Senegalese banker Ibrahima Cheikh Diong picked to lead new loss and damage fund
Diong has experience in development banking, government and insurance against climate disasters in Africa
COP29 aims to boost battery storage and grids for renewables, as pledges proliferate
Governments are being asked to sign up to a goal to boost energy storage six-fold and renew or add 80 million km of electric grids, among other initiatives
UK calls for “ambition” on COP29 climate finance goal but won’t talk numbers
The UK’s new foreign minister, David Lammy, says Global North rhetoric on climate action must be matched by funding but stays silent on the size of a new global finance goal
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”
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
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
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
US turns against plastic producers, boosting hopes for ambitious treaty
The shift sparked accusations of betrayal from the plastics industry and celebrations from environmental campaigners and a Pacific negotiator
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
Renewable-energy carbon credits rejected by high-integrity scheme
The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market decided existing renewables methodologies don’t do enough to prove their emissions reductions are additional
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
Climate diplomat Laurence Tubiana backed by some left-wing parties as next French PM
But she is opposed by hard-left coalition partner La France insoumise, which fears she is too close to centrist President Macron
UK court ruling provides ammo for anti-fossil fuel lawyers worldwide
Britain’s top court ruled that emissions from burning a fossil fuel – not just producing it – should be considered in decisions on new extraction projects
Where East African oil pipeline meets sea, displaced farmers bemoan “bad deal” on compensation
The oil export project has pushed up the price of land, so compensation is too low to maintain affected villagers’ standard of living
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
UK’s Labour promises “solidarity” with poorer nations on climate – but no new cash
Labour’s shadow foreign minister says cost-of-living crisis means some climate finance must come from outside rich governments’ budgets
IEA calls for next national climate plans to target coal phase-down
Countries have agreed to reduce power generated from coal, but shutting down plants is an economic and social challenge, especially in emerging economies
Five things we learned from the UN’s climate mega-poll
The UN asked 75,000 people in 77 countries for their views on climate change – and the results show widespread concern and support for action
EU warns “delaying tactics” have made plastic treaty deal “very difficult”
Negotiators and observers say it’s unlikely that a strong plastics deal will be done this year
Visa chaos for developing-country delegates mars Bonn climate talks
Campaigners have accused the German foreign office of discrimination, after some African delegates were denied visas for Bonn climate talks
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 bulletin: Climate finance chasm remains unbridged
Governments split on when and how to set a dollar amount for new finance goal, and human rights activists seek stronger protection in COP host nations
Bonn talks on climate finance goal end in stalemate on numbers
Negotiations failed to progress as rich countries refused to discuss a dollar amount for the new goal due to be agreed at COP29
Bonn bulletin: Fossil fuel transition left homeless
Countries clash over where to negotiate the shift away from dirty energy agreed at COP28, while talks on a new climate finance goal make little progress