World
‘Gas is over’: EU bank chief signals phaseout of fossil fuel finance
The European Investment Bank provides limited support for gas under its current policy and intends to end all funding for fossil fuels before the end of the year
Joe Biden is sworn in as US president, promising climate action
“We will pass along a new and better world for our children,” says Joe Biden as he enters the White House with the biggest climate team of any president
The Biden-Harris administration can rebuild democracy and climate action
With strong business support and an experienced team of dealmakers, Biden inspires confidence he will deliver on his climate and environmental justice plan
Exclusive: Japan uses ‘environmental’ fund to finance Vietnamese coal plant
The Japan Bank for International Cooperation approved a loan to the controversial Vung Ang 2 coal project from a facility intended for “environmental preservation”
Germany’s conservative CDU picks coal industry supporter Armin Laschet as leader
The premier of Germany’s coal mining heartland could be chosen as the country’s conservative alliance candidate for chancellor in a general election in September
Keystone XL cancellation: ‘Wake-up call’ for Canada to address oil and gas blind spot
Joe Biden is set to revoke permits for the controversial Canada-US oil pipeline expansion, putting Justin Trudeau in an awkward position
Inner Mongolia pursues coal-led recovery, defying Beijing’s climate goals
China’s biggest coal-producing province, Inner Mongolia, approved power plants and industrial installations in 2020 with an annual coal demand equivalent to Germany’s
Colombia banks on forest economy to deliver climate ambition leap
Since the end of a 50-year civil war, Colombia has seen a spike in forest clearance, that the government now hopes to reverse with agroforestry initiatives
Poor and island states highlight toll of climate disasters in submissions to UN
In their updated national contributions to the Paris Agreement, vulnerable countries say they need more financial support to cope with extreme weather and rising seas
Portugal makes deal on EU climate law ‘big priority’ of its six-month presidency
Portugal aims to pass an EU 2030 climate target into law by June, says minister with a leading role in negotiations between member states and parliament
China launches world’s largest carbon market for power sector
China’s national emissions trading scheme could become a significant lever for climate action, but experts warn that it will do little to curb emissions in the short term
Russia-Ukraine dispute over Crimea spills into UN climate forum
Moscow has furiously denied Ukraine’s claim in a routine carbon accounting report that Russian annexation of the Crimea region made it hard to collect emissions data
Democrats win control of US Senate, boosting prospect of climate action
Grassroots organisers have been credited with turning out black voters in Georgia, US, to clinch two critical Senate seats that will help the Democrats deliver climate action
Majority of countries miss Paris Agreement deadline to increase climate ambition
The EU, the UK and Argentina were the only large emitters to present tougher climate targets by the UN’s 2020 deadline, with China and the US lagging
The net tightens around illegal logging operations in Pará, Bolsonaro’s stronghold
Uruará voted for Brazil’s rightwing president hoping for a more relaxed approach to illegal logging, but enforcement agencies are cracking down
In Kenya’s changing climate, women are claiming land rights to feed their families
Owning their own land allows Kenyan women to build resilience to drought and flooding, but many are unaware of laws intended to empower them
Gas pipeline investment shows flaws in EU ‘climate bank’ approach
The European Climate Bank claimed its €1 billion investment in the Southern Gas Corridor was “climate neutral”, based on mistaken assumptions
Shell faces Dutch court in case testing how Paris climate goals apply to businesses
Climate campaigners say Shell is violating human rights by continuing to invest billions in fossil fuels, calling for a much faster shift to clean energy
Pakistan signals coal power exit, in potential model for China’s belt and road
Imran Khan announced his government would not approve any more coal power plants and pivot to renewables, contrary to the grid operator’s forecast of a coal boom
As Taiwan models net zero scenarios, campaigners push for 2050 target
The island nation is a major manufacturer and campaigners hope it will follow Japan and South Korea in setting a 2050 net zero target next year