Climate News

US election: Climate experts react to Donald Trump’s victory

Trump will try to cut spending on green energy and boost production of fossil fuels while leaving the Paris agreement

Emerging economies set up COP29 agenda fight over trade measures

The BASIC group led by China wants “unilateral restrictive trade measures” on the COP29 agenda

COP29 must deliver on the world’s energy transition promises

COP28 agreed a transition away from fossil fuels – and COP29 must follow up on this, as well as agreeing an ambitious goal for climate finance for developing countries

Legal experts say Trump could quit Paris pact – but leaving UNFCCC much harder

As the US Senate approved the US joining the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, it’s unclear if a president could easily pull the country out

COP16 hands power to Indigenous people but fails to bridge nature finance gap

UN biodiversity summit produces mixed results, with gains for Indigenous people and disagreement on how to raise and manage funding for nature protection

Plans to turn Europe’s biggest coal mine into a leisure lake prove divisive

Transition experts say repurposing Poland’s Bełchatów mine and power plant for renewables not recreation could bring more jobs, revenue and electricity

Verra’s plan to review carbon credits faster with fewer staff raises integrity concerns

Verra’s new CEO said that “faster does not equal to compromise on integrity” – but independent carbon market experts are sceptical

Colombia to present proposal for new critical minerals pact at COP30

The aim is for minerals used in the clean energy transition to be mined and commercialised responsibly, respecting the environment and communities

Fossil fuel transition pledge left out of COP16 draft agreement

An earlier draft decision at the UN nature summit included a call to transition away from fossil fuels – but it has been cut from the latest version

Businesses may be investing more in climate adaptation than we think

Private investments in adaptation are likely to be significantly underestimated as a result of the huge challenge in tracking them, experts say – though barriers remain

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Politics

How Azerbaijan locked up climate and social justice advocate ahead of COP29 

Azeri economist Farid Mehralizada has argued that his country’s reliance on fossil fuels is unsustainable and dangerous – he is now in prison ahead of the climate summit in Baku

Indian coal giants pushed for lax pollution rules while ramping up production

Even as India agreed to phase down coal power at UN climate talks, state-run firms were lobbying government to weaken pollution regulations and expand the sector

In a warring world, Azerbaijan’s COP29 truce appeal draws fire as “PR exercise”

Baku wants all countries to lay down arms for the UN climate summit – but doubts grow as warring states sign up and conflicts intensify

Modi, Macron, Xi and Biden among many leaders yet to request COP29 speech

Just over 100 world leaders have said they will speak at the upcoming UN climate summit, about a fifth down on last year’s figure

It’s time to end the UN’s artificial divide between biodiversity and climate 

The biodiversity and climate crises are interlinked – and failing to coordinate our response leaves critical ecosystems like forests and peatlands at risk 

Why we need new laws to end coal, oil and gas – now  

Introducing strong policies to accelerate the rollout of renewables, coupled with a rapid, legally implemented phase-out of fossil fuels, may be our best hope for curbing global warming

The Global South is surging ahead in the renewables revolution 

Many developing countries are rich in renewable resources and growing them fast – with more investment, they can tip the balance towards green industrialisation

Australian renewables pioneer Adelaide bids to host COP31 climate summit

South Australia has one of the world’s cleanest electricity grids, which it wants to showcase at the COP31 conference in 2026

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Finance

G20 waters down experts’ climate finance report, despite UN pressure to act

A report by top economists on finance for climate action was weakened after feedback from G20 nations, even as the UN says they must all slash emissions

At COP16, countries clash over future of global fund for nature protection

Some biodiverse developing nations want to replace it with a new fund that would give them a bigger say in how it’s run and easier access to its resources

European Central Bank holds back plan to boost climate finance for Africa, Latam

The African and Inter-American Development Banks want assets channelled through them so they can get more from the money

