British company forces Italy to pay €190m for offshore oil ban
Rockhopper used the Energy Charter Treaty to sue the Italian government for foregone profits and plans to invest the compensation in further drilling
Germany hypes green hydrogen alliance while shopping for Canadian fossil gas
Olaf Scholz is boosting gas infrastructure projects on the basis they will be “hydrogen-ready”, which experts say is unrealistic and risks locking in high emissions
China hit by longest and strongest heatwave on record
Millions of Chinese people are suffering as intense heat drags on for more than two months, bringing drought, power shortages, wildfires and crop failures
Factories shut down as heatwave hits hydropower in China’s Sichuan province
Tesla, Toyota and Foxconn are among the multinational companies affected by a cascading water and energy crisis
World Bank backs carbon credit blockchain registry to attract crypto investors
The World Bank wants to direct the NFT craze towards projects that cut emissions and improve the transparency of carbon offset markets
Brazil election: Lula challenges Bolsonaro’s deforestation record, backs oil development
Climate is emerging as a major issue in Brazil’s presidential contest, with both leading candidates promising to protect the Amazon rainforest
China responds coolly to US climate bill, rejecting a call to resume cooperation
China’s foreign ministry questioned the US’ ability to deliver on its promises, calling for more climate finance and an end to trade sanctions
After finally passing a climate bill, US calls on others to act
Climate negotiators expressed relief as the US secured congressional support for climate spending, but said developing countries need direct support to follow
Grenada’s Simon Stiell appointed to lead the UN climate change body
Stiell is a veteran advocate for climate ambition from a small vulnerable, Caribbean island, with a background in engineering and business
Pakistan struggles to rebuild after deadly flash floods
At least 550 people died as the wettest month in three decades washed away mud houses in rural Balochistan – and international aid is not forthcoming
Colombia’s new president calls for debt swap to protect the Amazon
“We can turn the entire population of the Colombian Amazon into a population that cares for the forest, but we need the world’s funds to do it,” says Gustavo Petro
‘We are not ready’: Divisions deepen over rush to finalise deep sea mining rules
A growing number of countries are backing calls for a moratorium on mining the oceans’ floor but the UN body responsible is pushing to greenlight the industry in 2023
US-China climate working group cancelled after Pelosi’s Taiwan visit
Talks on topics like methane cuts, forests, clean power and action in cities have been cancelled after a diplomatic spat over Taiwan
Chinese companies seek global carbon market for green hydrogen
A project that supplied green hydrogen for buses at the Winter Olympics could be the first of its kind to sell carbon credits through the Clean Development Mechanism
US-funded trees ‘not likely to survive’ in Haiti when project ends
A report commissioned by USAID found that the environmental and social benefits of a $39m five-year programme were unlikely to continue beyond this month
Egypt pitches for climate funding in list of African projects to be showcased at Cop27
The Cop27 host is pitching for $11.4bn in investment as part of a push with the UN to match bankable climate projects with private funders
UN, IMF disagree on who should foot the bill of the energy crisis
António Guterres is backing windfall taxes on “immoral” oil and gas profits, while the IMF argues costs should be passed to consumers
African climate diplomats reject African Union’s pro-gas stance for Cop27
Negotiators quashed a proposal to endorse gas for energy access at the next UN climate summit, arguing the controversy would distract from other priorities
India approves climate plan with increased ambition, clarifying energy goals
The cabinet has cemented a verbal pledge by prime minister Narendra Modi to aim for net zero emissions by 2070 and improve carbon efficiency this decade
Rich countries fall $17bn short of 2020 climate finance goal
2020 was the deadline for delivering the $100bn climate finance promise