
Sebastian Rodriguez
Investigations and special projects editor
Sebastián Rodríguez is investigations and special projects editor for Climate Home News, which he joined in 2022. Based in San José, Costa Rica, he started out as a reporter for Ojo al Clima, Central America’s first climate news outlet. He has reported on climate for Reuters, DW and Mongabay. Before joining Climate Home News, he was editor-in-chief at Climate Tracker. He has an MSc in climate change, development and policy from the University of Sussex.In his spare time, he enjoys playing chess, videogames and hiking rainforests.
Mar 14, 2025
Brazil decides leaders will speak before COP30, easing logistics crunch
Brazilian authorities say the move will reduce pressure on hotels and enable climate negotiators to reflect on speeches by heads of state
Mar 6, 2025
COP30 chief calls for global unity on climate action as cooperation falters
COP30 president André Corrêa do Lago defended climate multilateralism and called for cooperation in his first address at the UN
Mar 3, 2025
Oil giant Pemex fails to control methane emissions, threatening Mexico’s net zero goal
A Climate Home investigation shows Mexico’s state oil firm has struggled to cut its methane emissions as promised, risking the country’s net zero ambitions
Feb 28, 2025
UN biodiversity talks agree finance roadmap, postponing decision on a new fund
Conservation experts call for an urgent boost in funding for nature protection as countries at COP16 say they’ll work out later how best to deliver the money
Feb 21, 2025
COP16 host Colombia reports 35% surge in deforestation
Despite the uptick in deforestation, Colombian environment minister Susana Muhamad said 2024 still had the second-lowest deforestation figure in two decades
Feb 10, 2025
Colombia’s COP16 presidency in suspense as minister resigns
Observers told Climate Home that Susana Muhamad’s resignation as environment minister could affect UN nature talks
Feb 3, 2025
Arctic geoengineering experiment shuts down over environmental risks
US-based nonprofit Arctic Ice Project has cancelled tests in Alaska because of potential disruption to the food chain
Nov 23, 2024
Fractious COP29 lands $300bn climate finance goal, dashing hopes of the poorest
After fiery talks, a new post-2025 goal was adopted but some developing nations dismissed it as too small to meet their needs amid growing climate stress
Nov 18, 2024
Fossil fuel transition talks rescued from brink of collapse at COP29
Countries now have a second chance in Baku to build consensus on how to cut emissions and transition away from fossil fuels
Nov 15, 2024
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
Nov 11, 2024
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
Nov 3, 2024
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
Oct 31, 2024
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
Oct 29, 2024
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
Oct 24, 2024
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
Oct 17, 2024
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
Oct 1, 2024
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
Sep 27, 2024
Amazon state that will host COP30 strikes “largest carbon credit sale in history”
A coalition of governments and multinational corporations promises to pay Pará state $180m to save its rainforest
Sep 19, 2024
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
Sep 13, 2024
Slow progress in Baku risks derailing talks on new climate finance goal at COP29
Azerbaijan’s COP29 president calls for determination and leadership from all countries to bridge the gaps on finance
Sep 12, 2024
Human rights must be “at the core” of mining for transition minerals, UN panel says
The UN Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals launches principles to guide responsible, fair extraction of minerals for green value chains
Mar 7, 2024
UN climate fund axes Nicaragua forest project over human rights concerns
In its first such move, the Green Climate Fund has pulled out of a project after developers failed to address environmental and social compliance issues
Dec 13, 2023
Dubai deal: Ministers and observers react to the UAE consensus
The final Cop28 text was regarded as historic by delegates, including the US, EU and small islands, but most agree there’s still work ahead
Dec 10, 2023
Cop28 bulletin: Adaptation stalemate jeopardises Cop28 outcome
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