International: All stories
UN panel wants halt to CDM coal projects
8 Jul 2011
A United Nations panel of technical experts has called for the immediate suspension of coal projects under the Clean Development Mechanisms after an analysis revealed that current rules could lead to millions of artificial carbon credits, the lobby group CDM Watch says.
California postpones trading scheme
1 Jul 2011
California is delaying its emissions trading scheme for a year.
Hydrogen car technology hits the fast lane
1 Jul 2011
Development of major infrastructure for hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles is going ahead after a successful round-the world "test drive".
Disasters drain Asia-Pacific economies
1 Jul 2011
Asia-Pacific countries must pull together to overcome natural calamities that have set back the region’s road to economic recovery, a United Nations official told a disaster risk reduction meeting in Bangkok.
Australia votes $4m for climate change work
24 Jun 2011
The Australian Government has announced $4.2 million worth of grants for priority research to help communities to prepare for climate change.
Six things companies need to know about climate change
24 Jun 2011
Most businesses in a global survey have described responding to climate risks or investing in adaptation as a business opportunity.
Why cities are at the business end of climate challenge
24 Jun 2011
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on United States mayors to help in the worldwide fight against climate change and other energy challenges.
Why food and jobs will go as water dries up
17 Jun 2011
A worldwide shortage of water for agriculture will increasingly affect rural jobs and food supplies, says a new survey.
Emissions trading is best, says Shell chief
17 Jun 2011
Emissions trading schemes are a better way of tackling carbon pollution than government subsidies of renewable energy projects, says a senior Shell executive.
Get rid of soot and smog, urges report
17 Jun 2011
Fast action to curb soot and smog could improve human health, generate higher crop yields, reduce climate change and slow the melting of the Arctic, according to a new report.
How the majors deal with sustainability
17 Jun 2011
Canadian business analyst and Investing For The Soul founder Ron Robins explains why so many top international firms are incorporating sustainability into their business plans:
Huge benefits in forest spending, says UN
10 Jun 2011
Investing a relatively small amount each year in the forestry sector could halve deforestation, create millions of new jobs and help to tackle the devastating effects of climate change, says a new UN report.
Act now on Cancun pact, urges climate chief
10 Jun 2011
Amid new warnings about the rise in greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, the top UN climate change official has called on governments to make progress in the fight against global warming.
Parties battle over carbon farming plans
10 Jun 2011
The Gillard Government has called on the Opposition to stop political game-playing which could delay Australian farmers and rural communities from securing significant benefits under the Carbon Farming Initiative.
If only they’d bought more green cars …
10 Jun 2011
Carbon emissions from cars and light commercial vehicles could have been cut by more than a third in 2010, if Australians had made greener purchasing decisions, a new report says.
Carbon moves could do good, says Garnaut
3 Jun 2011
The introduction of a price on carbon will not disrupt the development of the Australian economy, and could even lead to a wave of innovation.
Carbon emissions reach record high
3 Jun 2011
Energy-related carbon-dioxide emissions in 2010 were the highest in history, according to the latest estimates by the International Energy Agency.
Jet fuel industry viable, say scientists
3 Jun 2011
Establishing an Australian and New Zealand aviation biofuels industry is a viable proposition, according to scientists and the region’s major industry players.
French get ready to market green coal
3 Jun 2011
A French engineering company says it has started construction of three industrial plants producing biocoal - also known as green coal.
Go natural, UN tells fashion designers
3 Jun 2011
Fashion designers have been asked by the United Nations to make more use of natural and recycled clothing and fabrics.
Australia signs energy pact with Germany
3 Jun 2011
Australia and Germany have committed to increased cooperation in the resource and energy sectors from greater investment through to closer collaboration in research and development.
Legal eagles look at help for island nations
3 Jun 2011
Legal experts from around the world, joined by UN Ambassadors, have ended a groundbreaking meeting to look for answers to long-term risks for island nations posed by climate impacts.
Metal recycling ‘discouragingly low,’ says UN
27 May 2011
Metal recycling rates worldwide are discouragingly low, according to a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme.
… and mountains of e-waste grow world-wide
27 May 2011
With the mountains of hazardous waste from electronic products growing daily, the United Nations has called for new recycling technologies and regulations to safeguard both public health and the environment.
Europe keeps emissions under control
27 May 2011
Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions grew last year on the back of an economic recovery, but were still below cap.
Watchdog slams new gas calculation rules
27 May 2011
New rules for calculating emission reductions from industrial gas projects undermine the Montreal Protocol and risk carbon leakage, CDM Watch says.
UK carbon budget sets course for cuts
20 May 2011
While the New Zealand Government is grappling with its 2011 financial budget, the British Government is setting its fourth carbon budget.
Why world economies must go green
20 May 2011
The world must radically alter the way it produces and consumes materials if genuinely sustainable development is going to take root, the head of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation said yesterday.
UN hands out six green star awards
20 May 2011
An organisation tackling health-threatening pollution in developing countries and a renowned academic working to make houses safer during earthquakes are among the recipients of UN awards announced yesterday.
