Archive image. An abandoned ski lift in the French Alps. Laurent Cipriani / AP
French ski resort closed - too little snow falls
Several ski resorts in France have been forced to close again as the winters no longer provide enough snow for it to be profitable. Last in line is the ski destination La Sambuy near Mont Blanc in the French Alps, writes CNN.
- Before, we used to have snow practically from the first of December to the end of March. Last winter we only got four weeks of snow, says Jacques Dalex, mayor of the city.
Europe experienced unusually high temperatures last winter, and several popular ski resorts in the Alps saw large patches of grass and dirt instead of blankets of snow.
According to a new scientific study published in the journal Nature, around half of Europe's ski resorts are threatened by a lack of snow if the temperature rises by two degrees.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ursula von der Leyen. TT
The clock is ticking for the EU: "Climate plan has become a support program for China"
The EU has launched an investigation into China's generous subsidies for electric cars, writes the New York Times.
- Europe is open to competition, not a race to the bottom. We must defend ourselves against unfair practices, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier this week.
The announcement reveals an increasingly tangible fact: Europe has fallen behind China in the green vehicle transition and is jeopardizing its valuable auto industry, writes Politico.
Chinese companies today account for 60 percent of the global market for battery cell production. At the same time that the EU has decided that all sales of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned from 2035.
- Ursula von der Leyen is only now realizing that the whole plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is a big support program for China, says a former head of a car company, who wishes to remain anonymous.
Illustration image. Jae C. Hong / AP
Federal state sues oil giants: "They have misled the people"
California has sued some of the world's largest energy companies, accusing them of "misleading the people" and causing billions of dollars in damages. This is reported by the New York Times with reference to a court document.
The filing, filed in San Francisco, names Exxon Mobil, Shell, BP, Conocophillips and Chevron. The newspaper calls the lawsuit "the latest and most high-profile" legal process against the giants and their role in climate change.
According to the document, oil and gas companies are accused of having known about the effects of fossil fuels for decades, but avoided communicating the risks to the public.
"Their malfeasance has resulted in enormous costs to people, property and natural resources, which continue to develop every day," it further states.
None of the companies have commented on the information to the NYT.
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