Belém’s electric bus controversy: a cautionary tale for COP30
A plan for new buses in the Brazilian city hosting the 2025 UN climate summit was held up by a political row that suggests the road to COP30 could get rocky
Verra axing of Shell’s rice-farming carbon credits in China fuels integrity fears
The carbon market standard found “serious” quality issues with the projects, prompting questions about their initial approval
London airport expansion spotlights danger of “false hope” Jet Zero strategy
The UK government decided expansion is compatible with its plan to cut aviation emissions, raising questions about its reliance on unproven techno-fixes over reducing flights
In a world first, Grenada activates debt pause after Hurricane Beryl destruction
More creditors are agreeing to suspend debt payments in the wake of weather disasters, but experts say greater financial relief will be needed
Switzerland and Canada propose ways to expand climate finance donors
Detailed criteria would include China and Gulf States in the donor base. But experts recommend incentives not coercion
FAO draft report backs growth of livestock industry despite emissions
Experts say the UN’s food agency has shied away from recommending less animal farming, though cutting methane emissions is a quick way to curb warming
As first airline drops goal, are aviation’s 2030 targets achievable without carbon offsets?
Air New Zealand has dropped its 2030 emissions reductions targets, validated by the Science-Based Targets Initiative
Pollution clampdown on Delhi kilns threatens brick workers’ future
Emissions controls are causing brick kilns to close, raising fears that migrant labourers – who lack social safety nets – will struggle to earn a living
Global goal of tripling renewables by 2030 still out of reach, says IRENA
The renewable energy agency calls for more concrete policy action and finance, with Africa especially lagging on clean energy
EU “green” funds invest millions in expanding coal giants in China, India
Climate Home found leading asset managers hold shares in coal firms within funds touting sustainable credentials
UN action on gender and climate faces uphill climb as warming hurts women
At June’s Bonn talks, governments made little progress on gender equality while evidence shows women bear a heavy climate burden
Five things we learned from the UN’s climate mega-poll
The UN asked 75,000 people in 77 countries for their views on climate change – and the results show widespread concern and support for action
Mexico elects a climate scientist as president – but will politics temper her green ambition?
Incoming president Claudia Sheinbaum will need to break with the fossil fuel-friendly policies of close ally AMLO to drive forward climate action, analysts say
On beaches of Gaza and Tel Aviv, two tales of one heatwave
While Palestinians in Gaza fear death from heat in makeshift tents, Israelis in Tel Aviv stay cool in air-conditioned homes – highlighting the unequal effects of extreme weather
As South Africa heads to the polls, voters await stalled “just energy transition”
Progress on the Just Energy Transition Partnership has been slow due to South Africa’s debt concerns and divisions over the role of gas
Azerbaijan pursues clean energy to export more ‘god-given’ gas to Europe
Baku rolls out its first large-scale renewables, but a rise in clean energy does not mean leaving fossil fuels in the ground
Paris summit unlocks cash for clean cooking in Africa, side-stepping concerns over gas
The gathering raised $2.2 billion for clean cooking in Africa, where four in five people still use polluting energy like charcoal – but some say LPG should not be promoted as a transition fuel
In Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan’s net zero vision clashes with legacy of war
After Armenians fled the conflict-torn region, the COP29 host nation has launched a huge reconstruction effort to polish its green credentials
World Bank tiptoes into fiery debate over meat emissions
The bank has advised wealthy nations to cut subsidies for high-emissions foods but stopped far short of promoting veganism
Hopes fade for production curbs in new global pact on plastic pollution
With no further talks scheduled on limiting plastic production before final negotiations in November, the treaty may focus instead on recycling