Talks to produce global plastics pact end without agreement
Countries failed to break a stalemate over core issues for a new treaty, with a push to manufacture less plastic meeting resistance from oil-rich states
New plastics pact text reflects stark divide on production cuts
Diplomats from high-ambition countries urge petrostates to compromise as latest draft text for a global treaty to end plastic pollution leaves all to play for
Fossil fuel lobby secures “record” access to crunch talks on new plastics pact
Representatives of ExxonMobil, Dow, BASF and Sabic are among the oil and petrochemical firms with participants at the INC-5 negotiations in South Korea
Global plastics pact “hangs in balance” as petrostates block talks
Major fossil fuel-producing countries are blamed at negotiations in Busan for opposing curbs on plastic manufacturing, a key market for oil and gas
“Moment of truth” for plastic pollution as treaty talks get underway
Delegates from 175 countries are set to finalise a new treaty aimed at tackling plastic pollution, with opposition from fossil fuel-producing countries
COP29 host Azerbaijan shelves fossil-fuelled climate fund
Baku postponed the planned launch of a voluntary fund with contributions from fossil fuel producers after getting “tangled up” with official UN negotiations
Is COP29 “breakthrough” on UN carbon market all it seems?
Azerbaijan presidency claims Article 6 could help countries save $250 billion a year – but experts warn UN carbon trading is still some way off
COP29 Bulletin Day 1: Carbon market rules adopted, US reassures on emissions
UN climate summit kicks off in Baku, with governments approving carbon market rules and US climate envoy saying emissions to keep falling
From cyclone to drought, Zimbabwe’s climate victims struggle to adapt
Five years after Cyclone Idai devastated eastern Zimbabwe, relocated communities face a new threat – water shortages – with authorities saying they lack money to build a dam
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
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
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
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
As COP Troika dithers on 1.5C-aligned climate plans, experts set the bar high
UAE, Azerbaijan and Brazil have promised NDCs compatible with the safest warming limit in the Paris Agreement – but it’s not clear what they mean
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
UN climate chief calls for “exponential changes” to boost investment in Africa
Action on clean energy and adaptation can be the single greatest opportunity to lift up African people and economies, Simon Stiell says
Verra axing of Shell’s rice-farming carbon credits in China fuels integrity fears
The carbon market standard found “serious” quality issues with the projects, prompting questions about their initial approval
Fossil fuel transition back in draft pact for UN Summit of the Future after outcry
The new text of a UN pact for the high-level event brings back a mention of the headline COP28 agreement
EU hit with lawsuit over green labelling of aviation and shipping investments
Environmental campaigners take the EU to court over the inclusion of fossil fuel-powered planes and ships in green taxonomy
In a world first, Grenada activates debt pause after Hurricane Beryl destruction
More creditors are agreeing to suspend debt payments in the wake of weather disasters, but experts say greater financial relief will be needed
Switzerland and Canada propose ways to expand climate finance donors
Detailed criteria would include China and Gulf States in the donor base. But experts recommend incentives not coercion
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
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
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