International: All stories
Google blames AI as its emissions grow instead of heading to net zero
8 Jul 2024
Google points to artificial intelligence and the demand it puts on energy-hungry data centres for its growth in emissions.
Coal use in Indonesia and the Philippines reaches record levels
5 Jul 2024
Despite high-profile commitments to move away from coal amid international pressure to slash emissions, Indonesia and the Philippines became more dependent on the fossil fuel to power their fast-growing economies in 2023.
Only 17% of sustainable development goals on track, new UN report reveals
5 Jul 2024
With just six years remaining to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, global progress is alarmingly insufficient with only 17% of the targets currently on track.
The Guardian view on Britain’s green future: where was the debate?
5 Jul 2024
OPINION: The climate emergency should have been a more prominent theme during an underwhelming election campaign.
Wildfires sweep across Arctic circle, releasing high levels of carbon into the atmosphere
5 Jul 2024
Intense wildfires are ravaging the Arctic Circle, bringing smoke and high carbon emissions, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS).
From 'carbon-based economies' to renewable energy hubs, regions face their future
5 Jul 2024
While a small coal mining town is facing thousands of job losses, a farming region is picturing renewable energy being generated on its fertile cropping land.
‘Wartime’ situation as worst flooding in 70 years hits county in central China
5 Jul 2024
One-third of Pingjiang’s old town and half of its new town is said to be under water and more than 5,300 people have been evacuated so far.
Biden proposes new rule to protect 36 million workers from extreme heat
4 Jul 2024
President Joe Biden proposed a new rule to address excessive heat in the workplace, warning that high temperatures are the country’s leading weather-related killer.
Hurricane Beryl heads toward Jamaica after ripping through southeast Caribbean
4 Jul 2024
Hurricane Beryl roared through open waters as a powerful Category 4 storm heading toward Jamaica after earlier making landfall in the southeast Caribbean, killing at least six people.
Science Based Targets initiative CEO resigns, citing personal reasons
4 Jul 2024
Luiz Amaral’s resignation is the latest development in a challenging time for the validation organisation.
California communities celebrate ‘massive’ victory as oil industry drops unpopular referendum
4 Jul 2024
The oil industry withdrew its $40 million campaign to kill a historic law to protect neighborhoods from oil drilling’s toxic effects, but is threatening to challenge the measure in court.
China court rules in favour of climate activists in landmark case against coal plant
4 Jul 2024
A grassroots NGO’s lawsuit against polluters highlights the difficulties of pricing climate damages and the obstacles faced by the nation's climate litigation efforts.
Wildfire emergencies declared in Russia’s Far East
4 Jul 2024
Authorities in Russia’s Siberian and Far East republics of Tyva and Sakha (Yakutia) have declared states of emergency due to summer wildfires raging across the regions.
US examines carbon pricing on imports, climate envoy says
3 Jul 2024
The US is examining a potential carbon pricing system on imports among a “range of options”, in what would be a key policy shift as it looks to combat Chinese competition and cut emissions.
Why carbon offsetting undermines climate targets
3 Jul 2024
More than 80 civil society organisations, including Oxfam, Amnesty International, and Greenpeace, have signed on to a Joint Statement, “Why carbon offsetting undermines climate targets”.
China sets up new state body to drill deep for oil and gas reserves
3 Jul 2024
China is setting up a new entity that groups national oil producers and other state firms to search for ultra-deep oil and gas reserves, state energy group CNPC said.
Australia’s ‘carbon budget’ may blow out by 40% under the coalition’s nuclear energy plan
3 Jul 2024
The Coalition’s pledge to build seven nuclear reactors, if elected, would represent a huge shift in energy policy for Australia.
'I will save you from the heat'
3 Jul 2024
The US city of Phoenix responds to the deadliest environmental threat to city dwellers with a Heat Response and Mitigation team and initiatives like overnight cooling centres.
More people in India faced climate change-induced extreme heat in June than any other country: Study
3 Jul 2024
Around 619 million people in India bore the brunt of a severe heatwave between June 16 and June 24, followed by 579 million people in China.
Caribbean leader calls out rich countries for climate failures as ‘horrendous’ storm makes landfall
2 Jul 2024
The prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has decried a lack of political will in western Europe and the US to tackle global climate change as Hurricane Beryl has made landfall as an “extremely dangerous” category 4 storm.
More climate lawsuits than ever are trying to hold companies and countries to account
2 Jul 2024
At least 230 new climate cases were filed in 2023, but researchers noted the growth of such cases was slower than in prior years.
The giant Exxon project that could create the world’s last petrostate
2 Jul 2024
ExxonMobil's massive offshore oil project in Guyana, labelled a 'climate bomb' by environmentalists, could create the world's last petrostate.
BP halts hiring, slows renewables roll-out to win over investors
2 Jul 2024
BP's new CEO Murray Auchincloss has imposed a hiring freeze and paused new offshore wind projects as he places a renewed emphasis on oil and gas amid investor discontent over its energy transition strategy.
Arctic 'dirty fuel' ban for ships comes into force
2 Jul 2024
A ban on the dirtiest and most climate-damaging fuel for ships has come into effect in Arctic waters.
