Rebecca John
@rebeccajohn.bsky.social
Investigative climate reporter and award-winning documentary film maker. Long lost secrets and contemporary scoops. Research fellow Climate Investigations Center. Words in DeSmog and Air Mail.
Pinned
Rebecca John
@rebeccajohn.bsky.social
· Nov 15
Revealed: Big Oil Told 70 Years Ago That Fossil Fuel Emissions Could Impact ‘Civilization’
New documents show how a deceptive PR strategy pioneered in 1950s California first exposed the risk of climate change and then helped the industry deny it.
www.desmog.com
Once Upon A Time In LA ... Big Oil Told 70 Years Ago That Fossil Fuel Emissions Could Impact 'Civilization'
NEW story of early front group that went 'rogue' before being pressured back into line by California's oilmen
Latest investigation and story by me ⬇️
www.desmog.com/2024/11/12/r...
NEW story of early front group that went 'rogue' before being pressured back into line by California's oilmen
Latest investigation and story by me ⬇️
www.desmog.com/2024/11/12/r...
Reposted by Rebecca John
Reform UK energy plans crumble under scrutiny
Reform UK rails against net zero, but the evidence shows green jobs and growth are already powering the UK economy
@yorkshirebylines.co.uk
@bylinesnetwork.co.uk
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/politics/ref...
Reform UK rails against net zero, but the evidence shows green jobs and growth are already powering the UK economy
@yorkshirebylines.co.uk
@bylinesnetwork.co.uk
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/politics/ref...
Reform UK energy plans crumble under scrutiny
Reform UK rails against net zero, but the evidence shows green jobs and growth are already powering the UK economy
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Reform UK energy plans crumble under scrutiny
Reform UK rails against net zero, but the evidence shows green jobs and growth are already powering the UK economy
@yorkshirebylines.co.uk
@bylinesnetwork.co.uk
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/politics/ref...
Reform UK rails against net zero, but the evidence shows green jobs and growth are already powering the UK economy
@yorkshirebylines.co.uk
@bylinesnetwork.co.uk
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/politics/ref...
Reposted by Rebecca John
This is a chilling development.
The move comes as environmental groups have struggled to find their footing and raise money under President Donald Trump, whose threats to investigate left-leaning organisations and rapid-fire dismantling of environmental rules have hamstrung green groups.
The move comes as environmental groups have struggled to find their footing and raise money under President Donald Trump, whose threats to investigate left-leaning organisations and rapid-fire dismantling of environmental rules have hamstrung green groups.
Enviro group that helped lead Keystone Pipeline opposition suspends US operations
The group will keep three U.S. positions open in hopes of reviving operations in the future.
www.politico.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:40 AM
This is a chilling development.
The move comes as environmental groups have struggled to find their footing and raise money under President Donald Trump, whose threats to investigate left-leaning organisations and rapid-fire dismantling of environmental rules have hamstrung green groups.
The move comes as environmental groups have struggled to find their footing and raise money under President Donald Trump, whose threats to investigate left-leaning organisations and rapid-fire dismantling of environmental rules have hamstrung green groups.
Reposted by Rebecca John
Brilliant new ad campaign I just spotted at the Southwark tube station in London.
November 8, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Brilliant new ad campaign I just spotted at the Southwark tube station in London.
“Too many corporations are making record profits from climate devastation, with billions spent on lobbying, deceiving the public and obstructing progress.”
Missing 1.5C climate target is a moral failure, UN chief tells Cop30 summit
UN secretary general António Guterres urges opening session in Brazil to bring about a ‘fundamental paradigm shift’
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:14 PM
“Too many corporations are making record profits from climate devastation, with billions spent on lobbying, deceiving the public and obstructing progress.”
Reposted by Rebecca John
We are going to live in a world where the the marginal cost of electricity is very close to zero
Australia has so much electricity from solar power that it is going to start offering free electricity to everyone for at least three hours during the day as the wholesale price of power goes negative
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
Australia has so much solar that it's offering everyone free electricity
Australia's extensive solar power penetration makes so much energy that the government wants to offer free electricity at peak hours.
electrek.co
November 6, 2025 at 5:51 PM
We are going to live in a world where the the marginal cost of electricity is very close to zero
Reposted by Rebecca John
Today a story I've spent months reporting and writing runs on @desmog.com and @theguardian.com.
