World
Unequal vaccine rollout threatens inclusivity of Cop26, climate diplomats warn
Negotiators are worried that requiring a vaccine passport to attend November’s critical UN climate summit will exclude developing countries with limited supplies
EU lawmakers threaten to veto green finance rules – for opposing reasons
A draft EU sustainable finance taxonomy is under fire for being too strict and not strict enough, with gas and nuclear at the heart of the controversy
South Sudan plans to raise climate ambition amid ‘dire’ humanitarian crisis
The world’s newest country is seeking to expand renewable energy, tree planting and climate smart agriculture, but UK aid cuts threaten progress
China makes no shift away from coal in five-year plan as it ‘crawls’ to carbon neutrality
Beijing set out incremental increases in climate targets to 2025, allowing for continued expansion of “clean” coal, to the disappointment of climate watchers
French climate bill set for rocky ride after citizens’ assembly slams weak ambition
After the citizens’ assembly complained they had not been fully listened to, lawmakers submitted over 4,000 amendments to Macron’s landmark climate bill
UN suspends climate work with Myanmar government following military coup
The military takeover in Myanmar raises fears of pollution, deforestation and revival of a controversial hydropower dam, as international agencies put climate projects on hold
Japan, US exposed as UN chief urges G7 to commit to 2030 coal exit
At a summit on “powering past coal”, António Guterres called on rich countries to lead, putting pressure on Japan and the US to produce exit plans
China’s dirty Covid-19 recovery leaves heavy lifting on climate to its five-year plan
Official government figures show energy, steel and cement consumption rose in 2020, pushing emissions up as Beijing is expected to reveal 2025 targets
China, US urged to step up as UN warns world ‘very far’ from meeting climate goals
Collectively, updated national targets will only reduce emissions 0.5% by 2030 from 2010, UN analysis finds — far from the 45% scientists say is needed to hold warming to 1.5C
Bangladesh scraps nine coal power plants as overseas finance dries up
The rising costs of coal imports and Bangladesh’s role as chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum contributed to the decision to axe power projects, analysts say
Fragile countries call for investment in rooftop solar to expand energy access
War-torn states struggle to attract funding for small-scale renewable projects, which leaders say are cheaper, cleaner and less vulnerable to conflict than fossil fuels
Hit by hurricanes and Covid, more Central Americans go hungry and plan to migrate
Nearly eight million people are hungry in El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala, according to the World Food Programme, with many planning to leave
EU spent €440 million on failed gas projects since 2013, study finds
Seven EU-backed methane gas pipelines and import terminals have been shelved or cancelled in the past decade, a study by Global Witness found
Concerns raised about Green Climate Fund flood defence project in Samoa
Flood walls in Samoa financed by the UN’s flagship climate fund are inadequate and could put people in danger, experts warn
As US formally rejoins the Paris Agreement, eyes turn to 2030 emissions goal
Now the US is back in the Paris Agreement, it is expected to set a 2030 emissions target, with campaigners calling for at least 50% cuts
Under diplomatic pressure, India considers net zero – but major hurdles remain
Net zero pledges from other major polluters have put spotlight on Delhi’s climate ambitions, but full decarbonisation is a big ask
DR Congo campaigners take minister to court over illegal logging rights claims
Environment minister Claude Nyamugabo is accused of violating a moratorium on logging in the Congo rainforest, by awarding concessions the size of Wales
Italy creates ecological transition ministry but campaigners warn against gas support
Physicist Roberto Cingolani, who comes from a defense and security firm to lead a new Italian green ministry, has previously praised gas as ‘the most sustainable resource’
Climate leaders welcome reforming WTO chief, as carbon trade wars loom
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala brings an awareness of climate issues to the UN trade body, where member states are set to clash over carbon border taxes
Angola’s oil dependency thwarts its exit from the group of poorest nations
Graduation from the UN group of least developed countries is usually seen as a win, but Angola deferred the move after oil exports plummeted during the pandemic