Fossil fuel giant uses new tactic to fight climate change movement
2 Jul 2024
Santos is trying an unusual new tactic to fight the climate movement by pursuing environmental groups who championed the court case of traditional owners opposing the Barossa gas project
Supreme Court overturns Chevron Doctrine: what it means for climate change policy
1 Jul 2024
The high court sweeps away a ‘Goliath’ of modern law, weakening agencies’ legal authority as courts weigh Biden’s policies to cut greenhouse gases.
Arrests in Uganda over pipeline protests
1 Jul 2024
Hundreds of people gathered outside Chinese embassies and financial institutions in 10 countries, calling on China to reject financial support for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and related oil field projects.
Renewables and storage to replace coal, as Australia urged to go faster
1 Jul 2024
The Australian Energy Market Operator has confirmed that a combination of renewables and storage, backed by significant investments in transmission upgrades, remains the cheapest and smartest course.
We must take “all necessary measures” to control greenhouse gases, says International Tribunal
1 Jul 2024
The 21-judge International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea says science must guide efforts to prevent climate change and protect vulnerable people and wildlife.
How the small Pacific island nation of Vanuatu drastically cut plastic pollution
1 Jul 2024
With lagoons once choked by rubbish, pressure from the appalled community led the government to ban certain single-use products.
Summer heat brings new misery to Palestinians in Israel's Gaza campaign
1 Jul 2024
Sweltering summer weather is worsening conditions in Gaza where nearly all the 2.3 million inhabitants have been driven from their homes by Israel's military campaign.
Lawyers could charge big oil with homicide after 2023 Arizona heatwave
27 Jun 2024
Prosecutors in Arizona could reasonably press homicide charges against big oil for deaths caused by a July 2023 heatwave, lawyers wrote in a new prosecution memorandum.
COP29 President anticipates climate finance breakthrough in Azerbaijan
27 Jun 2024
The road to COP29, this year's United Nations Climate Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, feels like the buildup to a long-awaited climax after years of polarised debate on financing climate action for the world’s most vulnerable countries.
To keep clean drinking water flowing to Paris, farmers are going organic
27 Jun 2024
Rather than relying on expensive water treatment plants, the French capital is protecting its water supply at the source.
Climate change is already making your bills more expensive
27 Jun 2024
Researchers warn the hazards will only get worse, for the planet and the economy.
Could market forces be harnessed to rescue habitat worldwide? Some scientists think so.
27 Jun 2024
"Allowing one country to pay another to protect ocean refuges on its behalf made sense once we realised just how inefficient uniform conservation mandates are."
Giant viruses discovered in arctic ice could slow sea-level rise
27 Jun 2024
Hordes of giant viruses are living on the world's second-largest body of ice — and may be slowing the impacts of climate change.
Denmark will be the first country to impose a carbon tax on farms
26 Jun 2024
Denmark, a major pork and dairy exporter, will introduce a tax on livestock carbon dioxide emissions from 2030, making it the first country to do so and hoping to inspire others to follow.
EU-regulated ‘sustainable’ funds invest £14bn in biggest polluters
26 Jun 2024
Fast fashion labels, fossil fuel companies and SUV-makers are present in EU-regulated “sustainable” funds that tout their ethical credentials in their names, with $18bn (£14bn) of their investments going to the 200 biggest polluters.
New climate coalition urges stronger targets as ‘greenlash’ fears mount
26 Jun 2024
Governments are being urged to set ambitious climate plans by a group including Ikea and Unilever as concerns rise that politicians are weakening measures to tackle global warming amid a growing “greenlash”.
Why Asia’s carbon emissions are erasing Western progress
26 Jun 2024
Global CO₂ equivalent emissions grew by 2.1% in 2023, crossing 40 billion metric tons for the first time.
Officials announce two new carbon removal sites for Southern US
26 Jun 2024
In an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Louisiana officials announced two new projects that are expected to remove hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon dioxide.
Plants release carbon faster than we expected
26 Jun 2024
A recent study has revealed that the global carbon stored by plants is shorter-lived and more susceptible to climate change than previously believed.
Hawaii reaches first settlement in youth climate case
25 Jun 2024
Hawaii and young climate activists have reached a first-of-its kind legal settlement, giving youth a role in curbing planet-warming emissions while avoiding a major trial that was set to begin next week.
At least 1301 people died in Hajj heat disaster
25 Jun 2024
At least 1,301 people died during Hajj, Saudi Arabia says, mostly unauthorised pilgrims who walked long distances in intense heat.
Former NSW treasurer appointed head of Australia's Climate Change Authority
25 Jun 2024
Former NSW treasurer and energy and environment minister Matt Kean has been appointed to lead the Climate Change Authority, less than a week after announcing his resignation from state politics.
Denmark’s radical plan for a plant-based future
25 Jun 2024
The Nordic country is working toward ambitious goals to make its food systems more sustainable — and other nations are following in its path.
Only 60% of Australians accept climate disruption is human-caused, global poll finds
25 Jun 2024
Exclusive: French survey of 26 countries finds fewer Australians than global average agree that climate change is the greatest health threat facing humanity.
Climate change puts UNESCO-listed Mali fishing tradition in danger
25 Jun 2024
Thousands of fishermen holding cone-shaped nets stood side by side, cheering and chanting as they waited for the signal.
Key oil project must count full climate impact - court
24 Jun 2024
The Supreme Court has ruled a local council should have considered the full climate impact of burning oil from new wells - a landmark decision which could put future UK oil and gas projects in question.
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.