It's based on hundreds of exclusive documents revealing how Exxon funded the rightwing Atlas Network to spread climate denial across Latin America and the Global South.
www.desmog.com/2025/11/03/a...
It's based on hundreds of exclusive documents revealing how Exxon funded the rightwing Atlas Network to spread climate denial across Latin America and the Global South.
www.desmog.com/2025/11/03/a...
‘A Pretty Ugly History’: How Exxon Exported Climate Denial to the Global South
With Brazil about to host COP30, DeSmog has obtained copies of checks Exxon mailed to the right-wing Atlas Network in the 1990s to turn Latin America against climate treaties.
www.desmog.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Today a story I've spent months reporting and writing runs on @desmog.com and @theguardian.com.
It's based on hundreds of exclusive documents revealing how Exxon funded the rightwing Atlas Network to spread climate denial across Latin America and the Global South.
www.desmog.com/2025/11/03/a...
It's based on hundreds of exclusive documents revealing how Exxon funded the rightwing Atlas Network to spread climate denial across Latin America and the Global South.
www.desmog.com/2025/11/03/a...
Reposted by Rebecca John
We obtained hundreds of documents revealing how Exxon funded the rightwing Atlas Network to spread climate denial in Latin America and all across the Global South.
Read @geoffdembicki.bsky.social's exclusive story.
www.desmog.com/2025/11/03/a...
Read @geoffdembicki.bsky.social's exclusive story.
www.desmog.com/2025/11/03/a...
‘A Pretty Ugly History’: How Exxon Exported Climate Denial to the Global South
With Brazil about to host COP30, DeSmog has obtained copies of checks Exxon mailed to the right-wing Atlas Network in the 1990s to turn Latin America against climate treaties.
www.desmog.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:45 PM
We obtained hundreds of documents revealing how Exxon funded the rightwing Atlas Network to spread climate denial in Latin America and all across the Global South.
Read @geoffdembicki.bsky.social's exclusive story.
www.desmog.com/2025/11/03/a...
Read @geoffdembicki.bsky.social's exclusive story.
www.desmog.com/2025/11/03/a...
Exxon funded rightwing thinktanks in a campaign to make the global south “less inclined” to support climate treaties, according to hundreds of previously unpublished documents
New from @geoffdembicki.bsky.social
@desmog.com
New from @geoffdembicki.bsky.social
@desmog.com
Exxon funded thinktanks to spread climate denial in Latin America, documents reveal
Texas-based fossil fuel company financed Atlas Network in attempt to derail UN-led climate treaty process
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Exxon funded rightwing thinktanks in a campaign to make the global south “less inclined” to support climate treaties, according to hundreds of previously unpublished documents
New from @geoffdembicki.bsky.social
@desmog.com
New from @geoffdembicki.bsky.social
@desmog.com
Reposted by Rebecca John
60 yrs ago today (Nov 5, 1965), the 1st US government report to warn about climate change was published.
"Restoring the Quality of Our Environment" included warning of C02 build-up and sea-level rise/melting ice-caps.
allouryesterdays.info/2025/11/04/6...
1/n
"Restoring the Quality of Our Environment" included warning of C02 build-up and sea-level rise/melting ice-caps.
allouryesterdays.info/2025/11/04/6...
1/n
November 4, 2025 at 10:12 PM
60 yrs ago today (Nov 5, 1965), the 1st US government report to warn about climate change was published.
"Restoring the Quality of Our Environment" included warning of C02 build-up and sea-level rise/melting ice-caps.
allouryesterdays.info/2025/11/04/6...
1/n
"Restoring the Quality of Our Environment" included warning of C02 build-up and sea-level rise/melting ice-caps.
allouryesterdays.info/2025/11/04/6...
