COP26
As US formally rejoins the Paris Agreement, eyes turn to 2030 emissions goal
Now the US is back in the Paris Agreement, it is expected to set a 2030 emissions target, with campaigners calling for at least 50% cuts
Under diplomatic pressure, India considers net zero – but major hurdles remain
Net zero pledges from other major polluters have put spotlight on Delhi’s climate ambitions, but full decarbonisation is a big ask
Plans for UK coal mine suspended after criticism of net zero commitment
The UK Committee on Climate Change says the use of coking coal should be curbed by 2035, but the application says the mine will not be closed until the end of 2049
António Guterres calls for preparatory UN climate negotiations to be held online
In a surprising intervention, the UN chief called for climate talks to be held online, with regional “hubs” for negotiators to access reliable internet
Climate veteran Xie Zhenhua returns as China’s special envoy
Xie Zhenhua’s return to climate diplomacy is seen as a ‘bright spot’ for US-China cooperation, given his strong relationship with US special climate envoy John Kerry
Cop26 dream team: The people setting the climate agenda on seven key issues
From Denmark’s Dan Jørgensen to Malawi’s Nancy Tembo, here are the leaders to watch ahead of UN climate talks in Glasgow, UK
Covid-19 normalised social protection. Now apply it to the climate crisis
Almost every country rolled out measures such as cash transfers, food and sick pay to cope with coronavirus. Victims of climate shocks need the same support
France and UK lead push for climate finance to restore nature
Campaigners welcomed commitments to ramp up funding for biodiversity but raised concerns it came at the expense of other climate and aid spending
UK promotes leading Cop26 climate talks to full-time role for Alok Sharma
Alok Sharma will give up his responsibilities as UK business minister to focus on preparations for critical UN climate talks in Glasgow this November
Green growth champion: Focus on jobs helps poorer nations raise climate ambition
The Global Green Growth Institute is working with governments including Colombia, Peru and Indonesia on “green new deal” plans
Majority of countries miss Paris Agreement deadline to increase climate ambition
The EU, the UK and Argentina were the only large emitters to present tougher climate targets by the UN’s 2020 deadline, with China and the US lagging
UN-led carbon market suspends formal project registration after 2020
Countries are under mounting pressure to resolve carbon trading rules at Cop26, as the future of the Clean Development Mechanism hangs in the balance
UK plans climate donor summit to address ‘dismal’ support for poorer nations
The presidency of next year’s Cop26 climate talks will bring vulnerable countries and donors together to address climate and development challenges
Countries signal greater climate ambition but ‘step change’ needed on road to Glasgow
More than 70 heads of state showed stronger climate action at a virtual summit, but heavy lifting remains in 2021 to meet the ambition of Paris
Parisversaire climate ambition summit: who’s in and who’s out
China, India and Canada made the grade to showcase their climate ambition on the anniversary of the Paris Agreement. Australia, Brazil and South Africa did not
UK announces stronger 2030 emissions target, setting the bar for ambition summit
The UK will cut emissions 68% from 1990 to 2030, Boris Johnson announced, urging other leaders to bring new commitments to the 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement
Coal, oil and gas production to blow climate targets despite pandemic dip, report warns
UN-backed Production Gap report projects a 2% annual rise in global fossil fuel output this decade, when 6% cuts are needed in line with a 1.5C warming limit
Guterres: UN will build global coalition for carbon neutrality in 2021
UN chief Antonio Guterres warned “the planet is broken”, calling for a “quantum leap” on getting to net zero emissions in 2021
UK scrambles to decide first post-Brexit climate pledge to the Paris Agreement
The Cop26 host is on a tight timeline to set a 2030 carbon-cutting target separate from the EU’s, ahead of an ambition summit on the fifth anniversary of Paris
Youth activists demand damages for climate victims at virtual ‘mock Cop26’
Making polluters pay for losses suffered by communities on the frontline of climate impacts is a priority for young activists, as they prepare to engage with UN negotiations