Draft UN plastics treaty threatens Big Oil’s plan B
Countries are considering a global target to curb plastic production, not just focus on recycling as the industry wants
UAE pitches itself as Africa’s carbon credits leader
An Emirati coalition has announced a $450 million commitment to buy carbon credits generated in Africa but critics called offsets a “risky diversion”
US denies rigging loss and damage fund’s board in rich nations’ favour
The US wants extra seats for major donors to the fund on top of developed country representation, sparking accusations of “double counting”
‘Carbon bomb’ in Argentina gets push from local government
Argentina’s southern city of Sierra Grande started public hearings for a shipping terminal to export from Vaca Muerta, the world’s second largest shale gas reserve
EU nominates Wopke Hoekstra as top climate diplomat
The Dutch foreign minister once worked for oil company Shell and will face tough questions over his climate record in the European Parliament
Developing countries call for $100 billion loss and damage target
The 2030 target is one of several contentious proposals at negotiations in the Dominican Republic this week over a new loss and damage fund
Kenyan president William Ruto courts logging controversy
Known internationally as one of Africa’s climate champions, President Ruto faces a legal challenge over plans to restart commercial forestry
Nature fund launched but financing questions remain
The new fund aims to be the primary tool to implement the Kunming-Montreal deal and deliver $200 billion a year to nature protection initiatives
Cooking the books: cookstove offsets produce millions of fake emission cuts
Projects in India linked to Enking, the self-proclaimed world’s largest carbon credits producer, have vastly overestimated climate benefits
US aims to limit loss and damage fund
The US, which long opposed a fund, wants it to focus on a narrow set of disasters in a small number of countries
EU puts Maroš Šefčovič in charge of climate policy
The Slovakian will replace Frans Timmermans as the EU’s lead on climate, at home and abroad
Germany set to miss net zero by 2045 target as climate efforts falter
Germany, Europe’s largest economy, is failing to cut emissions in the transport and building sector, a report by government climate advisers shows.
Ecuadorians reject Amazon oil drilling in historic referendum
Around 60% of voters said oil reserves in the Yasuní National Park should be left in the ground in binding vote
Devastating Beijing floods test China’s ‘sponge cities’
Despite Beijing’s sponge city project, the capital was overwhelmed by recent floods with dozens dying and a new “sponge airport” shut down
China plans to recycle solar panels and wind turbines
China is the world’s biggest manufacturer of renewable energy equipment and is making plans for how to dispose of it once it stops working
Indonesia delays $20bn green plan, after split with rich nations on grants and new coal plants
The launch of the Jetp investment plan has been hampered by disagreements over funding and technical challenges
US sparks controversy by backing oil company’s carbon-sucking plans
The CEO of Occidental Petroleum has said that direct air capture is a way of prolonging the life of the oil industry
Amazon nations decry EU deforestation rules in thinly-veiled joint condemnation
The Belem Declaration echoes growing discontent with a new law prohibiting firms from importing goods linked to deforestation
Indonesia falls short on peatland restoration, risking destructive fire season
Data from the Indonesian government suggests efforts to restore peatlands, a key part of the country’s climate strategy, do not match government claims.
Amazon nations fail to agree on deforestation goal at summit
Eight South American nations agreed on a list of joint actions to protect the Amazon rainforest, but failed to mention a long-awaited target to halt deforestation.