Budget lines up carbon price programmes
13 May 2011
The Gillard Government says this week’s budget alters some climate change programmes to better align with its carbon price objective as Australia moves to a clean energy future.
Biofuels project wins $5m funding
13 May 2011
A government grant of $5 million is a further step toward establishing a Biofuels Research Institute in Australia.
Renewable energy can do the job, say experts
13 May 2011
Renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind, biomass and hydropower could meet nearly 80 per cent of the world’s energy supplies by 2050, a United Nations-backed report says.
They are the Champions … of the Earth
13 May 2011
Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon, singer Angélique Kidjo and adventurer Louis Palmer are among this year’s five winners of a United Nations award that honours contributions to the global effort to protect the environment.
Billion tonnes of food thrown away, says report
13 May 2011
About a third of all the food produced for human consumption each year – roughly 1.3 billion tonnes – is lost or wasted, according to a new study.
UN energy report falls short, says WFC
13 May 2011
The new IPCC report on renewable energy provides a litmus test for all policy makers, proving renewable energy is the world's number-one energy source in the future, but it falls short on concrete policy recommendations, the World Future Council says.
EU adopts new way to protect biodiversity
13 May 2011
The European Commission has a new strategy to protect and improve the state of Europe's biodiversity over the next decade.
EC outlines future system of free credits
6 May 2011
The European Commission has announced how free carbon credits will be given to industry after 2013.
UN aims for world ban on pesticide
6 May 2011
The insecticide endosulfan has been added to the list of persistent organic pollutants to be eliminated worldwide.
Clark urges businesses to go low carbon
29 Apr 2011
Former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark has made an international appeal for businesses to transform their enterprises into low-carbon operations that are environmentally sound and benefit communities.
Royal wedding a lot of hot ... emissions
29 Apr 2011
A New Zealand carbon-footprinting organisation says that today’s royal wedding could generate nearly 7000 tonnes of greenhouse gases.
NZ drags chain in drive for green growth
21 Apr 2011
All over the world, writes British High Commission first secretary TONY CLEMSON in a personal view, countries are going low-carbon and getting ready to reap the financial rewards. But not New Zealand.
Carbon pollution climbs in Australia
21 Apr 2011
Carbon pollution is continuing to rise in Australia, according to latest figures from the Department of Climate Change.
Climate-fight billions can be raised, says EU
21 Apr 2011
The European Union says that it is possible to raise the huge amounts of money needed to address climate change in developing countries.
Canberra okays $104m solar energy project
15 Apr 2011
One of the world’s biggest solar thermal projects has been given the green light by the Australian Government.
Consumer watchdog takes green firm to court
15 Apr 2011
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued proceedings against Global Green Plan Ltd alleging contempt of court.
UN spotlight goes on rainforest threats
15 Apr 2011
Officials from more than 35 nations will gather at a United Nations-backed conference next month to discuss the common challenges faced by the world’s three major rainforest regions.
Design a green app and win $10,000
15 Apr 2011
The United Nations has launched a contest that will reward the winner with $10,000 for devising the most innovative “app,” or mobile telephone application, that tackles the subject of climate change.
ARW wraps up biodiesel deal
8 Apr 2011
Australian listed company Australian Renewable Fuels (ARW) says it has finalised acquisition of its largest competitor, Biodiesel Producers.
Green Africa envy of the world, says UN
8 Apr 2011
Africa is well poised to take advantage of a host of opportunities on the continent for building a green economy, says a senior United Nations official.
India orders first floating solar plant
8 Apr 2011
Australian solar power company Sunengy has entered into a partnership with India’s largest integrated private power utility, Tata Power, to build a pilot for its first floating solar-power plant, using patented Liquid Solar Array (LSA) technology.
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.
US official: No hope for global carbon tax
Today 11:15am
A U.S. negotiator warned other countries in a closed-door meeting that efforts to rein in climate pollution from ships has "no prospect" of success.
China’s leadership calls for ‘strict control’ of fossil fuels
Today 11:15am
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 aims to ease energy blow from Iran war with tax cuts, gas coordination
Thu 23 Apr 2026
The European Commission set out plans on Wednesday to cut electricity taxes and coordinate the summer refill of countries' gas storage, as it seeks to cushion the energy fallout from the Iran war.
Burning wood for power worse for climate than gas equivalent, report finds
21 Apr 2026
Research casts doubt on plans by the UK government to offer subsidies for carbon capture attached to the power source.
Mark Carney just picked his lane on climate change
17 Feb 2026
COMMENT: Mark Carney's time as prime minister has been defined in part by his decision to roll back Trudeau-era climate policies.
Ocean protections clash with mining pressure in Indonesia’s most diverse marine ecosystem
13 Apr 2026
Long regarded as a global model for ocean conservation, Raja Ampat ecosystems are now under pressure, as concerns grow over the expansion of nickel mining alongside a surge of international tourism.
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
Thu 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.
