respond
   2. Next week first draft text
   3. 2021, Glasgow phase down coal
   4. 2023, Dubai transition away from fossil fuels

   Why it matters

   This draft decides whether a goal of 35% of energy from electricity by 2035 makes the final deal. [18]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Why does one text matter so much?

      Decisions need all of nearly 200 countries to agree, so the final text holds only what nobody blocks. [10]

      Nearly 200 countries→Each can block→Text holds what is left
   2. 2

      Who is still in the room?

      Antonio Guterres, the UN chief, gave his last COP speech before leaving office in December. [18] He said: "You cannot build peace on a burning planet". [18]

   How it works

   Diplomats call a summit's main text the outcome document: what every country signs.

   Bowen says nothing in the reflections is "prejudged, locked in or necessarily to be included" in the final text. [18]

   Seen it before

   Planning a class trip, the destination everyone can live with is often nobody's first choice.

   The truth

   • What is really going on At COP31, Finland published its own plan to quit fossil fuels while the main talks still wait for a first draft text. [10][18]
   • Guterres's successor is still unknown, and some fear the next UN chief will care less about the climate. [18]
7. 08

   Newsom backs a world exit from fossil fuels

   What happened

   • California's governor Gavin Newsom told the Guardian his state is "100%" behind a global exit from fossil fuels. [11]
   • He backs the Santa Marta coalition, more than 50 countries planning a move off oil, gas and coal. [11]
   • Germany has set 2045 to phase out fossil fuels, and France and the Netherlands have published plans. [11]

   Who is involved

   Newsom is the most prominent US politician at COP31, which the Trump administration boycotts. [11]

   • Gavin Newsom at COP31
   • The Trump administration boycotting

   How it unfolded

   Petrostates led by Saudi Arabia blocked a fossil fuel roadmap at last year's talks. [11] Countries wanting a roadmap then met in Santa Marta, Colombia, in April. [11]

   Why it matters

   Newsom is widely expected to run for president in 2028. [11] If he won, the US could join the coalition. [11]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Why go around the main talks?

      Saudi Arabia leaned on the disputed idea that every UN climate decision needs consensus. [11]

      Consensus needed→Petrostates block→Coalition goes ahead alone
   2. 2

      Does a coalition carry weight?

      The 80-plus countries that wanted a roadmap last year add up to the world's biggest economic power, the Guardian says. [11]

      80+countries that wanted a roadmap at last year's talks

   How it works

   Political scientists call this a coalition of the willing: countries that act without waiting for all.

   A credible exit would warn investors that staying in fossil fuels is getting riskier, the Guardian's report argues. [11]

   Seen it before

   When the whole class cannot agree on a game, a few friends start playing and others drift over.

8. 09

   Finland publishes a plan to quit fossil fuels

   What happened

   • Finland published a national plan at COP31 to move its economy off fossil fuels. [10]
   • It follows France, Germany and the Netherlands, which have published plans of their own. [10]
   • More than 96% of Finland's electricity already comes from sources that are not fossil fuels. [10]
   • In 2025 wood fuels were its biggest energy source at 28%, with nuclear at 27% and fossil fuels at 18%. [10]

   Who is involved

   • Finland plan published at COP31
   • France plan out
   • Germany plan out
   • The Netherlands plan out

   Why it matters

   The plans follow the final COP30 text, which dropped every mention of a fossil fuel roadmap. [10]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Did Europe's leaders talk about fossil fuels at COP31?

      Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission's head, did not mention them once in her speech. [10]

   2. 2

      Why does that matter to campaigners?

      Climate Action Network Europe says more electricity without a fossil fuel exit gives the industry cover to carry on. [10]

      More electricity→No exit from fossil fuels→Industry carries on, critics say

   How it works

   Policy experts call such a plan a roadmap: steps and dates to reach a goal.

   Finland's power is already mostly non-fossil, so its hard part is heavy industry, long drives and heating. [10]

   Seen it before

   Tidying a room is easy once the floor is clear; the full drawers are what take the time.

