South America
Amazon Basin drought stunts planet’s ‘green lungs’
Serious tree loss and stunted growth caused by repeated droughts in the Amazon Basin have damaged the rainforest’s vital ability to store atmospheric carbon
Green Climate Fund asked for indigenous people’s rights policy
UN’s flagship climate bank must recognise positive benefits traditional communities offer forests and ecosystems, says civil society group
Brazil takes a step towards ratifying Paris climate deal
Hopes Paris climate deal could enter into force by the end of the year raised with news Brazil lower house supports ratification
Global gold lust driving rise in mining emissions
Lure of mining for precious metals in South America and Europe is creating new carbon emissions not controlled by international agreement
Christiana Figueres places ‘hope’ at centre of UN pitch
Buoyed from the success of the Paris climate agreement, Costa Rican diplomat aims for New York top job
Christiana Figueres launches UN secretary general bid
Costa Rican says she will keep vow to protect world’s most vulnerable if she is appointed to New York post later this year
Why the climate v development finance fight must stop
Tacking global warming and ensuring millions gain access to clean water, food and energy should not be tackled separately – they’re both sides of the same coin
Record number of environmental activists murdered in 2015
More than three people were killed a week defending their land from mining or logging interests, reports Global Witness
Small islands lead charge on Paris Agreement approval
Concerted drive to ratify Paris deal could be last chance for vulnerable nations to ensure warming is kept at safe levels
After Rousseff, Brazil prepares to roll back green laws
Amidst the turmoil of the presidential impeachment process, members of Brazil’s Congress are set to dismantle environmental protection laws
Brazil must review its climate pledge on new data
Emissions from farming and forestry were 28% higher than previously thought in 2005, the baseline year for Brazilian climate targets
Patricia Espinosa: Who is the UN’s incoming climate change chief?
Mexican diplomat is a team builder with a ruthless streak, say ministers who have worked with her
Venezuela orders two-day week to tackle energy crisis
El Nino has dried up hydropower supplies, as South American petroeconomy battered by low oil price
BRICS bank hands $811m in green energy loans
New Development Bank issues first tranche of renewable energy loans in emerging economies, but 2016 outlook for renewables industry downgraded on Q1 results
Panama to deliver climate plan at Paris signing ceremony
Central American state will deliver belated plan at UN signing ceremony diplomat says, leaving six holdouts remaining
Latin America regional bank to scale up climate investments
NEWS: Inter-American Development Group aims to double spending on green projects to US$4bn a year by 2020
US, Argentina sign climate pact, urge aviation emissions deal
NEWS: Obama’s climate diplomacy drive continues, agreeing to work with Argentina and Cuba on efforts to decarbonise global economy
UN: China, India driving new clean energy investments
NEWS: Further policy interventions required, say authors of UN report, if world is to move away from oil, gas, coal and embrace low emission future
UN envoy warns of environmental activist murder ‘epidemic’
NEWS: Expert on indigenous rights demands consumers boycott ‘blood-tainted’ products from land grabs amid weak state response
Will Brazil new climate ‘sheriffs’ get Paris pledges on track?
COMMENT: A reshuffle in the environment ministry could spur vital progress on the country’s climate objectives, but big barriers lie ahead