International: All stories
China eyes nationwide emission trading
7 Dec 2012
China hopes to extend its pilot carbon emission trading system to across the nation in its new five- year plan starting 2016, a member of the Chinese delegation to the Doha climate talks said yesterday.
Energy savings only way left, says economist
7 Dec 2012
Energy savings are one of the “few valuable options” left for humankind to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, says the chief economist of the International Energy Agency.
New phone app digs up the dirt on soil
7 Dec 2012
Australia’s national soil databases can now be accessed in real time online through a new iPad app called SoilMapp.
This year set to be one of warmest since 1850
30 Nov 2012
Temperatures this year are the ninth highest on record since 1850, says a United Nations report released this week.
Permafrost hosts massive danger, says UN
30 Nov 2012
Huge stores of carbon trapped under the northern hemisphere’s frozen expanses risk being unleashed and becoming a major factor in global warming, a new United Nations report warns.
UN wants private sector to stand up
30 Nov 2012
A new United Nations-led partnership aimed at showcasing innovative models for fighting climate change says it’s time the private sector became a significant investor.
Australian ETS links up with the world
30 Nov 2012
Legislation passed by Senate this week will enable Australia and Europe to begin linking their emissions trading systems.
New strategy aims to help primary producers
30 Nov 2012
A revised climate change strategy launched this week will help to build a sustainable, strong and viable future for Australia’s primary industries, a Government minister says.
The answer is a fish’s ear …
30 Nov 2012
Scientists believe that fish ear bones and their distinctive growth rings can offer clues to the likely impacts of climate change in aquatic environments.
Gas emissions levels up by 20%, says UN
23 Nov 2012
The world’s concentration of warming gases like carbon dioxide has increased by 20 per cent since 2000, a new United Nations report says.
California dips toe in carbon market
23 Nov 2012
California has kicked off its cap-and-trade programme to reduce carbon dioxide emissions amid speculation about whether it will nose-dive or become a national model.
Market leaders grab cheap credits
23 Nov 2012
Some of the companies that have complained loudest about the EU's environmental measures are using the zone’s Emissions Trading System to give money to rivals in other countries instead of cutting their own greenhouse gas emissions, it has emerged.
Australia happy trading scheme is working
23 Nov 2012
The Australian experience since the July launch of its emissions trading scheme had proved positive, a senior diplomat has told corporate leaders meeting in Brussels.
Europe decides when a bicycle isn’t a bicycle
23 Nov 2012
European lawmakers have decided what is a bicycle … and what isn’t.
New TVs cut hundreds from energy bill, say makers
23 Nov 2012
Two major television manufacturers claim their multi-star rated sets can save owners hundreds of dollars a year on their energy bills.
US leads energy race, says report
16 Nov 2012
The global energy map is changing in dramatic fashion, the International Energy Agency said as it launched the 2012 edition of the World Energy Outlook.
EU climate chief demands action
16 Nov 2012
European Union member states must reach agreement before the end of the year on a stop-gap measure to tackle the virtual collapse of the bloc’s main instrument for cutting carbon emissions, a senior EU official says.
Greenies threaten to sue Netherlands
16 Nov 2012
The Netherlands Government is facing legal action unless it takes swift action on climate change.
Storage problems solved, say inventors
16 Nov 2012
Queensland technology company RedFlow has launched an innovative renewable energy battery storage system - the M90 - at the University of Queensland..
Good on ya, Julia, says UN chief
16 Nov 2012
Australia has been publicly thanked by the United Nations for signing on for the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.
We must ramp up carbon cuts, says report
9 Nov 2012
The world will have to cut the rate of carbon emissions by an unprecedented rate to 2050 to stop global temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius this century, a new report says.
World trading system on way, says expert
9 Nov 2012
A global platform for carbon trading might be in place this decade, an official at one of the world's major environmental think tanks said.
World of waste ... and it's worsening
9 Nov 2012
Waste management issues are becoming increasingly crucial for the promotion of environmental sustainability, delegates at a United Nations conference have been told.