1/n
Reposted by Rebecca John
Since NOAA is not updating its GHG graphics, I thought I would update CO2 this month.
Based on the available data, CO2 came in at 424.98 ppm for Oct., 2025, up 2.60 ppm from Oct., 2024.
Data: gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/...
Here is the most recent Keeling curve:
Based on the available data, CO2 came in at 424.98 ppm for Oct., 2025, up 2.60 ppm from Oct., 2024.
Data: gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/...
Here is the most recent Keeling curve:
November 1, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Since NOAA is not updating its GHG graphics, I thought I would update CO2 this month.
Based on the available data, CO2 came in at 424.98 ppm for Oct., 2025, up 2.60 ppm from Oct., 2024.
Data: gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/...
Here is the most recent Keeling curve:
Based on the available data, CO2 came in at 424.98 ppm for Oct., 2025, up 2.60 ppm from Oct., 2024.
Data: gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/...
Here is the most recent Keeling curve:
Reposted by Rebecca John
NEWS: CBS News gutted its climate team as part of the big Paramount layoffs this week. These journalists had been doing incredible reporting on extreme heat, flooding, clean energy investments and more.
I've got details for Climate-Colored Goggles: www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/cbs-news-g...
I've got details for Climate-Colored Goggles: www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/cbs-news-g...
CBS News just gutted its climate team
Paramount and Bari Weiss aren't off to a great start. Here's why David Ellison should change course.
www.climatecoloredgoggles.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:55 AM
NEWS: CBS News gutted its climate team as part of the big Paramount layoffs this week. These journalists had been doing incredible reporting on extreme heat, flooding, clean energy investments and more.
I've got details for Climate-Colored Goggles: www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/cbs-news-g...
I've got details for Climate-Colored Goggles: www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/cbs-news-g...
Reposted by Rebecca John
More troubling signs from the recent takeover of CBS news -- their climate team has been gutted and their new ED, Bari Weiss, has a long history of downplaying the climate crisis. @sammyroth.bsky.social
www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/cbs-news-g...
www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/cbs-news-g...
CBS News just gutted its climate team
Paramount and Bari Weiss aren't off to a great start. Here's why David Ellison should change course.
www.climatecoloredgoggles.com
October 31, 2025 at 5:33 PM
More troubling signs from the recent takeover of CBS news -- their climate team has been gutted and their new ED, Bari Weiss, has a long history of downplaying the climate crisis. @sammyroth.bsky.social
www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/cbs-news-g...
www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/cbs-news-g...
Reposted by Rebecca John
"You can’t reboot the planet if you crash it" | My commentary on Bill Gates' flawed new climate missive for @thebulletin.org: thebulletin.org/2025/10/you-...
You can’t reboot the planet if you crash it
What Gates is putting forward aren’t legitimate arguments that can be made in good faith. They are shopworn fossil fuel industry talking points.
thebulletin.org
October 31, 2025 at 6:35 PM
"You can’t reboot the planet if you crash it" | My commentary on Bill Gates' flawed new climate missive for @thebulletin.org: thebulletin.org/2025/10/you-...
Reposted by Rebecca John
Great coverage from @emorwee.bsky.social of the first entire unit to be let go at CBS News under new management: the climate team 🙃 heated.world/p/cbs-news-k...
The fall of the CBS News climate team
David Ellison, the new pro-Trump chief executive of Paramount Skydance, has dismantled the best climate change reporting team in cable news.
heated.world
October 31, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Great coverage from @emorwee.bsky.social of the first entire unit to be let go at CBS News under new management: the climate team 🙃 heated.world/p/cbs-news-k...
Be sure to catch this screening and panel discussion moderated by @geoffdembicki.bsky.social
OCT 30: Join us w/ @desmog.com, former EPA Administrator Bill Reilly, Sharon Lavigne of Rise St. James, & co-director of The White House Effect Bonni Cohen for an early screening & panel discussion about the political impact we can still create in the US.
