Trump Slams Newsom Over UK Green Energy Deal

Trump criticizes Newsom over UK green energy agreement

Donald Trump criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom over a new green energy agreement with the UK, calling Newsom a “loser” and saying the deal was “inappropriate” for the UK to enter into. “Everything he’s touched turns to garbage. His state has gone to hell, and his environmental work is a disaster,” said Trump. 

The deal was signed in London by Newsom and UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, and it’s designed to deepen cooperation between California and the UK on scaling up clean energy technology and strengthening ties between businesses and researchers. Miliband’s department stated that the agreement also includes sharing expertise on protecting biodiversity and building resilience to extreme weather. 

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Further reading: Trump lashes out at California governor’s green energy deal with UK

New analysis questions the climate benefits of AI and generative technologies

A new report challenges big tech’s claims that artificial intelligence (AI), especially generative AI, can meaningfully help avert climate breakdown. Instead, critics say many of these claims amount to greenwashing. The analysis examined 154 corporate statements from major tech firms and organizations and found that climate benefits mostly come from traditional AI applications (such as predictive models), not from chatbots and image generators. 

Green claims, even for traditional AI, tended to rely on weak evidence, with only 26% of the climate-related claims citing peer-reviewed academic research. 36% of the claims lacked evidence.  

Datacenters currently use about 1% of the world’s electricity, but their share of U.S. electricity demand is projected to more than double to 8.6% by 2035. 

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Further reading: Claims that AI can help fix climate dismissed as greenwashing

EU greenlights €1.04 billion Danish programme to reduce farm emissions and restore wetlands

The European Commission has approved a state aid programme for Denmark worth €1.04 billion (about $1.12 billion) to cut agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and restore wetlands. The programme is designed to pay landowners to permanently take agricultural and forestry land out of production and restore it to more natural conditions. Participating landowners must stop tilling the soil and cease using pesticides and fertilisers, allowing soils to regain natural water dynamics and support biodiversity.

The landowners can receive up to 100% compensation, including income loss and transition costs. The programme will continue until December 31, 2030, and is approved under EU State aid rules.

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Further reading: EU Approves $1.12B Danish Land Scheme to Cut Farm Emissions, Restore Wetlands

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Santos wins court case over alleged misleading net-zero claims

The Australian court dismissed a lawsuit against gas producer Santos, which had been accused of misleading the public about its net-zero carbon emissions plan. The lawsuit was filed in 2021 by the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR), an activist shareholder. It was the first worldwide case to challenge the validity of a company’s net-zero target.

ACCR claimed Santos engaged in misleading conduct by saying it had a clear pathway to reduce emissions and reach net zero, and by describing natural gas, hydrogen, and its operations as “clean energy” or “zero emissions.” Santos has also stated that its goal is to reduce emissions by 26%-30% by 2030 and reach net zero emissions by 2040. 

Federal Court Judge Brigitte Markovic dismissed the case and ordered ACCR to pay Santos’ legal costs, with detailed reasons to be published on February 23, 2026. 

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Further readings: Australian gas producer Santos wins court fight over net zero claims

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — Cover Photo Credit: Shaun Curry / DESNZ