Africa
Slow progress on Great Green Wall prompts soul-searching at UN desertification summit
African leaders expressed frustration at UN talks in Abidjan over funding barriers as climate impacts in the Sahel outpace action to address them
Nigerian airlines win jet fuel subsidy after shutdown threat
After domestic airlines threatened to ground their planes, the government agreed to cover some of their rising fuel costs
DR Congo approves auction of oil blocks in one of the world’s largest carbon sinks
At least three of 16 oil blocks earmarked for drilling overlap with the world’s largest tropical peatland complex, posing a double threat to the climate
No red alert was issued ahead of deadly South African floods
Experts say a communication breakdown, poor housing and inadequate infrastructure contributed to a death toll from extreme rainfall of 300 and rising
War in Ukraine is compounding a hunger crisis in East Africa, charities warn
Up to 28 million people are facing severe food insecurity as soaring wheat prices follow failed rains, Covid and desert locusts
Germany must bring African nations into its G7 ‘climate club’
The new German government must prioritise the climate crisis in its Africa policy, and make climate diplomacy with Africa a core component of its G7 presidency
Total pushes ahead with Uganda oil project, stays silent on financial backers
The French oil giant has struggled to attract finance for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline and opponents say it does not have funding in place
Storm Ana’s devastation in southern Africa highlights need for early warnings
More than 80 people died as the storm swept through Madagascar, Mozambique and Malawi, with the forecast not reaching some communities in time to evacuate
Egypt names foreign minister Sameh Shoukry to lead Cop27 climate talks
Cairo gave a junior role to environment minister Yasmine Fouad and the top job to a career diplomat with no significant climate experience
Haven of African elephants at risk, say park rangers decrying poor pay and conditions
Forest guards in Gabon say their salaries are often paid several months late and are threatening to go on strike
Why Shell is becoming a softer target for climate campaigners
The oil major has pulled out of a British project and paused South African exploration, as its climate targets require production to fall
As EU seeks to rival China’s infrastructure offer, Africans are sceptical
Brussels is promising green infrastructure investment for African countries, but Beijing has a better reputation on the continent
African Union urged to bring political clout to Egypt climate talks
Frustrated by a lack of recognition of Africa’s special needs on climate, advisers are calling on national leaders to unite behind a common agenda in Sharm el-Sheikh
‘Huge blow’ – cuts to gas finance sparks West African backlash
Nigerian and Senegalese leaders have criticised western countries for pledging to stop funding gas projects internationally, calling for exceptions to be made
China ‘trumps’ the west by pledging larger share of IMF relief to African nations
President Xi Jinping promised to share around a quarter of China’s pandemic recovery boost with Africa, more than European and American countries
Morocco accused of “greenwashing occupation” of Western Sahara
The Polisario Front has released an unofficial climate plan for the Sahrawi people, saying Morocco has built wind and solar farms on their land without consent
Nigeria commits to annual carbon budgets to reach net zero under climate law
After announcing a 2060 net zero goal at Cop26, the oil producing nation will set up a national council to oversee the implementation of its climate plan
African nations settled for ‘moral pact’ with US on adaptation finance at Cop26
With the US refusing to budge on the text of the Glasgow agreement, African nations reluctantly accepted a promise of stronger voluntary support
South Africa $8.5bn finance package offers a model for ending reliance on coal
The package was hailed as “groundbreaking” for being country-led and addressing a need to reskill and support coal miners
Dispute grips Green Climate Fund over net zero condition for accessing finance
Board members from developing countries insisted that making a 2050 net zero goal a condition for accreditation to the fund breaches equity principles