RSVP 👉 350org.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
RSVP 👉 350org.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
October 30, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Be sure to catch this screening and panel discussion moderated by @geoffdembicki.bsky.social
Reposted by Rebecca John
OCT 30: Join us w/ @desmog.com, former EPA Administrator Bill Reilly, Sharon Lavigne of Rise St. James, & co-director of The White House Effect Bonni Cohen for an early screening & panel discussion about the political impact we can still create in the US.
RSVP 👉 350org.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
RSVP 👉 350org.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
October 29, 2025 at 9:34 PM
OCT 30: Join us w/ @desmog.com, former EPA Administrator Bill Reilly, Sharon Lavigne of Rise St. James, & co-director of The White House Effect Bonni Cohen for an early screening & panel discussion about the political impact we can still create in the US.
RSVP 👉 350org.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
RSVP 👉 350org.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Reposted by Rebecca John
This is the problem - renewables not replacing fossil fuels but complementing them
We need emissions to at least halve within 50 months, but they continue to head upwards
Our prospects are truly dismal
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
We need emissions to at least halve within 50 months, but they continue to head upwards
Our prospects are truly dismal
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Global use of coal hit record high in 2024
Bleak report finds greenhouse gas emissions are still rising despite ‘exponential’ growth of renewables
www.theguardian.com
October 22, 2025 at 7:00 AM
This is the problem - renewables not replacing fossil fuels but complementing them
We need emissions to at least halve within 50 months, but they continue to head upwards
Our prospects are truly dismal
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
We need emissions to at least halve within 50 months, but they continue to head upwards
Our prospects are truly dismal
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Rebecca John
🚨New report: how the fossil fuel industry duped successive UK governments into pumping money into costly CCS schemes to ensure continued reliance on oil and gas.
📢 🚨New Report - How the UK oil and gas industry spent 15 years pushing for subsidies & incentives for Carbon Capture and Storage rather than regulatory accountability or science-based emissions reductions; maintaining a funding pipeline for a technology yet to deliver on its promises 👇
The UK Oil and Gas Industry's Advocacy on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
New analysis from InfluenceMap suggests that for more than 15 years, the oil and gas industry has systematically pushed the UK government to adopt a costly, emissions-intensive energy policy agenda de...
influencemap.org
October 8, 2025 at 10:05 AM
🚨New report: how the fossil fuel industry duped successive UK governments into pumping money into costly CCS schemes to ensure continued reliance on oil and gas.
Reposted by Rebecca John
Trump administration wants to roll back regulations on HFCs (very potent greenhouse gases) OVER THE OBJECTIONS OF THE APPLIANCE INDUSTRY.
Here’s why one industry is worried about Trump’s latest climate rollback
The Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday that it would rewrite a Biden-era rule aimed at limiting hydrofluorocarbons, a potent greenhouse gas.
wapo.st
October 1, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Trump administration wants to roll back regulations on HFCs (very potent greenhouse gases) OVER THE OBJECTIONS OF THE APPLIANCE INDUSTRY.
Reposted by Rebecca John
“The German Meteorological & Physical Societies warn: "There is already a risk of warming by 3 degrees Celsius by 2050."
Some media are interpreting this as climate researchers contradicting each other. But the IPCC already warned of up to 3C for moderate emissions and up to 3.4C for high emissions.
Some media are interpreting this as climate researchers contradicting each other. But the IPCC already warned of up to 3C for moderate emissions and up to 3.4C for high emissions.
Die Deutschen Meteorologischen und Physikalischen Gesellschaften warnen: "Bereits bis 2050
besteht das Risiko einer Erwärmung um 3 Grad."
Manche Medien machen daraus: Klimaforscher widersprechen sich. Aber schon der IPCC-Bericht warnte bei mittleren Emissionen vor bis zu 3 Grad, bei hohen bis 3,4.
besteht das Risiko einer Erwärmung um 3 Grad."
Manche Medien machen daraus: Klimaforscher widersprechen sich. Aber schon der IPCC-Bericht warnte bei mittleren Emissionen vor bis zu 3 Grad, bei hohen bis 3,4.
