International: All stories
Obama promises $150b for renewables and end to Middle East oil imports
2 Sep 2008
Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama has vowed to end the US "addiction" to Middle East oil, and to invest $150 billion in renewables if he becomes president.
Humans at war with Earth on climate change, says Lovelock
2 Sep 2008
The world could be on the brink of natural disaster and even the gloomiest predictions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's latest report are underestimating the current severity of climate change, Professor James Lovelock will say at a public lecture in London today.
Australia votes $14m to help endangered island neighbours
2 Sep 2008
Australia will provide $14.8 million to help vulnerable countries in the Asia-Pacific region to adapt to the effects of climate change.
Ban hails UN climate panel on 20th anniversary
2 Sep 2008
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday paid tribute to the accomplishments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), co-recipient of last year's Nobel Peace Prize, as he marked its 20th anniversary.
Accra talks bode well for future climate change negotiations, says UN
29 Aug 2008
Important progress has been made during the latest round of United Nations-led climate change talks in Ghana on key issues relating to a new international agreement to tackle global warming, the world body’s top official dealing with the issue said yesterday.
Poorer countries face $170 billion climate change bill
29 Aug 2008
A total of $US170 billion is needed between now and 2030 to enable developing countries to mitigate and adapt to the impact of climate change, the World Bank says.
New report lists advantages of scrapping fossil fuel subsidies
29 Aug 2008
A newly published UN report says scrapping fossil fuel subsidies could play an important role in cutting greenhouse gases while giving a small but not insignificant boost to the global economy.
New world-wide indexes designed to help carbon traders
29 Aug 2008
Dow Jones Indexes and the Chicago Climate Exchange, the world’s first - and North America’s only - integrated greenhouse gas emissions trading system, has announced the launch of two indexes which will serve as benchmarks for investors seeking exposure to the carbon trading market.
Japan finds a fact: Climate change is making whales thinner
29 Aug 2008
Japanese scientists claim to have discovered a key fact about minke whales after 20 years of butchering thousands of the mammals in the Southern Ocean.
Film-makers get chance to tell climate change stories
29 Aug 2008
The World Bank has launched a world-wide documentary competition that will highlight the social aspects of climate change as experienced by the film-makers.
Deforestation question splits delegates at Ghana conference
26 Aug 2008
Trading carbon emission rights between developed and developing nations has caused a split between delegates at international climate change talks in Ghana, reports AFP.
Australia must make room for climate change refugees, says report
26 Aug 2008
An immigration programme with a quota for climate change refugees is among recommendations in a report just released in Australia.
New UN reports warns of costs of inaction on climate change
26 Aug 2008
Government leaders must take urgent action to ensure that weather-related hazards, which are becoming more intense and frequent due to climate change, do not lead to a corresponding rise in disasters, a new UN-backed report says.
Climate change will deplete fisheries production, warns FAO
26 Aug 2008
Global warming and the consequent changes in climatic patterns will have strong impact on fisheries with far-reaching consequences for food and livelihood security of a sizeable section of the population, a UN agency warns.
Student’s build-in-a-day wind turbine is made from junk
26 Aug 2008
A wind turbine built from waste has earned a British student a first-class honours degree.
Electric plane smashes world record for endurance
26 Aug 2008
A solar powered plane has more than doubled the record for flight endurance by staying aloft for 82 hours and 37 minutes.
UN to set up climate-change centre for Pacific countries
22 Aug 2008
The United Nations and Samoa plan to establish an inter-agency climate change centre to help to coordinate support to Pacific Island countries fighting the impact of climate change.
Japan plans to label carbon footprints of store goods
22 Aug 2008
Japan is planning to join Britain and France in labelling consumer goods to show their carbon footprints, a government official said this week.
India accuses UN of bias as climate change talks resume
22 Aug 2008
Sparks could fly at the next round of international climate change negotiations which start today in Accra, Ghana, with India out to stub any attempts by Japan, the EU and the US to firm up an agenda against it and China.
World Bank names countries eligible for forest rewards
22 Aug 2008
The Democratic Republic of Congo and five other African countries have been included in a list of 14 that will take part in the World Bank's controversial Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF).
