By Jeffrey Mervis , Science.  Excerpt: Shirley Meng grew up in China and earned her degrees in Singapore, but the United States is where she built her career trying to make better and cheaper batteries for a power-hungry world. After 2 decades here, the University of Chicago (UChicago) materials scientist, who also heads a Department of Energy (DOE) research hub, is now heading back to Asia.On 1 July, Meng will become vice president for innovation and global affairs at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU), her undergraduate alma mater and a growing rese arch powerhouse. Only 35 years old, NTU was ranked 12th this year in  one global assessment of research universities —one rung above UChicago. Meng took the job because she thinks the U.S. has turned away from a commitment to decarbonize its economy. She’s leaving with mixed emotions—and the hope that the political environment for more sustainable energy sources will improve once President Donald Trump leaves offi...

By Bob Berwyn , Inside Climate News.  Excerpt: While some major fossil fuel producers keep pushing for expanded oil and gas use, which is  linked  to warfare, economic shocks and ecological damage, more than 50 countries at the first  Conference on Transitioning Away From Fossil Fuels  began developing plans to shift toward renewable energy systems designed for stability and abundance rather than scarcity and conflict. ...Participants and observers  described  the meeting as a space where fossil fuels themselves, and not just their emissions, were discussed as the root cause of overlapping crises, from conflict and displacement to economic instability. At past UNFCCC climate talks, those connections were often downplayed, especially in official documents....  Full article at https://insideclimatenews.org/news/01052026/colombia-climate-summit-charts-path-beyond-fossil-fuels .