It was Mateusz Morawiecki’s birthday… and he blew out Antonio Guterres’ candles.
The Polish prime minister, who turned 51 on Thursday, and his counterparts from the Czech Republic, Estonia and Hungary withstood a barrage of pressure in the European Council to see off a push to set a continental net zero carbon target for 2050.
Hopes had been low before the meeting in Brussels. But with the approach of a September climate summit hosted by UN secretary general Guterres, there has been a huge diplomatic effort to convince the EU to overcome its internal divisions.
That didn’t happen, and, as Chloé Farand reports, it could have an impact on Guterres’ search for new global momentum.
Join us in London for a very special event
Climate Home News invites you to an exciting panel event at Chatham House on July 4, as part of the first-ever London Climate Action Week.
Four years after the Paris Agreement, our panel will aim to answer two key questions: What can we expect from this September’s much-hyped UN Climate Action Summit? What role can business and emerging social movements play in driving change?
Tickets are free but limited, and going fast! Just register here.
Bonn brief
At interim climate talks, Brazil and the EU are clashing again over the future of carbon trading mechanisms – a fight negotiators say could make or break the Paris Agreement.
With Saudi Arabia still trying to keep 1.5C off the agenda, delegates are having to find creative ways to make space for the latest science.
The UK looks likely to win the presidency of next year’s climate summit, after confirming a deal with Italy. That still has to be endorsed by the Western Europe and Others group.
Senior reporter Chloé Farand has a run-down of five things to watch at this session. Natalie Sauer will be on the ground next week; tell her the gossip.
Climate conversations
As voices for the planet grow louder, UN Environment must respond – Inger Andersen
Not the backstop
Britain and Ireland may have intractable differences over Brexit, but when it comes to climate change, they’re amicably copying each other’s homework.
Ireland’s proposed climate law, to go to net zero emissions by 2050, draws heavily on the UK model, with a few adjustments.
Meanwhile UK lawmakers are planning a citizens’ assembly to steer the country’s own net zero path – a democratic experiment that proved fruitful across the Irish Sea.