EU relaxes climate stance in trade sop to Trump
Tough words on the Paris Agreement took a back seat as Jean-Claude Juncker sought protection for Europe’s car industry
#MeToo reaches China’s NGOs
After being outed on social media, a prominent environment activist admitted harassment of multiple women with whom he worked, blaming alcohol
Australia energy plan may breach Paris climate commitments
Government says it will lock in electricity emissions targets until 2024, undermining an international commitment to revisit its Paris target in 2023
German 2030 climate target ‘very, very challenging’ to reach, says Merkel
Planned climate protection law means 2030 target would ‘ideally’ be met, chancellor says, and flags closure of coal plants
As the UK swelters, government plan for extreme heat is criticised
The UK’s new five year plan to adapt to climate change lacks proper action to deal with the rising threat of extreme heat, according to its own advisers
EU-Japan trade deal first to carry Paris climate clause
The world’s largest ever trade deal is also the first Europe has signed that commits both parties to upholding the UN climate accord
EU and China agree sweeping joint statement on climate action
Leaders put climate at centre of relationship, push for agreement on the Paris deal rulebook and reject Trump’s efforts to undermine global cooperation
‘Trump’s climate denial threatens all of us’: protestors hit London’s streets
A massive baby Trump balloon, organised by climate activists, was part of rolling protests that greeted the president in the UK on Friday
Cape Town ‘Day Zero’ drought odds tripled by climate change
Such a dry spell would once have only occurred only once every 300 years. Now it is a once-a-century event and will get even more frequent with further global warming
UK seeks post-Brexit climate tie-up with EU
Cooperation on climate change is a “shared interest” between London and Brussels, according to a paper released by the UK government on Thursday
UN security council considers ‘cycle of conflict and climate disaster’
Sweden chaired the influential body’s first session focusing on climate change in seven years, calling for international coordination to address the risks
German renewables overtake coal power generation for six months
Wind, solar, hydro and biogas met 36.3% of electricity demand in the first half of 2018, industry data show, while coal dropped to 35.1% of the mix
China and EU can lead on climate action
After the US surrendered its influence, the upcoming EU-China summit in Beijing will be yet another moment for both economies to show leadership on climate action
UK judge postpones decision on landmark climate case
The high court in London has postponed its decision on whether 11 citizens can bring their complaint that the UK’s climate targets need to be changed before the full court
UN climate fund chief resigns for personal reasons while board meeting collapses
In a dramatic conclusion to a meeting that failed to approve any finance for the developing world, Howard Bamsey announced his exit from the Green Climate Fund
Board meeting turns ‘toxic’ as UN climate fund runs low
Rich and poor country representatives clash over policy priorities and replenishment at Green Climate Fund board meeting
UN shipping body mulls curbs on industry influence, citing climate concerns
The International Maritime Organization’s governing council has agreed to consider reforms, while documents show giving gifts for votes is standard practice
‘Norway cannot stop deforestation alone’, says environment minister
Scandinavian country leads funding to save the world’s tropical forests, but cannot do it alone, say past and present environment ministers
Battery-backed solar power to undercut coal in China by 2028: report
Falling battery costs will allow for renewable power to grow rapidly, analysts predict, replacing traditional baseload generation
Poor countries face new green finance hurdles after US cuts
The US has cut its contribution to the Global Environment Facility, raising concerns about access to finance for environmental protection in the developing world