Welcome to another edition of Climatebase Weekly.

In today’s edition…

🌎 This Week In Climate: EU Rules on Carbon Removal, Big Oil Lawsuits, and New Climate Risk Warnings. We’re covering:

🦞 Boston Climate Week (May 3rd - May 10th) — Sign up for the Event Organizer Info Session.

🌉 SF Climate Week (April 18th - April 26) — The event submission guide is now live.

🚀 Climatebase Fellowship — Sign up for our final Info Session before Cohort 9 kicks off.

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

⚡ Invest in Clean Energy Projects with Climatize — Start investing in vetted renewable energy projects across the U.S. with our partner, Climatize.

*Past performance is not indicative of future success, as returns are not guaranteed. Climatize is an SEC-registered & FINRA member funding portal. Crowdfunding carries risk, including loss.

Quick reminders:

By Julian Moore

The European Commission has adopted the first certification methodologies under the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation, establishing the EU's first voluntary system to verify carbon dioxide removal projects.

The framework initially covers three technologies: Direct Air Capture with Carbon Storage (DACCS), which captures atmospheric CO₂ for geological storage; Biogenic Carbon Capture and Storage (BioCCS), capturing emissions from biomass processes; and Biochar Carbon Removal (BCR), producing stable carbon for soil application.

These rules address greenwashing by defining measurement standards, permanence requirements, and risk management. Projects can now apply for EU certification, with credits available to corporate and government buyers.

By 2026, additional regulations will cover carbon farming practices and bio-based construction materials. The Commission is launching an EU Buyers' Club to connect certified projects with purchasers.

This framework supports the EU's legally binding 2050 climate neutrality goal, complementing emission reduction efforts as recent data shows emissions rose 3.4% in early 2025 despite climate policies.

A University of Exeter report warns that economic models used by governments, central banks, and investors are "increasingly understating" climate risks, creating a "false sense of security" for the global economy.

Current models treat climate change as a "marginal shock" rather than capturing cascading failures, tipping points, and compounding shocks. They link damages to temperature changes while ignoring extreme weather impacts, such as those seen in Europe's 2024 extreme weather, which caused €43 billion in immediate losses, projected to reach €126 billion by 2029.

Key flaws include: assuming perpetual GDP growth regardless of climate severity; treating climate damages as isolated events rather than systemic disruptions affecting food systems and supply chains; and GDP's failure to capture human mortality, displacement, inequality, ecosystem degradation, and cultural loss.

Researchers warn these models can't assess risks that fundamentally alter economic structures—reshaping where people live, what's produced, and which regions remain viable. The report urges collaboration between climate scientists, economists, and regulators before reaching the catastrophic 2°C threshold.

Michigan has filed a groundbreaking lawsuit accusing BP, Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and the American Petroleum Institute of acting as a "cartel" to suppress renewable energy and electric vehicles while spreading disinformation about climate impacts.

Attorney General Dana Nessel alleges this collusion drove up utility costs (residential electricity rates rose nearly 120% in two decades in Michigan) and slowed EV adoption, which remains under 4% of Michigan's registered vehicles. The lawsuit claims defendants conspired for nearly 50 years, using patent litigation, disinformation, and trade associations to protect fossil fuel dominance despite knowing about climate dangers since a 1979 Exxon report.

Michigan joins 10 other states and 60 subnational governments suing big oil for climate deception, representing over a quarter of the US population. Despite Trump administration efforts to block such litigation, a federal judge recently dismissed the Justice Department's attempt to stop Michigan's case. The oil industry denies wrongdoing and continues lobbying for immunity from climate lawsuits.

The US is creating a critical mineral trading bloc to reduce dependence on China, which dominates refining of 19 of 20 key minerals needed for clean energy and digital technologies. Vice President JD Vance announced the initiative would establish tariff-free trade with guaranteed minimum prices among allies.

The US has signed 21 bilateral agreements, including with Australia, Japan, and EU nations, with 20 more countries interested. The new FORGE forum will coordinate mineral policy and projects.

However, challenges remain. Analysts warn the price-floor mechanism risks becoming a cartel and violating WTO rules. China controls over 90% of rare earths refining and offers cheaper, faster supplies—making complete independence difficult.

The US is also launching Project Vault, a $10 billion mineral reserve, though experts caution this may paradoxically increase Chinese dependence if cheaper Chinese minerals fill stockpiles. Resource-rich nations view US national security concerns as potentially destabilizing to global supply chains.

The British Antarctic Survey has developed an AI system that automatically identifies, names, and tracks icebergs from birth to disintegration. Using satellite imagery, the tool captures icebergs' distinct shapes as they calve from glaciers and ice sheets, then tracks thousands of smaller fragments back to their "parent" icebergs, creating detailed family trees.

This represents a major advancement over current methods where scientists manually track only the largest icebergs individually. The AI was tested using satellite observations over Greenland and provides crucial data about where freshwater enters oceans—information vital for climate predictions.

Machine learning expert Ben Evans notes this fills a critical observational gap, enabling scientists to trace each fragment's origin and destination. The technology could also assist polar navigation through iceberg-dense waters.

While iceberg calving is natural, scientists say Antarctica's ice loss rate is increasing alongside global temperatures, making this tracking capability increasingly important.

Boston Climate Week (May 3rd - May 10th) is coming up — and now’s the time to learn about the event submission process + ask any questions you may have. Sign up for the Boston Climate Week Event Organizer Info Session here.

The event submission guide is now live, and organizers can officially begin adding events to the San Francisco Climate Week calendar, taking place April 18th – April 26th.

The Colorado Climate Week Event Submission Guide is officially live, and organizers can now begin submitting events to be featured on the Colorado Climate Week (March 30th - April 3rd) calendar. Colorado Climate Week will bring together the state’s climate community for a week of events, connection, and collaboration in 2026.

Join us February 18th at 9 AM PT, for the online Info Session for Cohort 9. If you have questions or simply want the most comprehensive overview of The Climatebase Fellowship, make sure you register.

What you'll get in tomorrow's Info Session:

RSVP now to secure your spot.

Check out some of the latest featured jobs below. If you don't see anything that speaks to you, you can always go to Climatebase to explore over 50,000 new climate jobs.

NYC Bird Alliance

“NYC Bird Alliance is a nonprofit that works to protects birds and habitat across New York City, strengthening urban biodiversity through science, advocacy, and engagement.”

Smart Electric Power Alliance

“The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) is a nonprofit organization that envisions a carbon-free energy system that is safe, affordable, reliable, resilient and equitable.”

Premiums for the Planet

“Premiums for the Planet is a certified B Corp that helps companies protect their business and reduce costs while turning insurance into a force for climate action.”

Powerhouse and Powerhouse Ventures

“Accelerating decarbonization through clean energy and mobility innovation.”

Maiven Energy

“Maiven is the AI-powered virtual energy assistant platform rapidly decarbonizing residential building stock and empowering access to renewable energy.”

Orenda

“Optimizing urban energy efficiency with smart battery storage and ML-driven software solutions.”

Green Building Initiative, Inc.

“Improving the built environment’s impact on climate and society.”

DEXMAT

“Building a sustainable future with carbon-negative materials superior to steel and carbon fiber.”

Nira Energy

“Accelerating 100% fossil-free power grid by optimizing renewable energy site selection.”

Electric Hydrogen

“Affordable decarbonization solutions for major industrial sectors, tackling climate change with urgency.”