Latest climate change news
South Korea formally commits to cutting emissions to net zero by 2050
President Moon Jae-in’s announcement follows a three-day visit by Cop26 president-designate Alok Sharma to South Korea
Philippines declares moratorium on new coal power plants
The move could scrap 8GW of planned coal projects which haven’t been fully approved, sending a strong signal to investors in the region coal is out of favour
Who will build the world’s last coal plant?
Banks, companies and governments are axing support for coal, driven by climate concerns and competition from renewables, but hundreds of plants are still in planning
Vietnam braces for Typhoon Molave, in worst tropical storm season for decades
Molave will be the fourth storm to hit the nation’s central region in less than three weeks — leaving communities no time to recover before being hit again and harder
Japan net zero emissions pledge puts coal in the spotlight
Prime minister Yoshihide Suga has promised to “fundamentally shift” Japan’s coal policy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050
Mayan communities are suing the Mexican government over a million solar panel megaproject
Indigenous communities say they did not give consent for a Total-backed solar megaproject on their land
Carbon offsets make a comeback – Climate Weekly
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World Bank branch indirectly backs coal megaproject despite green pledge
International Finance Corporation piloted its green equity policy with an Indonesian bank, which went on to fund a 2,000 MW coal complex
Peru and Switzerland sign ‘world first’ carbon offset deal under Paris Agreement
In an agreement that took two years to negotiate, Peru will get finance for sustainable development projects while Switzerland takes credit for the emissions cuts
Japan set to announce 2050 net zero emissions target – report
Prime minister Yoshihide Suga is expected to unveil plans to achieve carbon neutrality in a speech on Monday, following growing pressure on Tokyo to step up ambition
Poland’s largest utility announces pivot from coal to renewables
PGE has announced a strategy to go 100% renewable by 2050, but it depends on passing responsibility for coal mines to another Polish state-owned entity
Oxfam: Rich countries are not delivering on $100bn climate finance promise
Nearly 80% of climate finance is in the form of loans that must be repaid, adding to the debt burden of the poorest countries, anti-poverty campaigners found
China hits out at US climate record, in pointed message ahead of election
In an extraordinary diplomatic attack, Beijing suggested “troublemaker” US must answer to the international community for breaking the consensus on climate change
New Zealanders vote for climate ambition of Jacinda Ardern and Greens
Jacinda Ardern won a second term as New Zealand leader with a landslide majority, in an endorsement of her government’s net zero emissions goal
In New Zealand’s deep south, Māori landowners make money by keeping their forests intact
Selling carbon credits has enabled Mike Gibbs’ community to end destructive farming and logging practices
Debt is a climate issue – Climate Weekly
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Ballooning debt cripples poor countries’ hopes of green recovery from Covid
Vulnerable countries are struggling to survive the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, let alone build back better, as debts mount up
Ships to get free pass on emissions until 2030, under compromise proposal
Ship efficiency measures backed by a broad coalition of 14 countries will fail to reduce emissions in line with industry and Paris climate goals, campaigners warn
Brazilian spies intimidated government’s own delegates at climate talks
Bolsonaro sent four secret agents to the Cop25 climate summit in Madrid, where campaigners said Brazilian negotiators were afraid to talk to them
EU considers crackdown on methane leaks from imported oil and gas
An EU methane emissions standard would put pressure on suppliers like Russia and Algeria to stop polluting gas leaks and venting, but proposals lack detail