Environment
COP30 seals uneasy climate deal that sidesteps fossil fuels
COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago attends the plenary session at the UN Climate Change Conference, in Belem, Brazil, on Nov. 22, 2025. Adriano Machado | Reuters Brazil’s COP30 presidency pushed through a compromise climate deal on Saturday that would boost finance for poor nations coping with global warming but that omitted any mention of […]
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Europe has rare earths but, for now, it’s at China’s mercy like everyone else
Workers transport soil containing rare earth elements for export at a port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China. China Stringer Network | Reuters Like the U.S., Europe is also feeling the pressure to keep China sweet in order to maintain supplies of rare earth elements, which are vital for its strategic industries in the region such […]
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Toyota to invest $912 million in U.S. plants to increase hybrid vehicle production
2023 Prius Prime on display, April 6, 2023. Scott Mlyn | CNBC Toyota Motor on Tuesday announced plans to invest $912 million in U.S. manufacturing plants in five Southern states as part of a previously announced plan for the company to invest up to $10 billion domestically by 2030. The investments announced Tuesday are broadly […]
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Ford partners with Amazon for dealers to sell used vehicles online
A Ford logo on a Ford F-150 pickup truck for sale in Encinitas, California, U.S. Oct. 20, 2025. Mike Blake | Reuters DETROIT — Ford Motor is partnering with Amazon to let the automaker’s franchised dealers sell certified preowned vehicles through the online retail giant. The new program will allow customers to secure financing, start […]
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Population 1,400: I stayed on a tiny Greek island where EVs take charge
Astypalea’s Chora, or capital. Ed Moskalenko | Getty Images The tiny, butterfly-shaped Greek island of Astypalea has all the ingredients for a relaxing vacation: myriad beaches with clear waters, great seafood and a castle perched above a traditional white town with winding alleys and views across the Aegean Sea. It’s also less developed than its […]
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What now for peak oil? Unpacking a surprise twist in the fossil fuel feud
A worker inspects the outdoor gas pipes at the underground gas storage facility operated by Gas Storage CZ AS, in Haje, Czech Republic, on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images The International Energy Agency’s latest outlook signals that oil demand could keep growing through to the middle of the century, reflecting […]
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Toyota opens new U.S. battery plant, confirms $10 billion in new investments
Toyota display is seen at the New York International Auto Show on April 16, 2025. Danielle DeVries | CNBC Toyota Motor on Wednesday said it has started production at a new $13.9 billion battery plant in North Carolina and confirmed plans to invest up to $10 billion more than previously expected over the next five […]
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How the explosives shortage could make everyday items even more expensive
The United States is facing a shortage of TNT, a high explosive that is essential to the manufacturing of commercial explosives products, like cast boosters, which are commonly used in the mining and construction industries, according to the Institute of Makers of Explosives, or IME. “Everything from your cellphone to your laptop to the roads […]
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Russia is late to the party, but it’s still preparing to enter the rare earths fray
Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 15, 2025. Alexander Zemlianichenko | Afp | Getty Images Russia is looking to ramp up rare earths production but it’s late to the party and faces challenges along the way to establishing its position in the highly-lucrative global market, analysts say. Russian President Vladimir Putin last week ordered his […]
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China’s key weapons in its AI battle with the U.S. — massive Huawei chip clusters and cheap energy
China is focusing on large language models in the artificial intelligence space. Blackdovfx | Istock | Getty Images It’s well known that Chinese semiconductors designed for artificial intelligence cannot compete with the American firm Nvidia. Yet, China has managed to continue developing highly advanced AI models, with many being run on homegrown chips. China’s secret? […]
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