EU
Rich countries sink billions into oil and gas despite Cop26 pledge
The US, Germany and Italy have been accused of backsliding on a Glasgow promise to end public subsidies to fossil fuel projects overseas
It may replace plastic but eucalyptus paper packaging helped burn down my home
Paper packages are championed as an alternative to plastic but the eucalyptus plantations which feed the sector are fuelling disaster in Portugal
EU nominates Wopke Hoekstra as top climate diplomat
The Dutch foreign minister once worked for oil company Shell and will face tough questions over his climate record in the European Parliament
EU puts Maroš Šefčovič in charge of climate policy
The Slovakian will replace Frans Timmermans as the EU’s lead on climate, at home and abroad
Amazon nations decry EU deforestation rules in thinly-veiled joint condemnation
The Belem Declaration echoes growing discontent with a new law prohibiting firms from importing goods linked to deforestation
Court says renewable firms can seize Spain’s property after subsidy cuts
The Energy Charter Treaty, which Spain is trying to leave, protects investments in fossil fuels and in renewables
Frans Timmermans steps down from EU’s climate leadership
Timmermans has led the EU’s climate policy since 2019 but will now seek to become Dutch prime minister instead
EU and Argentina strike gas, hydrogen & renewables deal
Brussels and Buenos Aires agreed to work for a “stable delivery” of gas to Europe while cracking down on methane leaks and building renewables
EU set to propose mass exit from Energy Charter Treaty
They hope they can neutralise the treaty’s 20 year sunset clause and prevent fossil fuel companies suing them over climate action
Spain proposes improved 2030 climate target as it awaits Supreme Court ruling
The government has published a draft revised version of its climate plan, as it awaits a Supreme Court ruling on the legality of its old plan
UK off course for net zero, its advisers say
The UK government’s official advisers say it is failing on climate at home and abroad, as it cuts climate programmes
UN’s climate work at risk, after EU limits budget increase
The UN didn’t get all the money it wanted for its climate programmes, leaving it reliant on the whims of wealthy donor nations
UK sued over plan to import more polluting Australian beef
Campaigners are challenging the UK government over its assessment of environmental impacts of a trade deal with Australia
France proposes tax credits for green technology
France will spend €500m a year on tax credits for wind and solar power, heat pumps and batteries funded by a tax rise on carbon-intensive fuels
German landlords set to defeat gas boiler ban
Landlords and the right-wing have opposed an effective ban on new gas boilers and look set to at least delay the measure
Campaigners sue EU for labelling gas sustainable
Four environmental groups are taking the EU Commission to the European Court of Justice over some gas plant’s inclusion in its green taxonomy
Green hydrogen rush risks energy ‘cannibalisation’ in Africa, analysts say
The EU signed green hydrogen agreements with Egypt, Kazakhstan, Morocco and Namibia to supply the bloc with the gas ahead of its 2030 goals.
EU agrees diplomatic push for fossil fuel phase out ahead of Cop28
The bloc has made achieving a global phase out of coal, oil and gas “well ahead of 2050” a priority of its climate diplomacy
Governments sworn to secrecy on ‘$20bn’ for Indonesia’s energy transition
They won’t reveal who is paying what or how it will be spent and one bank said their $1bn contribution is just something they’re “willing to consider”
Total escapes court censure over East African oil pipeline
The court said campaigners arguments against the East African crude oil pipeline had changed too much – they are considering an appeal