Climate a ‘signature issue’ as Ursula von der Leyen anointed EU chief
Lawmakers backed the German politician as European Commission president by a slim majority on Tuesday, after she met calls to strengthen climate ambition
Cleantech patent applications plummet, sparking fears for innovation
The number of carbon-cutting inventions filed globally has plummeted this decade, despite growing awareness of the urgency of climate action
Trade deal binds Brazil to Paris Agreement, says top EU official
‘President Bolsonaro chose, and came with us,’ said Cecilia Malmström, as she defended the EU deal with several South American nations
Hundreds of Extinction Rebellion activists face court, in summer of prosecutions
The Metropolitan Police plan to charge more than a thousand climate campaigners with public order offences, after they brought London to a halt in April
Von der Leyen offers 55% CO2 cuts by 2030 in bid for EU top job
The German nominee for European Commission president has strengthened her climate ambition to win parliamentary backing from socialists and liberals
Two million in Zimbabwe’s capital have no water as city turns off taps
‘The situation is bad, period’, says spokesman for Harare council, as suburbs go weeks without water and cases of typhoid are reported
Trains deliver emergency water to drought-hit Chennai
Millions of people are experiencing water shortages as Chennai’s reservoirs are running dry and other sources of water are dwindling
Asset managers worth $15 trillion make climate risk promise to Macron
The French president gathered the world’s biggest investors this week to push them to back climate-friendly projects
Families appeal EU court dismissal of ‘People’s Climate Case’
Plaintiffs including a Portuguese forester and Swedish indigenous reindeer herder argue inadequate climate action threatens their human rights
EU commission president nominee backs 50% carbon cut by 2030
Ursula von der Leyen said Europe should become the world’s first climate neutral continent, as she sought lawmakers’ backing for the top job on Wednesday
UK told to close climate policy gap or ‘be embarrassed’ in 2020
The British government is off track for its 2050 net zero emissions target, advisers warn, undermining its credibility as likely host of Cop26 UN climate talks
Russia to ratify Paris Agreement; Putin says wind power ‘shakes worms from ground’
Russia says it wants a seat at the climate negotiations table, but the president warned problems with renewable energy must be considered
David Attenborough: Climate change may become abhorred as much as slavery
Just as 19th century attitudes toward slavery have transformed, so too may the public perception of ecological destruction shift, the naturalist told UK MPs
France announces tax on air travel in climate push
A proposed levy of €1.50-18 on each outbound flight comes as part of a climate strategy, with France pushing the EU to follow suit
UN fund removes veto power over climate projects
The Green Climate Fund changed its rules so no single country can block finance, as recently happened when the US intervened in a Chinese bid
European Greens demand action on climate as condition to approve EU top job
Green grouping co-chairs in the European Parliament set tough conditions to ratify Ursula von der Leyen as next Commission president after meeting her on Monday
China scrubs its coal projects from ‘world heritage in danger’ decision
Three coal plants that threaten the Sundarbans tiger habitat were removed from a draft text, while Unesco members declined to list the site as ‘in danger’
Saudi row over 1.5C science raises frustration with UN consensus model
Diplomats are losing patience with players like Saudi Arabia blocking progress at international climate talks, instead looking to other forums for action
EU ‘climate leaders’ plans found lacking
Finland, Sweden, Portugal, France and Germany praised for ambitious targets, but NGO analysis raises questions over details
African ministers lobby UK for control of climate aid
Ministers from Uganda and the Gambia met the UK’s development secretary to ask for more say over how climate finance is spent