Filtered by category: Climate Change News × Clear
As fires burn and temperatures soar, it’s time to imagine a world beyond GDP
Matched: climate
GDP counts environmental destruction as economic gain, since activities like clear-cutting forests raise output figures. As climate disasters intensify, critics argue this metric is fundamentally flawed. Alternative measures that account for natural wealth depletion and environmental degradation are gaining attention as policymakers face pressure to adopt frameworks better suited to long-term ecological and economic sustainability.
When taps run dry in the Caribbean, it’s not enough to blame El Niño
Matched: climate
Caribbean nations are facing severe water shortages, with governments quick to blame El Niño. But experts argue climate change is amplifying the weather pattern's effects, warming land and seas beyond historical norms. The region's water infrastructure and storage capacity are also inadequate. Vulnerable Caribbean communities bear disproportionate consequences despite contributing little to global emissions driving these worsening conditions.
Quarter of countries still missing UN climate plans 18 months after deadline
Matched: climate
About 45 countries, including Egypt, Vietnam, Argentina and the Philippines, have still not submitted their national climate plans to the UN, despite a deadline that passed 18 months ago. The missing submissions represent a quarter of Paris Agreement signatories and amount to a breach of the treaty's requirements.
China’s coal power rebounds as record clean energy goes to waste
Matched: climate
China's coal power generation is rising despite record renewable energy output, as long-term contracts guarantee coal plants a market regardless of actual demand. This arrangement effectively crowds out cleaner energy sources, with surplus clean power going to waste. The finding comes from a new report highlighting structural market problems undermining China's clean energy transition.
A legal fiction blocking billions in climate finance will be challenged this week
Matched: climate
UN member states are meeting in New York this week to negotiate a new international tax framework that could unlock up to $500 billion annually in climate finance. At issue is a legal convention allowing multinational corporations and wealthy individuals to shelter money in low-tax jurisdictions, depriving developing nations of funds needed for climate action. Supporters say reforming these rules could significantly boost available climate finance.
Santa Marta coalition tested as co-chair Colombia turns back to fossil fuels
Matched: climate
Colombia's shift back toward fossil fuel development is testing the Santa Marta coalition it co-chairs, which advocates for phasing out oil and gas. Outgoing environment minister Irene Vélez Torres downplayed the impact, saying the coalition can function without Colombia's leadership. The situation highlights tensions between the country's climate commitments and its economic reliance on fossil fuel revenues.
Southeast Asia’s fragile grids threaten billions in clean energy investment
Matched: climate
Southeast Asia's outdated and unstable electricity grids are putting billions of dollars in renewable energy investment at risk. Developers require reliable infrastructure and consistent government policies to expand clean energy capacity. Without upgrades, the region risks failing to meet climate targets while struggling to keep pace with rapidly growing electricity demand.
Is FOMO undermining climate diplomacy?
Matched: climate
COP climate summits have grown dramatically in size, with attendance from politicians, business figures and others far outpacing growth in the actual negotiating community. Critics argue this surge of participants, driven partly by fear of missing out on a high-profile global event, is hampering rather than helping the diplomatic work needed to reach meaningful climate agreements.
Governments weigh response to US going alone on deep-sea mining
Matched: climate
The International Seabed Authority has begun legal proceedings against the US over its unilateral push to permit deep-sea mining, as governments gathered for annual talks in Kingston. The move follows the Trump administration's efforts to fast-track seabed mining independently of the UN-backed body, which regulates mineral extraction in international waters under the Law of the Sea treaty.
Egypt seeks to unlock renewable potential to power regional clean energy hub
Matched: climate
Egypt is working to become a regional clean energy hub by developing its renewable energy capacity, particularly solar and wind. Europe is investing in the effort, seeing Egypt as a potential source of clean electricity imports. The initiative aims to help Egypt reduce its own emissions while creating a new revenue stream, leveraging the country's significant untapped renewable resources.
UN chief warns climate crisis “in overdrive” as El Niño threatens to fuel the fire
Matched: climate
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned the climate crisis is "in overdrive," with El Niño expected to worsen conditions. Politicians and scientists linked recent deadly wildfires to climate change, calling for stronger emissions reductions and adaptation measures. Guterres urged world leaders to take more ambitious action to address accelerating climate impacts.
Hormuz crisis speeds up transition to electric cars, IEA data shows
Matched: climate
Rising oil prices driven by the Hormuz crisis accelerated electric vehicle adoption between April and June, according to IEA data. As conflict involving Iran pushed fuel costs higher, more drivers opted for electric cars over internal combustion engine vehicles, suggesting geopolitical instability may be hastening the broader energy transition away from oil dependency.
