Climate politics

Climate movement must switch on to UAE threat

The UAE’s authoritarian rulers needs oil and gas revenues to placate their people and keep themselves in power

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G7 calls on all countries to reach net zero by 2050

The call sparked accusations of “climate apartheid” as it does not differentiate between rich and poor nations

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – Climate Weekly

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UAE appoints fossil fuels execs and climate campaigners as Cop28 advisers

The group will “provide guidance and counsel” to the Cop28 presidency this year and beyond

Top German energy official resigns after favoritism allegations

The mastermind of Germany’s energy transition, Patrick Graichen has been accused of cronyism in the appointment process of a think-tank.

UAE invites Syria’s Assad to Cop28 in latest rehabilitation push

The Syrian regime has been accused of committing war crimes during a decade-long civil war. Western nations have criticised efforts to restore diplomatic relations.

Deja Vu – Climate Weekly

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Cop28 moots oil and gas initiative despite greenwash accusations

Critics say a focus on just the emissions from producing oil and gas not consuming it is a distraction and that similar initatives have not worked

Paris agreement’s police force begins with rebuke to Vatican

The Pope’s home state has not yet issued a climate plan, which is against the rules of the Paris Agreement it ratified last year

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

Ecuador gets cheap debt write-off with promise to protect Galapagos’s nature

Ecuador will get $12 million a year to spend protecting the wildlife and habitats of the Galapagos islands, in the largest “debt for nature” deal yet

Nations split over fossil fuels and carbon capture

An agenda-setting gathering of climate ministers saw continuing disagreement over the need for fossil fuels phase-out and the role of technology

The carbon capture Cop – Climate Weekly

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Europe’s push for global renewables target gains support

The UAE has backed the EU’s call to set a global target for the renewable roll-out at the Cop28 climate talks

India and China push “multiple energy pathways” not fossil end date in G20 talks

India and China are trying to stop the G20 setting an end-date for the use of fossil fuels, highlighting different national circumstances instead

Cop28 boss slams rich nations “dismal” $100bn finance failure

Developed nations should have met the climate finance commitment in 2020. But they are still not there.

What is the global stocktake of climate action and why does it matter?

The first Global Stocktake will tell us collective efforts need to be stepped up to reach the Paris Agreement goals. The question is how countries will respond to it.

Carbon capture gets its day – Climate Weekly

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UN climate talks

Paris Agreement

AIIB finds gas plant in Bangladesh compatible with Paris goals

AIIB’s fast-tracking of a 600MW LNG plant could set a precedent for more development finance to fossil gas projects, campaigners warn

Brazil accused of backsliding in updated climate pledge to UN

While the Bolsonaro administration has nominally increased its 2030 target, a baseline shift allows Brazil to emit more than under its first Paris pledge

To close 1.5C gap, countries face call for another round of climate pledges by 2023

The Cop26 presidency is considering a proposal to strengthen ambition beyond the Glasgow summit, but it faces resistance from emerging economies

Turkey ratifies the Paris Agreement after approving a 2053 net zero goal

Documents agreed by parliament included a declaration that Turkey would implement the climate treaty as a developing country, despite its developed nation status

What is Cop26 and why does it matter? Your guide to the Glasgow climate summit

Following a two-year gap, countries are due to meet in the UK for UN climate talks in November. Here’s what is at stake

China, India miss UN’s extended deadline for climate pledges

110 parties to the Paris Agreement have submitted updated 2030 climate targets to be counted by UN Climate Change before Cop26, but some major emitters’ are still missing

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

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

Paris Agreement