Climate politics
Why the international community should back Colombia’s post-fossil fuel plan
At COP29 talks in Baku, rewarding Colombia’s leadership would build confidence in the transition to a greener, fairer world
COP29 Bulletin Day 6: Climate march tamed and gender talks gridlocked
Campaigners hold a quiet, static protest – and observers say human rights language and finance are tripping up the COP29 gender negotiations
Adaptation Fund head laments “puzzling” lack of pledges at COP29
Even as leaders highlight the urgency of protecting people from more extreme weather and rising seas, they have been reluctant to pay up at COP29 for the measures needed
COP29 Bulletin Day 5: Pressure to clean up COPs and shortfall in adaptation pledges
Top scientists and former UN chiefs call for fossil fuel-supporting nations to be excluded as COP hosts, while Adaptation Fund struggles for cash
COP29 host Azerbaijan shelves fossil-fuelled climate fund
Baku postponed the planned launch of a voluntary fund with contributions from fossil fuel producers after getting “tangled up” with official UN negotiations
Aid agencies grapple with climate adaptation in fragile states
Humanitarian groups have pushed ahead with innovative efforts to protect people in conflict zones from worsening climate impacts – but they are struggling to go it alone
COP29 Bulletin Day 4: Azerbaijan’s climate fund on ice and Europe hits back at Aliyev criticism
Azerbaijan postpones the launch of a controversial climate fund and gets embroiled in a diplomatic spat with the EU
COP29 Bulletin Day 3: Finance text balloons and Brazil presents new NDC
Co-chairs asked to streamline all-options text on finance goal and Brazil bets on forests and biofuels to reach 2035 emissions goal
Is COP29 “breakthrough” on UN carbon market all it seems?
Azerbaijan presidency claims Article 6 could help countries save $250 billion a year – but experts warn UN carbon trading is still some way off
COP29 Bulletin Day 2: Aliyev defends fossil fuels, G77 unites on finance goal
Azerbaijan’s president repeats his claim that oil and gas are a “gift from the god” before the UN chief says “doubling down on fossil fuels is absurd”
Cross-border climate risks can’t be solved in isolation
Focusing solely on how to adapt to issues or deal with disasters inside country borders can cause problems elsewhere, triggering calls for a broader view perspective
In numbers: The state of the climate in 2024
At the start of COP29, new reports warn that 2024 is set to be the hottest year on record as global warming temporarily tops 1.5C and climate disasters surge
COP29 Bulletin Day 1: Carbon market rules adopted, US reassures on emissions
UN climate summit kicks off in Baku, with governments approving carbon market rules and US climate envoy saying emissions to keep falling
Frontline countries must not be stuck with the climate bill at COP29
Someone will have to pay for the rising costs of the climate crisis – will it be those causing the damage, or those that suffer it?
Rich nations “on track” to double adaptation finance but huge gap persists
While adaptation funding jumped by about a quarter in 2022, a large share came as loans rather than grants, adding to developing-nations’ debt burdens
COP29: We need to adapt to climate chaos now
Adaptation policy has grown to be of central importance in our collective response to the climate crisis – but more funding is urgently needed
UAE kicks off new global round of UN climate plans
COP28 host nation claims the plan is compatible with a 1.5C warming limit, but campaigners disagree, saying it does not commit to cutting oil and gas production
Emerging economies set up COP29 agenda fight over trade measures
The BASIC group led by China wants “unilateral restrictive trade measures” on the COP29 agenda
COP29 must deliver on the world’s energy transition promises
COP28 agreed a transition away from fossil fuels – and COP29 must follow up on this, as well as agreeing an ambitious goal for climate finance for developing countries
Legal experts say Trump could quit Paris pact – but leaving UNFCCC much harder
As the US Senate approved the US joining the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, it’s unclear if a president could easily pull the country out