World
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
World Bank adaptation funds slept through Pakistan’s record flooding
A $100 million project was meant to protect Karachi slumdwellers from flooding, but instead made many homeless before work stalled
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
In Davos, activists warn against climate inaction and greenwashing
As the world’s political and corporate leaders gather in Switzerland, activists and analysts are downbeat about the possibility of climate action
Sinking town exposes perils of Himalayan hydropower
The government ignored warnings that building large hydropower projects in the Himalayas was unsafe. Now Josimath town is falling apart
Brazil bids to bring Cop30 climate talks to Amazon’s Belem
The city is at the mouth of the Amazon river and is the second-biggest city in the Amazon region after Manaus
Eskom poisoning raises fears for South Africa’s energy transition
Outgoing chief Andre De Ruyter survived an attempt on his life last month, as coal-friendly minister Gwede Mantashe took control of Eskom