Matteo Civillini
UN’s climate body faces “severe financial challenges” which put work at risk
UNFCCC chief Simon Stiell has made an urgent plea to plug the body’s funding gap with government donations
In Somalia, Green Climate Fund tests new approach for left-out communities
GCF head Mafalda Duarte promises a more proactive plan to bring cash to the most vulnerable countries struggling with climate impacts
Fossil fuel industry under pressure to cut record-high methane emissions
New regulations and monitoring advances could turn the tide on methane emissions from oil, gas and coal production this year
UN climate fund axes Nicaragua forest project over human rights concerns
In its first such move, the Green Climate Fund has pulled out of a project after developers failed to address environmental and social compliance issues
China steps away from 2025 energy efficiency goal
The government aims to cut the amount of energy needed for its economic growth by 2.5% in 2024, putting it far off track for a key five-year climate target
Countries draw battle lines for talks on new climate finance goal
Developed and developing countries are gearing up for heated discussions over the size of the goal and who should provide money for it
Switzerland proposes first UN expert group on solar geoengineering
A draft resolution aimed at creating a space for discussion on sun dimming technologies will be debated at the summit of the UN’s environment body this month
US trade agency backs oil and gas drilling in Bahrain despite Biden pledge
Ex-Im’s financing would boost fossil fuel production in the Gulf state with the construction of over 450 new oil and gas wells
“Shameful”: Shell uses carbon credits under investigation to meet climate targets
The oil and gas giant offset part of its emissions with over a million credits from Chinese projects suspended because of integrity concerns
John Podesta replaces Kerry as top US climate diplomat
Podesta will lead US international climate diplomacy alongside his current job overseeing the rollout of domestic clean energy subsidies
Italy launches ‘ambiguous’ Africa plan fuelling fears over fossil fuels role
Giorgia Meloni has unveiled a long-awaited plan for African development named after Enrico Mattei, founder of oil and gas giant Eni.
US government pauses new gas export terminals in ‘historic win’ for climate
The Biden administration is freezing approvals of new LNG export permits as climate considerations take centre stage.
Cop29 host Azerbaijan launches green energy unit to sceptical response
Azerbaijan’s state oil and gas firm promises a green push but a lack of climate policies and plans to expand gas production are causing scepticism
Governments fail to agree timeline for climate science reports in fraught IPCC talks
Saudi, India and China led opposition against a proposal to link the IPCC’s assessment cycle with the global stocktake, sources told Climate Home.
Junk offset sellers push to enter new UN carbon market
Renewable energy schemes make up four-fifths of Kyoto-era projects hoping to keep selling offsets under Article 6, sparking concerns over the credibility of the new market.
Azerbaijan appoints fossil fuel execs and scandal-hit officials to all-male Cop29 committee
The all-male group in charge of the climate summit organisation includes oil and gas executives and controversial government officials
Germany and US warn Brazil against using Amazon Fund to pave rainforest road
The Brazilian government wants to tap forest protection funds to pave a major highway. Western donors say that goes against the fund’s rules.
First ever Paris Agreement offsets face integrity questions
As Switzerland buys the first ever bilateral offsets, civil society’s analysis suggests the claimed emissions reductions from Thai buses would have happened anyway
Ten climate questions for 2024
The US election and negotiations on a new global finance target are the most important things for the climate in 2024
Six takeaways from 2023’s climate change news
Fossil fuel fights, finance struggles, a resurgent relationship, and much more. We recap the most impactful international climate developments in 2023.