Qatar misleads with claim gas exports make it a climate action “pioneer”
The world’s largest supplier of LNG also has the highest per-capita emissions, yet is not committing to absolute carbon cuts in its latest UN submission
As the Taliban seizes control of Afghanistan, coal is a key source of revenue
Mining was a major source of finance for the Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan and has strategic importance as the militants seek to govern
Chinese coal power investment slows, with 24 projects approved this year
Chinese provincial governments approved construction of 5.2GW of coal power capacity in the first half of 2021, analysis by Greenpeace has found
UK oil construction postponed after kayakers’ Stop Cambo protest
Campaigners scored a minor victory in efforts to block consent for Cambo oil field in the North Atlantic, which they argue is incompatible with climate leadership
Afghanistan at risk of hunger amid drought and Taliban takeover
As the Taliban seizes control of Afghanistan, experts warn severe drought could worsen the humanitarian crisis triggered by an exodus of western forces
Pacific islands call for zero carbon shipping by 2050, citing IPCC report
Three Pacific nations want to reopen talks on the long term climate target at the International Maritime Organization, urging higher ambition
US guidance to development banks puts gas infrastructure finance in question
Gas-fired power projects in Thailand and South Africa could be affected by a shift in US development finance policy to back clean energy over fossil fuels
The lesson from German floods: prepare for the unimaginable
A month after fatal floods swept through western Germany, survivors are still in shock and experts warn such disasters are becoming more common
Developing nations push to define ‘unacceptably vague’ adaptation goal
South Africa is proposing a quantitative target for boosting resilience to climate impacts globally, but there are technical and political hurdles
Sri Lanka rules out new coal power, promotes rooftop solar
The government wants 70% of the island’s electricity to come from renewables by 2030 and is offering cheap loans to install rooftop solar
Nigeria to end gas flaring by 2030, under national climate plan
The government is promising to crack down on wasteful emissions from oil and gas production, a major climate and health issue in Nigeria
IPCC report a ‘call to arms’ for climate science in courts, legal experts say
Youth, climate disaster victims and vulnerable countries could use the latest UN science report as evidence to sue polluters for damages or remedial action
Brazil plans to prop up coal sector, defying calls for a global phase out
The government has published a plan for the ‘sustainable’ use of coal that would allow the fossil fuel to be burnt until 2050
IPCC report prompts calls to tackle methane emissions at Cop26
Only 13 countries have methane emission targets in their climate plans, despite evidence of the gas’s potent role in global heating
Ukraine aims to grow economy without increasing carbon emissions
The post-Soviet state has increased its climate ambition but campaigners say it could do more to insulate draughty housing and promote clean energy
Cop26 delegates from ‘red list’ countries will need to isolate for 5 days in the UK
Hosts of the next UN climate summit in Glasgow, UK, say health is the priority as they share Covid-proofing plan with regional climate officials
‘Hottest games ever’: At the Tokyo Olympics, elite sport met the climate crisis
Athletes fainted as wet bulb temperatures reached dangerous levels in Tokyo, raising questions about the future of major sporting events in an overheated world
A week of wildfires has left thousands homeless in southern Turkey
Experts say forest management and firefighting equipment is needed to prevent future disasters, as climate change brings hotter and drier conditions
Oil-producing Oman pledges 7% emissions reduction from business as usual by 2030
Struggling to balance its budget as the coronavirus pandemic hits oil revenues, Oman is looking to diversify the economy and cut electricity subsidies
China, India miss UN’s extended deadline for climate pledges
110 parties to the Paris Agreement have submitted updated 2030 climate targets to be counted by UN Climate Change before Cop26, but some major emitters’ are still missing