Climate politics
How to fix the finance flows that are pushing our planet to the brink
Commercial banks are financing a huge amount of fossil-fuel and industrial agriculture activities in the Global South – they must turn off the tap
Tensions rise over who will contribute to new climate finance goal
Germany wants all high-emitters, especially among G20 countries, to pitch in. But China and Saudi Arabia say the responsibility lies with developed nations
Peak COP? UN looks to shrink Baku and Belém climate summits
While 84,000 delegates attended COP28 in Dubai, just 40,000-50,000 are expected at COP29 in Baku and COP30 in Belém
SBTi’s rigid emissions rules don’t reflect business reality
The Science Based Targets initiative ignores the good a company’s products do in avoiding planet-heating emissions – only counting those from its operations
UN climate chief calls for “quantum leap in climate finance”
Simon Stiell says far more money is required for developing countries to submit bold new climate plans, which would benefit all economies
Spring Meetings can jump-start financial reform for food and climate
The World Bank and IMF have a big part to play in raising the $3 trillion needed to help countries meet global development goals and the Paris accord
Forest carbon accounting allows Guyana to stay net zero while pumping oil
Experts say UN rules around forests and oil are open to abuse, so that countries like Guyana can claim to be carbon-negative without cutting emissions
Zambia’s fossil-fuel subsidy cuts help climate and kids – but taxi drivers suffer
Under pressure from the IMF, the government has redirected subsidies into education, welfare and debt reduction, leaving fuel-heavy sectors with higher costs
Cancellation of UN climate weeks removes platform for worst-hit communities
The UNFCCC has said it will not hold regional climate weeks in 2024 due to a funding shortfall – which means less inclusion for developing-country voices
What will it take to protect India’s angry farmers from climate threats?
Indebted farmers, facing falling yields and water scarcity, want legally guaranteed price support for more crops – but that may not fix their climate woes
Expectations mount as loss and damage fund staggers to its feet
Demand for finance to pay for the aftermath of climate impacts is rocketing – but progress on getting a new UN loss and damage fund up and running is slow
Climate leaders, oil bosses pitch alternate energy-transition realities
As climate officials prepare the next steps in a globally agreed shift away from fossil fuels, oil and gas executives return fire
UN’s climate body faces “severe financial challenges” which put work at risk
UNFCCC chief Simon Stiell has made an urgent plea to plug the body’s funding gap with government donations
African dismay at decision to host loss and damage advice hub in Geneva
The UN agencies that will run the Santiago Network recommended it should be based in Nairobi but governments have instead chosen the world’s third-most expensive city
Shipping sector pushes to keep emissions-tax cash for itself
The industry and governments’ maritime ministries want a proposed levy on emissions spent on cleaning up shipping, not used for wider climate goals like loss and damage
Paraguay’s carbon deal with Singapore beset by lobbying, lax rules
UN rules governing bilateral carbon offsetting between governments have yet to be agreed but deals are being done, raising concerns about integrity
Is water provision in drought-hit Zambia climate ‘loss and damage’ or adaptation?
Farmers need crop irrigation to help beat drought – but it’s unclear if that would qualify for new loss and damage funding
Aid watchdog questions UK’s climate finance accounting
Britain has changed how it calculates its international climate aid, boosting its progress towards a 2026 goal without giving vulnerable countries more money
Nations fail to agree ban or research on solar geoengineering
At talks in Nairobi, governments could not find consensus on new global governance for SRM, including proposals for “non-use” and a UN expert panel
Clean, cheap or fair – which countries should pump the last oil and gas?
The world will need oil and gas for a few decades more – and the debate is heating up over who should get to produce and sell it