Archive for 2021
Who speaks for Afghans? – Climate Weekly
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Qatar misleads with claim gas exports make it a climate action “pioneer”
The world’s largest supplier of LNG also has the highest per-capita emissions, yet is not committing to absolute carbon cuts in its latest UN submission
As the Taliban seizes control of Afghanistan, coal is a key source of revenue
Mining was a major source of finance for the Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan and has strategic importance as the militants seek to govern
Joe Biden can seal a breakthrough deal to end global public finance for fossil fuels
The US has the opportunity to make fossil-free public finance a new international norm ahead of Cop26 – but that requires ending its support for gas
Chinese coal power investment slows, with 24 projects approved this year
Chinese provincial governments approved construction of 5.2GW of coal power capacity in the first half of 2021, analysis by Greenpeace has found
UK oil construction postponed after kayakers’ Stop Cambo protest
Campaigners scored a minor victory in efforts to block consent for Cambo oil field in the North Atlantic, which they argue is incompatible with climate leadership
Afghanistan at risk of hunger amid drought and Taliban takeover
As the Taliban seizes control of Afghanistan, experts warn severe drought could worsen the humanitarian crisis triggered by an exodus of western forces
Pacific islands call for zero carbon shipping by 2050, citing IPCC report
Three Pacific nations want to reopen talks on the long term climate target at the International Maritime Organization, urging higher ambition
How a Glasgow PACT can advance the climate agenda at Cop26
At November’s UN climate talks, leaders need to deliver on finance promises, raise ambition and accelerate the clean transition
US guidance to development banks puts gas infrastructure finance in question
Gas-fired power projects in Thailand and South Africa could be affected by a shift in US development finance policy to back clean energy over fossil fuels
A Cop to help people cope – Climate Weekly
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The lesson from German floods: prepare for the unimaginable
A month after fatal floods swept through western Germany, survivors are still in shock and experts warn such disasters are becoming more common
Developing nations push to define ‘unacceptably vague’ adaptation goal
South Africa is proposing a quantitative target for boosting resilience to climate impacts globally, but there are technical and political hurdles
Sri Lanka rules out new coal power, promotes rooftop solar
The government wants 70% of the island’s electricity to come from renewables by 2030 and is offering cheap loans to install rooftop solar
Green taxation can help us recover from the Covid-19 crisis. Here’s how
Scandinavian countries have raised taxes on pollution in response to economic crises, while reducing them on labour and capital, boosting productivity
Nigeria to end gas flaring by 2030, under national climate plan
The government is promising to crack down on wasteful emissions from oil and gas production, a major climate and health issue in Nigeria
Weaponising the science – Climate Weekly
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Following the science means slashing emissions 7% per year – starting now
Governments and businesses have set laudable net zero targets, but few have committed to the annual CO2 cuts this decade the planet needs
IPCC report a ‘call to arms’ for climate science in courts, legal experts say
Youth, climate disaster victims and vulnerable countries could use the latest UN science report as evidence to sue polluters for damages or remedial action
Brazil plans to prop up coal sector, defying calls for a global phase out
The government has published a plan for the ‘sustainable’ use of coal that would allow the fossil fuel to be burnt until 2050