Joe Lo
Joe Lo is a reporter for Climate Home News. He has previously specialised in container shipping, UK politics and investigative stories about Scotland. His work has appeared in the Guardian, Al Jazeera and Deutsche Welle.
Named: The oil companies gambling on climate failure
The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, Shell and ExxonMobil are among those pursuing high cost oil projects that won’t pay off in a 1.8C world
UK, Switzerland accused of undermining EU green treaty reforms
Campaigners say the UK and Switzerland are defending fossil fuel interests in Energy Charter Treaty modernisation talks to tempt firms to relocate their HQs
Saudi energy minister touts pink hydrogen made by “emancipated young ladies”
Saudi Arabia wants to become a leading exporter of hydrogen from both clean and dirty sources as part of an economic diversification plan
A for targets, D for action: Joe Biden’s first year on climate, graded
While the US president has had some climate wins abroad, domestic action has been held back by the Senate, the courts and rising fuel prices
Judge rejects campaigners’ bid to curb UK oil production
The high court ruling dismissed as “nonsensical” the argument that oil companies are “paid to pollute” under the UK tax regime
Egypt names foreign minister Sameh Shoukry to lead Cop27 climate talks
Cairo gave a junior role to environment minister Yasmine Fouad and the top job to a career diplomat with no significant climate experience
Why Shell is becoming a softer target for climate campaigners
The oil major has pulled out of a British project and paused South African exploration, as its climate targets require production to fall
Researchers are excited by ‘tantalising’ prospect of open IEA energy data
The International Energy Agency is proposing to lift the paywall on its extensive energy database, in a potential boon for climate research
‘Extraordinary progress’ – Beijing meets air pollution goals after coal crackdown
Social media protests and US direct diplomacy pushed authorities in China’s capital to clean up heavy industry and home heating
Nine must-read climate change stories of 2021 from around the world
From how Indonesia treats its Elon Musks to the aftermath of “unimaginable” flooding in Germany, here’s our pick of Climate Home’s best reporting this year
Climate Home News quiz of 2021
How closely did you follow the international climate change news this year? Test your knowledge against our quiz!
UK floats ‘climate compatibility’ test for new oil and gas drilling
The UK government says new oil and gas licensing can fit with its climate commitments. Campaigners, citing the International Energy Agency, disagree
Drought-hit town hopes Chile’s new leader will take back water from Big Avocado
Leftist Gabriel Boric won a landslide to become Chile’s president and backs reform to improve water rights and access for communities like Petorca
Hackers throw Indonesian palm oil seminar into chaos, fuelling blame game
As experts debated a controversial proposal to classify palm oil plantations as forest, their event in Jakarta was disrupted by swearing and pornography
Campaigners seek to curb UK oil production through the high court
The UK’s oil and gas regulator does not take tax breaks or foreign ownership into account when deciding whether a license is in the national interest
‘Huge blow’ – cuts to gas finance sparks West African backlash
Nigerian and Senegalese leaders have criticised western countries for pledging to stop funding gas projects internationally, calling for exceptions to be made
US spending on airport expansion flies under the radar for climate activists
Public funding of $25 billion to airports generated little controversy despite flying’s outsized climate impact, in contrast to the European discourse
Morocco accused of “greenwashing occupation” of Western Sahara
The Polisario Front has released an unofficial climate plan for the Sahrawi people, saying Morocco has built wind and solar farms on their land without consent
Nigeria commits to annual carbon budgets to reach net zero under climate law
After announcing a 2060 net zero goal at Cop26, the oil producing nation will set up a national council to oversee the implementation of its climate plan
“It’s going to get bumpy!” – Papua New Guinea sparked final day panic at Cop26
The rainforest nation was threatening to block a deal in Glasgow over the status of Redd+ forestry projects in a UN carbon market