Welcome to Carbon Brief’s DeBriefed.
An essential guide to the week’s key developments relating to climate change.
This week
UK sees Labour landslide
‘HISTORIC’ RESULT: The UK Labour party has declared a “historic” victory in the country’s general election, while the Conservatives suffered their worst-ever defeat, the Financial Times reported. BusinessGreen said that Labour’s “sizeable majority” would provide the party with a “clear mandate for its ambitious green plans”. It added this includes a decarbonised power system by 2030 (more on this below), ending new oil and gas licences and a foreign policy “reset” based around international climate diplomacy.
GREEN SURGE: The UK’s Green party won three new seats in parliament, bringing its total number of MPs up to four, the Guardian reported. Across the UK, Green votes increased to around 7% from 2.7% of the vote share in 2019, from a total of 866,000 votes in 2019 to around 2m votes in 2024, according to Greenpeace. Below, Carbon Brief outlines some of the key climate players from across the parties that won seats in the early hours of this morning.
FREE WEBINAR: Following the results, Carbon Brief is hosting a free webinar at 10am UK time on Tuesday 9 July to discuss key climate issues facing the new Labour government. Carbon Brief journalists Dr Simon Evans and Molly Lempriere will be joined by Chris Stark, CEO of the Carbon Trust and former chief executive of the Climate Change Committee, Emma Pinchbeck, chief executive of Energy UK, and Camilla Born MBE, independent climate advisor and former UK senior official at COP26. Register here.
Hurricane Beryl wrecks havoc
KILLER STORM: Hurricane Beryl struck islands across the Caribbean and Venezuela this week, as the earliest category 5 hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic, reported the Associated Press. The hurricane killed at least 11 people across islands including Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as in northern Venezuela, Reuters said.
‘ARMAGEDDON-LIKE’: After making landfall in the Grenadian island of Carriacou on Monday, the hurricane brought “devastating winds and storm surges” to Jamaica on Wednesday, Sky News reported. Beryl is now set to hit the Cayman Islands before moving further west and reaching the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, reported the Washington Post.
RECORD SEASON: The Financial Times noted that the US’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned that there was an 85% higher chance of an above-average hurricane season in the Atlantic this year. According to the FT, NOAA said the increased risk was due to a “confluence of factors”, including record-breaking ocean temperatures, the onset of the natural weather phenomenon La Niña and reduced Atlantic trade winds, which allow hurricanes to grow in strength more easily.
Biden unveils heat protections
‘REALLY, REALLY DUMB’: US president Joe Biden has launched a first-ever federal workplace standard for extreme heat, reported the Guardian. If finalised, the standard “will substantially reduce heat injuries, illnesses and deaths for over 36 million workers”, Biden said. Announcing the rules, Biden took aim at Republicans working to undo his climate measures, calling such actions “really, really dumb”, the New York Times said.
CHEVRON DOCTRINE: The US Supreme Court overturned the principle that has guided UK regulatory law for the past 40 years, known as the Chevron doctrine, reported Inside Climate News. The sweeping away of the “Goliath” of modern law will weaken the Environmental Protection Agency’s legal authority, as courts “weigh Biden’s policies to cut greenhouse gases”, the publication said.
LNG PERMITS: A federal judge has ruled that the Biden administration must resume issuing permits for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities, the New York Times reported. The decision comes in response to a lawsuit filed by 16 Republican state attorney generals who argued that Biden’s pause on licensing, brought in to allow time to analyse how those exports affect climate change, amounted to a ban that harmed their states’ economies, it added. Bloomberg noted that the decision is “unlikely to immediately jump start approvals”.
Around the world
- CHINESE FLOODS: Local authorities in China’s Hunan province declared a “wartime” emergency after torrential rainfall led to “the most severe flooding seen in 70 years”, the South China Morning Post reported.
- BRAZILIAN FIRES: Wildfires in the Brazilian Amazon in the first half of 2024 were the worst in 20 years, with 13,489 individual fires registered, Agence France-Presse reported.
- SBTi CEO RESIGNS: The head of the Science Based Targets initiative, Luiz Amaral, who came “under fire for a controversial decision to loosen guidelines around carbon offsets”, will step down at the end of July, Bloomberg reported.
- THOMPSON FIRE: Around 28,000 residents have been forced to evacuate in northern California after a wildfire broke out as the “state simmers in a brutal and potentially historic heatwave”, the Guardian reported.
- ‘FEROCIOUS STORMS’: Seven were left dead after “ferocious storms and torrential rains” hit France, Switzerland and Italy last weekend, Agence France-Presse reported.
