Africa
Rich countries not talking climate finance seriously, say African officials
‘We feel that as a region we have done everything we could,’ said the head of the Africa group of negotiators, whereas rich countries were failing on fundamental promises
African campaigners call for US to be kicked out of climate talks
The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance will petition negotiators to eject Donald Trump’s delegation, in light of the president’s hostility to the Paris agreement
UN talks lose climate champion El Haite after Moroccan royal censure
Influential diplomat will not take up her role mobilising private sector and regional action at summit beginning in Germany next week
Poor countries spending climate cash on rich world consultants
Lack of expertise means money for climate protection is spent on consultancy fees, which African officials say end up back in wealthy countries
Kenya’s most polluting coal plant could poison coastline
A project that will double Kenya’s carbon emissions also threatens life on a fragile coastline, but the government’s planning process has been flawed
Green Climate Fund to fund $1bn Egypt renewables drive
In its biggest project to date, the UN’s flagship climate finance scheme is putting $150m towards developing wind, hydro and solar power in Egypt
Giant Tunisian desert solar project aims to power EU
Developer TuNur this week applied for authorisation to build a massive solar plant on the edge of the Tunisian Sahara, with undersea grid connections to Europe
Dying gods: Mt Kenya’s disappearing glaciers spread violence below
Those who rely on Mount Kenya’s glaciers for water have turned against one another as the rivers fed by the mountain dry up
African countries urged to prepare for rise in extreme El Niño events
Early warning systems and early action funds are needed to prevent repeats of the 2015/16 famine, experts warn in response to latest science
Kenya’s food crisis: ‘With this kind of farming, I only make a loss’
Farmers in Kenya’s Rift Valley are being forced from their farms by drought then hit by rising food prices as maize shortages bite
Kenya’s food crisis: Drought raises prices and political tensions
Opposition parties accuse the Kenyatta administration of failing to plan for poor harvests, as inflation bites ahead of an August general election
Egypt faces water insecurity as Ethiopian mega-dam rumours swirl
Farmers along the lower Nile have little information to guide them as upriver barrage threatens to compound the impacts of global warming
Norway, France urged to block DR Congo forestry project
NGOs warn that a project supposed to reduce deforestation could have the opposite effect, opening up large areas to industrial logging
Scientists say east Africa will get wetter, so why is it drying out?
Despite models predicting increased rainfall with climate change, the region has collapsed into drought – a puzzle known as the East African paradox
China signed African coal deal days before Xi low emissions pledge at G20
In the week China’s president called for development banks to support low emissions in poor countries, China Development Bank loaned $1.5bn to coal in South Africa
Sick of waiting, poor countries prepare to fight climate change alone
Developing countries have been promised $100bn per year by 2020, with no sign of it arriving some are taking matters into their own hands
Cash begins trickling out of Green Climate Fund
After a barrage of criticism, the UN’s primary climate fund has released $5.2m to a handful of projects
Cycle tour of Kenya promotes clean energy democracy
Ahead of an August general election, ride organised by Christian Aid is pushing access to renewables up the political agenda
Tullow oil project in drought-hit part of Kenya suspended
Energy minister announces hold on Canadian-British firm’s plan to export oil from the unstable, drought-ravaged region of Turkana
Violence spreads ahead of election in drought-hit Kenya
Politicians have been accused of stoking land conflict between farmers, herders and indigenous groups to win votes, while failing to address the root cause