Climate Finance
Bolsonaro shrugs off German aid cuts, as deforestation surges
Brazil “doesn’t need” €35 million of international funds earmarked to protect the Amazon rainforest, the president insists
UK carbon price to plummet under no-deal Brexit
A proposed UK tax on heavy polluters would come in at nearly half the EU carbon market price, reducing the incentive to cut emissions
European Investment Bank moots fossil fuel lending ban
The world’s largest development bank proposed a pivot to clean energy, in a draft plan for consideration by EU finance ministers in September
A weak carbon price is worse than no carbon price
The time for timidity has passed; politicians must dare to make polluters pay as part of a vision for a healthier, happier future
How von der Leyen could make a carbon border tax work
The next European Commission chief must tread carefully if she is to meet her promise to make polluting importers pay
Campaigners and industry criticise South Africa’s new carbon tax
While industrial players see it as a threat to jobs, the first tax of its kind in Africa is too weak for climate advocates
Oil tanker investments at risk from climate action, report says
Strong action on climate change would shrink demand for vessels by a third, impacting investment decisions being made now, analysts say
Asset managers worth $15 trillion make climate risk promise to Macron
The French president gathered the world’s biggest investors this week to push them to back climate-friendly projects
AIIB must stop backing gas in climate-hit Bangladesh
The Beijing-headquartered development bank is skewed towards fossil fuels, when it should be helping poorer countries access clean renewable power
France announces tax on air travel in climate push
A proposed levy of €1.50-18 on each outbound flight comes as part of a climate strategy, with France pushing the EU to follow suit
UN fund removes veto power over climate projects
The Green Climate Fund changed its rules so no single country can block finance, as recently happened when the US intervened in a Chinese bid
African ministers lobby UK for control of climate aid
Ministers from Uganda and the Gambia met the UK’s development secretary to ask for more say over how climate finance is spent
Wealthy countries resist global tax on carbon offsets
Australia and Japan are among opponents of a proposal to restrict the supply of carbon credits for trading across borders, at climate talks in Bonn
Four countries have declared climate emergencies, yet give billions to fossil fuels
The UK, France, Canada and Ireland have all formally recognised a climate crisis. But analysis shows they give $27.5bn annually in support for coal, oil and gas
Brazil and EU face off over future of carbon trading
The next generation of carbon markets could make or break the Paris Agreement, say negotiators as talks resume in Bonn
UN Environment official attacks agency’s own carbon offsetting policy
Confusion reigns as UN Environment publishes, then retracts, an article criticising the use of carbon credits to make up for polluting activities
EU leaders keep saying climate is a priority. Here’s something they can do
The European Investment Bank is the world’s largest multilateral lender and it keeps funding fossil fuels. Next week EU finance ministers can change that
Children made climate an election issue. Now we’ll target banks that fuel fossils
The EU election showed voters have heard the school strikers’ call for action. But will the public institutions that finance coal, oil and gas projects also listen?
South Africa’s Ramaphosa signs carbon tax into law
In a first for an African country, the coal-heavy economy will put a price on pollution, but campaigners say it is not high enough
Venice floods show Europe needs sustainable finance to avoid disaster
A meeting in Geneva this week is a chance for a long-overdue conversation between disaster risk and sustainable finance experts