   The truth

   • Finland set no legally binding date to quit fossil fuels. [10] Oil Change International says plans must go beyond existing policies. [10]
9. 10

   103 fossil fuel groups are at the talks

   What happened

   • At least 103 companies and groups tied to fossil fuels sent delegates to COP31, an analysis says. [19]
   • The count comes from Kick Big Polluters Out, a coalition of about 450 environmental groups. [19]
   • They include 60 industry bodies, 16 finance firms, 6 farm and food groups and 3 big tech groups. [19]
   • Exxon has 13 people in Antalya, TotalEnergies has 5 and BlackRock, a big investor, has 5. [19]

   Why it matters

   Nepal, hit by a deadly glacier collapse this summer, has a sixth as many delegates as these groups. [19]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Who pays for the banks being there?

      30 banks at COP31 have put more than $2.2 trillion into fossil fuels over 5 years, the analysis says. [19]

      $2.2 trillionfossil fuel finance from 30 banks at COP31, over 5 years

   2. 2

      Can anyone see who brought them?

      Nearly 1 in 5 at the talks did not say how they are linked to their team, Transparency International says. [19]

      1 of 5

      participants who did not disclose their link

   How it works

   Political scientists call this lobbying: groups with a stake trying to shape a decision.

   Governments alone decide who joins their teams, so firms can come in under a country's badge. [19]

   Seen it before

   A school council where parents of one team fill half the seats tends to vote for that team.

   The truth

   • TotalEnergies says it attends to help drive the energy transition. [19] Exxon was asked for comment. [19]
10. 11

    A US court splits California's climate laws

    What happened

    • A US appeals court on 9 November let part of California's climate reporting law go ahead and blocked the rest. [6]
    • Firms with over $1 billion in sales must still report emissions from their own sites and bought power. [6]
    • The court blocked a rule to report emissions from their whole supply chain, called Scope 3. [6]
    • It also blocked a second law making firms over $500 million report their climate risks. [6]

    Who is involved

    The US Chamber of Commerce and other business groups brought the case. [6]

    • Business groups sued
    • California wrote the laws

    Why it matters

    Companies had to file their first emissions figures on 10 November, so that deadline stood. [6]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Why can a court block a reporting rule?

       Judge Jacqueline Nguyen said the risk law demands "value-laden judgments on a politically fraught subject". [6] That likely breaks free-speech rights, she wrote. [6]

    2. 2

       Why was the supply chain part blocked?

       The court said supply chain data was not tied closely enough to a firm's own operations. [6]

       Own sites: facts→Supply chain: too distant→Blocked

    How it works

    Lawyers call this compelled speech: a government making someone say something.

    The court let factual reports on a firm's own operations stand as ordinary business information. [6]

    Seen it before

    A school can make you show your homework, but not make you say you enjoyed it.

1. 12

   Hungary's MOL sets a date to drop Russian oil

   What happened

   • MOL, Hungary's big oil company, says it will be ready to stop buying Russian oil by the end of 2027. [13]
   • For the first time it will ask the EU for money to help it switch suppliers. [13]
   • Russia's share of the EU's oil imports has fallen from 27% in 2021 to 2%, the European Commission says. [13]
   • Hungary and Slovakia are the only EU countries still buying much Russian crude, through the old Druzhba pipeline. [13]

   Why it matters

   MOL Hungary's boss Gyorgy Bacsa warns that dearer energy could bring unrest in Hungary and Slovakia. [13]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Why is Russian oil hard to give up?

      Urals, Russia's oil, sells at about $60 a barrel, around 34% below Brent, the world's benchmark oil. [13]

      34%cheaper: Russian oil against Brent

   2. 2

      What does Hungary need to switch?

      MOL wants more oil through the Adria pipeline from Croatia, after years of disputes over its capacity and fees. [13]

      Druzhba from Russia→Adria from Croatia→Disputes over fees
   3. 3

      Who would pay?

