Japan sticks to 2030 climate goals, accused of a ‘disappointing’ lack of ambition
Japan has reaffirmed its 2015 goal to cuts emissions by 26% by 2030 despite UN plea for far tougher action this year to tackle the climate crisis
Malawi’s farmers grow crops with ‘magic liquid’ fertiliser
‘Bionitrate’ made from urine is starting to help yields for farmers in Malawi who face high costs fertilising maize and other crops amid shifting weather patterns
Coronavirus: in Hawaii’s air, scientists seek signs of economic shock on CO2 levels
Ralph Keeling estimates that global fossil fuel use would have to decline by 10% for a full year to clearly impact CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere
Russia’s plans to tighten 2030 climate goal criticised as ‘baby steps’
Russia’s revised draft plan would allow greenhouse emissions to rise to 2030, defying UN calls for sharp cuts in the coming decade
Electric cars help limit climate change despite blackspots in India, Poland
Study shows it makes sense to drive an electric car in most of the world including in China and the US rather than stick to petrol, diesel engines
Governments urged to attach green strings to long-term coronavirus recovery plans
UN says Paris climate agreement and sustainable development goals should guide recovery beyond massive stopgap measures needed to combat coronavirus
Coronavirus response to delay EU Green Deal by weeks
Teleworking and self-isolation restrictions mean the EU legislative process cannot operate at full capacity, with priority given to measures to address the Covid-19 crisis
Coronavirus enters Liberia after observer returns from Green Climate Fund meeting
The GCF’s board meeting was held in Switzerland after some members objected to hold the session online, one delegate said
Coronavirus slows developing nations’ plans to step up climate action in 2020
‘We are entering into unknown territory’ – coronavirus delays developing nations’ ability to design new climate plans before Cop26 summit in November in Glasgow
Governments have ‘historic opportunity’ to accelerate clean energy transition, IEA says
IEA head Fatih Birol is calling on heads of state and international financial institutions to make coronavirus recovery plans sustainable
Coronavirus: China’s economic slowdown curbs deadly air pollution
Premature deaths from air pollution in China could fall by 50,000-100,000 if economic downturn lasts a year, study estimates
Coronavirus may toughen airlines’ goals for curbing emissions in 2020s
Coronavirus likely to lower a key 2019-20 baseline for average aviation emissions that will force more carbon offsets if flights rebound in 2020s
Coronavirus: IMO postpones key meeting on reducing shipping emissions
The international shipping body has postponed five meetings due to take place at its London headquarters
Addis Ababa riverside project gives priority to development over residents
Ethiopia wants $900 million riverside project to be a model of green development – yet one resident says shelters were demolished ‘without warning’
Coronavirus: UN delays talks on global ocean biodiversity treaty
Observers say additional time could help countries agree on rules to create marine protected areas in parts of the ocean that lie beyond national jurisdiction
Coronavirus delays global efforts for climate and biodiversity action
UN Climate Change said it won’t hold any physical meetings until the end of April amid efforts to contain Covid-19
Moldova submits tougher plan to UN to cut emissions 70% by 2030
The small eastern European country is the fourth to submit enhanced 2030 plans to UN Climate Change
Legal gaps and US election could delay climate ambition before Glasgow summit
UN says some countries will only submit climate action plans in the last quarter of 2020, giving less time than hoped to take stock before Cop26
Australia’s carbon accounting plan for Paris goals criticised as ‘legally baseless’
Legal experts wrote to Prime Minister Scott Morrison warning the use of old carbon credits to meet the country’s 2030 goals would set a ‘dangerous precedent’
EU plans for 2030 climate target can shape Cop26 momentum, ministers warn
Brussels is due to unveil its EU climate law on Wednesday, amid concerns the timetable for action doesn’t align with this year’s global ambition push