“Do we have the appetite?” – Shell’s fear of Niger Delta clean-up costs revealed
Matched: climate
Shell's internal documents reveal the company worried about the financial burden of cleaning up oil spills in Nigeria's Niger Delta before selling off its onshore assets. The files show executives questioned whether the company had the willingness to bear remediation costs. Critics say the asset sales allowed Shell to escape liability for decades of pollution affecting local communities and the environment.
UN bid to keep 1.5C alive exposes deepening divisions over fossil fuels
Matched: climate
Negotiations over a UN initiative to keep global warming within 1.5C have highlighted stark divisions between nations. Vulnerable island states and poorer countries are pushing for the effort to accelerate fossil fuel phase-out, while Arab oil-producing states are resisting, calling instead for continued investment in oil and gas. No consensus has emerged on the role of fossil fuels in climate action.
The case for making polluters pay has moved into the mainstream
Matched: climate
Fossil fuel companies are expected to report large profits linked to the Iran war, while Europe faces heatwaves and wildfires. The coincidence is fueling mainstream debate about whether polluters should bear the costs of climate-related damage. The idea of making fossil fuel firms financially responsible for climate harm, once considered fringe, is gaining broader public and political traction.
Will new UK PM’s green measures at home cause climate finance pain overseas?
Matched: climate
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government has introduced domestic green measures including reduced bus fares and lower household electricity taxes. However, concerns have emerged over climate finance implications abroad, after the UK converted its contribution to a new global forest fund from a grant to a loan — a change critics say could undermine international climate commitments and burden developing nations seeking funding for forest protection.
Allegations of harm at China-backed transition minerals projects rise
Matched: climate
Allegations of harm tied to Chinese-backed transition minerals projects are increasing, according to new data. The rise in recorded abuses — affecting communities near mining sites — coincides with the launch of a new mediation mechanism aimed at resolving disputes between companies and affected communities. China is a dominant investor in minerals considered critical for the clean energy transition.
Energy transition policymaking must evolve to fit an age of rupture
Matched: climate
Global energy transition policy is shifting away from climate-focused frameworks toward priorities like economic competitiveness, energy security, and green industrial strategy. While these drivers are accelerating real-world change, analysts warn the shift risks undermining commitments to a just and equitable transition, potentially leaving vulnerable nations and communities behind as wealthier countries reshape policy around national self-interest.
Extreme heat costing India’s poorest workers 2% of GDP, survey finds
Matched: climate
India's informal workers lose around $78 billion in wages annually due to extreme heat, equivalent to roughly 2% of GDP, according to a survey. Productivity declines and heat-related illness among the country's poorest workers are driving the losses, with conditions expected to worsen as temperatures continue to intensify due to climate change.
Top maritime court rejects bid to halt UN deep-sea mining inquiry
Matched: climate
A top international maritime court has rejected a bid by two subsidiaries of The Metals Company to halt a UN inquiry into potential contract breaches. The probe was launched after the company applied for US-sponsored deep-sea mining permits, bypassing the standard international approval process. The court's decision allows the investigation to proceed.
Flood deaths in West African cities raise fraught issue of slum evictions
Matched: climate
Deadly floods in West African cities are highlighting tensions around informal settlements built on flood-prone land. Poor urban planning and rapid population growth have pushed low-income residents into vulnerable areas. Authorities face difficult choices between protecting lives through evictions and displacing already-marginalized communities, with no clear consensus on how to manage the growing crisis.
Most “zombie credits” locked out of new UN carbon market after China and India snub
Matched: climate
China and India have declined to authorize the transfer of old carbon credits to the new UN carbon market, effectively blocking most so-called "zombie credits" — low-quality offsets from outdated projects — from entering the system. The move eases concerns that the new market would be flooded with environmentally dubious credits, and is seen as a positive step for the integrity of the emerging mechanism.
Africa can lead the Age of Electrification
Matched: climate
Africa has both a major opportunity and significant challenge ahead as global electrification accelerates. The continent can position itself as a leader in this transition, but doing so will require overcoming substantial barriers. The piece highlights the dual nature of the electrification agenda for Africa — potential for development and energy access alongside the difficulties of achieving it at scale.
Campaigners oppose Dangote’s planned Kenya refinery over climate and ecological risks
Matched: climate
Campaigners are opposing plans by Dangote Industries to build a large oil refinery in Kenya, criticising the project as environmental recklessness. The proposed facility, which would be Africa's second largest oil refinery, is planned for an ecologically sensitive area. Critics warn of significant climate and ecological risks, raising concerns about the project's potential damage to the surrounding environment.
Major emitting countries knew of climate risks decades earlier than claimed
Matched: climate
Governments of major carbon-emitting nations were aware of climate risks from fossil fuels as far back as the 1960s, earlier than publicly acknowledged. Despite this knowledge, they withheld information, reportedly to avoid accountability for their role in driving global warming.