- INDIAN LANDSLIDES: Heavy rains in northeastern India have “triggered floods and landslides in the region”, killing at least 16 people and displacing more than 300,000 over the last two weeks, Deutsche Welle reported.
14
The number of times women are more likely to die in extreme weather disasters, according to Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia, reported the Australian Associated Press.
Latest climate research
- Tropical forest degradation due to “edge effects” – those at the edges of forests – is 200% higher than previously thought, increasing the areas more vulnerable to drought, a study published in Nature and covered by Carbon Brief found.
- As the climate warms, the cities of Hai Phong in Vietnam, Yangon in Myanmar and Bangkok in Thailand will all face increases in the peak intensity and duration of tropical cyclones, a new study published in npj Climate and Atmospheric Science indicated.
- The gradual trend towards a warmer and drier climate “poses immense uncertainty for the future of British festivals” stated the author of a new “short research article” published in Weather, which examined the “more extreme weather events” in Glastonbury festival’s history.
(For more, see Carbon Brief’s in-depth daily summaries of the top climate news stories on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.)
Captured
One of the new Labour government’s key manifesto pledges is to reach “zero-carbon electricity” by 2030. While this target is seen as extremely ambitious, the UK has already made significant progress in slashing fossil fuels while rolling out renewable power. Under the Conservatives, coal power has already been all but phased out, falling from 40% of electricity generation in 2012 to near-zero in 2024, just 12 years later. To meet its target, Labour will need to phase out unabated gas twice as fast, from 29% in 2024 to near-zero in 2030.
Spotlight
Key climate figures in the new UK parliament
After a “historic” win for the Labour party and loss for the Conservatives in the UK’s general election, Carbon Brief takes a look at who will be setting the climate agenda in the years to come.
The Labour party has secured a landslide victory in the country’s general election, winning 412 seats in parliament, up by 211 from 2019.
Former Labour leader and MP for Doncaster North Ed Miliband is expected to take on the role of energy security and net-zero secretary, leading one of Labour’s “five main missions”, to “make Britain a clean energy superpower”. This includes targeting lower energy bills, creating jobs and delivering energy security by transitioning to zero-carbon electricity by 2030, the party said.
Beyond the department of energy security and net-zero, other key ministers who will have a say in steering a range of climate and energy policy over the next five years are likely to include Louise Haigh as secretary of state for transport, Steve Reed as secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs and Rachel Reeves as chancellor of the exchequer.
Beyond government positions, a number of pro-climate action Labour MPs have won seats, including:
- Katie White in Leeds North West, who led the campaign that created Britain’s first Climate Change Act.
- Polly Billington in East Thanet, who founded the environmental network UK100.
- Melanie Onn, in Great Grimsby & Cleethorpes, who was previously deputy chief executive of trade association RenewableUK.
- Luke Murphy in Basingstoke, who was head of the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) Fair Transition Unit and associate director for the energy, climate, housing and infrastructure team.
The Green party also won four seats and the Liberal Democrats won 70.
According to research by Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth in June, these two parties had the most environmentally friendly manifestos, with the Greens and Liberal Democrats scoring 39 and 32 out of 40, respectively. (Labour scored 21).
Greens MPs include co-leaders Carla Denyer, who beat Labour’s shadow culture secretary Thangam Debbonaire by 10,000 votes in Bristol Central, and Adrian Ramsay, who overturned a 22,000 Conservative majority in Waveney Valley, with a 32.1% swing to the Green Party.
Additionally, Siân Berry has won Brighton Pavilion, the seat previously held by former Green MP Caroline Lucas.
For the Liberal Democrats, it was a “record-breaking” night with the number of seats held by the party surging from 11 in 2019.
This includes Pippa Heylings for South Cambridgeshire, who was team leader for the UK’s Global Biodiverse Landscapes Fund at the multinational company PwC. She also founded the climate-focused advisory company Talking Transformation, along with other climate-focused Liberal Democrat MPs.
Watch, read, listen
CONSPIRACY INFLUENCERS: Rolling Stone took a look at how Europe’s “conspiracy influencers” have gone from a focus on Covid-19 to climate change, with conspiratorial narratives about climate action entering the mainstream.
FOOD PRICES: A “big read” in the Financial Times looked at how shifting weather patterns are “reducing crop yields and squeezing supplies”, which could create a permanent source of inflation.
ELECTION MEANING: Ahead of the UK general election, Carbon Brief’s deputy editor and senior policy editor Dr Simon Evans spoke to Michael Liebreich and Baroness Bryony Worthington about what the results mean for climate and energy on the Cleaning Up podcast.
