UN climate talks
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
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
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
Countries draw battle lines for talks on new climate finance goal
Developed and developing countries are gearing up for heated discussions over the size of the goal and who should provide money for it
Switzerland proposes first UN expert group on solar geoengineering
A draft resolution aimed at creating a space for discussion on sun dimming technologies will be debated at the summit of the UN’s environment body this month
Azerbaijan orders Baku hotels to freeze Cop29 room booking
The move has sparked fears of price hikes, which would exclude poorer activists and government delegates
Rich nations miss loss and damage fund deadline
Their failure to agree risks delaying help for victims of climate disasters in developing countries
Saudi Arabia cancels plan to raise oil pumping cap
Analysts said Saudi Arabia’s government may be losing faith that the world wants to keep buying more of its oil