Parametric triggers: How small islands can escape the climate-poverty trap

The loss and damage fund should use parametric triggers to pay out when climate disaster strikes small island developing states

To capture renewable energy gains, Africa must invest in battery storage

With rich raw materials and rising interest in manufacturing capacity, the continent can become a global leader in the battery storage value chain – but it needs international capital

UN approves carbon market safeguards to protect environment and human rights

Developers of carbon credit projects will have to carry out a risk assessment and minimise any social or environmental impacts

How the world can set itself up for success at COP29 

A new climate finance goal is the top priority for the Baku summit – and there are signs of convergence on critical issues 

Progress on structure for new global climate finance goal but trickier divides persist

Negotiators cite “convergence” on the shape of the post-2025 finance goal but gaps remain on contributors and amounts

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Justice

Greenpeace Africa in disarray as restructuring meets resistance

The environmental NGO’s campaigners and bosses have fought over job losses, a shift towards richer nations and LGBT+ policy

Colombia adds nature to the mix with its $40-billion energy transition plan

The investment plan mirrors the model of Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) – and includes $8.5 billion to conserve and restore nature

New global climate commitments critical – but strong national laws must follow

International emissions-cutting targets need to be translated into national laws to guarantee delivery and protect the rights of future generations

Developing countries denounce rich nations’ disregard for just transition talks

One negotiator said it was “very unfortunate” that no developed-country officials travelled to Ghana for UN climate talks on “response measures”

The demise of coal, as it turns out, is a lot of gas

The global pipeline of coal projects shrank dramatically in recent years – but now coal is making a comeback in Asia, threatening climate goals

Bigger share of COP29 badges for Global South NGOs upsets rich-country groups

The UNFCCC has changed quota allocations for observers in a bid to address imbalance in regional representation

Delaying the EU’s anti-deforestation law is not an option 

The EU’s new deforestation law was seen as a breakthrough in the global battle against forest loss, but it’s provoking fractious debate among governments and producers

How can governments tackle loss and damage at the national level?

As host of the board of the new UN L&D fund, the Philippines can set an example with its pioneering climate accountability bill 

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Energy

What Trump got wrong on China, coal and climate 

Republican candidate Donald Trump has cited China’s coal plants as a reason for the US to stick with fossil fuels – but he fails to acknowledge China’s massive clean energy industry

Despite solar surge, world off track for COP28 renewable energy target

Current plans will only deliver half of the growth needed to hit a global target of tripling renewables by 2030, IRENA warns

New study blows hole in “transition fuel” claim of fossil gas backers

The study found that, for Europe and China, importing US-produced LNG is worse for the climate than using local coal

Mexico’s new president must reform national oil company Pemex

Investing even more in oil and gas would be a huge financial risk so Claudia Sheinbaum should order Pemex to diversify

Civil servants warn fossil fuel exploration could harm New Zealand’s climate reputation

Advice to politicians says revoking a ban on oil and gas drilling could damage relations with Pacific neighbours and risk lawsuits

UN climate chief warns of “two-speed” global energy transition

Simon Stiell tells investors in NYC that rich countries are benefiting most from clean energy growth while poorer nations are deprived of finance for cheaper renewables

Global push to triple renewables requires responsible mining of minerals

As leaders at the UN debate how to meet renewable energy goals, they must also ensure supply chains are sustainable

As Pacific Islanders, we need climate action – not greenwashing – from Azerbaijan

As host of the COP29 summit, Baku must stop fossil fuel expansion, cut its emissions further, and work to deliver an ambitious climate finance goal

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Land

COP16 confronts “huge” challenge of protecting 30% of world’s land and sea

Ahead of the UN biodiversity summit, countries are urged to come up with strong new plans and funding to meet global nature goals

Delay to EU deforestation law must not lead to dilution

The EU needs to stand firm against the countries and companies hellbent on weakening its pioneering regulation to stop commodities harming forests

