UN climate talks
UK, UN bill Paris Agreement anniversary as key moment for raising climate ambition
An online summit on 12 December offers a last chance for leaders to show off increased climate ambition by the end of 2020, the UN deadline
5 burning questions about China’s carbon neutrality pledge
It is the biggest climate policy milestone since the Paris Agreement in 2015, but the strength of China’s carbon neutrality pledge depends on these key details
‘China is willing to contribute more’: Beijing signals carbon neutrality intent
After a virtual summit with the EU, China trailed plans to go carbon neutral by mid century, in a move welcomed by climate advocates
Vietnam brings cement sector into new climate submission to the UN
The southeast Asian nation has made slight improvements to its 2030 climate plan but still expects emissions to increase rapidly over the next decade
There will be no ‘green recovery’ for poor countries without loss and damage finance
A loss and damage fund linked to rich countries’ mitigation efforts could levy new funds to address ‘perfect storm’ of flooding, Covid-19 and economic hardship
China among nations likely to miss 2020 deadline for climate plans – UN’s Espinosa
UN climate chief expects only 80 updated national climate plans this year, as preparations are delayed by coronavirus pandemic and US political uncertainty
Extra UN climate talks mooted for 2021 to help negotiators catch up
After losing a year to the coronavirus pandemic, UN Climate Change is considering an extra meeting in 2021 to resolve sticking points in the negotiations
On the ticket – Climate Weekly
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Angola ratifies Paris Agreement promising more ambitious climate plan
The government is working to develop its climate plan in time for a UN deadline at the end of the year – leaving just seven countries to formally endorse the 2015 deal
Most of UN climate science report likely to be delayed beyond 2021 Glasgow summit
Only the first section of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, about the science of global warming, is set to be ready before the postponed Glasgow summit
Green shift urged to revive Brazil’s economy and shield Amazon forests
President Bolsonaro could rebuild the economy faster after Covid-19 by making low-carbon growth a pillar of recovery, international study says
Which countries have not ratified the Paris climate agreement?
More than four years after the Paris Agreement was adopted, seven of 197 signatories have not formally backed the deal. Angola, Kyrgyzstan and Lebanon ratified in 2020
Kamala Harris might help ‘night and day’ shift for US on global climate diplomacy
If they defeat Trump, Biden and Harris will have to prove they can cut emissions at home to rebuild US global leadership on climate change.
South Africa tightens restrictions for new coal power in ‘landmark’ ruling
A top tribunal scrapped water licences for the 600MW Khanyisa coal plant, saying the developer had failed to consider the impact of climate change
‘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”
These women built a dam and saved their families from ‘man-made starvation’
While chronic drought and poor governance leave millions of Zimbabweans hungry, the women of Rumwanjiva can grow their own vegetables
The Amazon home of Bolsonaro’s mineral fantasy
Indigenous inhabitants of the region with the largest deposits of niobium in the world claim the right to decide what is done with the metal
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”
Airlines’ climate obligations postponed as UN body endorses industry proposal
A handful of countries on the council of the International Civil Aviation Organization agreed to change the rules to reduce the sector’s carbon costs