Climate politics
Five years after New York declaration, forest promises go unmet
Governments and businesses are not living up to voluntary commitments to halve tropical forest loss and restore 150 million hectares by 2020, report finds
UN ‘very confident’ China plans to raise climate ambition
Two weeks ahead of a key summit in New York, lead official Luis de Alba raised expectations of a significant announcement from Beijing
Turkey withdraws bid to host 2020 UN climate talks, paving way for Glasgow
Ankara has been the final obstacle to the UK’s proposal, with Glasgow already named as the preferred site for the critical meeting
European Green Deal portfolio handed to EU vice president, in major elevation
Dutch social democrat Frans Timmermans has been named executive vice president responsible for strategy to make the EU climate neutral by 2050
Poor countries will hold the rich to account on climate finance
The major UN climate fund is running short of money, will rich countries live up to the promises they have given?
Preparations for the climate crisis will save trillions, commission finds
Every $1 spent on climate adaptation could see between $2 and $10 of net economic benefit, but current investments are lagging way behind
Climate Weekly: US Dems’ 7-hour climathon
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US Democrats will carry global hopes for climate action to 2020 poll
In an unprecedented 7-hour live town hall, candidates to take on Trump presented plans that would place US at forefront of fight against warming
US trade war undermining Chinese efforts on climate, says official
‘Don’t underestimate the difficulties China is facing,’ a top official said ahead of a key UN summit designed to accelerate climate action
Ban flying to UN climate talks? That’s a dangerous idea
After Greta Thunberg sailed to a UN meeting in New York, some called for all climate diplomats to do the same. That would only disadvantage the most vulnerable
France and UK double pledges to UN green fund to $3.5bn
Announcements at the G7 meeting mean the countries join Germany and Norway with promises to double their initial contributions in the next funding round
Pacific leaders set new bar by collectively declaring climate crisis
When regional giants Australia and NZ joined small islands at a recent leaders’ forum they produced the Pacific’s strongest-ever call to act on climate change
G7 countries offer $20 million emergency aid to fight Amazon wildfires
The Brazilian government has suggested it would reject the offer after president Jair Bolsonaro’s chief of staff said the resources are “more relevant to reforest Europe”
China invites the US back to the table at Chile climate talks
Ahead of the UN climate talks in December, China pledges to support host Chile and insists on common ground with the US
Climate Weekly: Basic goes back to basics
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Indigenous leaders call for Arctic cooperation against wildfires
As high temperatures and dry thunderstorms turn the Arctic Circle into a tinderbox, the Arctic Council has been urged to step up firefighting capacity
China and allies challenge UN chief’s climate vision
‘Basic’ environment ministers stress the responsibility of rich countries, in draft declaration that ignores António Guterres’ call for more ambitious national plans
UN chief’s climate asks fall flat in emerging economies
As Brics environment ministers meet in Brazil, experts see little appetite for meeting António Guterres’ benchmark of climate ambition
Australia seeks to water down climate declaration at Pacific summit
An annotated draft Pacific Islands Forum statement shows the Morrison administration trying to quash references to 1.5C, carbon neutrality and coal development
Glasgow named to host 2020 UN climate summit
If the UK is approved to preside over Cop26, it will hold negotiations in Scotland’s largest city, the government announced