Paris Agreement
‘Worst-case’ global warming scenario still best guide until 2050, study says
UN panel’s RCP8.5 scenario of sharply rising emissions matches trends since 2005, PNAS study says, rejecting criticisms it’s “alarmist”
For all its green talk, the IEA still gives comfort to oil and gas producers
Under Fatih Birol, the International Energy Agency leads talk of a green recovery, yet dodges hard questions about phasing out dirty energy
Guterres confronts China over coal boom, urging a green recovery
China’s provinces have overseen a coal plant building spree in the first half of the year, in a bid to revive the Covid pandemic-hit economy
Big nations aid fossil fuels more than clean energies amid pandemic, researchers find
US, Russia are among many G20 nations helping coal, oil and gas more than clean energy as part of recovery packages, a major study will show
Jamaica becomes first Caribbean nation to submit tougher climate plan to UN
Jamaica adds forestry and land use to updated climate plan and toughens goals for energy. UK, due to host UN talks, hails “greater climate ambition”
Japan to launch ‘green recovery’ platform and ministerial meeting
Environment minister Shinjirō Koizumi is seeking to boost international cooperation on climate change through the response to the coronavirus pandemic
Rwanda submits tougher emission-cutting plan to the UN
The Kigali government is the first in Africa to strengthen its commitment to emissions cuts by 2030 and ramp up its adaptation plan
No silver lining to coronavirus, but a golden opportunity
Rebuilding after the pandemic should be a moment to reset international governance, deepen global cooperation and restructure societies away from fossil fuels
German environment minister defends airline bailout, promises green recovery
The immediate priority is to protect workers, argued Svenja Schulze, resisting calls to impose green conditions on a €10 billion support package for Lufthansa
New Zealand sticks to 2030 climate target while waiting for 1.5C advice
In a submission to the UN on Earth Day, New Zealand communicated its plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 without enhancing its 2030 pledge
China may delay submitting climate plans amid economic slowdown
Beijing could wait for the results of the US presidential election in November before it announces an update to its climate plan
Japan’s woeful climate plan amounts to science denial
Japan reiterates past pledges for 2030 rather than mapping out a radical overhaul needed by the world’s fifth largest greenhouse gas emitter
One crisis at a time, please – Climate Weekly
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Governments still due to submit tougher climate plans in 2020, despite Cop26 delay
The postponement of a critical climate summit to 2021 does not lessen pressure on governments around the world to submit tougher climate plans to the UN this year
Cop26 climate talks postponed to 2021 amid coronavirus pandemic
Postponement will help clarify US climate policy – Trump is pulling out of the Paris Agreement but Biden or Sanders would rejoin if elected in November
Zoom climate diplomacy: ‘Technology doesn’t help build trust’
The coronavirus pandemic has pushed climate diplomacy online, greening much of UN Climate Change’s operations but virtual meeting bring their own challenges
Malawi’s farmers grow crops with ‘magic liquid’ fertiliser
‘Bionitrate’ made from urine is starting to help yields for farmers in Malawi who face high costs fertilising maize and other crops amid shifting weather patterns
Russia’s plans to tighten 2030 climate goal criticised as ‘baby steps’
Russia’s revised draft plan would allow greenhouse emissions to rise to 2030, defying UN calls for sharp cuts in the coming decade
Electric cars help limit climate change despite blackspots in India, Poland
Study shows it makes sense to drive an electric car in most of the world including in China and the US rather than stick to petrol, diesel engines
‘Historic opportunity’ – Climate Weekly
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