Africa
Extreme weather impacted 62 million people last year, says WMO
As the impacts of Cyclone Idai continue to grow in south-eastern Africa, the global agency says extreme weather is worsening hunger and conflict
Energy and oil majors turn to rural Africa in grab for world’s next billion customers
Once basic energy is established in disconnected regions, the companies that supply it hope to cash in on demand for a slew of new products and services
Environment community mourns victims of Ethiopian Airlines crash
UN staff and delegates to the UN Environment Assembly, which opened in Nairobi on Monday, were among 157 to die on the way from Addis Ababa
Weeds flourish and fish decline in Lake Victoria’s ‘deadest’ corner
As invasive water hyacinth chokes fishing communities, the World Bank launches a third phase of investment to try and restore the degraded lake
South Africa set to introduce long-awaited carbon tax in June
The levy will make polluters report and pay for their emissions, but experts say the starting rate is too low to spur a rapid shift to clean energy
It is time to act, we stand behind Poland’s climate presidency
World must move ‘better, faster and together’, writes the president of the Cop22 Marrakech talks, as countries arrive for a crucial conference in Katowice
Nile countries prepare water monitoring system to fill data gaps
Officials hope the hydromet system will help neighbours along the world’s longest river to manage the pressures of population growth, infrastructure and climate change
Valley dams offer half a hope to drought-hit Ugandan herders
As temperatures rise, pastoralists in Karamoja travel further to find pasture, while the government’s preferred remedy fails under extreme drought
African forest communities must be heard in the fight against climate change
The Congo rainforest is a hugely important carbon reservoir, yet the people who live there are often excluded from conversations about how to manage it
Extinction Rebellion eyes global climate campaign of non-violence
Group wants to spark civil disobedience around the world, but US campaigner says it will have to lose white, middle class image
Heavy rains and blocked drains: Nairobi’s recipe for floods
The authorities have bulldozed 2,000 buildings in a bid to prevent flooding, but garbage-choked rivers still overflow each rainy season, putting citizens at risk
Why UN climate science reports have Africa-shaped gaps
African experts explain the barriers they face to taking part in influential climate science assessments like this month’s blockbuster on 1.5C global warming
Edna Molewa, who fought for unity on climate change, dies aged 61
South African environment minister, who made crucial interventions during the Paris climate conference, died on Saturday while still in office
UN issues warning of climate instability across Arab region
Development agency says dry countries face ‘famine and food insecurity, loss of livelihoods and life, and the displacement of millions’
Cape Town ‘Day Zero’ drought odds tripled by climate change
Such a dry spell would once have only occurred only once every 300 years. Now it is a once-a-century event and will get even more frequent with further global warming
South Africa draft climate law would set emissions targets for every sector
The bill calls on every part of government to coordinate in climate action, but South Africa’s heavy use of coal remains its biggest challenge
Global funds back desert solar to bring power to 250 million Africans
Desert to Power project aims to expand solar power across the Sahel region, where electricity access remains critically low
Norway at loggerheads with DR Congo over forest protection payments
International donors have frozen funding to conserve the world’s second largest rainforest, with the DRC environment minister said to have gone “rogue”
London’s ‘light touch’ regulatory hub for African oil ventures exposed
DeSmog UK investigation finds secretive companies using UK’s Alternative Investment Market to raise finance for new oil and gas projects
Africa holds EU climate agenda ransom
As a tough year of talks begins, the EU is searching for allies in a fight with China over the rules of the Paris Agreement, but Africa’s help will come at a cost