Welcome to another edition of Climatebase Weekly. In today’s edition…

🌎 This Week In Climate: Boreal Forests Show Resilience, States Sue Trump Admin Over Solar & US Blocks Emissions Deal

🌟 Featured climate jobs at 15+ new employers — Scroll down to view them all.

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By Julian Moore 

The Democratic Republic of Congo is positioning its Inga hydroelectric site as a sustainable, green energy solution for power-hungry AI data centers. With nearly twice the capacity of China's Three Gorges Dam, the site could generate 44 gigawatts of clean hydroelectric power—currently it produces less than 2 gigawatts.

Congo's government sees energy-intensive data centers as ideal partners to develop this renewable resource. As AI usage surges, tech giants like OpenAI and Oracle are pursuing multi-gigawatt projects. However, critics argue the dam will primarily benefit South African consumers and mining companies rather than Congolese citizens—80% of whom lack electricity access.

Approximately 37,000 residents face displacement, with environmental groups citing inadequate compensation from previous Inga I and II projects. The dams have also damaged local biodiversity and fish populations. Congo's authorities acknowledge Inga III alone won't solve the nation's energy challenges but claim it could catalyze broader development. They've promised fair compensation and environmental assessments, though funding remains insufficient.

The World Bank committed $1 billion toward the estimated $20+ billion project, exploring ways to ensure "broad benefits for energy access" beyond industrial use.

U.S. Blocks Shipping Emissions Deal

Over 100 countries at the International Maritime Organization voted Friday to postpone a groundbreaking global carbon pricing system for shipping by one year, following intense US pressure. The April proposal would have made shipping—responsible for 3% of global emissions—the first industry subject to worldwide carbon pricing, generating billions annually for climate initiatives.

The US, led by President Trump who called it a "green scam," threatened sanctions against supporting nations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared America would "not allow the UN to tax American citizens." Saudi Arabia also strongly opposed the measure.

The vote passed 57-49, disappointing climate advocates and European nations who viewed it as crucial for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Critics noted shipping fuels cause 250,000 premature deaths and 6 million childhood asthma cases annually.

IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez acknowledged the unusual division but said decarbonization goals from the 2023 agreement remain intact, with work on the proposal continuing.

States Sue Trump Admin Over Solar Funds

Nearly two dozen states are suing the Trump administration over cancellation of the EPA's $7 billion Solar for All program, which aimed to expand solar energy access in low-income communities. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin terminated the program in August, calling it a "boondoggle" after Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act eliminated its funding source.

The program's cancellation affects 900,000 low-income households nationwide. Arizona will lose $156 million, impacting 11,000 households facing 20% energy bill increases, while California loses $250 million. Arizona's Hopi tribe was slated for $25 million to bring electricity to hundreds of homes for the first time.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced two lawsuits: one seeking monetary damages in the Court of Federal Claims, another requesting program reinstatement in federal court. The 23 Democratic attorneys general—representing states from California to Vermont—are actively challenging Trump's rollback of renewable energy support, arguing it makes "America more expensive and more polluted."

EU Will Support Developing Countries Impacted by Carbon Tax

The European Union will offer development funding to countries affected by its carbon border tariff to address concerns from developing nations. The carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) begins imposing fees next year on CO2 emissions from imported goods like steel and cement, drawing criticism from Brazil, South Africa, and India for penalizing developing economies.

The EU Commission proposed using Global Europe, a 200-billion-euro international development program for 2028-2034, to support affected countries' decarbonization and adaptation efforts. This funding could help developing nations reduce industrial emissions and transition to clean energy, thereby lowering their carbon border levy costs.

EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen emphasized the bloc won't withdraw climate laws but will assist through funding and technical support. He cited potential investments in African renewable power and hydrogen production that could benefit both regions.

The EU also plans to increase business involvement in energy diplomacy and prioritize clean technology investments abroad to counter China's dominance in green manufacturing.

Boreal Forests Showing Unexpected Resilience

Recent research suggests the boreal forest—the vast northern forest of spruce and fir trees—may be more resilient than climate models predict. While scientists forecast it will rapidly give way to temperate maple forests due to warming, its ecological history shows surprising staying power, with maples spreading more slowly than expected.

Researchers studying forests in southern Quebec and Ontario examined how sugar and red maples have moved northward over thousands of years. Surprisingly, during a warm period 8,000-4,000 years ago, maples didn't expand north as expected. Instead, they established themselves during a subsequent cooling period.

This happened because changes in fire patterns created forest openings where opportunistic red maples could take root. Sugar maples only appeared 2,200 years later, likely needing red maples to first introduce beneficial soil fungi that northern soils naturally lack. These fungi help maple roots extract nutrients from poor northern soils.

The findings suggest climate models may underestimate how well boreal forests can resist change and overestimate how quickly maples can spread. The transformation could take thousands of years rather than decades.

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