164 land defenders murdered in 2018, Global Witness reports
The Philippines overtook Brazil as the most dangerous place for activists and indigenous communities, according to the human rights watchdog
Greta Thunberg to sail to New York climate summit in racing yacht
Swedish teen activist will cross the Atlantic in hurricane season by boat for a four-month tour of the Americas, rather than take a high-carbon flight
Poland faces threat of water crisis as rivers dry up
Experts warn Poland could face a serious water crisis in coming years, if the country of 38 million people fails to capture more water
European Investment Bank moots fossil fuel lending ban
The world’s largest development bank proposed a pivot to clean energy, in a draft plan for consideration by EU finance ministers in September
Former UK energy minister Claire Perry appointed Cop26 president
A champion of phasing out coal power internationally, Perry has been named to lead critical UN climate talks in 2020, which the UK expects to host
UN envoy urges India to raise climate ambition
Luis de Alba praised rapid expansion of renewable energy and pressed the government to go further, on a visit to Delhi
Zimbabweans work at night to beat hydropower shortage as drought bites
Low water levels at Kariba Dam mean power cuts lasting 16 hours a day in capital Harare, making it difficult for businesses to survive
Car boom brings gridlock misery to ‘green and happy’ Bhutan
Bhutan’s growing economy brings growing gridlock – and a potential threat to the country’s vaunted carbon-negative status
UN warned corporate courts could thwart climate efforts
Campaigners are urging reform of an obscure system that allows coal, oil and gas companies to sue governments if climate policies hit their profits
EU moots crackdown on deforestation through supply chains
The bloc is considering regulations to address the role of consumer demand for commodities like palm oil, soy and timber in driving forest clearance abroad
Guterres asks all countries to plan for carbon neutrality by 2050
In a letter to heads of state, the UN chief set net zero emissions as the benchmark for ambition, ahead of a landmark summit in September
Poland expected to delay EU carbon neutrality deal
European leaders will struggle to broker a stronger climate package before December, experts say, as Warsaw prepares to play hard for funding
Leaked UN science report warns of clash between bioenergy and food
Models suggest large areas of land are needed for forests and biofuel crops to halt climate change, but this risks worsening hunger, draft tells policymakers
Campaigners and industry criticise South Africa’s new carbon tax
While industrial players see it as a threat to jobs, the first tax of its kind in Africa is too weak for climate advocates
Oil tanker investments at risk from climate action, report says
Strong action on climate change would shrink demand for vessels by a third, impacting investment decisions being made now, analysts say
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