European court rules climate inaction by states breaches human rights
European Court of Human Rights says Swiss government violated its citizens’ human rights by not doing enough to curb climate change
“Two steps forward, two steps back” – Governments off course for forest protection target
While Brazil and Colombia saw forest loss drop, their progress was offset by rises elsewhere
Zambia’s fossil-fuel subsidy cuts help climate and kids – but taxi drivers suffer
Under pressure from the IMF, the government has redirected subsidies into education, welfare and debt reduction, leaving fuel-heavy sectors with higher costs
UN’s climate body faces “severe financial challenges” which put work at risk
UNFCCC chief Simon Stiell has made an urgent plea to plug the body’s funding gap with government donations
African dismay at decision to host loss and damage advice hub in Geneva
The UN agencies that will run the Santiago Network recommended it should be based in Nairobi but governments have instead chosen the world’s third-most expensive city
Shipping sector pushes to keep emissions-tax cash for itself
The industry and governments’ maritime ministries want a proposed levy on emissions spent on cleaning up shipping, not used for wider climate goals like loss and damage
Tesla EV gigafactory drives Germany’s latest climate justice struggle
Activists have set up a camp in Grünheide to stop expansion of Tesla’s factory, amid concerns over water, the forest and the wider effects of EV supply chains
Paraguay’s carbon deal with Singapore beset by lobbying, lax rules
UN rules governing bilateral carbon offsetting between governments have yet to be agreed but deals are being done, raising concerns about integrity
Is water provision in drought-hit Zambia climate ‘loss and damage’ or adaptation?
Farmers need crop irrigation to help beat drought – but it’s unclear if that would qualify for new loss and damage funding
UN climate fund axes Nicaragua forest project over human rights concerns
In its first such move, the Green Climate Fund has pulled out of a project after developers failed to address environmental and social compliance issues
China steps away from 2025 energy efficiency goal
The government aims to cut the amount of energy needed for its economic growth by 2.5% in 2024, putting it far off track for a key five-year climate target
Germany uses funding to pressure climate groups on Israel-Gaza war
Many Global South climate groups are funded by the German government, a political ally of Israel, and feel unable to criticise Israel’s military action in Gaza
Global energy-related CO2 emissions hit record high in 2023 – IEA
Global emissions from energy rose by 410 million tonnes, or 1.1%, in 2023 to 37.4 billion tonnes, hitting a record hight
Aid watchdog questions UK’s climate finance accounting
Britain has changed how it calculates its international climate aid, boosting its progress towards a 2026 goal without giving vulnerable countries more money
Nations fail to agree ban or research on solar geoengineering
At talks in Nairobi, governments could not find consensus on new global governance for SRM, including proposals for “non-use” and a UN expert panel
Revealed: UK civil servants’ secret doubts over climate techno-fixes
The government is relying on special cow food and green plane fuel to cut emissions – but officials warn some solutions may fall short
Despite Cop28 pledge, France keeps fossil fuel subsidies for farmers
France has abandoned plans to phase out tax breaks on agricultural diesel in efforts to appease its increasingly disgruntled farmers
Switzerland proposes first UN expert group on solar geoengineering
A draft resolution aimed at creating a space for discussion on sun dimming technologies will be debated at the summit of the UN’s environment body this month
Problems mount for Sahara gas pipeline, leaving Nigerian taxpayers at risk
The Nigerian government is sinking billions into the long-delayed project but economic and security problems are mounting
Argentine resistance hinders Milei’s forest and glacier destruction
Ultra free-market president Javier Milei has not so far been able to get cuts to environmental regulations through Congress