O’Reilly and son go big in Irish Sea oil and gas
22 Aug 2008
Ireland’s wealthy O’Reilly family, which has strong business interests in New Zealand, has invested heavily in oil and gas exploration in a move that could see them become what one London newspaper called the Ewings of the Emerald Isle.
Schools race to sign with solar power programme
22 Aug 2008
Almost 1400 schools across Australia have signed up for the Rudd Government’s $480 million National Solar Schools Programme.
Public happier with Personal Carbon Trading, study shows
19 Aug 2008
New research by Britain’s Institute for Public Policy Research reveals that the public favours Personal Carbon Trading (PCT) over other emission reduction policy options for individuals and households.
Scientists to discuss impact of aerosols on climate
19 Aug 2008
The influence aerosols have on climate is still one of the “great unknowns” in climate science, says Australian scientist Dr Leon Rotstayn.
Darwin, Cape Town warned to get ready for rising sea levels
19 Aug 2008
Two southern hemisphere coastal cities have been told of their vulnerability to climate change and have warned to take action.
Mexican border states join California in fighting climate change
19 Aug 2008
Six Mexican border states have pledged to strengthen cooperation with California in fighting climate change and to increase green investment through Public Private Partnerships.
Drought the big killer, says anthropologist-author
19 Aug 2008
Global warming is currently one the world's most pressing issues, but the phenomenon of climate change is not specific to the 21st century.
UN-backed group takes steps to establish new biofuel standard
15 Aug 2008
A United Nations-backed group of international experts has endorsed a first draft of a new global sustainability standard for biofuels to assess their economic, social and environmental effects.
Carbon credits undervalued, says report
15 Aug 2008
Latest figures from the northern hemisphere summer issue of the Global Carbon Report, researched and published by leading market intelligence provider IDEAcarbon, suggest that carbon is currently undervalued in light of changing market fundamentals.
Carbon sequestration has its problems, warns report
15 Aug 2008
Burying carbon dioxide from coal-fired plants could increase other pollutants, warns a new study.
BMW joins hydrogen cars on trail to nudge politicians
15 Aug 2008
The BMW Hydrogen 7 - the first hydrogen-powered luxury sedan – has hit the roads of the United States in an unprecedented cross-country journey.
Aussies vote $1 million to boost small wind-turbines
15 Aug 2008
The Australian Government is sinking more than $1 million into developing a stronger small wind-turbine industry.
UN chief urges young people to take active role in climate change fight
15 Aug 2008
Young people, who are adept at spreading new habits and technologies, are well placed to contribute to the fight against climate change, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said as he marked International Youth Day.
Round two of Garnaut report out early next month
15 Aug 2008
Australians will get more details early next month on their proposed emissions trading scheme.
Southern Ocean elephant seals dive deep for climate data
15 Aug 2008
Elephant seals are helping scientists to overcome a critical blind-spot in their ability to detect change in Southern Ocean circulation and sea-ice production and its influence on global climate.
New report paints bright future for second-generation biofuels
12 Aug 2008
Australia could develop a sustainable biofuels industry without forcing up food prices, according to a new report.
Japan sets date for power exchange to start carbon-credit trading
12 Aug 2008
The Japan Electric Power Exchange will start trading carbon credits in October on a trial basis as part of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's goal to cut greenhouse gases by more than half.
US companies can admit environmental violations on the web
12 Aug 2008
The US Environmental Protection Agency has announced a pilot project that allows regulated facilities nationwide to self-disclose environmental violations on the agency’s website.
New $27 million project will protect the birds and the bees
12 Aug 2008
A new project worth $26.45 million has been launched by the Global Environment Facility to better protect bees, bats and birds that are essential to the world’s crop production.
Flower growers face threat from EU emissions scheme
12 Aug 2008
Kenya’s horticulture industry is facing a new market access threat as the European Parliament prepares to vote on a new law that would see aviation included in the continental emissions trading scheme.
China grabs low-carbon export opportunities in clean tech race
8 Aug 2008
China is already the world’s leading renewable energy producer and is over-taking more developed economies in exploiting valuable economic opportunities, creating green-collar jobs and leading development of critical low-carbon technologies, says a new report to be published by the Britain-based Climate Group.
Dell comes under fire after carbon-neutral claim
8 Aug 2008
International computer giant Dell has been criticised after its claim that it is now officially a carbon-neutral company — five months ahead of its own projected schedule.
