Climate politics
US climate envoy hails special relationship with China
NEWS: Common ground growing between two superpowers, Todd Stern tells reporters after two-day meeting in Beijing
Business leaders call for low carbon EU energy union
NEWS: Unilever, Heathrow and GlaxoSmithKline are among 22 companies urging European heads of state to promote green investment
Solar success holds key to Paris deal, says UK climate envoy
INTERVIEW: Governments now believe a clean energy transition is possible and desirable, prime ministerial advisor Greg Barker tells RTCC
Countries agree UN plan in Sendai to save lives from disasters
NEWS: Disaster risk reduction deal sets stage for December climate talks, but aid agencies criticise lack of finance
Obama: Some elected US officials are “shills” for the oil sector
NEWS: US president takes on climate sceptic lawmakers and expresses hope for a climate deal in Vice interview
Disaster risk talks ‘could break down’ under weight of climate politics
NEWS: Observers warn countries may fail to reach an effective deal in Sendai to limit the risk of natural disasters
UN climate change body backs fossil fuel divestment campaign
GUARDIAN: Climate convention lends ‘moral authority’ to campaign to get investors to ditch fossil fuel investments
Cyclone Pam raises climate profile in UN disaster talks
NEWS: Storm that devastated Vanuatu puts spotlight on climate change links to disaster risk reduction negotiations in Sendai
Majority of natural disasters climate related – Laurent Fabius
NEWS: Plans for disaster risk treaty should contribute to UN climate change talks later this year, says French foreign minister
UN to tackle finance question in disaster risk deal
NEWS: Countries are set to sign a disaster risk reduction deal in Sendai next week, with important links to climate adaptation
John Kerry: investment in coal is “simply destructive”
NEWS: Top US diplomat says subsidies for coal should be slashed, calls for action at G20 and APEC ahead of Paris climate talks
US denies U-turn after EPA chief calls for ‘legally binding’ Paris deal
NEWS: State Department swiftly quashes suggestion Washington could support a binding UN climate treaty later this year
Modi pledges climate alliance with small island states
NEWS: India PM says India and climate vulnerable countries share same ambitions for UN pact in Paris
Paris tracker: Who pledged what for 2015 UN climate pact?
ANALYSIS: 188 countries have now submitted climate plans to the UN, with Venezuela slipping its targets in the final plenary of the COP21 talks
Twist on carbon footprinting ‘could unblock’ UN climate talks
NEWS: Scientists hope proposed new method of carbon accounting will bridge divisions between rich and poor countries
African ministers back 1.5C warming goal for Paris summit
NEWS: Climate vulnerable nations call for ambitious carbon cuts and more emphasis on adaptation in proposed 2015 deal
Finland passes Climate Act ahead of election
NEWS: Law sets target to cut emissions 80% by 2050 on 1990 levels and promotes transparency in climate policy
Doubts raised over Europe’s ability to meet 2030 climate target
NEWS: Europe has made progress in cutting greenhouse gas emissions, but long-term reduction aims look unachievable, says report
EU commits to cut emissions “at least” 40% by 2030 in UN pledge
NEWS: Ministers in Brussels approve target for 2015 Paris climate deal, making bloc second after Switzerland to publish official submission
UN climate body needs “automatic” system to split rich and poor
NEWS: Old divisions between developed and developing need to be revisited and perhaps changed, says Bangladeshi diplomat