Climate politics
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
Polish government split over coal ahead of UN climate summit
The energy minister has published a statement in defence of coal, which was swiftly disavowed by the presidency of the upcoming Cop24 climate negotiations
Hungary wants end to coal power by 2030
‘Sky-rocketing’ EU carbon prices could mean Hungary is the first country in eastern Europe to set an exit date for the most polluting fossil fuel
Strong rules for Paris deal can spur global climate action
If talks in Poland produce tough rules, it will build confidence that all countries are sticking to the climate bargain
Ten countries back EU 2050 net-zero emissions goal
With the commission about to release its long term strategy, Poland is working to water down the target
Climate Weekly: Meet Brazil’s new chief diplomat
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Starmer: UK and EU green protections risk diverging under Brexit deal
Draft withdrawal agreement prompts calls for green watchdog to assume climate powers
Bolsonaro names climate denier as Brazil’s foreign minister
Ernesto Araújo, a relatively junior diplomat, accuses the left of using the environmental cause ‘to serve their political project of total domination’
UK called to explain no-deal Brexit impact on power prices
A House of Lords committee was unsatisfied by minister Claire Perry’s testimony last month
Carmakers slam Spanish climate law as ‘excessive and rushed’
Manufacturers say ban on diesel and petrol cars is against EU neutrality principles, setting up battle to clean up Europe’s second-largest auto-industry
G20 countries must break their addiction to fossil fuels
Leaders of major economies meeting in Argentina this month need to step up climate action if the world is to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement
Spain, Europe’s second largest carmaker, plans combustion engine ban
Proposal put forward for country’s first climate law takes swipe at auto-industry, scraps fossil fuel subsidies and sets 2050 goal for 100% renewable power
Can Teresa Ribera transform Spain into a green champion?
Highly experienced minister offers a contrast after years of slow-walking the environmental transition, but admits there is more to do
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
Climate Weekly: Will China come clean on CFCs?
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China faces pressure over illegal greenhouse gas production
In response to revelations Chinese factories are making CFC-11, a chemical banned under the Montreal Protocol, the UN is considering tougher enforcement
Colorado governor-elect has US’ most ambitious renewable goal
Jared Polis’ promise to phase out fossil fuel electricity by 2040 would be the fastest target in any state, as the midterms returned mixed results on climate policy
EU finance ministers call for transparency in climate finance
At a meeting in Brussels, ministers agreed on the need to scale up public and private climate finance to the developing world
Climate Weekly: The expectations game
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Islands need support to face shocking impacts of 1.5C global warming
Last month’s landmark UN science report underlines why vulnerable countries must demand funding to cover their climate-induced losses