Coming up
- 7 July: France national assembly elections, second round
- 9-11 July: NATO Summit, Washington DC
- 16-17 July: G7 trade meeting, Reggio Calabria, Italy
Pick of the jobs
- Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice, communications coordinator | Salary: Up to $38,400. Location: Fully remote, preferred location in the global south
- Uplift, senior political adviser | Salary: £46,259-£50,548. Location: London
- Sustainable Housing Observatory, senior project manager – adaptation to climate change | Salary: Unknown. Location: Paris
DeBriefed is edited by Daisy Dunne. Please send any tips or feedback to debriefed@carbonbrief.org.
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The post DeBriefed 5 July 2024: Key climate MPs in new UK parliament; Hurricane Beryl; Biden calls deniers ‘really, really dumb’ appeared first on Carbon Brief.
Climate Change
FLIP OFF WOODSIDE TO SAVE SCOTT REEF: Greenpeace, Michael Caton, Thinkerbell mobilise Australia to challenge gas project at Scott Reef
6 November 2026
Greenpeace Australia Pacific has joined forces with Thinkerbell and iconic Australian actor Michael Caton on a major public movement and behaviour change initiative to save Scott Reef, calling on Australians to “flip off” gas corporation Woodside. The company plans to drill for gas at Australia’s largest oceanic reef, home to vulnerable green sea turtles, endangered pygmy blue whales, and thousands of marine species, off the coast of Western Australia.
WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE
At the heart of the collaboration is somebody who knows a thing or two about fighting off corporations to protect a home: Michael Caton. Set in a courtroom, Caton gives his voice to a voiceless inhabitant, a green sea turtle, and together they invite the public to show their support to save Scott Reef.
Designed to shift public behaviour and drive national debate, the movement asks the public to tag their MPs – applying direct political pressure on Environment Minister Murray Watt and Prime Minister Albanese Albanese to “flip off” Woodside’s dirty gas project, which would see up to 57 toxic wells drilled around Scott Reef off the coast of Western Australia.
Voiced by Michael Caton and set to a soundtrack provided by Radiohead, the narrative centres on our hero turtle defending her home from corporate overreach in a courtroom showdown. As the turtle defiantly flips her flippers at Woodside, Michael Caton calls on everyday Australians to take a stand and help save her home.
Michael Caton said: “I’m proud to lend my voice to Greenpeace to help save Scott Reef. The marine life out there can’t speak up, so we need to. Some things are too precious to risk.”
Glenn Walker, Head of Nature at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, added: “Woodside’s dirty gas project at Scott Reef, Australia’s largest oceanic reef, is an environmental disaster waiting to happen, threatening thousands of species, including the extremely vulnerable green sea turtles that nest there. By literally flipping off Woodside and Big Gas, Aussies are cutting through corporate spin and sending an unignorable message to Environment Minister Murray Watt and the Albanese government: save Scott Reef.”
Adam Ferrier, co-founder of Thinkerbell, said: “You can fight a corporation in the courtroom forever, but the real power to deliver lasting protection rests in parliament. Right now, our MPs hold an extraordinary opportunity to safeguard Scott Reef for generations to come. I’m proudly from WA, and I know how much the natural environment means to the people and economy of Western Australia. I’m also sure Woodside wants to do the right thing, and with enough public support and government action we’ll together save Scott Reef.
Paul Swann, Chief Creative Tinker at Thinkerbell notes: “When the stakes are this high, polite ads don’t work. You need an unignorable provocation that galvanises people and puts the pressure squarely where it belongs, on our leaders in Canberra. This isn’t just about protecting a reef; it’s about holding power to account.”
Greenpeace has been campaigning to stop Woodside’s dirty gas plans for years, increasing pressure on the Australian government to save Scott Reef from becoming an industrialised gas zone. From actions aboard Woodside’s gas platform to cinemas across Australia, Greenpeace isn’t backing off in their advocacy to save Scott Reef.
Rolling out across OOH, digital, social and cinema with an interactive landing page, this project will be amplified by high-profile figures urging Australians to take action, tag their MPs, and defend Scott Reef. The movement combines cinematic storytelling with organic social mobilsation and earned media, planned via Thinkerbell’s Alchemy model to drive real behaviour change and impact.
Marking their first Australian tour in 15 years, English rock band Radiohead will play 16 arena shows across Perth, Melbourne and Sydney in May and June 2027. A $2 donation is included in every ticket price with proceeds going to Greenpeace Australia Pacific and the Australian Marine Conservation Society. Radiohead will match the final amount raised.
