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By Sharon Kimathi, Energy and ESG Editor, Reuters Digital

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This week, heat waves continue to ravage many parts of Asia including China, Malaysia, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, as the countries struggle with power outages due to extreme heat.

“Heat waves are kind of the start of a vicious cycle downwards. You’re creating climate change, and then you’re causing more demand for energy, and then it’s creating more climate change,” Malavika Bambawale, APAC managing director at Engie’s sustainability division Engie Impact, said.

Speaking of extreme weather events and energy, over in the United States, an Oregon county has filed a lawsuit against major oil conglomerates, trade groups and consulting firm McKinsey in Portland. 

The lawsuit argues that fossil fuel companies intentionally deceived the public for decades about the dangers of burning their products. The state said it had already begun experiencing climate-related harms, including from the 2021 “heat dome” that caused temperatures in the county, which includes Portland, to soar to 116 Fahrenheit (46.6 Celsius).

1. Asia heat waves put renewable power fleet to the test

Record heat across Asia is putting its surging renewable power fleet to the test, highlighting the need for backup supply, transmission system upgrades and tariff reforms to ensure reliability and stave off a slowdown in green energy adoption. Temperatures in parts of the region breached 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in late April, earlier than usual, causing widespread infrastructure damage and power outages.

People shield themselves from the sun, as they walk amid a red alert for heatwave in Beijing, China June 23, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

2. Crematorium fills up as heat wave scorches northern Indian town

A Hindu priest in northern India says the number of bodies brought to a crematorium by the River Ganges has doubled in the past week as a heat wave ravages parts of the country. Brijesh Yadav, 28, said he rushed his 85-year-old grandfather to the hospital after he complained of difficulty in breathing.”Doctors are saying this happened because of the heat,” he said.

3. US climate change lawsuit seeks $50 billion, citing 2021 heat wave

An Oregon county sued Exxon, Chevron, other major oil and coal companies, and industry groups, seeking over $50 billion to counter the harms caused by extreme weather fueled by climate change. Multnomah County said the companies and trade groups must now help pay for past and future harms from the extreme weather that has resulted, including a 2021 heat wave in the Pacific Northwest that killed dozens.

4. Rich nations finalize $100 bln climate aid at Paris summit

Wealthy nations have finalized an overdue $100-billion climate finance pledge to developing countries and created a fund for biodiversity and the protection of forests, France’s president said on Friday. The $100 billion pledge falls far short of poor nations’ actual needs, but has become symbolic of wealthy countries’ failure to deliver promised climate funds. 

5. Countries back contested EU nature law, seek more biodiversity funding

European Union countries’ environment ministers struck a deal over a landmark bill to restore deteriorating natural habitats after watering down parts of the proposal and agreeing to find more EU funding to restore damaged environments.

The remains of the Royal Site of La Isabela bathhouse emerged from the low waters of the drought-hit Buendia reservoir in central Spain. Click on the image for the video.

Automakers, including Tesla and Mercedes, are rushing to lock in graphite supply from outside dominant producer China, as demand for electric vehicle (EV) batteries outpaces other uses for the mineral for the first time due to soaring EV sales.

Auto firms have been slow to plan for graphite shortages, focusing mainly on better-known battery materials lithium and cobalt, even though graphite is the largest battery component by weight.

75%

Glaciers in Asia’s Hindu Kush Himalaya could lose up to 75% of their volume by century’s end due to global warming, causing both dangerous flooding and water shortages for the 240 million people who live in the mountainous region, according to a report by the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

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