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.
Shades of green hydrogen: EU demand set to transform Namibia
Backed by the EU, Namibia has a $20 billion plan to export green hydrogen. A secretive tender process raises concerns for nature and citizens.
China sets out methane plan, but no reduction target
Experts said that China didn’t want to shut down coal mines and was likely under-counting its coal mine methane emissions
World Bank to initially host loss and damage fund under draft deal
Developing countries made key concession to land a draft deal on funding for climate victims, subject to political signoff at Cop28
Movement mourns ‘driving force for climate justice’ Saleemul Huq
Bangladeshi scientist and campaigner Saleemul Huq attended every UN climate summit and championed the cause of developing countries
Rich nations offer loans not grants for Vietnam’s coal transition
The G7 has offered to mobilise $15.5 billion to get Vietnam from coal to clean energy but just 2% of this is grants
Small islands struggle to get help from UN’s flagship climate fund
While small islands still say the Green Climate Fund is better than the rest, they are facing problems getting money from it
World Bank controversy sends loss and damage talks into overtime
Developing countries are outraged by a proposal to host a climate loss and damage fund at the World Bank, painting it as a US power grab
Polish election result improves prospects for EU climate ambition
The defeat of Poland’s Law and Justice party is expected to speed up the roll-out of renewables in Poland and boost cooperation with Brussels
Africa and India push rich nations to phase out fossil fuels faster
At Cop28, developed nations will face calls to quit fossil fuels faster than developing countries, who did less to cause the climate crisis
World Bank targets dirty subsidies to fund climate action
The World Bank says it will try to get governments to stop spending public money making fossil fuels artificially cheap
Following coup, Gabon climate officials face corruption allegations
Gabon’s former environment minister Lee White and three officials have been placed under house arrest after a complaint from a forestry union
UN puts climate ‘course correction’ on Cop28 negotiating table
In response to a global stocktake report, ministers will debate collective goals such as phasing out coal use by 2040 and mobilising $200-400bn for loss and damage
EU’s nominated climate lead wants a global tax on jet fuel
Wopke Hoekstra argues a tax on jet fuel could raise revenue for a planned loss and damage fund, but experts warn that won’t be easy
Five climate announcements from UNGA & Climate Week NYC
In a relatively low powered year for climate leadership, a handful of government, climate finance and corporate initiatives are worth noting
China opposes ‘not realistic’ global fossil fuel phase-out
From Beijing, climate envoy Xie Zhenhua stood firm against stronger rhetoric against coal, oil and gas deployed at UN headquarters
Green Climate Fund may have to curb ambition as funding stagnates
The UN’s flagship global climate fund looks likely to have to rein in its ambition, after France announced just a 4% boost in its contribution.
‘First movers’ only: US, China, UK left off UN climate guestlist
Only five of the G20 major economies made the cut for Antonio Guterres’ Climate Ambition Summit in New York, despite pressure from big powers
Rich countries ‘confident’ $100bn climate finance delivered in 2023
Data won’t be confirmed until 2025 and developing countries say the rich world must make up for earlier shortfalls from the target
Draft UN plastics treaty threatens Big Oil’s plan B
Countries are considering a global target to curb plastic production, not just focus on recycling as the industry wants
Green debt swaps, explained
Debt-for-nature and debt-for-climate swaps are becoming more common, with Ecuador’s recent $1.6bn deal the biggest yet. How do they work?