Politics

Climate politics

Trawling up trouble – Climate Weekly

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Indian lawmaker submits private bill to achieve net zero emissions by 2050

A lawmaker from India’s ruling party has proposed a bill to “start a discussion” on net zero emissions – while defending coal mining in his district

Lebanon increases climate goal despite political and economic turmoil

While battling political upheaval, coronavirus and its worst economic crisis in 30 years, Lebanon has strengthened its 2030 emissions target

Green Climate Fund whistleblowers urge US to take its money elsewhere – until ‘toxic’ workplace is fixed

As John Kerry promises to “make good” on a $2 billion pledge to the GCF, the UN’s flagship fund faces critically low confidence in its senior management

Covid-proofing Cop26 is a test of solidarity – Climate Weekly

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Unequal vaccine rollout threatens inclusivity of Cop26, climate diplomats warn

Negotiators are worried that requiring a vaccine passport to attend November’s critical UN climate summit will exclude developing countries with limited supplies

Five ways the UK is failing to walk the talk on a green recovery ahead of Cop26

While vocal on raising climate ambition on the global stage, recent domestic policy announcements undermine the UK host’s leadership credentials

Hall of shame: 9 countries missing the chance of a green recovery

Just 18% of recovery spending globally is green, a UN report found. Despite pledges to ‘build back better’, governments have propped up fossil fuels, aviation and roads

South Sudan plans to raise climate ambition amid ‘dire’ humanitarian crisis

The world’s newest country is seeking to expand renewable energy, tree planting and climate smart agriculture, but UK aid cuts threaten progress

China’s five-year plan underwhelms – Climate Weekly

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Latest climate politics

Brexit

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

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

‘Miles off track’ – Climate Weekly

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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

UK leaders debate climate, with Boris Johnson replaced by ice sculpture

Leaders of most major parties presented their ideas for meeting tough climate goals, but the Conservative prime minister declined

Brexit must not distract from UK’s biggest job in 2020: the Glasgow climate summit

Next year’s climate talks are absolutely vital and as hosts the UK could determine whether the talks fail or succeed. The government must start preparing now

London bids to host 2020 UN climate talks to show UK remains ‘open’

Mayor Sadiq Khan writes to UK prime minster urging every effort to win the presidency of Cop26 in the face of a competing bid from Italy

UK and Italy bid for 2020 climate talks, amid political uncertainty for both

Both countries face potential general elections and economic problems before the crucial Cop26 meeting and the UK may still be in a Brexit imbroglio

Brexit

UN Climate Talks

Australian contender for OECD top job backtracks on climate scepticism

Former finance minister Mathias Cormann opposed climate policies in the Australian government and now claims he would lead climate action at the OECD

Further delay feared as ‘like-minded’ countries resist online climate negotiations

Major developing countries oppose calls to hold preparatory climate negotiations online in June, citing connectivity and time zone concerns

China, US urged to step up as UN warns world ‘very far’ from meeting climate goals

Collectively, updated national targets will only reduce emissions 0.5% by 2030 from 2010, UN analysis finds — far from the 45% scientists say is needed to hold warming to 1.5C

As US formally rejoins the Paris Agreement, eyes turn to 2030 emissions goal

Now the US is back in the Paris Agreement, it is expected to set a 2030 emissions target, with campaigners calling for at least 50% cuts

Under diplomatic pressure, India considers net zero – but major hurdles remain

Net zero pledges from other major polluters have put spotlight on Delhi’s climate ambitions, but full decarbonisation is a big ask

Egypt expresses an interest in hosting Cop27 climate talks in 2022

The Egyptian government could discuss its interest in presiding over the 2022 UN climate summit with Cop26 president Alok Sharma, who is visiting the country

António Guterres calls for preparatory UN climate negotiations to be held online

In a surprising intervention, the UN chief called for climate talks to be held online, with regional “hubs” for negotiators to access reliable internet

Climate veteran Xie Zhenhua returns as China’s special envoy

Xie Zhenhua’s return to climate diplomacy is seen as a ‘bright spot’ for US-China cooperation, given his strong relationship with US special climate envoy John Kerry

UN climate talks

Paris Agreement

The stakes for Cop26 couldn't be higher - Climate Weekly

Climate politics

Trawling up trouble – Climate Weekly

Indian lawmaker submits private bill to achieve net zero emissions by 2050

Lebanon increases climate goal despite political and economic turmoil

Green Climate Fund whistleblowers urge US to take its money elsewhere – until ‘toxic’ workplace is fixed

Covid-proofing Cop26 is a test of solidarity – Climate Weekly

Unequal vaccine rollout threatens inclusivity of Cop26, climate diplomats warn

Five ways the UK is failing to walk the talk on a green recovery ahead of Cop26

Hall of shame: 9 countries missing the chance of a green recovery

South Sudan plans to raise climate ambition amid ‘dire’ humanitarian crisis

China’s five-year plan underwhelms – Climate Weekly

Brexit

UK government appoints Alok Sharma as Cop26 president

Don’t shop till you drop: advice to UK citizens on net zero climate goals

‘Miles off track’ – Climate Weekly

UK walks diplomatic tightrope for 2020 climate summit after shaky start

UK leaders debate climate, with Boris Johnson replaced by ice sculpture

Brexit must not distract from UK’s biggest job in 2020: the Glasgow climate summit

London bids to host 2020 UN climate talks to show UK remains ‘open’

UK and Italy bid for 2020 climate talks, amid political uncertainty for both

UN Climate Talks

Australian contender for OECD top job backtracks on climate scepticism

Further delay feared as ‘like-minded’ countries resist online climate negotiations

China, US urged to step up as UN warns world ‘very far’ from meeting climate goals

As US formally rejoins the Paris Agreement, eyes turn to 2030 emissions goal

Under diplomatic pressure, India considers net zero – but major hurdles remain

Egypt expresses an interest in hosting Cop27 climate talks in 2022

António Guterres calls for preparatory UN climate negotiations to be held online

Climate veteran Xie Zhenhua returns as China’s special envoy

Paris Agreement

The stakes for Cop26 couldn’t be higher – Climate Weekly

“Science-based” corporate climate targets are no such thing, says former advisor

Majority of countries miss Paris Agreement deadline to increase climate ambition

Countries signal greater climate ambition but ‘step change’ needed on road to Glasgow

AS IT HAPPENED: World leaders upgrade climate commitments on Paris anniversary

I am proud to have negotiated the Paris Agreement, at my first UN summit

Joyeux Parisversaire – Climate Weekly

Parisversaire climate ambition summit: who’s in and who’s out