UK
UK told to close climate policy gap or ‘be embarrassed’ in 2020
The British government is off track for its 2050 net zero emissions target, advisers warn, undermining its credibility as likely host of Cop26 UN climate talks
UK forms citizens’ assembly on climate change
A cross-section of society will be invited to debate how to share the costs and rewards of meeting the government’s net zero emissions target
UK tells fracking industry it won’t relax rules on earth tremors
The Conservative government has long backed shale gas exploration, but denied industry calls to loosen ‘unworkable’ limits on seismic activity
Sydney and Melbourne vow to ditch coal power
Australian cities joined global alliance to end coal-fired power, while the federal government proposes using taxpayer cash to underwrite new plants
Trailblazing UK climate change act is a model for the world
Ten years after its creation, the landmark legislation has many lessons for other countries as they look for ways to turn the Paris deal into national action
Fracking ‘part of a low carbon future’, says UK minister, as drilling restarts
Claire Perry requested a net-zero emissions probe on Monday but defended fracking, saying gas was ‘absolutely part of our future’
19 countries team up to go carbon neutral
The UK, Canada, Denmark and Spain joined a coalition to slash emissions to net zero on the sidelines of the UN general assembly in New York
As the UK swelters, government plan for extreme heat is criticised
The UK’s new five year plan to adapt to climate change lacks proper action to deal with the rising threat of extreme heat, according to its own advisers
UK government refuses to commit to EU clean energy targets after Brexit
The UK helped craft a deal on EU renewable and energy efficiency ambition but its participation after it leaves the union is uncertain
Fears for post-Brexit climate laws as UK green watchdog plans revealed
Post-divorce environment body will not enforce climate change regulations, says proposal, but UK lacks direct replacement for EU institutions
UK will legislate net-zero carbon emissions target, says minister
Britain will legislate new emissions targets and order a review on bringing them in line with the Paris Agreement, minister Claire Perry announced
10 years of success, but the UK climate change act needs an upgrade
The pioneering piece of legislation has helped bring emissions down, but the challenges of the Paris Agreement require more ambition from the government
UK MPs call on Gove to trigger climate reporting clause
Financial regulators drew parliamentarians’ ire after failing to meet their demands to voluntarily report their climate adaptation plans
Documents reveal UK push to water down EU biomass regulations
Brexit-bound UK won big concessions for power stations that burn wood, while new research claims the technology will undermine carbon cuts for half a century
UK climate strategy has ‘significant gaps’, advisers warn
The government must increase ambition for electric vehicles and invest more in carbon capture and storage, an independent panel has advised
UK government details coal power phase-out strategy
With a few caveats, Britain is set to end coal power generation by 2025, the government confirmed in a consultation response on Friday
Communities face down plans to expand Britain’s last coal mines
‘It was cruel what we went through’. As the UK weighs whether to allow its ailing mines to stumble on, community activists ask when enough is enough?
UK releases plan to ‘lead the world’ on growth with carbon cuts
Long awaited strategy says green economy will grow 11% per year but plan will miss carbon emissions targets, drawing criticism
UK and Canada announce global alliance to end coal power
UK and Canada challenge other nations to join them in committing to end coal power generation, saying “we are doing our part”
UK omits climate change from post-Brexit foreign policy plan
Proposal for future relationship with EU calls for cooperation on energy security, but makes no mention of the Paris Agreement, a stated priority in Brussels