Billions use Internet ... but far too many can’t
9 Nov 2012
More than two billion people use the Internet, but greater efforts must be made to bridge the ongoing digital divide and ensure that everyone around the world can harness its benefits, says a top United Nations official.
US forces going green to fuel military machine
9 Nov 2012
The United States military is going green – for security reasons.
Google keeps an eye on the land
9 Nov 2012
Detailed satellite imagery about Australian landscapes will soon be only a button push away for land managers in community and non-profit sectors thanks to a partnership between scientists and Google.
$22m carbon farming plan on the move
9 Nov 2012
A grants programme to help indigenous land managers to establish carbon farming businesses has begun in Australia.
EU cans plans to limit ‘hot air’ credits
2 Nov 2012
EU environment ministers have abandoned plans to limit excess supply of Kyoto-era carbon credits on the world’s markets after seven eastern European states backed Poland’s opposition to the measure.
Food key to Australia’s role in Asia
2 Nov 2012
Primary producers, agricultural businesses and regional communities will be big winners as Australia positions itself as a leading food and fibre supplier to the growing Asian marketplace in the Asian century.
How Super Sandy sucked up warming sea surface
2 Nov 2012
Anthropogenic climate change has contributed to sea surface warming, influencing the intensity of storms like Hurricane Sandy, a leading climate scientist believes.
Millions back move to smarter energy use
2 Nov 2012
The Australian Government has announced new funding rounds for three energy efficiency grant programmes to drive smarter energy use in business, local government, households and communities.
Brussels wants to ban $500m in ERU credits
26 Oct 2012
The European Commission has proposed an Emissions Trading System ban on $US570 million of Kyoto-era carbon credits from non-EU countries such as Russia, which have not signed up to a second Kyoto commitment period.
Bioenergy process bad, says report
26 Oct 2012
Bioenergy production is often increasing greenhouse gas emissions in the short term even though the European Union counts it as a carbon neutral technology, according to an unreleased report obtained by agency EurActiv.
Europe on track to meet Kyoto targets
26 Oct 2012
Emissions of greenhouse gases in the European Union fell on average by 2.5 per cent from 2010 to 2011, although several countries increased emissions.
Korea becomes home of climate fund
26 Oct 2012
South Korea has beaten off five challenges to become host country for a United Nations fund meant to manage billions of dollars to help developing nations to combat climate change.
Traders fight over-supply in Europe
26 Oct 2012
International carbon traders are continuing to push for action on over-supply in Europe.
Traders call for intervention in Europe
19 Oct 2012
International carbon traders are calling for market intervention in Europe – including cancelling next year’s market auction of credits.
Europe’s biofuel makers threaten revolt
19 Oct 2012
Representatives of Europe’s biofuels industry have threatened to sue the European Commission if it proceeds with plans to limit crop-based biofuels because of their indirect effect on greenhouse gas emissions.
Scientists see big changes in Antarctic
19 Oct 2012
Rapid changes taking place across Antarctica will have significant impact on global climate, says a leading scientist.
World Cup cuts South Africa's carbon footprint
19 Oct 2012
South Africa’s carbon footprint for 2010, the year it hosted the football World Cup, was lower than previously expected, says a new United Nations report.
Why China is no longer the scapegoat
12 Oct 2012
China has long been perceived as a laggard on climate action, and used as scapegoat by other countries to delay action, says a new report.
Greens praise Aussie ETS changes
12 Oct 2012
The Australian Greens have been quick to praise the passage of a package of bills linking the country’s emissions trading scheme to the price in Europe.
Scientists urge Obama, Romney to act
12 Oct 2012
More than 100 scientists and government officials in Florida are calling on America’s presidential candidates to address the danger of sea level rise at the third and final presidential debate.
Pioneer sees Singapore as trading centre
12 Oct 2012
Singapore might not have a carbon tax regime yet but being a financial hub, it might be poised to be a centre for water and carbon trading.
