EU commission president nominee backs 50% carbon cut by 2030
Ursula von der Leyen said Europe should become the world’s first climate neutral continent, as she sought lawmakers’ backing for the top job on Wednesday
UK told to close climate policy gap or ‘be embarrassed’ in 2020
The British government is off track for its 2050 net zero emissions target, advisers warn, undermining its credibility as likely host of Cop26 UN climate talks
Russia to ratify Paris Agreement; Putin says wind power ‘shakes worms from ground’
Russia says it wants a seat at the climate negotiations table, but the president warned problems with renewable energy must be considered
David Attenborough: Climate change may become abhorred as much as slavery
Just as 19th century attitudes toward slavery have transformed, so too may the public perception of ecological destruction shift, the naturalist told UK MPs
France announces tax on air travel in climate push
A proposed levy of €1.50-18 on each outbound flight comes as part of a climate strategy, with France pushing the EU to follow suit
UN fund removes veto power over climate projects
The Green Climate Fund changed its rules so no single country can block finance, as recently happened when the US intervened in a Chinese bid
European Greens demand action on climate as condition to approve EU top job
Green grouping co-chairs in the European Parliament set tough conditions to ratify Ursula von der Leyen as next Commission president after meeting her on Monday
China scrubs its coal projects from ‘world heritage in danger’ decision
Three coal plants that threaten the Sundarbans tiger habitat were removed from a draft text, while Unesco members declined to list the site as ‘in danger’
Saudi row over 1.5C science raises frustration with UN consensus model
Diplomats are losing patience with players like Saudi Arabia blocking progress at international climate talks, instead looking to other forums for action
EU ‘climate leaders’ plans found lacking
Finland, Sweden, Portugal, France and Germany praised for ambitious targets, but NGO analysis raises questions over details
African ministers lobby UK for control of climate aid
Ministers from Uganda and the Gambia met the UK’s development secretary to ask for more say over how climate finance is spent
China pledges to strengthen climate plan
In a joint statement with France, the world’s biggest emitter declared an intention to upgrade its contribution to the Paris Agreement
Finland puts new climate target top of EU leadership agenda
Taking over the presidency of the European Council for six months, Finland has set its sights on brokering a 2050 net zero emissions target for the bloc
EU-Mercosur trade deal will drive Amazon deforestation, warns ex-minister
French former minister Nicolas Hulot slammed pact with South American countries, saying it would enable rainforest clearance under Brazil’s Bolsonaro regime
‘Revolutionise the world’: UN chief calls for youth to lead on climate
Use social media and political organising to ‘force’ older generation to confront climate crisis, says António Guterres
UN report on 1.5C blocked from climate talks after Saudi Arabia disputes science
There will be no further formal discussions of the IPCC’s findings at the UN after Saudi Arabia fought to undermine the findings of the global scientific community
Denmark’s new government raises climate change to highest priority
In a deal with other left parties, the Social Democrats agreed to raise the country’s climate targets and place the green transition at the heart of policy
France off track for ‘ambitious’ climate goal, advisers warn
Emissions cuts are behind the pace to go carbon neutral by 2050, the newly established High Council for the Climate advised government
Japan waters down G20 climate commitment ahead of leaders’ summit
Draft communique circulated by the host stops short of endorsing implementation of the Paris Agreement, in an apparent bid to keep the US onside
Wealthy countries resist global tax on carbon offsets
Australia and Japan are among opponents of a proposal to restrict the supply of carbon credits for trading across borders, at climate talks in Bonn