      An IMF study found a full cut-off of Russian energy could raise Hungary's energy spending by about 15% by 2030. [13]

      15%more energy spending for Hungary by 2030, in a full cut-off

   How it works

   Economists call this switching cost: what a buyer pays to move from one supplier to another.

   MOL says Hungary sits at the end of a single pipeline and needs new links before it can buy elsewhere. [13]

   Seen it before

   Changing phone networks means a new contract, a new SIM and losing your old deal.

   Why oil one country leaves in the ground may be pumped by another

   Energy economists call it carbon leakage: when one country cuts its oil supply, buyers who still want oil turn to other sellers.

   The twist

   A barrel one country leaves in the ground is only partly a barrel saved, because buyers who still want oil buy it from someone else.

   The picture

   10 barrelsNorway stops

   ↓→

   6 to 9 barrelsOthers add

   Step by step

   1. 1 One country pumps less oil
   2. 2 Buyers still want the same amount
   3. 3 Other sellers pump more to fill the gap
   4. 4 World supply falls by less than the cut

   The same force, elsewhere today

   Where this chain is also running, in today's other stories.

   • Russia plans a new route for its Arctic gas

     The EU stops buying Yamal's gas, and Russia plans to sell it in Asia or swap it through Turkey or China, so the gas is still sold.

   • Hungary's MOL sets a date to drop Russian oil

     Hungary stops buying from Russia but still needs the oil, so the same demand moves to a pipeline from Croatia.

   Where you've seen this

   Factories

   a strict pollution rule in one country can move a factory to a country without one

   Fishing

   a ban in one sea can send the boats to fish the next sea instead

   Fuel taxes

   a high fuel tax on one side of a border sends drivers to fill up on the other side

   The catch

   Leakage shrinks when buyers need less oil, so a cut in demand, such as more electric cars and heat pumps, is not made up by another seller.

   And the whole of it

   Norway's judges, its oil workers, Europe's drivers and the rival sellers are all part of one market for oil. A decision taken in any one of those places moves barrels in the others, often out of sight.

1. 13

   Russia plans a new route for its Arctic gas

   What happened

   • An EU ban on Russian liquefied gas starts on 1 January 2027. [14] Russia must find new buyers for its Yamal gas. [14]
   • Between January and October, 81% of Yamal's deliveries went to Europe, the group Urgewald says. [14]
   • Asia is the likely market, but it is much further away than Europe's 6 to 10 day voyage. [14]
   • Sailing around Africa to Asia takes 35 to 40 days one way. [14]
   • Russia has only 15 tankers able to cross the frozen Arctic route east in winter. [14]

   How it unfolded

   1. January to October 81% of Yamal's gas goes to Europe
   2. 1 Jan 2027 EU ban starts

   Why it matters

   Europe will have to buy gas elsewhere, and analyst Malte Humpert says that gas will most likely cost more. [14]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Does the ban stop Russia earning from the gas?

      Not necessarily: Russia could sell more to Turkey or China, which then sell their own gas to Europe. [14]

      Russia sells to Turkey or China→They sell other gas to Europe→Russia still earns
   2. 2

      How fast can Russia adjust?

      Humpert says Novatek, Yamal's owner, could restore most exports within a year or two. [14] "I would never bet against Novatek," he said. [14]

   How it works

   Trade economists call this trade deflection: when one market closes, goods are sold in other markets instead.

   Analyst Martin Vladimirov calls it a "virtual swap": Russia keeps its income though its gas never reaches Europe. [14]

   Seen it before

   If one friend will not trade with you, you can swap through a friend who trades with both.

   The EU stops buying Yamal's gas, and Russia plans to sell it in Asia or swap it through Turkey or China, so the gas is still sold.

