Net zero
Forests, methane, finance: Where are the Cop26 pledges now?
Climate Home analysed how highly-publicised commitments are faring two years on from their announcement
New IEA net zero report leaves big polluters less room to hide
The International Energy Agency calls on countries to bring forward net zero targets and rely less on fossil fuel technofixes
Overshoot Commission calls for research into solar geoengineering
Dimming the sun could “complement” emissions cuts, says panel of leaders, while acknowledging concerns about the risks
Germany set to miss net zero by 2045 target as climate efforts falter
Germany, Europe’s largest economy, is failing to cut emissions in the transport and building sector, a report by government climate advisers shows.
With corporate climate cheats on the chopping block, net zero is growing up
The definition of net zero is becoming clearer and corporate greenwashing is becoming harder to get away with
Governments battle over carbon removal and renewables in IPCC report
While the Saudis pushed carbon capture and storage technology, Europeans fought for wind and solar to be talked up in the report.
UN tells governments to ‘fast forward’ net zero targets
Antonio Guterres said leaders of the G20’s rich nations must aim for net zero “as close as possible” to 2040 while emerging nations should set 2050 targets
Lawyers and activists build pressure on Korean court to rule on climate
Pressure is building on South Korea’s constitutional court to make a key climate change judgment, as the government prepares to publish its first carbon neutrality plan
Taiwan’s failure to clean up industry endangers its net zero pledge
Comment: Taiwan’s industry is responsible for more than half of its emissions but the government’s new climate policies have no specific plan to tackle them.
As 1.5C overshoot looms, a high-level commission will ask: what next?
Fifteen former leaders and ministers are set to address sensitive questions on the role of CO2 removal and geoengineering in climate action
Canadian ex-minister Catherine McKenna named to head UN greenwash watchdog
The group will promote real emissions reductions among cities, regions and businesses, rather than over-reliance on carbon offsets or carbon removal technology
Science Based Targets initiative kicks out oil companies, delays validation criteria
The standard setter for corporate climate plans said accepting commitments from firms like Russian oil company Tatneft posed a “reputational risk”
Science Based Targets initiative accused of providing a ‘platform for greenwashing’
Nestlé, Ikea and Unilever are among brands the New Climate Institute found did not live up to the 1.5C-compatible label they’d been awarded
India strengthens climate targets, aiming for net zero by 2070
Narendra Modi upped India’s climate ambition while calling for more climate finance from developed countries
Australia is relying on offsets and future technology to meet 2050 net zero target
Scott Morrison has made a net zero pledge but with little detail on how to get there and no commitment to stronger emissions cuts this decade
Saudi Arabia pledges net zero by 2060, but no oil exit plan
Riyadh will invest $187 billion in climate action by 2030 but keep pumping oil and gas for decades, under a plan submitted to the UN
UK sets out economy-wide strategy to meet 2050 net zero goal
Analysts welcomed the plan days before the UK hosts the Cop26 summit but warned more public investments were needed to give it credibility
UAE sets net zero by 2050 target, promises renewable investments
The oil-producing nation is planning to invest $163 billion in ‘clean and renewable’ energy over the next 30 years
Turkey ratifies the Paris Agreement after approving a 2053 net zero goal
Documents agreed by parliament included a declaration that Turkey would implement the climate treaty as a developing country, despite its developed nation status
What makes a good net zero target?
More than a hundred countries have set or are considering net zero targets. Climate Action Tracker has ten tests to sort the green from the greenwash