Heatwaves Kill Nuclear & Laos Bans Gas Cars

Extreme heat is disrupting more than just summer vacations. This week, we look at how climate change is forcing nuclear reactors in Europe offline, why heatwaves are delaying commercial flights, and how the International Energy Agency has once again underestimated the speed of the global EV transition. Plus, Laos takes a bold step by banning nearly all new gasoline and diesel car imports.

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In This Episode

• Heatwaves are forcing nuclear power plants across southeastern Europe to reduce output or shut down entirely as drought lowers river levels needed for cooling.
• Record heat is also disrupting air travel, with some aircraft forced to leave passengers behind because hot, thin air reduces lift.
• The International Energy Agency raises its global EV forecast, now expecting electric vehicles to account for 29% of worldwide new car sales this year.
• Emerging markets including India, Brazil, Australia, Vietnam and South Korea are driving the next wave of EV adoption.
• Laos bans imports of nearly all new gasoline and diesel passenger vehicles while expanding EV incentives and charging infrastructure.
• Wildfires continue to devastate parts of the northwestern United States.

The Lightning Round

• Australia reaches 500,000 home batteries and is installing roughly 2,000 more every day.
• Burying Austin's power lines would cost an estimated $50 billion.
• China's coal generation remains high, but electricity demand has grown even faster.
• 29 countries have now installed more than 10 GW of solar power.
• Solar supplied nearly 16% of Texas electricity in May.

The episode wraps up with a sobering look at what today's 1.4°C warmer world is already bringing—and why the decisions we make now will determine how much worse it becomes.

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