EU
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
UK sued over plan to import more polluting Australian beef
Campaigners are challenging the UK government over its assessment of environmental impacts of a trade deal with Australia
France proposes tax credits for green technology
France will spend €500m a year on tax credits for wind and solar power, heat pumps and batteries funded by a tax rise on carbon-intensive fuels
German landlords set to defeat gas boiler ban
Landlords and the right-wing have opposed an effective ban on new gas boilers and look set to at least delay the measure
Campaigners sue EU for labelling gas sustainable
Four environmental groups are taking the EU Commission to the European Court of Justice over some gas plant’s inclusion in its green taxonomy
Green hydrogen rush risks energy ‘cannibalisation’ in Africa, analysts say
The EU signed green hydrogen agreements with Egypt, Kazakhstan, Morocco and Namibia to supply the bloc with the gas ahead of its 2030 goals.
EU agrees diplomatic push for fossil fuel phase out ahead of Cop28
The bloc has made achieving a global phase out of coal, oil and gas “well ahead of 2050” a priority of its climate diplomacy
Governments sworn to secrecy on ‘$20bn’ for Indonesia’s energy transition
They won’t reveal who is paying what or how it will be spent and one bank said their $1bn contribution is just something they’re “willing to consider”
Total escapes court censure over East African oil pipeline
The court said campaigners arguments against the East African crude oil pipeline had changed too much – they are considering an appeal
Greta Thunberg protests wind farm “violating human rights” in Norway
Thunberg said the wind farm violates the rights of indigenous Sami people to herd their reindeer, as the sight and sound of the turbines scares the animals
Less plastic or more recycling – nations split ahead of treaty talks
While the EU and African countries push for production cuts, major nations like the US and Saudi Arabia focus instead on recycling and waste disposal
ECT boss accuses EU of protecting fossil fuels by blocking reforms
Lentz accused the European Union of helping protect fossil fuel investments but climate campaigners accused him of a “desperate attempt” to keep the EU in the treaty
Switzerland won’t follow EU out of controversial energy treaty: official
Experts fear that fossil fuel companies will restructure their operations through Switzerland to keep suing governments over climate action
Europe proposes mass exit from energy treaty
After big European nations said they would leave the Energy Charter Treaty, the European Commission now says a joint EU exit is the best option
Denmark to put CO2 in seabed in step towards carbon negativity
Denmark wants to suck more carbon dioxide out of the air than it emits by 2050 and store it in old North Sea oil and gas fields
EU plans restrictions on climate-wrecking fishing method
The European Union plans to ban bottom-trawling in marine protected areas by 2030 but the fishing industry is resisting the measures
Italy’s climate envoy resigns, leaving diplomacy in doubt
Alessandro Modiano resigned three months into a new far-right government and it is unclear if he will be replaced as climate envoy or if the position will be scrapped
Thunberg joins protest against German coal mine expansion
The German government agreed that utility RWE could expand the Luetzerath coal mine in exchange for a faster national coal phase-out
German CO2 cuts stall as coal, oil use cancel out renewable gains
In a pivot away from Russian gas, Germany cut energy consumption to its lowest level since the Berlin Wall fell – but increased coal burning
EU strikes internal deal to tax carbon at its borders
The world-first scheme will protect European industries from being undercut by polluting competitors, but angers emerging economies