   The idea, in story 12: Why oil one country leaves in the ground may be pumped by another →
2. 14

   Electricity goal could cut 7% of emissions

   What happened

   • COP31's hosts want electricity to supply 35% of the world's final energy by 2035. [20] Today it is just over 20%. [20]
   • Meeting it would cut about 4 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas a year, says Climate Trace. [2] It is an emissions tracker backed by Al Gore. [2]
   • That is about 7% of the world's emissions, even if the power is not all clean. [2]
   • With clean power, the cut rises to about 8 billion tonnes, or 14%. [2]

   Why it matters

   Electric machines waste far less energy than engines and boilers that burn fuel, so the switch itself saves fuel. [20]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Is it cheap?

      Climate Trace says it would cost less per tonne of carbon dioxide than other ways of cutting it. [2]

   2. 2

      What do critics say?

      Critics warn that countries could count new gas-fired power as progress towards the goal. [10]

      More electricity→Made from gas→Counted as progress

   How it works

   Engineers call this efficiency: how much of the energy put in comes out as useful work.

   Burning gas in a big power station to run a heat pump uses less fuel than a home gas boiler. [20]

   Seen it before

   A bike turns most of your effort into speed, while running wastes more of it bouncing up and down.

3. 15

   A record year for power in Africa

   What happened

   • About 30 million people worldwide got electricity for the first time in 2025, the International Energy Agency says. [21]
   • The number of people without power fell by about 15 million, to 720 million. [21]
   • In sub-Saharan Africa the number without power fell by a record 8 million. [21]
   • In Kenya alone, 5 million people gained power. [21]
   • The World Bank put $960 million into power connections in 2025, and expects $2.5 billion in 2026. [21]

   Why it matters

   The IEA warns the pace may slow this year, as dearer fuel from the Middle East war strains budgets. [21]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Did everyone gain?

      No: in 20 African countries, the population grew faster than the number who got power. [21]

      20African countries where the gap still grew

   2. 2

      What about cooking?

      Nearly 1 billion Africans lack clean ways to cook, and polluting fuels contribute to about 850,000 early deaths a year. [22]

      850,000early deaths a year in Africa from polluting cooking fuels

   How it works

   Development economists call the hardest part the last mile: reaching the people furthest from the grid.

   Grid links reached about 2 in 3 of the region's newly connected people, mostly in towns and cities. [21]

   Seen it before

   A pizza place delivers fast to nearby streets, and slowly to the farm at the edge of town.

   Good news

   • In sub-Saharan Africa, 8 million fewer people were without electricity in 2025, the biggest fall since the IEA began counting in 2000. In Kenya alone, 5 million people gained power.
4. 16

   A rainforest fund is $2bn short

   What happened

   • A new fund to pay countries for keeping tropical forests standing is still about $2 billion short, DW reports. [4]
   • The Tropical Forest Forever Facility needs $10 billion of start-up money by the end of 2026. [4]
   • Pledges from countries and groups so far total $7.9 billion. [4]
   • The fund would pay forest countries $4 a year for every hectare of forest they keep. [4]
   • Satellites would check the forests, and money would be cut for land that is cleared. [4]

   Why it matters

   Over 8 million hectares of forest were lost in 2024. [4]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Where does the money come from?

      Governments would lend at low interest, and the fund would sell bonds that pay investors about 5% a year. [4]

      Cheap government loans→Bonds sold to investors→Profits pay for forests
   2. 2

      What holds it up?

      Norway, the biggest would-be donor at $3 billion, pays only if the full $10 billion is in place this year. [4]

      $3 billionNorway's pledge

      ++

      full $10 billionCondition

   How it works

   Economists call this payment for ecosystem services: paying owners to keep nature that helps everyone.

   Countries have earned more by mining and farming forest land, so the fund tries to make standing forest pay more. [4]

   Seen it before

   Paying a neighbour's child to water your plants keeps them alive while you are away.

   The truth

   • Nobody knows yet

     Whether the rainforest fund reaches $10 billion this year.

     Pledges stand at $7.9 billion, and Norway's $3 billion depends on the full sum being raised. [4]

5. 17

   China and Turkey sign a $15bn clean power deal

   What happened

   • Turkey signed an early deal with China at COP31 to bring in about $15 billion for solar and wind farms. [23]
   • The plan covers 7 gigawatts of new farms, plus storage and grid upgrades. [23]
   • Turkey had 43.8 gigawatts of solar and wind in September, just over a third of its power capacity. [23]
   • It wants 175 gigawatts by 2040. [23] The deal gave no timetable or way of paying. [23]

   Why it matters

   Turkey's energy minister says its switch needs about $300 billion by 2040. [23]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Why does Turkey want Chinese money?

      Alparslan Bayraktar says Turkey needs partners from abroad and steady rules to draw that much investment. [23]

      $300 billion needed→Foreign partners sought→China signs
   2. 2

      Is Turkey moving off fossil fuels?

      Coal is still Turkey's biggest power source, and its climate plan lets emissions rise. [10]

   How it works

   Economists call this foreign direct investment: a company from one country building in another.

   The deal also shares know-how so Turkey can make wind turbine parts itself. [23]

   Seen it before

   A neighbour lends you tools and shows you how, so next time you fix the fence yourself.

6. 18

   Oceans take up more carbon than models say

   What happened

   • A study in the journal Science, out on 12 November, measured how much carbon dioxide oceans and land soak up. [24]
   • Since 1990, oceans have taken up 35% of the carbon dioxide from fossil fuels, and plants on land another 13%. [24]
   • The team used tiny changes in the oxygen in the air, because land, sea and fuel each change oxygen differently. [24]
   • They found the land's uptake has not grown with emissions, unlike most computer models. [24]

   Why it matters

   If these trends hold, the world will rely more on the oceans to slow warming, the authors say. [24]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Can the oceans keep it up?

      The authors say warmer water holds less gas and mixes less into the deep, so uptake may slow. [24]

      Water warms→Holds less gas→Uptake slows
   2. 2

      Why don't the models agree?

      Most models do not match the oxygen results for land, and they vary widely from each other. [24]

   How it works

   Climate scientists call oceans and forests carbon sinks: places that take carbon dioxide out of the air.

   Oceans and land plants together have taken up about half of fossil fuel carbon dioxide for decades, slowing warming. [24]

   Seen it before

   A sponge soaks up a spill until it is full, and then the rest runs across the table.

   The truth

   • Only about 10 labs in the world take these oxygen readings, so the results rest on few teams. [24]
7. 19

   Mangrove forests grow back worldwide

   What happened

   • Mangrove forests have been growing back around the world since about 2010, research in the journal Science finds, NASA reports. [25]
   • The world lost nearly 3,000 square kilometres of them between 1984 and 2010. [25]
   • Since 2010 it has regained nearly 2,000 square kilometres. [25]
   • Myanmar lost 28.6% of its mangroves by 2010 and has since grown about 10% back. [25]

   How it unfolded

   Mangroves are small salt-water trees that grow along tropical coasts. [25]

   Why it matters

   Mangroves can store up to 4 times as much carbon as taller inland tropical forests. [25] They also shield coasts from storm surges. [25]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Why did they come back?

      The authors credit restoration after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, stronger laws, and mud that opened new ground. [25]

      Tsunami teaches the cost→Laws and planting→Forests return
   2. 2

      Is it good news everywhere?

      No: losses in Nigeria's Niger Delta have shrunk the mangroves of West and Central Africa since 2010. [25]

   How it works

   Ecologists call this natural regeneration: a habitat regrowing once the pressure on it stops.

   About 2 in every 3 square kilometres gained came from mangroves spreading to new ground, the rest from regrowth. [25]

   Seen it before

   Stop mowing one corner of a lawn and wild flowers fill it within a summer.

