World
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
EU leaders secure deal on raising 2030 climate ambition
EU leaders negotiated through the night to convince eastern member states to agree an enhanced goal of cutting emissions by at least 55% between 1990 and 2030
Parisversaire climate ambition summit: who’s in and who’s out
China, India and Canada made the grade to showcase their climate ambition on the anniversary of the Paris Agreement. Australia, Brazil and South Africa did not
Poor nations call for more financial support to cope with climate impacts
At a summit of least developed countries, leaders said they needed aid to overcome climate disasters and put ambitious climate plans into action
Christine Lagarde must change course to a green coronavirus recovery
The European Central Bank has pumped an estimated €100 billion of Covid bailout cash into polluting sectors, despite its chief’s climate-friendly rhetoric
Brazil sets ‘indicative’ goal of carbon neutrality by 2060
Brazil is seeking to join the net zero club, but campaigners denounced its pledge as meaningless while deforestation rises under President Bolsonaro
Poland, Hungary threaten to derail EU plans to raise 2030 climate ambition
Efforts to strengthen the EU climate target risk being sidelined as leaders head for a showdown over democratic values
Malaysian bank to phase out coal finance, in a victory for campaigners
CIMB has been hailed as the first major bank in an emerging market to publish a coal exit strategy, after investing $2.6 billion in the sector last decade
‘Looking for positivity’: Parisversaire party to revive momentum on climate
After a year disrupted by coronavirus, national leaders are expected to announce climate commitments on Saturday, the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement
Czech commission calls for coal phase-out by 2038
Environmental groups, which urged the commission to endorse a 2033 end date, slammed the decision as ‘absurdly late’, while studies show a 2030 exit is feasible
China’s environment ministry floats ‘ban’ on coal power investment abroad
A Chinese government-commissioned report proposes stricter environmental standards for “belt and road” investments, but it needs buy-in from financial institutions
Brazil must reverse deforestation trends before EU finalises Mercosur trade deal
Imazon study finds indigenous people’s territories at greatest risk from forest clearance as a result of growing agricultural activity under the agreement
Youth activists demand damages for climate victims at virtual ‘mock Cop26’
Making polluters pay for losses suffered by communities on the frontline of climate impacts is a priority for young activists, as they prepare to engage with UN negotiations
As UN action on ship emissions falls short, attention turns to regions
The International Maritime Organization set minimal curbs on shipping’s 1Gt carbon footprint this decade. Here’s how the EU, US and China could decarbonise the sector