“Green” funds destroy Indonesia’s forests – Climate Weekly
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“Green” finance bankrolls forest destruction in Indonesia
Green funds have been spent cutting down trees for biomass to make electricity, decimating the traditional food sources of indigenous people
Row over veto powers holds up Paris plastic treaty talks
Saudi Arabia and a group of emerging economies like China, India and Russia pushed to keep vetoes in plastic treaty talks
FSC’s rehab scheme for forest destroyers under fire after fresh allegations
Indonesian pulp and paper giants are trying to rehabilitate themselves with the FSC despite continued accusations of deforestation in their supply chains
Amazon gateway city Belém will host Cop30 climate talks
Brazil’s president Lula said Belém will host Cop30 so that delegates from around the world can learn about the nearby Amazon rainforest.
Japan joins anti-plastic coalition ahead of Paris treaty talks, leaving US isolated
After Japan joined the high ambition coalition against plastics production, the US is now the only major developed country not a member
Governments fall short in UN’s East Africa drought appeal
Donor countries promised only a third of the $7bn the UN was appealing for to provide humanitarian aid to drought-stricken Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.
UN advises against offsets for carbon removal technologies
Billions of dollars are pouring into tech-based solutions to suck carbon dioxide from the atmosphere but the UNFCCC says they are unproven and pose unknown risks.
World Bank body delays vote on controversial loan to Brazilian dairy firm
Campaigners say the $32m loan to dairy firm Alvoar Lacteos could damage forests in Brazil
UK sued over plan to import more polluting Australian beef
Campaigners are challenging the UK government over its assessment of environmental impacts of a trade deal with Australia
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Restrictions on energy firm’s borrowing complicates South Africa’s energy transition
The South African government has told cash-strapped power company Eskom it can’t invest in new electricity generation
Verra boss steps down after criticism of its carbon credits
The carbon credit certifier has both grown rapidly and faced mounting integrity accusations during outgoing CEO’s tenure.
Lula set to improve Brazil’s climate target
Brazil’s new president Lula is set to improve on the climate target set by his far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro, Reuters sources say
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
Rich nations “understanding” of South African delay to coal plant closures
Despite a multi-billion dollars clean energy transition deal, South Africa expects to keep coal plants running for longer while it battles electricity blackouts.
Study: Fossil fuel firms owe $209bn a year for climate damage
A multi-billion dollar reparations scheme has been proposed for fossil fuel companies to atone for the damage caused by their greenhouse gas emissions
Regulator blocks Brazilian oil drilling, sparking conflict within government
While President Lula’s environment minister Marina Silva supported the decision, Lula ally Randolfe Rodrigues vowed to oppose it
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.