EU
Germany to quit coal by 2038, under commission proposal
After late-night talks, a dedicated commission has agreed a timetable to phase out coal burning in Europe’s largest economy
Last minute talks to set end date for German coal power
A leaked draft report from Germany’s coal commission leaves coal exit timetable open as talks head into final days
Green New Deal should not be feared, says Spanish prime minister
Pedro Sanchez told business leaders in Davos that neoliberalism was at an end and his country was ready to lead a progressive global ecological transition
Coal phase-out will increase German need for gas, says Merkel
Under pressure to block a gas pipeline from Russia and end coal power, the chancellor tied their fates together
Under fire, France’s ‘King Macron’ surveys nation on climate policy
After two months of disruption, the president seeks public input on four national issues, but gilets jaunes protestors are sceptical
MPs call to expand post-Brexit green programme across whole government
Indications that Britain’s new environmental watchdog will be government-funded raise questions about its independence, the National Audit Office said
UK anti-pollution drive undermined by leaving EU, say campaigners
As he launches new restrictions on pollution secretary Michael Gove says Brexit is a chance to go greener, but NGOs worry the regulatory bite is missing
Stoke’s potteries backed remain, now they want May’s deal to reshape climate policy
As the PM visits the pro-Brexit heartland, the major industry, once overwhelmingly against leaving, sees an opportunity to lighten the burden of EU carbon pricing
Seven EU nations miss climate and energy plan deadline
Bulgaria, Greece and Spain among countries that fail to present plans to the EU, while Germany submits only a ‘provisional’ version
Carbon clubs turn national self-interest into climate action
How did Poland, one of Europe’s strongest advocates for coal power, end up with one of the world’s strongest carbon prices?
EU reaches coal subsidy phase-out deal – with caveat for Poland
In late-night talks, negotiators agreed to end backdoor subsidies to coal generators, with some leeway for the most coal-dependent member state
China open to ‘uniform’ climate rules, sidestepping old allies
Shift comes as EU and China hastily draft proposals to break an impasse on the toughest issues at UN climate talks in Poland
Sydney and Melbourne vow to ditch coal power
Australian cities joined global alliance to end coal-fired power, while the federal government proposes using taxpayer cash to underwrite new plants
French senate ‘failed to heed’ UN science warning before protests
A major climate report in October found shifting to a green economy risked social disruption, but French senators told a scientist they were ‘powerless’ to respond
Britain backs strong rules to bring the Paris Agreement to life
The Cop24 climate summit in Katowice, Poland, needs to turn talk into action, writes UK minister for energy and clean growth Claire Perry
On their patron saint’s day, Polish miners pray for a decent future
Twenty kilometres from Cop24 climate talks in Katowice, mining trade unionists look to St Barbara, not Warsaw, Brussels or the UN, for answers to their struggles
Macron suspends fuel tax hike in face of ‘worst protests since 1968’
Diesel policy reversal will not stop disruption, said protest leaders, who “want the whole baguette”
France and China declare joint climate commitment at G20
The major economies promised to work together to set robust rules for the Paris Agreement sending a political boost ahead of crucial UN talks next week
Greenpeace threatens to sue coal utility in Poland
Activists are calling on PGE to phase out coal by 2030 and switch to clean energy, or face legal action
European Commission sets out path to net-zero emissions by 2050
Net-zero emissions could boost the economy by 2% per year and cut energy imports by 70%, said climate commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete