World
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
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
China warns of more floods and heatwaves in 2023
Last year was marked by a record-breaking heatwave and China’s weather agency has warned of more this year, as the climate crisis escalates
Colombia gets $70m from new global renewable integration fund
Colombia will get the first pay-out of a $300m Climate Investment Funds pot for transmission lines, batteries, EV chargers and green hydrogen
Coal communities fear South Africa’s clean energy transition
Almost 80% of the more than 80,000 residents working in Ermelo are employed by Eskom and Transnet, the state-owned energy and transport companies
India announces $4.3 billion investment in clean energy
India wants to become a leader in green hydrogen production and to develop huge solar projects in the Ladakh region of the Himalayas
Taiwan’s failure to clean up industry endangers its net zero pledge
Comment: Taiwan’s industry is responsible for more than half of its emissions but the government’s new climate policies have no specific plan to tackle them.
DR Congo delays rainforest oil auctions
After a series of multinational oil companies ruled themselves out of the controversial projects, the government pushed back bidding at the last minute
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
Azerbaijan weaponises conservation law in conflict with Armenia
Azerbaijan accuses Armenia of deforesting the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, but satellite data tells a different story
Despite killer floods, Nigerian presidential frontrunners dismiss climate change
Polling carried out before the floods showed that two-thirds of Nigerians had not heard of climate change
Brazil launches first raids against Amazon tree-cutters under Lula’s new government
Brazil’s new government is already having an impact on deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, an environmental enforcement agent claimed
Mexico plans to ban solar geoengineering after rogue experiment
A US startup carried out a geoengineering experiment in Mexico, which the country claims was done without prior notice and consent
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