Ohio Denies Evidence of Fracking Waste in Drinking Water. Its Own Records Show Otherwise.

This story was co-published with Rolling Stone. In Ohio’s rural southeastern corner, Marietta College geology professor David Jeffrey was among the residents worried that industry activity in America’s booming natural gas region could be polluting their drinking water. That’s “the biggest fear,” he said at an August meeting with top Ohio officials. When Jeffrey and […] The post Ohio Denies Evidence of Fracking Waste in Drinking Water. Its Own Records Show Otherwise.  appeared first on DeSmog.

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President Trump Unveils EPA’s New Contradictory Methane Proposal at Campaign Rally

At a Tuesday campaign rally for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton in Lubbock, Texas, President Trump announced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to roll back a Biden-era methane rule, setting up a likely future showdown in how the agency oversees climate pollution under the Clean Air Act. The proposal marks a break from […] The post President Trump Unveils EPA’s New Contradictory Methane Proposal at Campaign Rally appeared first on DeSmog.

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Two GB News Directors Have Investments in Oil Companies Behind Rosebank and Jackdaw

Two directors of GB News, which has loudly advocated for the new Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields, hold shares in the firms behind the projects. Sir Paul Marshall, a millionaire hedge fund boss who also owns The Spectator magazine, and Lord (Theodore) Agnew of Oulton, a Conservative peer and donor, sit on the board […] The post Two GB News Directors Have Investments in Oil Companies Behind Rosebank and Jackdaw appeared first on DeSmog.

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How the Far-Right Uses Climate Disasters to Build Political Power

Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor’s End Times Fascism and the Fight for the Living World is critical reading for anyone seeking to understand and push back against the far-right coalitions wielding considerable state and corporate power around the world. Klein and Taylor posit that today’s fascists believe that end times have arrived, and have made […] The post How the Far-Right Uses Climate Disasters to Build Political Power appeared first on DeSmog.

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Canada’s ‘Responsible’ Data Centre Principles Have a Credibility Problem

Would you trust a detox facility that offers a minibar in every room? How about a climate course sponsored by ExxonMobil? If not, you might direct the same incredulity towards Canada’s recently unveiled Responsible Data Centre Development Principles, endorsed by tech giants that are implicated in violating those same principles. Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital […] The post Canada’s ‘Responsible’ Data Centre Principles Have a Credibility Problem appeared first on DeSmog.

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Interactive Archive Shares Secrets of Shell’s Early Climate Research

Campaigners backing attempts to sue Shell over a typhoon in the Philippines have launched an online archive showing that the British oil major knew that burning fossil fuels could harm the climate as early as the 1960s. ExposeShell.com features documents including a 1966 memo Shell commissioned from British scientist James Lovelock and the ‘Greenhouse Effect’, a confidential 1988 report predicting that human-caused warming could trigger “dramatic” changes […] The post Interactive Archive Shares Secrets of Shell’s Early Climate Research appeared first on DeSmog.

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Carney Almost as Bad as Trump on Climate, Emissions Watchdog Warns

Canada’s already battered reputation on curbing climate emissions has become drastically worse under the leadership of Prime Minister Mark Carney according to a recent report card from Climate Action Tracker, approaching levels of inaction comparable to the “drill baby drill” Trump Administration. “Prime Minister Mark Carney has so far been unwilling to recommit to either […] The post Carney Almost as Bad as Trump on Climate, Emissions Watchdog Warns appeared first on DeSmog.

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As Midterms Loom, MAGA Lawyer Defends ‘Mild Amounts of Corruption’ in Governments

Countries should be willing to overlook “mild amounts of corruption” in government if it serves the larger goal of political stability, according to a U.S. lawyer and political activist closely aligned with U.S. President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement. “This may be the most provocative thing I say,” explained Will Chamberlain during a speech earlier this […] The post As Midterms Loom, MAGA Lawyer Defends ‘Mild Amounts of Corruption’ in Governments appeared first on DeSmog.

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‘Snipped And Posted’: How Pro-Oil Groups Generate Viral Content Online

In December 2025, former B.C. Premier Christy Clark gave an interview on Global News where she described Canada’s west coast ban on oil tankers as a “ridiculous” constraint on the Canadian economy. A clip of Clark’s interview then began to circulate online, where it was shared by several Canadian conservative influencers and aggregator accounts on […] The post ‘Snipped And Posted’: How Pro-Oil Groups Generate Viral Content Online appeared first on DeSmog.

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In Pictures: ‘Armageddon’ at Europe’s Swim Spots Linked to Climate Change and Factory Farm Pollution

Across Brittany, tractors can be seen trundling onto beaches to remove truckloads of foul-smelling algae ahead of the tourist rush. Situated below steep cliffs and ancient forests, these once pristine beaches have been devastated by algal blooms – the rapid growth of toxic seaweed which kills off fish and plant life. This sea lettuce algae […] The post In Pictures: ‘Armageddon’ at Europe’s Swim Spots Linked to Climate Change and Factory Farm Pollution appeared first on DeSmog.

