German official sees ‘a chance’ Cop28 can agree to phase out fossil fuels
A bid to get Cop27 to phase out fossil fuels ended in failure last year, after Saudi Arabia, Iran and Russia blocked it
US bets big on carbon-sucking machines
The US has offered $3.5 billion in grants towards direct air capture, hoping to bring down the costs of removing carbon from the atmosphere
World Bank steering committee and US urge for reforms on climate lending
At the World Bank’s spring meeting, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called for the adoption of a reform that would free up funds for climate lending.
G7 may ignore climate warnings and call for new gas investments
A draft communique includes calls investments in gas production but that language is likely to prove controversial among the G7 climate ministers
Insurer quits climate alliance, citing legal fears
Munich Re has left the Net Zero Insurance Alliance, fearing legal action from politicians in the US Republican party.
At Luxor talks, splits remain but hopes high for loss and damage fund this year
Negotiators have added an extra meeting to try and get talks finished by Cop28 – but splits over who pays and who receives funds remain
Greens stop blocking Australia’s new fossil fuel projects
They folded after winning concessions from the government which will make producing coal and gas more expensive
Mexico launches global push for geoengineering restrictions
The Mexican government will push others to restrict attempts to lessen the effects of climate change by blocking the sun
Brazil evicts gold miners from Amazon rainforest
Brazil’s new government is clamping down on illegal gold mining in the Amazon rainforest, using satellite imagery to find and destroy mining camps
COP28 boss urges Big Oil to join fight against climate change
Cop28 president and oil and gas executive Sultan al-Jaber urged energy conference participants in Houston to do more faster to limit global warming
Greta Thunberg protests wind farm “violating human rights” in Norway
Thunberg said the wind farm violates the rights of indigenous Sami people to herd their reindeer, as the sight and sound of the turbines scares the animals
US offers $550m to tackle pollution in poor neighbourhoods
The money is part of a $3 billion environmental justice pot finally authorised by Congress after a long battle against Republicans and conservative Democrats
India set to push for green World Bank reforms at G20
India wants the World Bank to lend more money for climate finance, at cheaper rates, in developing countries and will use its G20 chair to push this agenda
World Bank proposes freeing up $4bn by loosening lending rules
The bank is under pressure to free up more money to tackle climate change but one expert said this measure does not go far enough
UAE’s Cop28 boss calls for “course correction” on climate change
Jaber, who also heads the state oil giant Adnoc, fueled activists’ worries about fossil fuels in the upcoming UN climate negotiations.
Europe proposes mass exit from energy treaty
After big European nations said they would leave the Energy Charter Treaty, the European Commission now says a joint EU exit is the best option
China warns of more floods and heatwaves in 2023
Last year was marked by a record-breaking heatwave and China’s weather agency has warned of more this year, as the climate crisis escalates
Portugal agrees to swap Cape Verde’s debt for environmental investment
Cape Verde owes around $150m to the Portugese state – but Portugal says it will write off the debt if the African island nation spends the money on environmental measures
Brazil launches first raids against Amazon tree-cutters under Lula’s new government
Brazil’s new government is already having an impact on deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, an environmental enforcement agent claimed
Airlines plot fight-back against France’s short-haul flights ban
The aviation industry plans to argue that banning short-haul flights is ineffective and impinges on EU citizens’ right to travel between countries
Thunberg joins protest against German coal mine expansion
The German government agreed that utility RWE could expand the Luetzerath coal mine in exchange for a faster national coal phase-out
Brazil bids to bring Cop30 climate talks to Amazon’s Belem
The city is at the mouth of the Amazon river and is the second-biggest city in the Amazon region after Manaus
Hurricanes and floods bring $120bn in insurance losses in 2022
Hurricane Ian in Florida caused a big chunk of the financial losses while floods in Pakistan, Nigeria and South Africa killed the most people
Donors pledge over $8bn to rebuild Pakistan after floods – official
At a Geneva summit, multilateral development banks committed the vast majority of funds, with smaller contributions from governments