Chloé Farand
Kamala Harris might help ‘night and day’ shift for US on global climate diplomacy
If they defeat Trump, Biden and Harris will have to prove they can cut emissions at home to rebuild US global leadership on climate change.
For all its green talk, the IEA still gives comfort to oil and gas producers
Under Fatih Birol, the International Energy Agency leads talk of a green recovery, yet dodges hard questions about phasing out dirty energy
Guterres confronts China over coal boom, urging a green recovery
China’s provinces have overseen a coal plant building spree in the first half of the year, in a bid to revive the Covid pandemic-hit economy
Renewables overtake fossil fuels in EU electricity generation
Wind and solar produced a record fifth of the European Union’s electricity during the first half of the year – a trend accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic
Poland bails out coal, yet wins access to EU climate funds
Warsaw can get EU money allocated for greening the economy, despite having no plan to exit coal or commitment to the bloc’s 2050 net zero emissions goal
Vulnerable states urge EU to link recovery funds to tougher 2030 climate target
In a rare intervention in EU politics, poor and small island nations urged leaders to rebuild the economy in line with a 55% emissions cut by 2030
Biden support for US cleantech innovation ‘will raise the bar’ internationally
The US presidential contender has pledged to invest in research and development to tackle the climate crisis if elected, in a plan welcomed by experts
Saudi Arabia censors fossil fuel subsidy discussion as G20 host
Riyadh is scrubbing the word “subsidy” from expert briefings, despite a commitment from G20 countries to phase out “inefficient” support to coal, oil and gas
Airlines’ climate obligations postponed as UN body endorses industry proposal
A handful of countries on the council of the International Civil Aviation Organization agreed to change the rules to reduce the sector’s carbon costs
Ireland to set annual emissions goals to reach 2050 carbon neutrality
The formation of a historic coalition government has put climate action at the top of Ireland’s priorities, with a plan to halve emissions in the next decade
UK makes assurances on climate finance amid concerns over aid restructuring
Experts warn shifting aid away from the world’s poorest would undermine critical alliance-building efforts ahead of the UK hosting Cop26 climate talks
UK risks missing UN climate deadline, in headache for hosts of key summit
Britain’s timeline for developing a more ambitious climate plan has slipped, challenging diplomatic efforts to encourage other countries to raise their game
US climate activists confront the movement’s whiteness problem
Coronavirus, Black Lives Matter and a Chevron slip-up highlight how environmentalism has failed black communities – calling for new models of activism
No UN climate talks to be held in 2020, as interim meeting postponed again
Health restrictions by the German authorities left no alternative but to defer negotiations planned for October, UN Climate Change said
India eyes private investment to open 41 new coal mines
Prime Minister Modi says private coal mining will boost India’s energy security, despite expert warnings of stranded assets and indigenous rights violations
UK aid and foreign ministry merger raises fears for politicisation of climate finance
The move puts Britain’s economic interests abroad above efforts to eliminate poverty and protect the most vulnerable, experts warn
It will take more than a few cycle lanes to make green, pandemic-proof cities
The coronavirus lockdown gave a glimpse of what cleaner cities can look like, but as people turn to private cars for safety from infection, pollution could soar
‘Final blow’ to aviation climate plan as EU agrees to weaken rules
EU member states will back an industry proposal to reduce airlines’ climate obligations in response to the coronavirus pandemic, at the UN aviation forum
Participation at Bonn climate talks could be limited to prevent coronavirus outbreak
Observers called for transparency and inclusion to be maintained at talks in Bonn, provisionally planned for October, when physical distancing measures could apply
Delay to climate talks deepens uncertainty over future of carbon markets
Project developers in poor countries are struggling to attract finance, as deadlock on international carbon trading rules cannot be resolved before November 2021