It’s time for shipping to launch first global tax on a polluting sector
Decarbonising the seas is a strategic imperative for a sustainable trade system that can also generate climate finance for vulnerable countries
Politics
See all
2025 is the year to invest in forests – and the people who depend on them
With COP30 in the Amazon, governments, businesses and funders must step up restoration finance and put forests at the centre of climate action
Hidden cost: How keeping climate data classified hurts developing countries
The National Security Archive is calling for the release of a major US intelligence assessment on climate change and security
Canada’s new leader culls carbon tax seen as burden on voters
Mark Carney – who has a track record on climate action as a central banker and UN envoy – ends levy and plans green incentives for the public, with industrial emitters expected to do the heavy lifting
“Not silver bullets”: COP30 CEO downplays impact of yearly climate summits
Ana Toni stressed the importance of year-round action by business, subnational government and finance, energy, transport and agriculture ministries
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
Brazil’s COP30 president: Climate summits must move from words to real action
In a letter outlining his vision for Brazil’s climate summit, Corrêa Do Lago calls for a “new era” with collective work on implementation
Record-hot 2024 shows world must adapt to extremes, says EU climate service
With global warming topping the key limit of 1.5C last year, adapting to worsening climate impacts has become a “necessity”, top scientist warns
Five ways to make aviation more sustainable right now
The aviation industry has been slow to engage with the climate change agenda and new technology that could help it decarbonise is still being developed
With drought-hardy cows, Botswana prioritises adaptation in new climate plan
The dry, sparsely-populated southern African nation is focusing its funding on ways to combat extreme weather rather than cutting already-low emissions
Repression of climate and environmental protest is intensifying across the world
Climate protests surged in 2018-2019 and have continued, sparking a crackdown by authorities using the law to criminalise and constrain activism
2024: A year of extreme heat and growing climate danger
This year is set to be the hottest on record – but scientists say there’s still time to limit temperature rise and harm from climate impacts
After Cyclone Chido, France accused of neglecting climate threat to “fragile” Mayotte
Locals and experts say France should have done more to protect residents of its poor island territory from extreme weather
President Biden sets US emissions goal for 2035 in the shadow of Trump
The outgoing administration said the target to cut emissions by 61-66% by 2035 can be reached even if Trump rolls back climate action
After Baku setback, activists call for ‘just transition’ to be front and centre at COP30
Developing states and labour activists say a fair global shift away from fossil fuels requires a firm UN plan for international support
Here’s how we take back control of COP from the world’s biggest polluters
From scrutinising delegates at UN climate summits to tightening rules on which countries host them and the deals they do, COPs can be cleaned up
Canada ignores official advice in setting much-criticised 2035 emissions target
While the Net Zero Advisory Body recommended a 50-55% cut in emissions, the government settled for a weaker 45-50% range
The world is getting smaller for pastoralists facing multiple threats
Africa’s herders are trying to maintain their way of life in the face of rising climate stress, conflict and competition for land
New loss and damage fund boss urged to keep costs down
Spending on consultants, business-class plane tickets and a deputy executive director was questioned at the fund’s latest board meeting
Why rich countries are “reluctant” on additional JETP coal-to-clean deals
UK and German officials have said there will likely be no more Just Energy Transition Partnerships, as the focus shifts to “country platforms” instead
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
COP29: Five most dramatic moments from the UN climate summit in Baku
The COP29 climate talks saw tearful speeches, hollow laughs, diplomatic spats and walk-outs before ending with a finance deal pushed through in controversial circumstances
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
What was decided at the COP29 climate summit in Baku?
From a controversial $300bn-a-year climate finance deal to stranded emissions-cutting talks and a new global carbon market, here are the main outcomes
India fires warning shot with rejection of finance deal at COP29
India gave a fiery speech after UN talks approved a new climate finance goal, suggesting rich nations are failing in their duty to help the Global South
“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
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
COP29 Bulletin Day 12: Carbon market rules adopted after walkout delays finance talks
COP29 approved a long-awaited rulebook for carbon markets as vulnerable countries pushed for a bigger slice of a new finance goal, disrupting talks
Namibia uses COP29 climate summit to push for oil and gas investments
While Namibia says it can succeed where others have failed in using oil and gas to help its people, experts and campaigners are sceptical
COP29 Bulletin Day 11: Global South slams proposal for $250bn climate finance goal
The latest text suggests a rich government-led finance goal of $250 billion a year by 2035, which the African Group called “totally unacceptable”