World
Rich world’s leaders fail to commit to Paris global financing summit
Just two weeks ahead of a key climate and finance summit, only two developed country leaders have promised to turn up
Confusion surrounds China’s pledged climate finance towards the Global South
China is not obligated to provide financial aid but has pledged to “make available’ $3.1bn to other developing countries
Colombia accuses Drummond coal mining exec of funding paramilitary group
The current Colombia head of an American coal miner will face trial, accused of giving money to right-wing paramilitaries in the late nineties
“Green” finance bankrolls forest destruction in Indonesia
Green funds have been spent cutting down trees for biomass to make electricity, decimating the traditional food sources of indigenous people
Row over veto powers holds up Paris plastic treaty talks
Saudi Arabia and a group of emerging economies like China, India and Russia pushed to keep vetoes in plastic treaty talks
FSC’s rehab scheme for forest destroyers under fire after fresh allegations
Indonesian pulp and paper giants are trying to rehabilitate themselves with the FSC despite continued accusations of deforestation in their supply chains
Amazon gateway city Belém will host Cop30 climate talks
Brazil’s president Lula said Belém will host Cop30 so that delegates from around the world can learn about the nearby Amazon rainforest.
Drought victims let down – Climate Weekly
Sign up to get our weekly newsletter straight to your inbox, plus breaking news, investigations and extra bulletins from key events
Japan joins anti-plastic coalition ahead of Paris treaty talks, leaving US isolated
After Japan joined the high ambition coalition against plastics production, the US is now the only major developed country not a member
Governments fall short in UN’s East Africa drought appeal
Donor countries promised only a third of the $7bn the UN was appealing for to provide humanitarian aid to drought-stricken Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.
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
Restrictions on energy firm’s borrowing complicates South Africa’s energy transition
The South African government has told cash-strapped power company Eskom it can’t invest in new electricity generation
Lula set to improve Brazil’s climate target
Brazil’s new president Lula is set to improve on the climate target set by his far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro, Reuters sources say
Rich nations “understanding” of South African delay to coal plant closures
Despite a multi-billion dollars clean energy transition deal, South Africa expects to keep coal plants running for longer while it battles electricity blackouts.
Regulator blocks Brazilian oil drilling, sparking conflict within government
While President Lula’s environment minister Marina Silva supported the decision, Lula ally Randolfe Rodrigues vowed to oppose it
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
US backs Indonesian oil refinery despite pledge to end fossil fuel finance
The US has been accused of “breaking” a key climate financing commitment by approving almost $100m in support for an overseas fossil fuel project
Vietnamese anti-coal campaigner freed early from prison
Nguy Thi Khanh has been released a few months early from prison but two of her fellow campaigners remain in jail on tax evasion charges
Local business group tries to keep South Africa’s coal plants alive
A business coalition in South Africa’s energy heartland is fighting against plans to shut down coal plants.
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