Isabella Kaminski
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
Small islands slam ‘endless’ climate talks at landmark maritime court hearing
Small island states have asked the world’s maritime tribunal to clarify state obligations on climate change, which could be influential for other courts.
Pressure grows on governments and banks to stop supporting Amazon oil and gas
An upcoming summit on protecting the Amazon has become the focus of a Indigenous and civil society-led campaign to set up an exclusion zone for fossil fuels
Spain proposes improved 2030 climate target as it awaits Supreme Court ruling
The government has published a draft revised version of its climate plan, as it awaits a Supreme Court ruling on the legality of its old plan
Fossil fuels, planes, ships and shares – What will be taxed for climate funds?
A range of options for funding climate programmes will be discussed at the New Global Financing Pact summit in Paris tomorrow
World Bank body delays vote on controversial loan to Brazilian dairy firm
Campaigners say the $32m loan to dairy firm Alvoar Lacteos could damage forests in Brazil
UK sued over plan to import more polluting Australian beef
Campaigners are challenging the UK government over its assessment of environmental impacts of a trade deal with Australia
Study: Fossil fuel firms owe $209bn a year for climate damage
A multi-billion dollar reparations scheme has been proposed for fossil fuel companies to atone for the damage caused by their greenhouse gas emissions
Regulators crack down on corporate carbon neutrality claims
Consumer watchdogs around the world are giving increasingly short shrift to offsetting-based company claims that their products are ‘carbon neutral’
Pressure builds on Council of Europe to put right to healthy environment in law
The Council of Europe will discuss the right to a healthy environment at a “historic” upcoming leaders summit in Reykjavik
Mitsubishi bets on carbon removal while keeping coal plants
Japanese engineering giant Mitsubishi has announced a major investment in carbon removal technology, despite continuing to run fossil fuel power plants.
UN’s Green Climate Fund too scared of risk, finds official review
The UN’s flagship climate fund is struggling to clearly manage risks in its projects, an independent review has found, making it wary of taking on high-impact projects in developing countries
World Bank’s private sector arm to stop supporting new coal
The International Finance Corporation is closing a loophole that allowed its financial clients to continue funding new coal projects
Moves to crystallise right to a healthy environment spark tension at UN
Incremental resolutions at the UN are starting to make the right to healthy environment tangible, but are running into pushback from states like the US.
European court hears landmark lawsuits that could shape climate policy
The European Court of Human Rights has heard its first two lawsuits on climate change, brought against the governments of Switzerland and France.
International Court of Justice to advise states on climate duties: ‘A turning point for climate justice’
The United Nations has ordered the International Court of Justice to advise states on their legal responsibilities on climate change, following a global initiative led by Vanuatu
Governments battle over carbon removal and renewables in IPCC report
While the Saudis pushed carbon capture and storage technology, Europeans fought for wind and solar to be talked up in the report.
Nations fight to be called climate vulnerable in IPCC report
Being recognised as partiuclarly vulnerable can help countries access climate finance and plan adaptation strategies
IMF approves first batch of climate resilience loans
Five countries had loan packages approved under the IMF’s first sustainability fund, but concerns remain about whether it will boost resilience for the most vulnerable nations
Lawyers and activists build pressure on Korean court to rule on climate
Pressure is building on South Korea’s constitutional court to make a key climate change judgment, as the government prepares to publish its first carbon neutrality plan