ENDS
WATCH NOW:
FOR ASSETS OR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Adam Ferrier | 0413 633 344 | adamferrier@thinkerbell.com
Kimberley Bernard | 0407 581 404 | kbernard@greenpeace.org
ABOUT THINKERBELL
Thinkerbell is a 9-year-old independent creative company. We practise Measured Magic – the coming together of marketing science and hardcore creativity – to help our clients build their brands and change behaviour.
ABOUT GREENPEACE
Greenpeace Australia Pacific is a global independent campaigning organisation that uses peaceful protest and creative confrontation to expose environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future.
Climate Change
Jimmy Barnes, King Gizz lead Aussie music supergroup on new release to save Scott Reef
SYDNEY, Monday 9 November 2026 — Australian music icons Jimmy Barnes AO, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Fred Leone, Gordi & Montaigne are among the more than 20 Australian artists who have joined forces to release a new song with an urgent message: save Scott Reef.
Released today, “If Not Now” is a reimagining of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard’s Environmental Music Prize-winning song “If Not Now, Then When?”, and is a collaboration between Greenpeace Australia Pacific, Green Music Australia, and p(doom) Records.
Scott Reef is a 15-million-year-old ancient coral reef located 270 kilometres off the Kimberley coast of Western Australia. It is Australia’s largest oceanic reef and is home to thousands of marine animals and endangered species, but fossil fuel corporation Woodside plans to drill up to 57 toxic wells under and around the reef, threatening to turn it into an industrial gas zone.
“If Not Now” is the reef’s first and only release, out on all digital platforms and on limited edition 7” vinyl. The song is accompanied by cover art and visualiser from acclaimed Australian artist and ARIA-winning music video director Jonathan Zawada (Flume, The Avalanches).
Speaking about the track, Stu Mackenzie (lead singer, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard) said: “Why are we still digging up coal and gas? Why are we allowing this? Why is the Australian government so hell-bent on destroying our beautiful wild and untouched places? I’m proud that a King Gizz song was chosen to represent a growing movement of people who are asking these questions and applying pressure. Let’s shut it down and keep it beautiful.”
Rock legend Jimmy Barnes AO said: “Scott Reef is one of the few pristine reefs left in the world and it happens to be on our doorstep. We’re custodians of it — we’re supposed to be looking after it. It’s ridiculous. We must protect our country and look after what we value most, which is the nature and the beauty of this country.”
Hannah Schuch, Senior Campaigner for Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said: “I’m filled with hope by the incredible musicians and artists who are using their voices and skills to amplify the voices of half a million Australians who are calling on the government to stop Woodside’s nature and climate-wrecking gas plans and save Scott Reef. Australian music has long been a powerful catalyst for change, so saving Scott Reef is a no-brainer for Australian music lovers.”
Contributing artists (in alphabetic order):
- Alex Lahey
- Brinkley Davies (marine biologist/freediver)
- Birdland
- Close Counters
- DOBBY
- Fred Leone (Artist of the Year at the 2026 NIMAs, singing in Butculla)
- Gordi
- John Butler
- Jimmy Barnes
- King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard
- Leah Senior
- Mahalia Barnes
- Montaigne
- Ngaiire
- NIDALA
- Peppa Lane (Spacey Jane)
- Ruby Rodgers (2026 Environmental Music Prize winner)
- Terry Guyula (Drifting Clouds, singing in Yolgu Matha)
- Tom Mahler (The Moving Stills)
- Urthboy
Production cast:
- Becki Whitton (G Flip, Allday, Stella Donnelly)
- Stu McKenzie (King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard)
- Tay Blunt (FVNERAL)
- Tim Shiel (Green Music Australia)
Three generations of the Barnes family, Jimmy Barnes, his daughter, Mahalia Barnes and granddaughter Ruby Rodgers, contributed to the track.
The release comes amid growing national pressure on the Federal Government to save Scott Reef from Woodside’s gas drilling plans.
Last week, a leaked letter from WA’s environmental watchdog to Woodside revealed the agency deemed drilling risks to Scott Reef ‘serious, significant and irreversible’, while Greenpeace Australia Pacific activists occupied a major Woodside gas platform, and Perth communities delivered one of the biggest environmental petitions in Australia’s history to Woodside HQ.
The Federal Government is expected to make a decision on Woodside’s Scott Reef drilling plans in the coming months.
-ENDS-
Media contact
To arrange an interview or for more information, contact Emma Sangalli on 0431 513 465 or emma.sangalli@greenpeace.org
High res images and footage of Scott Reef can be found here (NEW) and here.
Jimmy Barnes, King Gizz lead Aussie music supergroup on new release to save Scott Reef