Days after climate talks, US slaps tariffs on Chinese EVs and solar panels
The measures are designed to increase the cost of Chinese goods needed for the energy transition – and could therefore slow the US shift away from fossil fuels
UN agrees carbon market safeguards to tackle green land grabs
Local communities will be able to officially challenge UN-registered carbon credit projects before and after they are up and running
Road row in protected forest exposes Kenya’s climate conundrum
The government wants to expand a road through the Aberdare National Park but conservationists argue it will harm the forest, wildlife and water supplies
Loss and damage board speeds up work to allow countries direct access to funds
At its first meeting, the fund’s board decided to fast-track the selection of its host country so money can be disbursed as fast as possible to disaster-hit people
G7 offers tepid response to appeal for “bolder” climate action
Climate and energy ministers from G7 nations agreed a coal exit deadline – with a caveat, but made little progress on other fossil fuels and finance
Tensions rise over who will contribute to new climate finance goal
Germany wants all high-emitters, especially among G20 countries, to pitch in. But China and Saudi Arabia say the responsibility lies with developed nations
Peak COP? UN looks to shrink Baku and Belém climate summits
While 84,000 delegates attended COP28 in Dubai, just 40,000-50,000 are expected at COP29 in Baku and COP30 in Belém
Argentinian scientists condemn budget cuts ahead of university protest
Right-wing President Javier Milei has taken an axe to funding for education and scientific bodies, sparking fears for climate research
Global billionaires tax to fight climate change, hunger rises up political agenda
Brazil and France want the G20 to get behind a global minimum tax on billionaires’ wealth, also backed by IMF chief
Canadian minister vows to fight attempts to weaken plastic pollution treaty
Environment minister Steven Guilbeault accuses “some countries” of slow-walking negotiations, ahead of talks in Ottawa
UN climate chief calls for “quantum leap in climate finance”
Simon Stiell says far more money is required for developing countries to submit bold new climate plans, which would benefit all economies
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