International: All stories
Brazil fights emissions cap for shipping
9 Mar 2018
Brazil is seeking to water down prospective climate targets for the shipping sector.
Central banks threat to green energy boom
9 Mar 2018
Central banks are emerging as a bigger threat to the green-energy revolution than Donald Trump.
Women coming off second best in the world of climate change
9 Mar 2018
Women are more likely than men to be affected by climate change, new studies show.
Luxembourg home to half world’s green bonds
9 Mar 2018
Luxembourg and its very international stock exchange are well positioned to become the standard bearer that leads the green and sustainable finance industry of the future.
Auckland City eyes green bonds issue
8 Mar 2018
Auckland Council could issue green bonds to cover the cost of cutting emissions and adapting to climate change.
BIG SEAS: Damaged coral could mean islands face giant waves
8 Mar 2018
Damage to coral reefs could mean that by 2100 some Pacific Islands could experience waves reaching the shore at more than twice the height of today’s seas.
Fiji's climate talks presidency turns messy
8 Mar 2018
Fiji's Nazhat Shameem Khan has been removed from her role in the UN climate talks presidency after what observers say was a protracted power struggle with Australian and European advisers.
Spanish bank announces €100 billion climate plan
8 Mar 2018
The second-largest bank in Spain has launched a 100 billion euros initiative to support sustainable development and combat climate change.
We must cut down on meat, says Greenpeace
8 Mar 2018
The world needs to cut the production and consumption of meat in half by 2050 in order to meet the climate goals of the Paris Agreement, a new Greenpeace report says.
Bloomberg has new climate job at the UN
8 Mar 2018
Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg has landed a new job as UN special envoy for climate change.
Record means Australia's solar future looks bright
8 Mar 2018
The future of Australia’s solar industry is looking bright after a record 3.5m panels were installed on rooftops last year, giving the equivalent output of a medium-sized coal-fired power station.
Life after plastic? We have inventions out there that promise a cleaner world
7 Mar 2018
As the backlash against plastic waste grows, industry is replacing and redesigning single-use products, from recyclable bottles to biodegradable film.
Antarctic sea ice shrinks for second straight year
7 Mar 2018
Sea ice cover in Antarctica has dropped to its second-lowest on record, Australian authorities said, adding that it was not yet clear what was driving the reduction after several years of record-highs.
Ontario permits sell out at first auction
7 Mar 2018
Ontario has participated in its first auction of carbon allowances as part of the Western Climate Initiative, selling 23,743,316 current-vintage allowances at a price of $C18.44 ($NZ19.66).
Sustainable eating will remain a minefield
7 Mar 2018
Millions of people probably feel confused, conflicted or downright overwhelmed by their eatging habits.
How America's clean coal dream unravelled
6 Mar 2018
Kemper power plant in the US promised to be a world leader in ‘clean coal’ technology but Guardian reporting found evidence top executives knew of construction problems and design flaws years before the scheme collapsed.
Half of world's oceans now fished industrially
6 Mar 2018
Data gathered from more than 70,000 vessels shows commercial fishing now covers a greater surface area than agriculture.
Paris aside, the health benefits are huge
6 Mar 2018
Health savings from cutting greenhouse gas emissions outweigh the cost of implementing the Paris Agreement, scientists say.
BRANCHING OUT: When Lego says green, it means green
6 Mar 2018
Fans of Lego can rest assured that when they come to use tree, leaf or bush pieces they will now more closely resemble the real thing.
Ban on bee-killer pesticide likely after new study
6 Mar 2018
A new study from the EU has found that the widespread use of a controversial pesticide on crops is harmful to the bee population.
Rio Tinto faces $84 billion shareholder revolt
5 Mar 2018
Australia’s second-biggest miner, Rio Tinto, faces a shareholder revolt over the role it plays in the country’s climate and energy debate.
Only one country to blame if Paris deal fails
5 Mar 2018
The Paris Agreement’s challenges should not be painted as a collective global failure: the US, with its malignant politics, is the only country that truly matters.