   Good news

   • Mangrove forests have regained nearly 2,000 square kilometres since 2010, after losing almost 3,000 between 1984 and 2010.
8. 20

   Most climate laws survive, a study finds

   What happened

   • Oxford University researchers checked more than 800 climate laws and rules in 39 countries with most of the world's emissions. [12]
   • Of them, 718 are unchanged, 45 delayed, 32 weakened and just 11 repealed. [12]
   • 8 of the 11 repeals came from the US. [12]

   Why it matters

   The researchers say climate policies are getting more ambitious, not less, outside the US. [12]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Why does that matter at COP31?

      Oxford's Thom Wetzer says progress also depends on "decisions made far from the negotiating table". [12]

   2. 2

      And inside the US?

      A Columbia law expert says the midterm results give Democrats room to push energy reform in the states. [12]

      US federal rules cut→Democrats win states→State rules grow

   How it works

   Political scientists call this policy feedback: once a law is in place, the people it helps defend it.

   Only 11 of more than 800 measures were repealed, even with the US pulling back. [12]

   Seen it before

   Once a school starts a lunch club, ending it means telling every child who now relies on it.

9. 21

   Four countries plan a power line to Europe

   What happened

   • Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia and Bulgaria signed a deal this week for a power route from the Caspian to Europe. [26]
   • The line would carry wind and solar power from the Caspian region to eastern and central Europe. [26]
   • It would use bigger high-voltage lines across the South Caucasus and Turkey. [26]

   Who is involved

   • Azerbaijan wind and sun to sell
   • Georgia on the route
   • Turkey on the route
   • Bulgaria the EU's door

   Why it matters

   Bulgaria matters most for the EU, because it links the route into the EU's own grid. [26]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Why would Europe want it?

      Eastern Europe wants new sources of energy to cut its old reliance on fossil fuel routes. [26]

      Old fossil fuel routes→New power line→More choice of supplier
   2. 2

      Who pays for it?

      The countries hope sharing the cost lowers the risk for banks and investors who would fund it. [26]

      Costsshared

      ++

      Lendersless risk

   How it works

   Engineers call this interconnection: joining grids so power can flow between countries.

   Euronews says Caspian wind farms will need lines for export to pay their way. [26]

   Seen it before

   A farm stall on a quiet lane sells little; a road to the town brings the buyers.

   The truth

   • The deal sets goals and routes but gives no cost or start date. [26]
10. 22

    Delhi becomes the world's most polluted city

    What happened

    • Delhi's air index hit 334, "hazardous", on Friday, making it the most polluted major city in the world, IQAir says. [27]
    • Delhi overtook Lahore, in Pakistan, which had led the ranking. [27]
    • India's own pollution board recorded a higher 403, and called it "severe". [27]

    Who is involved

    IQAir is a Swiss company that tracks air quality. [27]

    • Delhi now the worst
    • Lahore overtaken

    Why it matters

    Cold, heavy winter air traps traffic fumes, building dust and smoke from burning fields across northern India and Pakistan. [27]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Why do the two readings differ?

       IQAir and India's board use different scales and methods to rate the same air. [27]

       334IQAir

       vsvs

       403India's board
    2. 2

       Does it stay this bad all day?

       No: by 11.30 that morning Delhi's IQAir reading had dropped to 208, Dawn reported. [27]

       208Delhi's IQAir reading by late morning

    How it works

    Scientists call this an air quality index: one number for several pollutants at once.

    Each scale sets its own cut-offs, so 334 is "hazardous" on one and 403 "severe" on the other. [27]

    Seen it before

    A test marked out of 50 and one marked out of 100 can give the same work different scores.

11. 23

    US overfishing list falls to a record low

    What happened

    • NOAA Fisheries says the number of US fish stocks subject to overfishing has fallen to an all-time low. [28]
    • The list dropped from 23 stocks to 15. [28]
    • Of 372 stocks with a known status, 96% are not being overfished. [28]
    • 52 stocks have been rebuilt since 2000, and Atlantic blue marlin left the overfishing list. [28]

    How it unfolded

    Overfishing means fish are being caught faster than they can breed back. [28]

    Why it matters

    US fishing and seafood brought in $321 billion in sales and supported 1.7 million jobs in 2024. [28]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Is every stock safe now?

