EU
EU commission president nominee backs 50% carbon cut by 2030
Ursula von der Leyen said Europe should become the world’s first climate neutral continent, as she sought lawmakers’ backing for the top job on Wednesday
UK told to close climate policy gap or ‘be embarrassed’ in 2020
The British government is off track for its 2050 net zero emissions target, advisers warn, undermining its credibility as likely host of Cop26 UN climate talks
France announces tax on air travel in climate push
A proposed levy of €1.50-18 on each outbound flight comes as part of a climate strategy, with France pushing the EU to follow suit
European Greens demand action on climate as condition to approve EU top job
Green grouping co-chairs in the European Parliament set tough conditions to ratify Ursula von der Leyen as next Commission president after meeting her on Monday
Finland’s forestry myth undermines its radical climate ambition
The next EU presidency wants to drive the climate agenda, but its forestry industry is bad for carbon emissions, biodiversity and its indigenous Sámi people
EU ‘climate leaders’ plans found lacking
Finland, Sweden, Portugal, France and Germany praised for ambitious targets, but NGO analysis raises questions over details
EU top jobs leave big climate questions
Ursula von der Leyen has been nominated to lead the EU’s executive at a critical moment for climate policy, but she has no record on the issue
African ministers lobby UK for control of climate aid
Ministers from Uganda and the Gambia met the UK’s development secretary to ask for more say over how climate finance is spent
Finland puts new climate target top of EU leadership agenda
Taking over the presidency of the European Council for six months, Finland has set its sights on brokering a 2050 net zero emissions target for the bloc
EU-Mercosur trade deal will drive Amazon deforestation, warns ex-minister
French former minister Nicolas Hulot slammed pact with South American countries, saying it would enable rainforest clearance under Brazil’s Bolsonaro regime
Ireland’s world-leading citizens’ climate assembly. What worked? What didn’t?
While the Irish assembly provoked a shift in government policy on climate change, there are important lessons to learn from this democratic experiment
After an MP grabbed a climate protester, young Brits will never vote for these Tories
Minister Mark Field’s violence proves we need politicians that take our calls for a safe future seriously, writes climate striker Cate Davies
Denmark’s new government raises climate change to highest priority
In a deal with other left parties, the Social Democrats agreed to raise the country’s climate targets and place the green transition at the heart of policy
France off track for ‘ambitious’ climate goal, advisers warn
Emissions cuts are behind the pace to go carbon neutral by 2050, the newly established High Council for the Climate advised government
EU stumble weakens global drive for climate ambition
As the EU struggles to agree a net zero climate target, observers raised concerns over the ‘global ramifications’ of its domestic disagreement
EU climate deal fails amid four-nation revolt
Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary and Poland blocked an agreement on a net zero carbon target for 2050
UK forms citizens’ assembly on climate change
A cross-section of society will be invited to debate how to share the costs and rewards of meeting the government’s net zero emissions target
Merkel, fallen climate chancellor, has a chance to save her legacy
This week’s European Council meeting is Germany’s moment to clean up a tarnished reputation, writes a former UN climate chief
UK expected to host 2020 UN climate talks in deal with Italy
Joint proposal would send the pivotal talks to Britain, overcoming European uncertainty about Brexit
Ireland to ‘nudge’ its way to net zero emissions by 2050
Government plans to enshrine a tougher climate target in law, but tough questions about the future of beef farming remain to be settled