World
Fracking company sues Slovenia over ‘unreasonable’ environmental protections
A British oil and gas company is using a controversial energy treaty to sue Slovenia, after being required to carry out an environmental impact assessment
World misses 2020 biodiversity goals: leaked UN draft report
Global Biodiversity Outlook draft finds funding shortfalls and failure to account for the role of women held back progress on restoring ecosystems
African ministers call for investment in Great Green Wall to aid Covid-19 recovery
Plans for an 8,000km green belt across the Sahel region have stalled, with fresh funds needed to halt desertification and create sustainable livelihoods
Six Portuguese youth file ‘unprecedented’ climate lawsuit against 33 countries
In the first climate case to be filed with the European Court of Human Rights, six Portuguese youth argue inadequate emissions cuts violate their human rights
Loopholes in Arctic heavy fuel oil ban defer action to the end of the decade
In concessions to Russia, the International Maritime Organisation has watered down draft rules to protect the Arctic from oil spills and black carbon pollution
Guterres tells India coal business ‘going up in smoke’ as investors back clean tech
UN chief urges Narendra Modi not to expand India’s coal sector, warning of harmful consequences for human health, the environment and the economy
EU can help Africa become the ‘greenest continent’: German minister
Minister argues EU should priorities the transition to clean energy in a treaty to be negotiated with the African Union
Forest destruction spiked in Indonesia during coronavirus lockdown
Travel restrictions allowed illegal deforestation to flourish in Indonesia – and government plans to cut environmental protections raise fears for the future
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Green shift urged to revive Brazil’s economy and shield Amazon forests
President Bolsonaro could rebuild the economy faster after Covid-19 by making low-carbon growth a pillar of recovery, international study says
Wind, solar generate 10% of world electricity, doubling share since 2015
Coal falls to 33% of electricity generation in the first half of 2020, hit by declines in US and EU as Covid-19 cuts world power demand
Which countries have not ratified the Paris climate agreement?
Almost a decade after the Paris Agreement was adopted, three of the 197 countries have not formally backed the deal. Eritrea is the latest country to ratify
Kamala Harris might help ‘night and day’ shift for US on global climate diplomacy
If they defeat Trump, Biden and Harris will have to prove they can cut emissions at home to rebuild US global leadership on climate change.
South Africa tightens restrictions for new coal power in ‘landmark’ ruling
A top tribunal scrapped water licences for the 600MW Khanyisa coal plant, saying the developer had failed to consider the impact of climate change
India’s solar boom is threatened by anti-China trade tariffs
The Indian government is doubling down on import taxes for solar modules from China, but domestic manufacturing is not ready to fill the gap
Bangladesh considers scrapping 90% of its coal power pipeline
The energy minister has signalled a major pivot away from Chinese-funded coal plants in Bangladesh, but this is not yet government policy
Ireland forced to strengthen climate plan, in supreme court win for campaigners
Judges ruled the government’s national mitigation plan fell “well short” of what was needed to meet Ireland’s climate commitments, ordering a more ambitious strategy
Air travel to bounce back faster in domestic markets, industry forecasts
A projected recovery in domestic air travel to pre-pandemic levels by 2022 puts the spotlight on emissions from major markets like the US and China
Covid-hit hajj guts Saudi plans to reduce reliance on oil revenues
Only a few thousand Muslims are attending this year’s pilgrimage, not the millions Riyadh needs for its ‘Vision 2030’ economic diversification plan
These women built a dam and saved their families from ‘man-made starvation’
While chronic drought and poor governance leave millions of Zimbabweans hungry, the women of Rumwanjiva can grow their own vegetables