       No: 42 stocks are still overfished, meaning their numbers are too low, the same as last year. [28]

       fell to 15Overfishing list

       vsvs

       stayed at 42Overfished list
    2. 2

       How do the two lists differ?

       Overfishing is catching too fast now; overfished means a stock is already too small. [28]

    How it works

    Fishery scientists call the safe level maximum sustainable yield: the biggest catch a stock can bear year after year.

    NOAA ran 173 stock checks in 2025. [28] It says managing fish well relies on science and enforcement. [28]

    Seen it before

    A fruit tree keeps giving apples if you pick some each year, but not if you cut the branches.

    Good news

    • The number of US fish stocks subject to overfishing fell from 23 to 15, the lowest on record, and 52 stocks have been rebuilt since 2000.
12. 24

    Masdar finishes a $950m solar farm in California

    What happened

    • Masdar, Abu Dhabi's clean energy company, has finished its $950 million Lockhart solar and battery site in California. [29]
    • It pairs 365 megawatts of solar panels with 173.7 megawatts of batteries. [29]
    • That is enough power for about 350,000 homes and businesses a year, Masdar says. [29]

    Who is involved

    Masdar is backed by TAQA, ADNOC and Mubadala, three big Abu Dhabi companies. [29]

    Why it matters

    Masdar plans to put another $20 billion into the US over the next decade. [29]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Why build in the US now?

       Masdar points to fast-rising demand from data centres, factories and electrification. [29]

       Data centres grow→Power demand rises→Masdar builds
    2. 2

       Who buys the power?

       California power suppliers and companies have signed long-term deals to buy it. [29]

    How it works

    Engineers call this solar-plus-storage: batteries hold daytime sun for the evening.

    Masdar calls Lockhart's batteries grid-stability assets: they help keep the supply steady. [29]

    Seen it before

    A water tank on a roof fills when rain falls and lets you shower when it stops.

13. 25

    US voters back $27bn for public transport

    What happened

    • US voters passed 22 of 27 ballot measures to fund public transport on 3 November. [30]
    • Together they are worth $27.4 billion. [30]
    • San Francisco Bay Area voters headed off big cuts to their BART trains. [30]
    • Coloradans backed new regional rail, and Seattle area voters chose more buses. [30]

    Who is involved

    • Colorado new regional rail
    • Seattle area more buses

    Why it matters

    Transit fared well when Republicans won in 2024 too, passing 19 of 25 measures. [30]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Why vote for a tax when costs are high?

       Sohail Husain of the Eno Center said it shows "the public is willing to pay" for better transit. [30]

    2. 2

       What happens next?

       A Democratic US Congress will now shape a major transport law due for renewal. [30]

    How it works

    Political scientists call this a ballot measure: voters decide a law or tax directly.

    Voters agreed to raise their own taxes, and the money goes to keeping or growing transit. [30]

    Seen it before

    A class puts pocket money in a jar for a trip, and the jar can only pay for that trip.

    Good news

    • US voters passed 22 of 27 ballot measures for buses and trains, worth $27.4 billion.
14. 26

    Germany makes its first green hydrogen at a big site

    What happened

    • Uniper and VNG, two German energy firms, made their first green hydrogen at a 30 megawatt plant in Saxony-Anhalt. [31]
    • Green hydrogen is made by splitting water with electricity from wind or sun. [31]
    • The plant runs on a wind farm next door and is now in testing. [31]
    • The hydrogen will travel through a 25km old gas pipeline converted for it. [31]

    Why it matters

    The project aims to show a whole hydrogen chain can work, from wind power to factory. [31]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Who will use it?

       TotalEnergies' Leuna refinery is due to start taking the hydrogen in 2027. [31]

    2. 2

       Can Africa supply it?