New UN report suggests how to boost cities’ resiliency to climate change
8 Aug 2008
With eight of the world’s 10 most populous cities situated near rivers or seas and already being exposed to such hazards as flooding, earthquakes and typhoons, a United Nations-backed report just released offers suggestions on how to enhance resiliency to threats emanating from climate change
Heavy-emitter label not fair, angry India tells NZ
8 Aug 2008
India is becoming increasingly angry at being labelled a major emitter of greenhouse gases.
ASX plans early futures market for emissions trading
8 Aug 2008
The Australian Securities Exchange has announced its intention to facilitate emissions trading at the earliest opportunity.
Asia emerging as centre of carbon trade programme
5 Aug 2008
Financial market analysts expect increased participation of Asian countries in the carbon credit trade, with most of them cornering big investments in clean development mechanism (CDM) projects.
Pro-coal energy minister calls UK protesters naïve
5 Aug 2008
Opponents of plans to build Britain’s first coal-fired power station in 20 years are naive, says UK Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks.
Climate change puts Canadian seniors' health at risk
5 Aug 2008
Canada's elderly population - expected to double in the next 25 years - will be especially hard-hit by the dire effects of climate change, warns a sprawling study by Health Canada.
Airlines under pressure to reduce freighter flight emissions
5 Aug 2008
The question of just how big a carbon footprint air cargo creates and what can the industry do to lessen its impact on the environment are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Patience a virtue when Prius battery supply chains go flat
5 Aug 2008
Waiting lists for the Toyota Prius have expanded sharply as demand outstrips the Japanese carmaker's capacity to build the petrol-electric hybrid vehicles.
Researchers compare the footprint of meat vs. plant-based dog foods. The differences were staggering.
Mon 13 Oct 2025
Global pet food emissions rival those of a small country. A new UK study reveals that switching dogs to plant-based foods could slash emissions tenfold—without sacrificing nutrition.
Why Trump is not a death knell for global climate action
Tue 14 Oct 2025
In his rambling speech to the United Nations last month, United States President Donald Trump described climate change as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world”.
China carbon prices hit two-year low as market faces oversupply pressures
Tue 14 Oct 2025
Carbon credit prices in China have fallen to their lowest point since mid-2023, pressured by an excess of supply and tepid demand amid ongoing adjustments to the national emissions trading system.
'Not up for discussion': Brussels rejects Washington's pressure on climate rules
Mon 13 Oct 2025
In response to US demands to roll back the EU's environmental legislation, the European Commission defended its autonomous power to adopt laws.
Government told to prepare for 2C warming by 2050
Today 10:45am
The UK should be prepared to cope with weather extremes as a result of at least 2C of global warming by 2050, independent climate advisers have said.
Renewables are a global economic engine, not a culture war threat
2 Oct 2025
Energy companies are learning this lesson faster than Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.
India calls on COP30 to focus on lack of funds for developing nations
Today 10:45am
India has said the United Nations climate conference in Belm, Brazil, should focus on tackling the critical shortage of resources that developing countries need to adapt to climate change and curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Familiar tensions emerge at the Pacific Islands Forum
26 Sep 2025
With China-Taiwan rivalry, China-Western competition, and big carbon emitters at odds with the islands on climate policy, there is plenty of tension to go around.
Scientists discovered something alarming seeping out from beneath the ocean around Antarctica
Mon 13 Oct 2025
Planet-heating methane is escaping from cracks in the Antarctic seabed as the region warms, with new seeps being discovered at an “astonishing rate".
Angola lowers climate ambition in blow to spirit of Paris Agreement
Tue 14 Oct 2025
Angola has scaled back its targets for reducing emissions in its new national climate plan, saying it chose “realism and implementability” over the Paris Agreement's calls for governments to set progressively more ambitious goals.
Four Brazilians to watch at COP30
Wed 15 Oct 2025
Influential Brazilians, from government figures to Indigenous activists, will take center stage during UN climate talks in the Amazon next month.
Climate critics try to discredit IPCC author for linking disasters to global warming
Mon 13 Oct 2025
Roger Pielke Jr. and oil industry supporters are attacking climate scientist Friederike Otto, whose work has been used in lawsuits against polluters.
