Paris Agreement
Carbon offsets have patchy human rights record. Now UN talks erode safeguards
A new global carbon market could unleash finance for projects around the world. But protections for local communities were weakened in draft rules at Cop25
Attempt to align global climate plans fails
No consensus could be found on whether new climate pledges should last five years, ten years or a mix of both as countries meet at UN talks in Madrid
‘Common timeframes’: How they could speed or slow climate action
Russia and Japan want ten years. Vulnerable countries want five. Why the alignment the world’s climate plans is a contest of ambition
The UK must steer the Paris Agreement out of its ‘perilous decade’
Demands for action are outstripping political will. The diplomatic task of bridging the expectations gap falls to the hosts of next year’s climate talks
What is Article 6? The issue climate negotiators cannot agree
It has proven the hardest part of the Paris Agreement to create rules for, with warnings a weak decision could undermine the accord. Now it will dominate UN talks in Madrid
Madrid climate talks to split nations into vanguard and laggard
In the wings of the Cop25 talks, hosts Spain and Chile will push governments to join a coalition of progressive nations pledging to raise their targets
German ministers urge EU to take leading role at Cop25
Environment minister Svenja Schulze called on the EU to increase its climate ambition and lead by example
US will keep seat at climate talks after it leaves Paris deal
Formal withdrawal process could begin within days, but current and former diplomats say US will continue to influence global rulemaking on climate change
Australia admits it is on its own using cringe carbon loophole
Governments need to agree the rules over how to use carbon markets to cut emissions, but they shouldn’t take their eyes off Australia’s brash side hustle
Brazil fights attempt to cancel its old carbon credits
Credits from an old regime could undermine the Paris climate agreement, but negotiations ended in stalemate after the biggest holders dug in their heels
EU agrees to ‘update’ Paris climate pledge
Ministers watered down proposed language after opposition from ten member states, some of which are seeking financial support to cut emissions
Net zero: the story of the target that will shape our future
The ‘lionesses’ who changed the way we measure climate ambition
Poor countries will hold the rich to account on climate finance
The major UN climate fund is running short of money, will rich countries live up to the promises they have given?
Pacific leaders set new bar by collectively declaring climate crisis
When regional giants Australia and NZ joined small islands at a recent leaders’ forum they produced the Pacific’s strongest-ever call to act on climate change
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
Trade deal binds Brazil to Paris Agreement, says top EU official
‘President Bolsonaro chose, and came with us,’ said Cecilia Malmström, as she defended the EU deal with several South American nations
How Trump’s climate U-turn exposed the limits of European power
When the world needed someone to step up as a climate power broker, why did no-one think it would be the EU?
Russia to ratify Paris Agreement; Putin says wind power ‘shakes worms from ground’
Russia says it wants a seat at the climate negotiations table, but the president warned problems with renewable energy must be considered
Countries must address this major Paris Agreement blind spot
As countries meet in Abu Dhabi to discuss their climate pledges, they must draw up plans to end the production of fossil fuels, not just their consumption
Bonn climate talks end with Saudis and Brazil defiant
There was bloody-mindedness amid boiling temperatures in Bonn. Catch up with our essential wrap of the latest round of climate talks