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Oil Industry Consultant Joins Climate Denial Group Run by Tory Peer

Kathryn Porter, a consultant to the fossil fuel industry and a prominent critic of emissions reduction policies, has joined the UK’s foremost climate science denial group. Porter appears frequently in the media as an “independent” expert on energy issues and has been interviewed on the BBC, LBC, GB News, and TalkTV, while her research is […] The post Oil Industry Consultant Joins Climate Denial Group Run by Tory Peer appeared first on DeSmog.

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How Big Pharma Tried to Weaken the Rules of the UN’s Nature Fund

As the COP17 nature summit gets underway in Armenia, evidence has emerged of lobbying by a leading international pharmaceuticals group to weaken the terms of a flagship fund for nature. Documents analysed by DeSmog show that the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) called for a “radical rethink” of the rationale for the […] The post How Big Pharma Tried to Weaken the Rules of the UN’s Nature Fund appeared first on DeSmog.

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Reform Figure Behind ‘Shocking’ Grenfell Comments Still Involved in Party

A former housing executive fired by Reform UK for making “shameful” comments about the 2017 Grenfell Tower tragedy still claims to have a role in the party, DeSmog can reveal. Simon Dudley, a former chair of Homes England, was removed as the party’s housing spokesperson for making – in the words of Reform leader Nigel […] The post Reform Figure Behind ‘Shocking’ Grenfell Comments Still Involved in Party appeared first on DeSmog.

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UK Data Centre Power Supplier Accused of Giving ‘Lifeline’ to Fossil Fuel Industry

A UK company is selling its wares as a “sustainable power solution” to data centres, DeSmog can reveal, and is pressuring the government to embrace gas-powered artificial intelligence (AI) with “flawed” carbon capture technology. AVK-SEG (AVK) claims to be the “largest and fastest-growing supplier of innovative power solutions for data centres” across the UK and […] The post UK Data Centre Power Supplier Accused of Giving ‘Lifeline’ to Fossil Fuel Industry appeared first on DeSmog.

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Orban’s Favourite EU Think Tank is Back in Brussels. But Who’s Funding It?

Weeks after the collapse of Europe’s most prominent hard-right think tank, a new group with the same staff and similar mission has emerged to take its place. MCC Brussels announced the creation of the Freedom & Sovereignty Initiative (FSI) Europe on 23 September, a fresh entity that promises to “carry forward” its predecessor’s aims, and […] The post Orban’s Favourite EU Think Tank is Back in Brussels. But Who’s Funding It? appeared first on DeSmog.

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Who Funds Reform UK? The Business Interests of Nigel Farage’s Major Donors

Crypto billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne each recently piled £36 million into Reform UK, Nigel Farage’s political party. The story amplified recent scandals about the party’s donors, with scrutiny mounting over the funding of Farage and his outfit. In light of these recent developments, DeSmog has taken a closer look at the financial interests […] The post Who Funds Reform UK? The Business Interests of Nigel Farage’s Major Donors appeared first on DeSmog.

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The Real Winners From a New Canadian Oil Pipeline Are Private Investors

Prime Minister Mark Carney is betting big on a new bitumen pipeline to the west coast and with no lead private sector proponent, he might be betting with your tax dollars. The last publicly purchased pipeline, the Trans Mountain expansion (TMX) cost taxpayers $34 billion and researchers at the International Institute of Sustainable Development estimate […] The post The Real Winners From a New Canadian Oil Pipeline Are Private Investors appeared first on DeSmog.

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Consulting Firm Lobbied for Town Hit by Climate Disaster and Fossil Fuel Group at the Same Time

Just six months after Paradise, California was laid waste by the most deadly and destructive wildfire in the state’s history — November 2018’s Camp Fire — the town’s mayor received a generous-sounding offer from a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm. “Our hearts were with you as we watched the fire unfold,” wrote Kristi Moore, managing partner […] The post Consulting Firm Lobbied for Town Hit by Climate Disaster and Fossil Fuel Group at the Same Time appeared first on DeSmog.

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In Louisiana, Data Center Hype Faces AI Regulation and Community Resistance

Maybe it’s buyer’s remorse. After Louisiana officials welcomed hyperscale data centers with extractive tax rebates and secretive dealings, a bipartisan wave of resistance is brewing to restrict the very artificial technology the facilities were built to create. At least three major data centers are coming to Louisiana, the largest being the Manhattan-sized Meta “Hyperion” project […] The post In Louisiana, Data Center Hype Faces AI Regulation and Community Resistance appeared first on DeSmog.

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Gulf Royal Family Banks Over €70 Million in EU Farming Funds

The UAE’s ruling royal family is benefiting from tens of millions in EU subsidies to grow crops destined for the Gulf, it can be revealed. A new cross-border investigation, shared with The Guardian, found that subsidiaries controlled by the Al Nahyans collected over €71 million (£61 million) in just six years for farmland it controls […] The post Gulf Royal Family Banks Over €70 Million in EU Farming Funds appeared first on DeSmog.

