A COP30 roadmap to inaction or ambition on climate finance?
If it lets wealthy countries off the hook, the “Baku-to-Belém” roadmap risks entrenching climate injustice and increasing debt burdens in the Global South
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Over half of countries push for plastic production cuts in new UN pact
Ahead of hard-fought negotiations due to resume in August, 95 countries have issued a “wake up” call for an “ambitious” plastics treaty
Bonn Bulletin: Climate talks delayed by agenda fight
Start of mid-year negotiations held up by push to add finance for developing countries and trade measures as formal discussion items
‘Hectic’ in high heels? Women still face gender hurdles at UN climate talks
Barriers to women’s equal participation at COPs include high travel costs, onerous schedules, entrenched gender norms and a lack of childcare
Pará’s Amazon forest carbon deal in doubt as prosecutors move to block it
The Brazilian state’s contract with foreign governments and companies has run into trouble over concerns it was premature and agreed without consulting Indigenous communities
A credible UN carbon market needs rules that count – we’ve just set them
The broad standards for a more ambitious market are now in place. But without a steady flow of investment, this progress will remain largely on paper
Nigeria’s deadly flood exposes urgent need for climate adaptation plan
Better drainage and early warning would help curb losses from future floods but, unlike many other nations, Nigeria has yet to publish an adaptation plan
Japan disregarded widespread calls to raise its 2035 emissions goal
Around four-fifths of public comments had called for more ambition – but Tokyo said inputs had not changed its view that a 60% cut is enough
UN Climate Weeks to restart with new focus on fast-tracking negotiations
The series of events held in the Global South were cancelled last year as the UNFCCC faced severe financial challenges
UN gives countries more time to submit “quality” climate plans for 2035
China, the EU and India are among big polluters set to miss this month’s deadline for new targets as concerns grow of a “softening” in climate ambition
“No future”: Climate projects face existential threat after Trump’s aid shutdown
The Trump administration’s attack on USAID puts at risk close to $500 million a year in grant-based climate funding for developing countries
African governments opt for gas-run cars over EVs to drive down transport emissions
Countries like Nigeria, Egypt and Tanzania are promoting CNG as a cheaper, cleaner fuel than petrol – but using gas could hold back a green transition
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
After Trump’s pullback, Bloomberg promises to fill US funding gap to UN climate body
The announcement comes after Trump said the US should “immediately cease or revoke” any financial commitment made under the UNFCCC
Brazil appoints veteran climate diplomat André Corrêa do Lago as COP30 president
Ambassador Corrêa do Lago’s appointment was widely welcomed by Brazilian climate campaigners, who praised his “deep knowledge” of climate talks
Trump orders US to quit Paris Agreement and pause all foreign climate finance
Around $11 billion a year of funding for climate projects in developing countries is under threat from Trump’s review
Green Climate Fund looks at capital-market borrowing to meet COP29 goal
A GCF official says the fund needs new sources of money but campaigners worry the move could undermine climate justice
Support grows for global tax on shipping emissions to fund climate action
Shipping-reliant nations like Panama and Liberia have joined the EU, Japan and small islands in backing an emissions levy
LA fires show human cost of climate-driven ‘whiplash’ between wet and dry extremes
These cycles can worsen wildfires, like in California, where rapid vegetation growth is followed by drying – and also exacerbate flooding when unusually heavy rains hit baked ground
To reform climate COPs, we should start with the voting rules
The UN COP climate conferences can’t be fixed with organisational reforms – we need to address the obstruction that results from blanket consensus decision-making
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