Pacific
Australia seeks to water down climate declaration at Pacific summit
An annotated draft Pacific Islands Forum statement shows the Morrison administration trying to quash references to 1.5C, carbon neutrality and coal development
Pacific islands criticise Australia’s carbon accounting dodge
Island leaders called out the banking of old carbon credits to meet future climate goals, a trick Australia is relying on in the absence of carbon-cutting policies
Australia’s emissions rise again, putting Paris climate promise in doubt
Data showing increase was released late, in defiance of a senate order, but leaked to a major newspaper, leading to accusations of contempt of parliament
Australia’s coal communities, ignored by Labor, deliver brutal election defeat
In a stunning upset, voters returned the pro-coal government, prompting soul-searching among Australia’s left wing parties
New Zealand’s farmers have a chance to be climate leaders
A separate target for methane from sheep and cattle has been painted as a sop to farmers; on the contrary, it puts the onus on the sector to curb warming
Australian voters can’t trust the Coalition on climate and energy
The current government has only shown contempt for meaningful climate policy and renewable energy – why would they change now?
New Zealand introduces ‘zero carbon’ bill with concession to farmers
Under a draft law, the country will reduce greenhouse gases to net-zero by 2050, except for methane from its large meat and dairy herds
Australia stops payments to Green Climate Fund
Australian budget offers nothing to flagship UN scheme as its board seeks replenishment, while climate shapes as divisive election issue
The ‘laughing matter’ of Australia’s relationship with the Pacific
The Fijian PM used the Australian leader’s visit to call out his promotion of fossil fuels, showing Scott Morrison is on the wrong side in the Pacific as well as at home
Sydney and Melbourne vow to ditch coal power
Australian cities joined global alliance to end coal-fired power, while the federal government proposes using taxpayer cash to underwrite new plants
Lead or sue? Pacific islands take twin tracks on climate change
Vanuatu becomes the first nation state to threaten oil majors with climate damages lawsuits, while the Marshall Islands submits updated climate plan to the UN
Australia leads push to open UN shipping talks to media
Greater transparency would curb industry dominance in the International Maritime Organization, say campaigners, but key countries are opposed
Island president beats no-confidence vote, days before leading climate summit
Marshall Islands Hilda Heine narrowly defeated the motion, just days before she is due to open a virtual summit of climate-vulnerable nations
Five years after Typhoon Haiyan, a survivor calls climate polluters to account
Marielle Bacason’s life was turned upside down by the super storm; now she gives evidence to a London tribunal that oil companies have ignored
Australia won’t give money to Green Climate Fund, says PM
The country won’t withdraw from the Paris Agreement, but it’s not obliged to follow UN recommendations either, Scott Morrison said
Marshall Islands commit to going carbon-neutral by 2050
First plan of its kind from an island nation says adopting new shipping technologies ‘could have ripple effects across the international sector’
Record evacuations cut Typhoon Mangkhut death toll, says UN
Philippines learned life-saving lessons from 2013 Typhoon Haiyan as residents heeded warnings and fled their homes
End of coal power in Australia ‘inevitable’ – report
Market forces alone will see huge drop in coal use over next decade, academics find, adding that planning for a future without coal is ‘prudent risk management’
Australia joins Pacific to declare climate ‘single greatest’ security threat
Region of island states calls for the Paris Agreement to be upheld, with Australia joining despite recent political turmoil over climate policy
Australia’s new PM risks climate trade-off with EU
Scott Morrison is not expected to quit the Paris Agreement, as it could jeopardise ongoing trade talks with the EU, although he has no plan to meet climate targets