Climate politics

UN climate chief warns of “two-speed” global energy transition

Simon Stiell tells investors in NYC that rich countries are benefiting most from clean energy growth while poorer nations are deprived of finance for cheaper renewables

Global push to triple renewables requires responsible mining of minerals

As leaders at the UN debate how to meet renewable energy goals, they must also ensure supply chains are sustainable

COP29 aims to boost battery storage and grids for renewables

COP29 aims to boost battery storage and grids for renewables, as pledges proliferate

Governments are being asked to sign up to a goal to boost energy storage six-fold and renew or add 80 million km of electric grids, among other initiatives

The UK foreign minister says Global North rhetoric on climate finance must be matched by funding at COP29, but doesn't mention a goal number

UK calls for “ambition” on COP29 climate finance goal but won’t talk numbers

The UK’s new foreign minister, David Lammy, says Global North rhetoric on climate action must be matched by funding but stays silent on the size of a new global finance goal

UN just transition talks provoked frustration among developing countries as rich nations did not attend in person and refused to discuss thorny issues.

Developing countries denounce rich nations’ disregard for just transition talks

One negotiator said it was “very unfortunate” that no developed-country officials travelled to Ghana for UN climate talks on “response measures”

Is Brazil's Lula a climate leader?

Is Brazil’s Lula a climate leader?

The Brazilian president has run up against similar challenges to his US counterpart Joe Biden – and it’s bad news for the planet 

Slow progress in Baku risks derailing talks on new climate finance goal at COP29

Azerbaijan’s COP29 president calls for determination and leadership from all countries to bridge the gaps on finance

UN: Human rights must be "at the core" of mining for transition minerals

Human rights must be “at the core” of mining for transition minerals, UN panel says

The UN Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals launches principles to guide responsible, fair extraction of minerals for green value chains

British Airways plans to offset rising emissions by sprinkling crushed rocks

British Airways plans to offset rising emissions by sprinkling crushed rocks

The airline will pay a UK company to carry out enhanced rock weathering, which speeds up natural carbon-absorbing processes

Stronger climate targets are most likely to convince Beijing 

How to convince Beijing of the case for stronger climate targets

An ambitious NDC would boost China’s economy, win it recognition as a responsible global power – and keep its people safer from climate disasters

Latest climate politics

Brexit

UK government appoints Alok Sharma as Cop26 president

Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed the former secretary of state for international development to lead the critical UN climate talks in November

Don’t shop till you drop: advice to UK citizens on net zero climate goals

UK holds ‘citizens’ assembly’ to seek ideas for cutting emissions to net-0 by 2050. But some participants doubt the government will listen

‘Miles off track’ – Climate Weekly

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UK walks diplomatic tightrope for 2020 climate summit after shaky start

Boris Johnson officially launched Cop26 on Tuesday but gave little indication as to how the government is going to leverage the world into taking bolder climate action

UK leaders debate climate, with Boris Johnson replaced by ice sculpture

Leaders of most major parties presented their ideas for meeting tough climate goals, but the Conservative prime minister declined

Brexit must not distract from UK’s biggest job in 2020: the Glasgow climate summit

Next year’s climate talks are absolutely vital and as hosts the UK could determine whether the talks fail or succeed. The government must start preparing now

London bids to host 2020 UN climate talks to show UK remains ‘open’

Mayor Sadiq Khan writes to UK prime minster urging every effort to win the presidency of Cop26 in the face of a competing bid from Italy

UK and Italy bid for 2020 climate talks, amid political uncertainty for both

Both countries face potential general elections and economic problems before the crucial Cop26 meeting and the UK may still be in a Brexit imbroglio

Brexit

UN Climate Talks

GCF restructures, aiming to become donors' "partner of choice"

Green Climate Fund restructures, aiming to become donors’ “partner of choice”

GCF chief Mafalda Duarte tells Climate Home how she plans to boost the fund’s impact and position it to secure more resources

Bigger share of COP29 badges for Global South NGOs upsets rich-country groups

The UNFCCC has changed quota allocations for observers in a bid to address imbalance in regional representation

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

Delaying the EU's anti-deforestation law is not an option 

Delaying the EU’s anti-deforestation law is not an option 

The EU’s new deforestation law was seen as a breakthrough in the global battle against forest loss, but it’s provoking fractious debate among governments and producers

Pacific Islanders, need climate action - not greenwashing - from Azerbaijan

As Pacific Islanders, we need climate action – not greenwashing – from Azerbaijan

As host of the COP29 summit, Baku must stop fossil fuel expansion, cut its emissions further, and work to deliver an ambitious climate finance goal

Activists calling for an end to fossil fuels at COP28 in Dubai. Photo by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis.

Fossil fuel transition back in draft pact for UN Summit of the Future after outcry

The new text of a UN pact for the high-level event brings back a mention of the headline COP28 agreement

Swiss propose expanding climate finance donors, academics urge new thinking

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

IPCC's input into key UN climate review at risk as countries clash

IPCC’s input into key UN climate review at risk as countries clash over timeline

Most governments want reports ready before the next global stocktake, but a dozen developing nations are opposed over inclusivity concerns

UN climate talks

Paris Agreement

UN climate chief warns of "steep mountain to climb" after Bonn

UN climate chief warns of “steep mountain to climb” for COP29 after Bonn blame-game

Countries expressed disappointment as key negotiations on climate finance and emissions-cutting measures made scant progress at mid-year talks

Cop28 boss' appeal to raise climate targets met with indifference

Cop28 boss’ appeal to raise climate targets met with total indifference

Sultan Al Jaber urged governments to update their national climate targets by September. Not one heeded the call

Public banks agree to check investments against countries’ climate plans

Ten multilateral development banks have agreed on how to make sure their investments meet climate goals. But experts told Climate Home the rules do not go far enough.

Paris agreement’s police force begins with rebuke to Vatican

The Pope’s home state has not yet issued a climate plan, which is against the rules of the Paris Agreement it ratified last year

What is the global stocktake of climate action and why does it matter?

The first Global Stocktake will tell us collective efforts need to be stepped up to reach the Paris Agreement goals. The question is how countries will respond to it.

Industrial complex on the Meghna river, Bangladesh

AIIB finds gas plant in Bangladesh compatible with Paris goals

AIIB’s fast-tracking of a 600MW LNG plant could set a precedent for more development finance to fossil gas projects, campaigners warn

Brazil accused of backsliding in updated climate pledge to UN

While the Bolsonaro administration has nominally increased its 2030 target, a baseline shift allows Brazil to emit more than under its first Paris pledge

To close 1.5C gap, countries face call for another round of climate pledges by 2023

The Cop26 presidency is considering a proposal to strengthen ambition beyond the Glasgow summit, but it faces resistance from emerging economies

Paris Agreement