Forget that new laptop …upgrade the old one
12 Oct 2012
Upgrading old laptops is more energy-efficient than purchasing newer, greener models, according to German scientists.
Brussels to monitor shipping emissions
5 Oct 2012
The European Commission will introduce an emissions monitoring system in early 2013, in a bid to curb the environmental footprint left by the shipping industry.
Plan B perhaps, but there’s no Planet B …
5 Oct 2012
A top United Nations official has emphasized the impact that climate change has on food security, peace and stability, and has called on countries to cooperate to address the phenomenon.
Farmers target of climate investment help
5 Oct 2012
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has released the Filling the Research Gap: Research Strategy
Why Romney in the White House scares Europe
28 Sep 2012
European Union officials are privately alarmed at the chilling effect that a Mitt Romney win in the US presidential election could have on global climate talks, says the EurActiv agency.
UN chief urges Pacific leaders to act
28 Sep 2012
The United Nations is counting on the leadership and active engagement of Pacific nations in tackling some of today’s pressing challenges, including sustainable development, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said yesterday.
No room for the timid: setting Australia’s 2035 emissions target is a daring tightrope act
Today 11:00am
Any week now, Australia will set its 2035 emissions target. It must signal the nation’s strong ambition on climate action, to drive policy and investment. And it must avoid being seen as either unrealistic or too costly.
California is backsliding on climate progress. It’s (mostly) Gavin Newsom’s fault
Today 11:00am
The California Supreme Court just gave state officials a golden opportunity to revitalize the rooftop solar industry, helping millions of homes and businesses lower their electric bills and fight the climate crisis.
Is historically arid Beijing ready for a wetter future?
Mon 25 Aug 2025
Beijing's mountainous northern Huairou district and neighbouring Miyun district received a year's worth of rain in a single week, triggering flash floods that devastated entire villages and killed 44 people in the deadliest flood since 2012.
EU wildfires hit new record as flames scorch area larger than Cyprus
Mon 25 Aug 2025
The area burned this year has exceeded the 1 million hectare mark for the first time since records started in 2006.
What happens to net zero if the trees don’t survive?
Wed 20 Aug 2025
When climate change undermines the climate plan.
Challenges persist in bid to mine the deep sea, even after boost from Trump
29 Jul 2025
After years of delay, the deep-sea mining plans of Canadian firm The Metals Company (TMC) now appear to be progressing as it pursues a controversial new path to securing a license to mine in international waters under U.S. jurisdiction.
India needs $467 billion climate finance by 2030 to decarbonise 4 key sectors
Mon 25 Aug 2025
India will need to mobilise USD $467 billion in climate finance by 2030 to put four of its most carbon-intensive sectors – power, steel, cement and transport – on a low-carbon pathway.
Rise in dengue fever outbreaks across the Pacific driven by the climate crisis, experts say
13 Aug 2025
Samoa, Fiji and Tonga among the worst affected amid warning the disease and others will become ‘more common and more serious’ as the planet warms.
Iconic Antarctic species at risk amid 'regime shift', with 'rapid and self-perpetuating changes'
Fri 22 Aug 2025
Scientists say there is emerging evidence of abrupt and potentially unstoppable changes in the Antarctic environment.
Africa’s top climate change challenges: a fairer deal on phasing out fossil fuels and mobilising funds
Fri 22 Aug 2025
African countries have made binding commitments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. To do this, they will need to shift to renewable energy and stop mining and using fossil fuels like oil and coal.
Bolivia will choose a new president but environmental activists see little hope of progress
Fri 22 Aug 2025
Many Indigenous and environmental leaders doubt the election will bring progress in stopping deforestation, wildfires or pollution in the Amazon.
Brazil issues last-ditch plea for countries to submit climate plans ahead of COP30
Wed 20 Aug 2025
Only 28 countries have submitted carbon-cutting proposals to the UN, with some of the biggest emitters yet to produce plans.