       A study puts the possible flow through West African pipelines at up to 7.16 million tonnes a year. [31]

       7.16 million tonnesa year of green hydrogen, a study's estimate for West Africa

    How it works

    Chemists call this electrolysis: using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

    Bad Lauchstadt joins the whole chain in one place, from wind power to the pipe to the refinery. [31]

    Seen it before

    A phone charger turns power from the wall into a full battery you can carry anywhere.

15. 27

    A solar PAC wins most of its races

    What happened

    • A US political group funded by solar firms is on track to win 19 of its 23 races this year. [32]
    • The group, the Invest in Tomorrow Coalition PAC, spent $17 million over the election season. [32]
    • Its ads never mentioned solar or clean energy. [32]

    Why it matters

    40% of Republicans who signed a 2025 letter to scrap the Inflation Reduction Act are leaving the US Congress. [32] That law pays for US clean energy. [32]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Why hide the real aim?

       Its ads used messages that tested well, such as attacking members for not being loyal enough to Trump. [32]

       Real aim: clean energy→Ads attack other issues→Votes move
    2. 2

       Was the PAC the main cause?

       No: Canary Media says the group used a mood already soured by high costs and the Iran war. [32]

    How it works

    Political scientists call this issue framing: choosing which topic voters hear about.

    The PAC picked races where good Democratic candidates had little outside money. [32]

    Seen it before

    A friend who wants pizza for the party talks about how cheap it is, not how much they love it.

16. 28

    Meta pays for electric trucks it does not use

    What happened

    • Meta, the owner of Facebook, is paying for 25 electric lorries to run freight between California and Arizona. [33]
    • Nevoya, an electric truck firm, will run them on the I-10 road from 2027, about 4 million miles a year. [33]
    • Meta ships none of its own goods on them. [33]
    • Instead it buys certificates that let it claim the emissions saved by the trucks. [33]

    Why it matters

    Meta's Devon Lake said deals like this "help address our scope 3 emissions" from building data centres. [33]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Why would a company pay for trucks it never uses?

       Meta says multi-year deals make electric trucking competitive on routes near where it builds. [33]

       Meta pays→Trucks pay their way→More electric trucks
    2. 2

       Is the saving Meta's own?

       It counts towards Meta's supply chain emissions, though the freight is someone else's. [33]

    How it works

    Accountants call this book and claim: one firm pays for a cleaner service and books the saving.

    The certificates help Nevoya put new trucks where they earn most, Electrek reports. [33]

    Seen it before

    Paying a friend's bus fare so they leave the car at home still takes a car off the road.

17. 29

    Tesla's cheaper versions quietly disappear

    What happened

    • Tesla now sells only the most expensive Cybertruck in the US, the Cyberbeast, at $109,990. [34]
    • That is 57% more than the cheapest Cybertruck cost in early August, $69,990. [34]
    • Tesla has also pulled its $41,990 Model Y all-wheel drive from its US website. [35]
    • The cheapest all-wheel-drive Model Y now costs $49,990, $8,000 more. [35]

    How it unfolded

    Elon Musk announced the end of Cybertruck production on 6 November. [34]

    Why it matters

    Buyers who want these electric cars must now pay thousands of dollars more to get one. [35]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Can buyers find a new one in stock?

       Electrek found no new Cybertrucks in Tesla's stock within 200 miles of Los Angeles. [34]

       200 mileswith no new Cybertruck in stock near Los Angeles

    2. 2

       Did the truck change?

       No: Electrek says the Cyberbeast rose $10,000 in about a week with no changes to the truck. [34]

       $10,000added to the Cyberbeast in about a week

    How it works

    Marketers call this line pruning: cutting the cheapest versions from a range so only dearer ones are left.

    Tesla greyed out the cheaper Cybertrucks on its site without any announcement. [34]

    Seen it before

    A cafe that stops selling small cups makes everyone pay for a large one.