Climate change fallout no quick threat, says Chevron
5 Mar 2018
Climate change is critical to future energy markets but its effect on Chevron Corp’s oil and gas business will be minimal for decades to come, says a company report.
'Crazy' Arctic temperatures alarm scientists
5 Mar 2018
An alarming heatwave in the sunless winter Arctic is causing blizzards in Europe and forcing scientists to reconsider even their most pessimistic forecasts of climate change.
These people know climate change is real, it's deadly and it's here right now
5 Mar 2018
Are you driving around and flying on airplanes and ordering things to be shipped by truck and making money off oil stock like there’s no tomorrow? We are here to tell you there is a tomorrow and we are living in it.
How Scotland plans to meet climate change targets
5 Mar 2018
The Scottish government's new climate plan includes measures to significantly cut emissions from transport, buildings and industry to meet its target of a 66 per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions.
Canada pledges $1 billion to protect nature
2 Mar 2018
The Canadian Government plans to invest $1.3 billion to preserve the country’s land, oceans and wildlife.
SKIP THE DIP: It could be a good idea to stay on the beach
2 Mar 2018
People who swim in the sea are at significantly higher risk of stomach bugs, ear problems and other illnesses than those who stick to the sand.
Three NZ cities get high world ranking for renewable energy
1 Mar 2018
Three New Zealand urban areas are among 101 global cities getting more than 70 per cent of their electricity from renewable sources.
King penguins find their icy southern realm is shrinking
1 Mar 2018
King penguins – one of the most charismatic species of the Southern Ocean – are under threat from climate change.
Acid in oceans will soon get to work on reefs
1 Mar 2018
Many of the world’s coral reefs could begin to erode within 30 years as a result of increasing ocean acidity, according to new research.
Lloyd’s under pressure to get out of coal
1 Mar 2018
Lloyd’s of London, is under increasing pressure to back away from supporting the coal industry.
Southern Ocean has history of storing carbon
1 Mar 2018
The Southern Ocean – the 20 million-square kilometre stretch of sea that encircles the earth south of the 60th parallel – released vast amounts of carbon dioxide the last time the Earth warmed, scientists say.
Tokyo admits rainforest timber used for stadium
1 Mar 2018
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics organising committee has confirmed that 87 per cent of the plywood panels used to build its new national stadium come from southeast Asian rainforests.
Brussels eyes free transport on bad air days
1 Mar 2018
Brussels has moved to make the city’s public transport and bike share system free on the smoggiest days in a bid to drive down pollution levels.
Terrifying phenomenon is pushing species to extinction
28 Feb 2018
Scientists are alarmed by a rise in mass mortality events – when species die in their thousands. Is it all down to climate change?
German court rules cities can ban vehicles to tackle pollution
28 Feb 2018
Germany’s highest administrative court has ruled that diesel and other vehicles can be banned from some city streets as part of efforts to improve air quality,
China must sign up to climate rules, says EU
28 Feb 2018
EU foreign ministers have set a collision course with China in a statement calling for the same rules to bind all countries under the Paris climate deal.
Mangroves making way for fish farms
28 Feb 2018
Deforestation – often to make way for fish farming – has seen the global area of mangroves decline by 2 per cent between 2000 and 2012.
OIL MYTHS: Seven tales the fossil fuel industry loves to tell
27 Feb 2018
In the past month, major fossil fuel players have made big announcements regarding climate change. But the idea of a “green” oil company producing “clean” fossil fuels is a dangerous myth.
China could become a leader in green finance
27 Feb 2018
Experts gathered in London have argued over whether China could dominate the green financing market in years to come.
Ireland to pump €22b into low-carbon economy
27 Feb 2018
The Irish Government has announced plans to spend €22 billion over the next four years to aid the country’s journey to a low-carbon economy.
How media framing limits public debate on oil exploration
27 Feb 2018
Some of the most important societal changes have been made because of direct action, but this isn’t always the story the mainstream media reports.
