Climate politics

Coal, oil and gas production to blow climate targets despite pandemic dip, report warns

Coal, oil and gas production to blow climate targets despite pandemic dip, report warns

UN-backed Production Gap report projects a 2% annual rise in global fossil fuel output this decade, when 6% cuts are needed in line with a 1.5C warming limit

Guterres: UN will build global coalition for carbon neutrality in 2021

Guterres: UN will build global coalition for carbon neutrality in 2021

UN chief Antonio Guterres warned “the planet is broken”, calling for a “quantum leap” on getting to net zero emissions in 2021

UK scrambles to decide first post-Brexit climate pledge to the Paris Agreement

UK scrambles to decide first post-Brexit climate pledge to the Paris Agreement

The Cop26 host is on a tight timeline to set a 2030 carbon-cutting target separate from the EU’s, ahead of an ambition summit on the fifth anniversary of Paris

The damage of four lost years - Climate Weekly

The damage of four lost years – Climate Weekly

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Youth activists demand damages for climate victims at virtual 'mock Cop26'

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

UK aid budget cuts undermine trust ahead of Cop26 summit, experts warn

UK aid budget cuts undermine trust ahead of Cop26 summit, experts warn

As developing countries prepare to negotiate a scaling up of climate finance at next year’s Cop26, the UK host faces criticism for reneging on its aid commitment

Joe Biden picks John Kerry as the US' presidential envoy on climate change

Joe Biden picks John Kerry as the US’ presidential envoy on climate change

Veteran diplomat John Kerry said the next US administration would treat the climate crisis as “the urgent national security threat it is”

Saudis and Europeans reach compromise on climate as G20 projects unity

Saudis and Europeans reach compromise on climate as G20 projects unity

EU leaders endorsed Riyadh’s contentious “circular carbon economy” vision at the G20 summit, in exchange for a renewed commitment to phasing out fossil fuel subsidies

Johnson bids for climate glory - Climate Weekly

Johnson bids for climate glory – Climate Weekly

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Canada sets out to enshrine 2050 net zero emissions goal in law

Canada sets out to enshrine 2050 net zero emissions goal in law

Justin Trudeau presented a bill to the Canadian parliament to set five-yearly carbon targets from 2030 to 2050, but was criticised for a lack of immediate action

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

First named Cop26 sponsors are big investors in offshore wind - and a gas plant

First named Cop26 sponsors are big investors in offshore wind – and a gas plant

SSE, Scottish Power and National Grid have been named as sponsors of next year’s UN climate summit in Glasgow, with SSE defending a “transition” investment in gas power

Biden promised to expose 'climate outlaws'. Here's who could make his list

Biden promised to expose ‘climate outlaws’. Here’s who could make his list

The US president-elect promises to usher in a more confrontational era of climate diplomacy, putting a spotlight on major emitters slow-walking climate action

'Count every vote' demand US climate activists, after Trump false victory claim

‘Count every vote’ demand US climate activists, after Trump false victory claim

Climate activists have reacted angrily to Donald Trump’s unfounded claim he won the US presidential election, mobilising to defend the democratic process

US has officially left the Paris Agreement, amid election to determine climate future

US has officially left the Paris Agreement, amid election to determine climate future

The race for the White House could take days or weeks to settle, with major implications for the prospects of tackling the climate crisis

Environmentalists urge UN to condemn Brazil's spying at climate talks

Environmentalists urge UN to condemn Brazil’s spying at climate talks

Brazilian campaigners said tolerating the Bolsonaro administration’s spying at climate talks would set “a grisly precedent” and called on the UN to prevent future incidents

UK negotiator: Countries must resolve carbon market dispute to step up ambition

UK negotiator: Countries must resolve carbon market dispute to step up ambition

Diplomats will try to make progress on the last unresolved issues of the Paris Agreement in online events run by UN Climate Change next month

Brazilian spies intimidated government's own delegates at climate talks

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

Where are US emissions after four years of President Trump?

Where are US emissions after four years of President Trump?

Donald Trump has overseen a small decline in US emissions, but his claim to have the “lowest carbon” is false by most measures

UN climate talks

Paris Agreement

China is set to meet UN climate deadline, experts say, but coal pathway is uncertain

China is set to meet UN climate deadline, experts say, but coal pathway is uncertain

To align near-term policy with its 2060 carbon neutrality goal, China needs to stop building new coal-fired power plants after 2020, researchers say

Russia resists tougher climate targets in dash for Arctic gas

Russia resists tougher climate targets in dash for Arctic gas

Russia has no plans to end its contribution to climate change before the end of the century and is aggressively expanding Arctic gas production for the Asian market

Joe Biden wins the White House, in pivotal moment for global climate action

Joe Biden wins the White House, in pivotal moment for global climate action

Biden has promised to reenter the Paris Agreement, marking the end of a four-year assault on climate protections under Donald Trump’s presidency

Joe Biden's climate plan hinges on a tight Senate race

Joe Biden’s climate plan hinges on a tight Senate race

With Democrats and Republicans tied in the race for Senate control, a Biden administration will have to get creative to deliver on his climate promises

Japan set to announce 2050 net zero emissions target - report

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

China hits out at US climate record, in pointed message ahead of election

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

A Biden victory could spur global climate action, but the US has much to prove

A Biden victory could spur global climate action, but the US has much to prove

If elected US president, Biden must balance domestic and international pressures to set a 2030 emissions target on a tight deadline, with a view to inspiring others

Fate of UN-led carbon market to be decided behind closed doors

Fate of UN-led carbon market to be decided behind closed doors

The executive board is considering an extension of the Clean Development Mechanism beyond 2020, under industry pressure but with no political mandate

Paris Agreement