World
Chinese coal boom a ‘direct threat’ to 1.5C goal, analysts warn
Energy security fears prompted Beijing to rapidly accelerate coal power plans last year, raising concerns about the country’s impact on greenhouse gas emissions
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
China strengthens role of courts in meeting carbon targets
China’s Supreme People’s Court issued the first judicial document to encourage and guide case handling on carbon emissions
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”
Finance key climate issue for new Nigerian president
Without climate finance from rich nations, “we are not going to comply with your climate change” said Bola Tinubu
Vanuatu gathers support for UN climate justice statement
Over 100 nations have backed the Pacific Island’s attempt to make it easier for govenrments to be sued over climate failures
Japan’s ‘green transformation’ would derail the energy transition in Asia
Japan plans to prolong fossil fuels across Southeast Asia, by promoting carbon capture, gas and the co-firing of ammonia at coal power plants.
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
South Africa tried to weaken corruption safeguards in coal phase out deal, says CEO
The Eskom boss said that a “senior government minister” said it was “pragmatic” to water down corruption safeguards in a $8.5bn international clean energy deal
US offers $550m to tackle pollution in poor neighbourhoods
The money is part of a $3 billion environmental justice pot finally authorised by Congress after a long battle against Republicans and conservative Democrats
India set to push for green World Bank reforms at G20
India wants the World Bank to lend more money for climate finance, at cheaper rates, in developing countries and will use its G20 chair to push this agenda
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
World Bank proposes freeing up $4bn by loosening lending rules
The bank is under pressure to free up more money to tackle climate change but one expert said this measure does not go far enough
World Bank chief to step down early after climate controversy
Last year, the World Bank’s president David Malpass refused to accept the scientific consensus on global warming, leading to calls for the US government to push him out
Study: IPCC asks emerging countries to drop coal faster than rich nations did
A new study has found that most energy transition models ask nations like China, India and South Africa to cut coal use twice as fast as developed countries ever did.
Biden promises to “work with Congress” to fund Amazon protection
With Jair Bolsonaro out of power, one obstacle to US funding for Amazon rainforest protection has gone – but Republicans in Congress could still block funding.
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
UN budget cuts hindered response to Pakistan’s extreme floods
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs had only seven staff in Islamabad to assess the needs, down from 35 five years earlier