Climate politics

Spain to end fossil fuel production by 2042 under new climate law

Spain to end fossil fuel production by 2042 under new climate law

Spain’s 2030 emission reduction target lags other EU countries but the government won praise for committing to end coal, oil and gas production

The Cop to end coal - Climate Weekly

The Cop to end coal – Climate Weekly

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UK calls on countries to 'consign coal to history' at Cop26

UK calls on countries to ‘consign coal to history’ at Cop26

As a global shift away from coal gathers momentum, the UK government is putting it at the heart of its the vision for this year’s UN climate talks in Glasgow

Tar sands executive named as Canadian 'climate champion' ahead of Cop26

Tar sands executive named as Canadian ‘climate champion’ ahead of Cop26

Suncor’s chief sustainability officer is one of 26 people praised for moving Canada towards net zero emissions, despite the oil company expanding production

Merkel 'wasted opportunity' to show international solidarity at climate summit

Merkel ‘wasted opportunity’ to show international solidarity at climate summit

The German chancellor resisted calls to announce an increased climate finance pledge at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, her last before leaving office in September

Covid aid is critical to climate action - Climate Weekly

Covid aid is critical to climate action – Climate Weekly

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Meet the Indian climate experts desperately trying to save lives from Covid-19

Meet the Indian climate experts desperately trying to save lives from Covid-19

Climate researchers and journalists are working to connect Covid sufferers with oxygen supplies and hospital beds as India’s health crisis deepens

Germany raises ambition to net zero by 2045 after landmark court ruling

Germany raises ambition to net zero by 2045 after landmark court ruling

A surprise plan to strengthen Germany’s emission targets reignites debate on quitting coal and pricing carbon ahead of September’s election

In defence of net zero - Climate Weekly

In defence of net zero – Climate Weekly

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UK aid cuts hit developing cities' plans to protect against floods and fires

UK aid cuts hit developing cities’ plans to protect against floods and fires

The urban poor in Nairobi, Kathmandu, Quito and Istanbul will lose out from deep budget cuts to the UK-backed Tomorrow’s Cities programme

Latest climate politics

Brexit

UK government appoints Alok Sharma as Cop26 president

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

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

‘Miles off track’ – Climate Weekly

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UK walks diplomatic tightrope for 2020 climate summit after shaky start

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

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

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’

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

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

US pledges to double international climate finance at Earth Day summit

US pledges to double international climate finance at Earth Day summit

Joe Biden made a start on restoring US climate credibility after four lost years, with finance and emissions pledges, but campaigners say more is needed

Biden's moment: What to expect from Thursday's climate leaders summit

Biden’s moment: What to expect from Thursday’s climate leaders summit

The US is expected to unveil a stronger emissions target and call for higher ambition from big emitters at a leaders’ summit on Thursday

Interim UN climate talks move online to address negotiation backlog

Interim UN climate talks move online to address negotiation backlog

Climate diplomats agreed to hold an informal and extended virtual meeting in June, despite connectivity concerns, to make progress on sticky issues

Climate watchers pay tribute to Nicaraguan envoy Paul Oquist, who died on Monday

Climate watchers pay tribute to Nicaraguan envoy Paul Oquist, who died on Monday

The outspoken diplomat, who famously described the Paris Agreement as a “path to failure”, will be remembered as a complex figure who fought for justice

Health must be put at the heart of national climate plans

Health must be put at the heart of national climate plans

After the World Health Organization called for a green and healthy Covid recovery, health must be a priority in countries’ climate plans

A test of trust - Climate Weekly

A test of trust – Climate Weekly

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Unequal vaccine rollout threatens inclusivity of Cop26, climate diplomats warn

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

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

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

UN climate talks

Paris Agreement

South Sudan plans to raise climate ambition amid 'dire' humanitarian crisis

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As the number of businesses setting ‘science-based’ targets surges, experts are calling for more transparency over how those numbers are calculated

Majority of countries miss Paris Agreement deadline to increase climate ambition

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

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

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

More than 70 heads of state showed stronger climate action at a virtual summit, but heavy lifting remains in 2021 to meet the ambition of Paris

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

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

Rolling updates on the climate ambition summit co-hosted by the UK, France and UN on the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement

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

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

Five years on from the landmark talks in Paris, multilateralism and dialogue continue to be the way forward for countries to meet their climate promises

Paris Agreement