Row of Canadian flags hanging outside a building.

Canada’s new prime minister backs fossil fuels while promising Indigenous partnerships

Canada’s newly elected prime minister, Mark Carney, has pledged to expand the nation’s energy production and fast-track extractive projects while promising to uphold Indigenous rights, drawing both optimism and concern from Indigenous leaders.

Anita Hofschneider reports for Grist.


In short:

  • Prime Minister Mark Carney, a former United Nations climate envoy, has vowed to make Canada an “energy superpower” by boosting both fossil fuel and clean energy development, while also pledging to honor Indigenous sovereignty and increase funding for Indigenous communities.
  • Despite Carney’s climate advocacy past, he has already removed Canada’s carbon tax and promised to expedite resource extraction projects, raising concerns among climate advocates and Indigenous groups.
  • Carney faces political challenges, as his Liberal Party lacks a majority in Parliament, and he must balance competing pressures from the fossil fuel industry and environmentalists.

Key quote:

“So-called Canadian sovereignty shouldn’t come at the expense of Indigenous sovereignty, nor should it be an excuse to violate our inherent rights.”

— Indigenous Climate Action

Why this matters:

Canada sits atop some of the world’s largest fossil fuel reserves and vast renewable energy potential. How it navigates the tension between economic growth and environmental stewardship has global implications, especially as climate change accelerates. Extractive projects can provide jobs and revenue but often lead to deforestation, water contamination, and increased greenhouse gas emissions. Indigenous communities frequently bear the brunt of these harms while fighting for their right to self-determination and environmental protection.

Related: Canadian mayors call for climate-focused infrastructure over new oil pipelines

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California mining company turns to solar heat but can’t quit coal just yet

In California’s Mojave Desert, a mining plant is turning to solar thermal energy to replace one of its coal-fired generators, but a second unit may run for years due to the intense heat and 24-hour power it needs.

Ivan Penn reports for The New York Times.

In short:

  • Searles Valley Minerals, a mining company in Trona, Calif., is replacing one of its two coal plants with a solar thermal system but says the other may need to stay online for the foreseeable future due to operational demands.
  • The company will use a concentrating solar power system from start-up GlassPoint, which uses mirrors to generate high heat, a solution that works well in hot, sunny areas but requires a large land footprint and remains rare in the U.S.
  • Despite California’s push to phase out coal and President Trump’s efforts to revive it, economic and geographic constraints continue to complicate full industrial transitions away from fossil fuels.

Key quote:

“We just think coal is going to be a problem. We’re going to have a hard time sourcing it. We need to be ready to pivot.”

— Dennis Cruise, president of Searles Valley Minerals

Why this matters:

Industrial heat — the kind used in mining, chemical production, and heavy manufacturing — accounts for about half of global energy use, yet it’s rarely mentioned in public climate debates. Unlike home heating or car travel, generating this level of heat without fossil fuels is still tough. Most renewable energy technologies don’t deliver the extreme, continuous heat these facilities need. That leaves industries like the one in Trona stuck with coal, even as it becomes harder to source and politically unpopular. As the U.S. attempts to decarbonize, industrial energy needs present one of the biggest hurdles.

Related: Farmers use solar panels to protect crops and conserve water

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New gas plant approved in Newark despite community objections over health and pollution

A state sewer commission approved a controversial gas-fired backup power plant in Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood, drawing opposition from residents who say it adds to the area’s already heavy pollution burden.

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Brazil moves to auction vast oil blocks despite climate and Indigenous concerns

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Constance Malleret reports for The Guardian.

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South African coal town struggles to see benefits of clean energy shift

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Rachel Savage reports for The Guardian.

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The United States skipped a major round of United Nations climate negotiations in Bonn, Germany this week, leaving other nations and U.S. civil society groups to navigate the talks without the world's largest fossil fuel producer at the table.

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