Switzerland joins few nations confirming to UN it will enhance climate action plans
The country says its new climate target will reflect a proposed plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. But it might not happen in time for Cop26
‘Noah’s Ark’ Arctic seed vault gets new crops, recovers to one million samples
Britain’s Prince Charles, contributing wildflower seeds, says it is ‘exhausting, often demoralising’ to persuade people of vital role of biodiversity
World faces ‘decisive decade’ to fix global warming, former UN climate chief says
Christiana Figueres issues blueprint for a peaceful global revolution to tackle ‘dire emergency’ of climate change, guided by the Paris Agreement she helped craft
South Korea urged to exit coal by 2029 to stick to Paris climate agreement
Climate Analytics research group calls on Seoul to phase out existing coal-fired power plants, stop new construction and halt funds for coal projects in other Asian nations
‘Mysterious’ seasons harm Nigeria’s farmers who need help with climate change
Smallholder farmers grow 90% of Nigeria’s food but their crops are vulnerable to ever more extreme weather linked to climate change. New technologies can help
Protect 30% of Earth to avert ‘irreversible’ biodiversity loss – former ministers say
Albright among 23 former foreign ministers calling for ‘strong protection’ of animals and plants at UN biodiversity summit, due in China in October
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
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
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
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’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
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
Locusts lay eggs as plague worsens in Horn of Africa, UN warns
The FAO has called for ‘urgent efforts’ to prevent the number of locusts from growing over fears of new swarms