September 26, 2025 at 9:17 PM
“The German Meteorological & Physical Societies warn: "There is already a risk of warming by 3 degrees Celsius by 2050."
Some media are interpreting this as climate researchers contradicting each other. But the IPCC already warned of up to 3C for moderate emissions and up to 3.4C for high emissions.
Some media are interpreting this as climate researchers contradicting each other. But the IPCC already warned of up to 3C for moderate emissions and up to 3.4C for high emissions.
Reposted by Rebecca John
70 years ago today, (Sept 22, 1955) a General Electric scientist warned about carbon dioxide build-up.
C02 “may be having a greenhouse effect on our climate” because mankind is “contaminating the earth’s atmosphere faster than nature can clean it.”
allouryesterdays.info/2025/09/22/7...
C02 “may be having a greenhouse effect on our climate” because mankind is “contaminating the earth’s atmosphere faster than nature can clean it.”
allouryesterdays.info/2025/09/22/7...
September 22, 2025 at 10:07 AM
70 years ago today, (Sept 22, 1955) a General Electric scientist warned about carbon dioxide build-up.
C02 “may be having a greenhouse effect on our climate” because mankind is “contaminating the earth’s atmosphere faster than nature can clean it.”
allouryesterdays.info/2025/09/22/7...
C02 “may be having a greenhouse effect on our climate” because mankind is “contaminating the earth’s atmosphere faster than nature can clean it.”
allouryesterdays.info/2025/09/22/7...
Reposted by Rebecca John
President Johnson, in a November 9, 1968 letter to the Smothers Brothers:
“It is part of the price of leadership of this great and free nation to be the target of clever satirists . . . May we never grow so somber or self-important that we fail to appreciate the humor in our lives.”
“It is part of the price of leadership of this great and free nation to be the target of clever satirists . . . May we never grow so somber or self-important that we fail to appreciate the humor in our lives.”
September 20, 2025 at 9:44 PM
President Johnson, in a November 9, 1968 letter to the Smothers Brothers:
“It is part of the price of leadership of this great and free nation to be the target of clever satirists . . . May we never grow so somber or self-important that we fail to appreciate the humor in our lives.”
“It is part of the price of leadership of this great and free nation to be the target of clever satirists . . . May we never grow so somber or self-important that we fail to appreciate the humor in our lives.”
Reposted by Rebecca John
After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.
Let’s be clear about what happened to Jimmy Kimmel
Trump’s most brazen attack on free speech yet.
www.yahoo.com
September 18, 2025 at 2:10 PM
After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.
Reposted by Rebecca John
This is such positive, powerful, direct communication. The fact that this seems so remarkable and so rare speaks volumes about our failure to stand up to the fossil fuel lobby.
"My school saves thousands of pounds every year from those solar panels." The TUC directly takes on Reform, a party funded by the fossil fuel Industry. Posted on IG by tradesunioncongress
September 10, 2025 at 7:46 AM
This is such positive, powerful, direct communication. The fact that this seems so remarkable and so rare speaks volumes about our failure to stand up to the fossil fuel lobby.
Reposted by Rebecca John
UK should stop investing in carbon capture for power, government adviser says.
#CCS “a gift to the oil and gas industry, and carry on the fiction that somehow enormous amounts of public money should enable them to keep doing it”.
www.ft.com/content/5595...
#CCS “a gift to the oil and gas industry, and carry on the fiction that somehow enormous amounts of public money should enable them to keep doing it”.
www.ft.com/content/5595...
UK should stop investing in carbon capture for power, government adviser says
Octopus chief says ‘enormous amounts’ of public money spent on technology should be saved
www.ft.com
September 7, 2025 at 8:40 AM
UK should stop investing in carbon capture for power, government adviser says.
#CCS “a gift to the oil and gas industry, and carry on the fiction that somehow enormous amounts of public money should enable them to keep doing it”.
www.ft.com/content/5595...
#CCS “a gift to the oil and gas industry, and carry on the fiction that somehow enormous amounts of public money should enable them to keep doing it”.
www.ft.com/content/5595...