UK Supreme Court lifts ban on Heathrow airport third runway
Heathrow still faces major obstacles to carry out its expansion plans, in light of the UK’s 2050 net zero target and uncertain future demand
UN-led carbon market suspends formal project registration after 2020
Countries are under mounting pressure to resolve carbon trading rules at Cop26, as the future of the Clean Development Mechanism hangs in the balance
UK plans climate donor summit to address ‘dismal’ support for poorer nations
The presidency of next year’s Cop26 climate talks will bring vulnerable countries and donors together to address climate and development challenges
As Taiwan models net zero scenarios, campaigners push for 2050 target
The island nation is a major manufacturer and campaigners hope it will follow Japan and South Korea in setting a 2050 net zero target next year
Countries signal greater climate ambition but ‘step change’ needed on road to Glasgow
More than 70 heads of state showed stronger climate action at a virtual summit, but heavy lifting remains in 2021 to meet the ambition of Paris
EU leaders secure deal on raising 2030 climate ambition
EU leaders negotiated through the night to convince eastern member states to agree an enhanced goal of cutting emissions by at least 55% between 1990 and 2030
Parisversaire climate ambition summit: who’s in and who’s out
China, India and Canada made the grade to showcase their climate ambition on the anniversary of the Paris Agreement. Australia, Brazil and South Africa did not
Poor nations call for more financial support to cope with climate impacts
At a summit of least developed countries, leaders said they needed aid to overcome climate disasters and put ambitious climate plans into action
Brazil sets ‘indicative’ goal of carbon neutrality by 2060
Brazil is seeking to join the net zero club, but campaigners denounced its pledge as meaningless while deforestation rises under President Bolsonaro
Poland, Hungary threaten to derail EU plans to raise 2030 climate ambition
Efforts to strengthen the EU climate target risk being sidelined as leaders head for a showdown over democratic values
Malaysian bank to phase out coal finance, in a victory for campaigners
CIMB has been hailed as the first major bank in an emerging market to publish a coal exit strategy, after investing $2.6 billion in the sector last decade
‘Looking for positivity’: Parisversaire party to revive momentum on climate
After a year disrupted by coronavirus, national leaders are expected to announce climate commitments on Saturday, the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement
Czech commission calls for coal phase-out by 2038
Environmental groups, which urged the commission to endorse a 2033 end date, slammed the decision as ‘absurdly late’, while studies show a 2030 exit is feasible
Denmark to phase out oil and gas production by 2050 in “watershed” decision
The EU’s largest oil producer has agreed to cancel new oil and gas licences and wind down production, in a bid for climate leadership
UK announces stronger 2030 emissions target, setting the bar for ambition summit
The UK will cut emissions 68% from 1990 to 2030, Boris Johnson announced, urging other leaders to bring new commitments to the 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement
China’s environment ministry floats ‘ban’ on coal power investment abroad
A Chinese government-commissioned report proposes stricter environmental standards for “belt and road” investments, but it needs buy-in from financial institutions
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
UN chief Antonio Guterres warned “the planet is broken”, calling for a “quantum leap” on getting to net zero emissions in 2021
WMO: Siberian heatwave put 2020 among three hottest years on record
Temperatures reached 38C in Siberia, leading to wildfires and increased melting of the sea ice and putting 2020 on course for 1.2C warming globally
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