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Nigel Farage Has Accepted £2 Million Since Becoming an MP

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has banked more than £2 million in earnings and gifts since becoming an MP, DeSmog can reveal. Farage has come under fire in recent days for failing to declare a £5 million gift from major Reform donor Christopher Harborne prior to the 2024 general election, potentially in violation of parliamentary […] The post Nigel Farage Has Accepted £2 Million Since Becoming an MP appeared first on DeSmog.

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Former BC Premier Gordon Campbell: Carbon Capture ‘Doesn’t Work’

For years, Canadian officials and oil industry backers have pitched carbon capture and storage (CCS) as the solution that would allow Alberta’s oil sands — and the nation’s proposed west coast pipeline — to proceed with a lower climate impact. Now, in a speech at this year’s Canada Strong and Free Network (CSFN) conference in […] The post Former BC Premier Gordon Campbell: Carbon Capture ‘Doesn’t Work’ appeared first on DeSmog.

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Event | How Climate Denialism Is Evolving With Trump in Office

Hosted by Covering Climate Now Thursday, May 7 12:00 p.m. EDT In April, a climate denial conference hosted in Washington, D.C., and boasting US Environmental Protection Agency head Lee Zeldin as a keynote speaker signaled a new era in US politics: from a slow but growing embrace of climate science in federal policy to outright […] The post Event | How Climate Denialism Is Evolving With Trump in Office appeared first on DeSmog.

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Heartland Institute Podcast Questions Whether All Americans ‘Should Have the Right to Vote’

A prominent ultra-conservative think tank with a long history of climate denial and close ties to the Trump administration is questioning whether all Americans should be allowed to cast ballots in elections. “Look, I’m going to say something very controversial: Not every adult over the age of 18 should have the right to vote,” Jim Lakely, […] The post Heartland Institute Podcast Questions Whether All Americans ‘Should Have the Right to Vote’ appeared first on DeSmog.

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How Canada’s LNG Push is Benefiting Trump and Shortchanging Indigenous People

In mid-April, Indigenous leaders from British Columbia traveled to Ottawa to protest against the federal government’s aggressive support for fossil fuel expansion. Mark Carney’s Liberal government is fast-tracking multiple LNG projects in British Columbia, including the recent approval of Enbridge’s $4 billion natural gas pipeline expansion. Securing Indigenous support for fossil fuel projects has been […] The post How Canada’s LNG Push is Benefiting Trump and Shortchanging Indigenous People appeared first on DeSmog.

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Fertiliser and Grain Bosses Bank $66 Million Selling Shares During Iran War

Senior executives, directors, and major investors from the world’s largest fertiliser and grain companies have sold shares worth more than $66 million (£49 million) during price hikes linked to the Iran war, DeSmog can reveal. Since the outbreak of the conflict in February, provoked by a U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran, fertiliser prices have increased by […] The post Fertiliser and Grain Bosses Bank $66 Million Selling Shares During Iran War appeared first on DeSmog.

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Revealed: Reform’s £24 Million from Fossil Fuel Interests

Reform UK has received £24 million from oil and gas interests, accounting for more than two thirds of its total income, DeSmog can reveal. Led by Nigel Farage, the party is calling for new North Sea oil and gas drilling ahead of UK-wide elections in May on the ill-founded claim that it will cut energy bills. […] The post Revealed: Reform’s £24 Million from Fossil Fuel Interests appeared first on DeSmog.

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‘Mad Men Fuelling the Madness’: Meet the Advertising CEOs Boosting Big Oil

For years, advertising executives have largely escaped criticism for glossing the images of major polluters. But as climate protestors turn up at ad agency offices and dozens of U.S. states file lawsuits accusing oil companies of deliberately spreading disinformation, the industry is coming under increasing scrutiny. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has called ad execs working with the fossil fuel industry […] The post ‘Mad Men Fuelling the Madness’: Meet the Advertising CEOs Boosting Big Oil appeared first on DeSmog.

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Revealed: British Ad Giant’s Billion-Dollar Greenwash of U.S. Oil Industry

British advertising conglomerate WPP has helped oil companies ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, and BP spend an estimated $1 billion on ads in the United States since the 2015 Paris Agreement to tackle climate change, a new report shows. The figure is nearly twice the respective amounts linked to U.S. rivals Omnicom and Interpublic Group (IPG), which merged in November. London-based WPP was the leading advertising group serving America’s oil industry over the past decade, […] The post Revealed: British Ad Giant’s Billion-Dollar Greenwash of U.S. Oil Industry appeared first on DeSmog.

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Inside the Plot to Cover Europe with Gas-Powered AI Data Centres

As the UK and EU debate how to source the vast quantities of electricity they’ll need to power their grand visions of home-grown artificial intelligence (AI), the gas turbine sector is confident that governments will soon follow the lead of the United States – by clearing the way for Big Tech to embrace natural gas. […] The post Inside the Plot to Cover Europe with Gas-Powered AI Data Centres appeared first on DeSmog.

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