UK
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
May meets Trump on climate, but her Brexit will damage the Paris accord
Despite May’s G20 overture to Trump, her government is preparing a divorce from the EU that will have profound negative consequences for the climate
UK foreign office cut climate staff in half under Tory government
Labour says the 46% reduction in foreign office climate jobs since it was in power is “staggering” and a sign the government is not serious about the issue
UK set for first coal-free work day since pre-industrial times
Britain is expected to be coal-free on Friday, reports National Grid, as the power sector shifts to cleaner sources of supply
Decommission North Sea oil rigs? Here’s a better idea
Rather than waste vast amounts of taxpayer money pulling defunct rigs from the sea, why not spend it on something useful?
UK is in no position to lecture Saudis on oil dependence
PM Theresa May has offered to help wean Saudi Arabia off oil, but her government’s subsidies to North Sea producers are a poor model for the Middle East petrostate
Brexit turmoil means UK government must lead on climate
Investors will be needed to shift hundreds of billions of pounds if the UK is to meet its climate goals. But they need clarity from a pre-occupied government
UK to use carbon cuts as Brexit bargaining chip – envoy
Faster than average emissions reductions give Britain leverage in negotiations to leave the EU, says Sir David King
UK emissions have fallen 38% since 1990 on coal closures
UK chasing Denmark as one of the fastest carbon cutters in the developed world, but faces tougher challenge in cleaning up transport fleet
Talk climate sense to Trump, British MPs urge Theresa May
Lawmakers set for final push on global warming message as British prime minister heads to Washington for first meeting with new president