UN climate talks
At UN climate summit big polluters’ absence speaks volumes
While “ambitious” countries made few new announcements, the US, China, India and the UK had not offered enough to even sit in the room
Five climate announcements from UNGA & Climate Week NYC
In a relatively low powered year for climate leadership, a handful of government, climate finance and corporate initiatives are worth noting
‘First movers’ only: US, China, UK left off UN climate guestlist
Only five of the G20 major economies made the cut for Antonio Guterres’ Climate Ambition Summit in New York, despite pressure from big powers
Lula scraps Bolsonaro’s cuts to Brazilian climate target ambition
Brazil will go back to the climate targets it drew up in 2015 while it works on new and improved ones
Small islands slam ‘endless’ climate talks at landmark maritime court hearing
Small island states have asked the world’s maritime tribunal to clarify state obligations on climate change, which could be influential for other courts.
UN says more needed ‘on all fronts’ to meet climate goals
The UN Global Stocktake report calls on governments to scale up renewable energy and phase out all “unabated” fossil fuels.
Nearly all world’s population hit by global heating last quarter – study
Peer-reviewed research by Climate Central found 98% of people worldwide experienced temperatures heightened by climate pollution June-August
Developing countries call for $100 billion loss and damage target
The 2030 target is one of several contentious proposals at negotiations in the Dominican Republic this week over a new loss and damage fund
Germany set to miss net zero by 2045 target as climate efforts falter
Germany, Europe’s largest economy, is failing to cut emissions in the transport and building sector, a report by government climate advisers shows.
A rocky path to Cop28 – Climate Weekly
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G20 climate talks fail to deliver emission cuts despite leadership pleas
Cop28 president, Sultan Al Jaber and UN climate change boss, Simon Stiell, had called on G20 countries to show leadership and deliver ambitious emissions cuts.
Open letter from 14 countries to G20: Safeguard a liveable future
In an open letter to the G20, climate ministers from 14 countries outline key actions ahead of COP28, including a fossil fuel phase out.
EU to push for fossil fuel phaseout ‘well ahead of 2050’ at Cop28
At Cop28 the EU wants governments to agree on more renewables and a faster phase out of fossil fuels with a “residual” role for carbon capture technologies
The EU lacks ambition on Cop28 renewable targets
The EU’s interpretation of a global renewables target is less ambitious than the Cop28 presidency’s and incompatible with the Paris agreement
Shipping catches up – Climate Weekly
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The UK’s retreat from climate leadership is not in its national interest
The UK won friends and influence as Cop president, its not in its interest to throw that all away by abandoning its climate ambition
UN’s climate work at risk, after EU limits budget increase
The UN didn’t get all the money it wanted for its climate programmes, leaving it reliant on the whims of wealthy donor nations
South Africa’s coal lobby is resisting a green transition
Coal lobbyists have defended industry interests, met with politicians and delayed climate legislation in South Africa.
Last-minute compromise avoids break down on adaptation goals
In fraught nations, developing countries wanted to focus on specific targets, while developed nations only wanted to talk about structure
Small islands “disappointed” as talking about emissions cuts proves too controversial for climate negotiators
A group of developing countries wouldn’t talk about emissions cuts without talking about finance – but developed countries refused to accept that