Study: Fossil fuel firms owe $209bn a year for climate damage
A multi-billion dollar reparations scheme has been proposed for fossil fuel companies to atone for the damage caused by their greenhouse gas emissions
Regulator blocks Brazilian oil drilling, sparking conflict within government
While President Lula’s environment minister Marina Silva supported the decision, Lula ally Randolfe Rodrigues vowed to oppose it
UAE appoints fossil fuels execs and climate campaigners as Cop28 advisers
The group will “provide guidance and counsel” to the Cop28 presidency this year and beyond
Top German energy official resigns after favoritism allegations
The mastermind of Germany’s energy transition, Patrick Graichen has been accused of cronyism in the appointment process of a think-tank.
Regulators crack down on corporate carbon neutrality claims
Consumer watchdogs around the world are giving increasingly short shrift to offsetting-based company claims that their products are ‘carbon neutral’
France proposes tax credits for green technology
France will spend €500m a year on tax credits for wind and solar power, heat pumps and batteries funded by a tax rise on carbon-intensive fuels
UAE invites Syria’s Assad to Cop28 in latest rehabilitation push
The Syrian regime has been accused of committing war crimes during a decade-long civil war. Western nations have criticised efforts to restore diplomatic relations.
US backs Indonesian oil refinery despite pledge to end fossil fuel finance
The US has been accused of “breaking” a key climate financing commitment by approving almost $100m in support for an overseas fossil fuel project
Vietnamese anti-coal campaigner freed early from prison
Nguy Thi Khanh has been released a few months early from prison but two of her fellow campaigners remain in jail on tax evasion charges
Local business group tries to keep South Africa’s coal plants alive
A business coalition in South Africa’s energy heartland is fighting against plans to shut down coal plants.
German landlords set to defeat gas boiler ban
Landlords and the right-wing have opposed an effective ban on new gas boilers and look set to at least delay the measure
Cop28 moots oil and gas initiative despite greenwash accusations
Critics say a focus on just the emissions from producing oil and gas not consuming it is a distraction and that similar initatives have not worked
After court blocks renewables push, US promotes carbon capture & hydrogen
The Environmental Protection Agency will set limits on power plants’ emissions, forcing them to clean up or shut down
Paris agreement’s police force begins with rebuke to Vatican
The Pope’s home state has not yet issued a climate plan, which is against the rules of the Paris Agreement it ratified last year
Ecuador gets cheap debt write-off with promise to protect Galapagos’s nature
Ecuador will get $12 million a year to spend protecting the wildlife and habitats of the Galapagos islands, in the largest “debt for nature” deal yet
Nations split over fossil fuels and carbon capture
An agenda-setting gathering of climate ministers saw continuing disagreement over the need for fossil fuels phase-out and the role of technology
Europe’s push for global renewables target gains support
The UAE has backed the EU’s call to set a global target for the renewable roll-out at the Cop28 climate talks
India mulls end to coal plant construction
If approved by the cabinet, India’s new electricity policy would end the construction of new coal-fired power plants after the planned 28 GW are built
Verra’s revamped forest offset programme comes under fire
Verra picked a controversial carbon credit verifier to review its new forest offset rules and critics say the changes don’t fix the problem
Germany promises €2bn to global Green Climate Fund
The pledge sets the bar for other wealthy countries and puts the fund on track for what it calls a “mid” level of ambition