Latest climate change news
Locusts plague destroys livelihoods in Kenya but ‘biggest threat yet to come’
Wetter and hotter weather than usual is forecast until May, providing locust eggs with ideal conditions to hatch and grow. FAO says it is in a “race against time”
UK government appoints Alok Sharma as Cop26 president
Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed the former secretary of state for international development to lead the critical UN climate talks in November
Carbon taxes are key to stop deforestation
In Colombia and Costa Rica, where governments have imposed carbon taxes, deforestation rates are down, while revenues to fund forest restoration efforts are up
Don’t shop till you drop: advice to UK citizens on net zero climate goals
UK holds ‘citizens’ assembly’ to seek ideas for cutting emissions to net-0 by 2050. But some participants doubt the government will listen
EU Parliament urges ECB to put climate at heart of strategy review
European lawmakers have endorsed a parliamentary resolution calling on the ECB to assess how the bank can contribute to the continent’s climate policies
One million solar panels! If only we knew where they were…
Pinpointing solar panels and knowing exactly where the sun is shining can cut carbon emissions by reducing the need to keep fossil-fueled generators on standby
UK climate diplomacy ‘already happening’ for Cop26 despite leadership vacuum
The UK’s top climate diplomat said the country had been able to do ‘a huge amount’ of pre-diplomacy work despite the lack of a Cop26 president
Shipping could raise ambition of 2030 climate target, study shows
Research also shows that a Japanese proposal to cut CO2 by installing engine power limitation devices on ships would not deliver meaningful emissions reduction
Marshall Islands, Suriname, Norway upgrade climate plans before Cop26
The three nations account for 0.1% of global emissions. Norway says 9 February was the deadline for new plans before climate talks in November
Campaigners urge African Union to stop fossil fuel proliferation on continent
In a communique, African civil society called on leaders meeting in Ethiopia to ‘rapidly initiate a transition to clean and safe renewable sources of energy’ for all
‘Miles off track’ – Climate Weekly
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World misses symbolic February deadline to ratchet up climate action before Cop26
The 2015 Paris Agreement seeks to raise global ambition every five years. But only three nations have issued upgraded climate plans nine months before Cop26 in Glasgow
Offshore wind deployment boom ‘too slow’ to meet EU climate target
Europe needs between 230 and 450 GW of offshore wind by 2050 to decarbonise its energy system, according to the EU Commission
UK walks diplomatic tightrope for 2020 climate summit after shaky start
Boris Johnson officially launched Cop26 on Tuesday but gave little indication as to how the government is going to leverage the world into taking bolder climate action
Democratic contenders in Iowa caucus aim to rejoin Paris accord in green goals
Candidates pledged to boost climate finance for developing nations and break US dependence on fossil fuels
UK’s Boris Johnson urges all countries to set net zero emissions goals in 2020
The UK’s Prime Minister launched Cop26 hours after being accused by sacked talks president Claire O’Neill of ‘not understanding’ the issues at stake
UK government drops Claire O’Neill as president of Cop26 summit
The presidency role will be elevated to a ministerial role as part of a UK cabinet reshuffle
Youth activists urge African governments to do more to curb climate change
Africa emits only 5% of world greenhouse gas emissions yet is most at risk from worsening heatwaves, droughts and floods
Coronavirus side effect – Climate Weekly
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UN relocates biodiversity talks to Italy from China after coronavirus emergency
Rome will host next month’s biodiversity meeting, when negotiators are due to review a draft proposal for a global framework to protect the world’s plants and wildlife