Guyana’s carbon-credit deal to protect forests undermines its forest protectors 

Guyana’s Indigenous communities are under siege from all sides – including an opaque carbon-offsetting scheme agreed by the government on our lands

Biodiversity finance grew ahead of COP16 but came mostly as loans, says OECD

Funding for efforts to protect and restore nature increased to $15.4 billion in 2022 – mostly driven by concessional loans from multilateral banks

The UN can set a new course on “critical” transition minerals  

A high-level panel is working to define principles for responsible mining, which will be presented to the UN General Assembly in September

FAO draft report backs growth of livestock industry despite emissions 

Experts say the UN’s food agency has shied away from recommending less animal farming, though cutting methane emissions is a quick way to curb warming

Despite dilution, officials say new nature law can restore EU carbon sinks

To meet climate goals, the European Union needs to reverse the decline of its carbon-storing ecosystems like forests and peatlands

Right-wing pushback on EU’s green laws misjudges rural views 

Populist and far-right parties are wooing rural voters in the EU elections by exploiting a backlash against green policies – but new research suggests it may not work 

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Transport

British Airways plans to offset rising emissions by sprinkling crushed rocks

The airline will pay a UK company to carry out enhanced rock weathering, which speeds up natural carbon-absorbing processes

Belém’s electric bus controversy: a cautionary tale for COP30

A plan for new buses in the Brazilian city hosting the 2025 UN climate summit was held up by a political row that suggests the road to COP30 could get rocky

London airport expansion spotlights danger of “false hope” Jet Zero strategy

The UK government decided expansion is compatible with its plan to cut aviation emissions, raising questions about its reliance on unproven techno-fixes over reducing flights

Key UN report lends weight to Pacific plan for shipping emissions levy

The report was seized upon by the Marshall Islands but branded “unacceptable” and “nonsensical” by Argentina and Brazil

As first airline drops goal, are aviation’s 2030 targets achievable without carbon offsets?

Air New Zealand has dropped its 2030 emissions reductions targets, validated by the Science-Based Targets Initiative

Lessons from trade tensions targeting “overcapacity” in China’s cleantech industry

Clean technology is turning into the next global climate spat. The debate over China’s dominance is highly politicized, but there are ways forward

Shipping sector pushes to keep emissions-tax cash for itself

The industry and governments’ maritime ministries want a proposed levy on emissions spent on cleaning up shipping, not used for wider climate goals like loss and damage

The EU must take the driver’s seat in fossil fuel-free transport

Transport accounts for a growing share of global emissions. The EU should lead a push for clean travel at home and internationally

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Science

Climate disasters challenge right to safe and adequate housing

Climate-proofing homes is now an essential response to regular extreme weather events and can help prevent displacement

IPCC’s input into key UN climate review at risk as countries clash over timeline

Most governments want reports ready before the next global stocktake, but a dozen developing nations are opposed over inclusivity concerns

The IPCC must produce its flagship report in time for the next UN global stocktake

An IPCC author from the Global South on why aligning the two timelines is crucial for the integrity of international climate cooperation

UN chief appeals for global action to tackle deadly extreme heat

António Guterres calls extreme heat “the new abnormal” as he urges countries to step up protection of vulnerable populations

Africa cannot afford to be complacent about solar radiation management

As the solar geoengineering debate heats up, it is time for voices across the continent to work together and make themselves heard

Saudi visa crackdown left heatwave-hit Hajj pilgrims scared to ask for help

Pilgrims without the right type of visa were denied medical treatment, survivors say, during a 52C heatwave which killed hundreds

Bonn bulletin: Fears over “1.5 washing” in national climate plans

Next round of NDCs in focus as negotiations wrap up with a final push to resolve fights on issues including adaptation and just transition

Bonn makes only lukewarm progress to tackle a red-hot climate crisis

At mid-year UN talks, negotiators have achieved little to get more help to those struggling with fiercer floods, cyclones and heatwaves in South Asia

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