DiCaprio in deal to save chunk of Indian Ocean
26 Feb 2018
A foundation set up by actor Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the investors that worked on a deal that has led to the Seychelles creating protected areas "the size of Great Britain" in the Indian Ocean.
DO THE GRAPH: What's the weather future for your kids?
26 Feb 2018
Want to compare the average global temperatures you and your mother knew with those your children will experience? Make your own graph.
Take your brolly to Broome ... it's had 1.5m of rain this year
26 Feb 2018
It has been a soggy start to the year in the Western Australian town of Broome. In the two months of 2018, 1.5 metres of rain has fallen,
Climate will push European cities to breaking point
23 Feb 2018
A new study highlights the urgent need to adapt urban areas across Europe to cope with floods, droughts and heatwaves.
Ban Ki-Moon to lead global green growth push
23 Feb 2018
Former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon will take over as head of a global organisation promoting sustainable economic growth.
Perfumes and soaps rival vehicles as smog source
23 Feb 2018
Everyday items such as soaps, perfume, paint and pesticides contribute as heavily to certain sorts of air pollution as cars and trucks.
Recyclability is the name of the plastics game
23 Feb 2018
The plastics industry is changing fast, and the way our food and products are packaged could look totally different in just a few years.
Oil refinery fire at key Victoria facility
16 Apr 2026
Explosions and towering flames were reported as a significant fire broke out at one of Australia’s major oil refineries.
Trump takes a ‘wrecking ball’ to independent scientific advisory board
Thu 30 Apr 2026
Without the impartial oversight of its board, the National Science Foundation is now “fully at the behest of the White House,” experts warn.
China’s leadership calls for ‘strict control’ of fossil fuels
Tue 28 Apr 2026
Chinese government leaders published a policy document on 22 April – Earth Day – calling for stricter controls on fossil-fuel consumption and greater oversight of heavy emitters.
EU faces ‘China shock’ as EV imports drive Beijing’s record surplus with bloc
Fri 1 May 2026
The EU is experiencing a prolonged “China shock” as a flood of Chinese EVs into Europe helped push Beijing to a record surplus with the bloc.
UK scientists to fire salt water into the sky in bid to tackle climate crisis
Fri 1 May 2026
Government supporting new geoengineering techniques as race against unregulated companies seeking to capitalise on need for climate cooling tech heats up.
Canada, Alberta close in on carbon price agreement, sources say
Wed 29 Apr 2026
Canada and Alberta are expected to strike a deal in the next two weeks that will increase the price on carbon for the province's industrial emitters, but a broader agreement to tackle oil sands greenhouse gases and green-light a new crude oil export pipeline remains elusive.
India submits new climate action pledges to UN body, flags condition to fulfil promise
Wed 29 Apr 2026
India has formally submitted its pledge to the UN climate body, underline importing conditions noting the developing countries' committments cannot be fulfilled without adequate support in terms of finance and technology transfer.
Tuvalu to host world leaders before COP31 summit
16 Apr 2026
Tuvalu, the Pacific nation at the forefront of the global climate crisis, will host a special meeting of world leaders before this year’s Cop31 summit, as the conference president expresses “complete faith” in Chris Bowen to lead tough negotiations.
Drowned chicks and food scarcity: Emperor penguin and Antarctic fur seal now endangered
13 Apr 2026
The primary drivers are shrinking sea ice and warming oceans driven by climate change.
Rationing power and diluting petrol – how African countries are coping with effects of Iran war
30 Mar 2026
Countries across Africa have taken measures such as diluting petrol and restricting electricity consumption to cope with the fuel crisis triggered by the US and Israel's war in Iran.
Beef production drives 40% of agriculture-linked forest destruction, Brazil leads
26 Mar 2026
Beef production is the leading driver of agriculture-linked deforestation, accounting for 40% of all forest clearing done to open space for food production, according to details of a study released on Tuesday.
Extreme heat threatens global food systems, UN agencies warn
23 Apr 2026
Extreme heat is pushing global agrifood systems to the brink, threatening the livelihoods and health of more than a billion people, according to a new report by the U.N.'s food and weather agencies.
