Climate politics
USA and Brazil block talks at UN desertification summit
Countries object to proposals aimed at developing new set of indicators to measure land degradation
Stern: economists ‘responsible’ for climate policy hesitation
Leading economist Lord Stern says his profession has built models which vastly underestimate effects of climate change
Ban Ki-moon calls on world leaders to unite at 2014 climate summit
At opening of UN General Assembly, Ban Ki-moon invited leaders to come together in 2014 to stimulate action on climate change
Australia Climate Commission starts fightback against Abbott cuts
Climate Commission is resurrected as independent body as Australian PM begins regressive action on climate change
Europe needs more ambition to meet carbon targets – analysts
EU will discuss changes to the carbon market to allow the bloc to meet its 2030 emissions reduction goals
IPCC report should generate ‘urgency’ says senior UN official
UN desertification chief Luc Gnacadja says this week’s UN climate science review should encourage governments to rapidly boost their environmental efforts
World leaders release climate justice declaration in New York
Former presidents, academics and scientists have come together to issue declaration calling for action on climate justice
UN General Assembly: time for leaders to deliver climate ambition
World leaders need to take more ambitious actions to confront the mounting threat of climate change
IPCC set to issue governments with tough climate change warning
The world must prepare for a strong message on climate change as leaders meet in Stockholm to finalise report
China responds to public anger with new pollution plan
Central government launches five year strategy to cut smog as Pew Research Center poll suggests 47% now unhappy with quality of environment
UN climate report set to establish ‘global carbon budget’
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change likely to detail figure of fossil fuels that can be burnt before 2°C warming limit is breached
Time for Angela Merkel to fill the climate leadership vacuum?
Angela Merkel is expected to win this weekend’s German election, but will a new coalition government be committed to climate and clean energy issues?
UK youth target COP19 UN climate summit sponsors
Campaigners say choice of BMW, Emirates and General Motors as COP19 hosts is inappropriate given poor pollution records
Concrete emissions pledges ‘not a priority’ for 2015 climate deal – UN official
2015 climate deal unlikely to demand specific reduction pledges, and will cut emissions ‘bottom-up’, says top UN official
California and China sign climate change pact
US state signs two-year agreement with Beijing, agreeing to work together to advance low carbon development
John Ashton: a winning climate coalition is waiting to be forged
Former UK climate envoy says low carbon industry and progressive politicians need to combine to build new political consensus on global warming
Costa Rica debates new climate change law
Bill could see creation of National Climate Change Committee and legally binding decarbonisation targets
Sir David King appointed UK climate change envoy
Former Chief Scientific Advisor takes key Foreign Office post two years ahead of proposed UN emissions reduction deal
Will Norway’s climate ambition continue under Erna Solberg?
New centre-right government takes charge of climate progressive country, but questions remain over commitment to cutting domestic emissions
UN targets global land degradation deal in 2015
UNCCD chief Luc Gnacadja says land degradation is now a “critical” issue with huge economic and social implications