International: All stories
New building designs use pumped hydro to generate power
20 Jun 2024
Architects and engineers are collaborating with an energy storage company to design skyscrapers that leverage gravity to generate electricity.
Cars are slowing down in European cities
20 Jun 2024
Across Europe, cities are proving that lowering speed limits makes neighbourhoods safer and more livable while reducing dependence on cars.
Study reveals impact of surface coal mining on carbon sequestration
20 Jun 2024
Surface coal mining and subsequent restoration activities significantly impact regional carbon sinks, particularly vegetation.
Researchers say low-sulphur shipping rules made climate change worse
20 Jun 2024
The rule change resulted in an 80% reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions, a team of scientists said, and may help to explain why last year’s record-breaking heat was so extreme.
Scotland misses another climate change target
20 Jun 2024
The Scottish government has missed another of its key annual targets for reducing planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.
EU states push past opposition to adopt landmark nature restoration law
19 Jun 2024
The law includes legally binding targets and obligations for not only preserving, but restoring natural habitats.
How climate change is hitting Europe: three graphics reveal health impacts
19 Jun 2024
A growing body of research reveals the deaths and diseases linked to rising temperatures across the continent.
Record-breaking US heat wave scorches the Midwest and Northeast, bringing safety measures
19 Jun 2024
Stifling heat blanketed tens of millions across United States on Tuesday, forcing people and even zoo animals to find ways to cool down as summer arrives in what promises to be a sweltering week.
New finance goal needed to protect climate momentum from a Trump win
19 Jun 2024
Comment: The victims of the climate crisis will need support, and the energy transition will need to be funded, whoever is elected as the next US president.
More than 800 coal plants worldwide could be profitably decommissioned
19 Jun 2024
More than 800 coal-fired power plants in emerging countries could be decommissioned and profitably replaced by cleaner solar energy starting from the end of the decade.
Australia’s foreign affairs minister warns dropping 2030 climate targets would abandon Pacific nations
18 Jun 2024
Foreign Affairs Minister labels the Coalition's decision to rule out setting a 2030 climate target as a move that will increase energy bills and risk further Chinese influence in the Pacific.
UN food chief: Poorest areas have zero harvests left
18 Jun 2024
Droughts and flooding have become so common in some of the poorest places, that the land can no longer sustain crops, said the director of the World Food Programme’s global office.
Global Environment Facility will give $736 million to environmental projects
18 Jun 2024
GEF will consider projects that protect biodiversity, counter climate change and pollution, and support land and ocean health.
Large birds can boost forest carbon storage — if deforestation doesn’t interfere
18 Jun 2024
A new study shows large fruit-eating birds in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest can contribute to a 38% increase in carbon storage by regenerating tropical forest.
Polarisation and risk perception could play important roles in climate policy outcomes
18 Jun 2024
Times of crises often call for strong and rapid action, but in polarised societies, strong top-down policies can backfire.
Deadly heat waves in Mecca and Greece underscore climate crisis
18 Jun 2024
As the U.S. faces another potentially record heat wave this week, the Middle East and Europe's Mediterranean have endured extreme temperatures that have proven deadly.
Bonn climate talks: Key outcomes from UN conference
17 Jun 2024
Climate diplomats have finished another two weeks of intense negotiations in the German city of Bonn, discussing global efforts to cut emissions and protect people from climate hazards.
‘The time is right’ for US to catch up on high-speed rail, says British Amtrak exec
17 Jun 2024
With half a dozen US rail projects in the works, Andy Byford thinks Americans will soon clamor for 200mph train lines.
What grief for a dying planet looks like: Climate scientists on the edge
17 Jun 2024
Desperate climate scientists embrace civil disobedience and specialised therapy to deal with their growing anxiety over global warming.
How congestion pricing makes cities more livable
17 Jun 2024
As New York puts its gridlock-busting plans on hold, the success of congestion pricing elsewhere proves it’s not just smart — it’s popular.
The motley (star-studded) crew that paved the way for Norway’s EV revolution
17 Jun 2024
An activist, a professor and the lead singer of A-ha drove a makeshift electric car across Norway in the 1980s, skirting road regulations, to make a point to the government that policies around EVs needed to change.
This city just made it illegal to advertise SUVs. Here’s why.
17 Jun 2024
Edinburgh became the latest European capital city to ban ads for aviation, SUVs and more.
The world could soon see a massive oil glut
14 Jun 2024
The world could have a glut of oil by the end of the decade because of rising production combined with declining demand as consumers and businesses switch to electric vehicles and renewable energy.
EU hits Chinese EVs with tariffs, drawing rebuke from Beijing
14 Jun 2024
The European Commission said it will impose extra duties of up to 38.1% on imported Chinese electric cars from July, risking retaliation from Beijing.
The Tory network of climate denial and fossil fuel funding
14 Jun 2024
DeSmog catalogues how oil and gas firms have forged ties with the highest levels of government in the UK, as well as with the media and influential think tanks.
Russia’s war with Ukraine accelerating global climate emergency, report shows
14 Jun 2024
Most comprehensive analysis ever of conflict-driven climate impacts shows emissions greater than those generated by 175 countries in a year.
Florida’s 2024 hurricane season arrives with a rainy deluge
14 Jun 2024
Dangerous flooding from a tropical disturbance inundated much of southern Florida, blocking roads, floating vehicles and delaying the Florida Panthers on their way to Stanley Cup games.
G7 coal charade: Funding the fire they claim to fight
14 Jun 2024
COMMENT: Rich countries should take concrete steps to stem the global flow of funds from their commercial banks which are fuelling expansion of the coal industry.
Swiss parliament spurns European climate ruling
13 Jun 2024
The Swiss parliament voted to snub a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that accused the country of being ineffective in fighting climate change.
Nitrous oxide emissions are accelerating with growing demand for fertilizer and meat
13 Jun 2024
Food’s role in climate change has emerged as one of the defining challenges of our time.
China to reach 2030 solar and wind energy target five years ahead of schedule
13 Jun 2024
China is expected to exceed its 2030 solar and wind energy target already in 2025, when its solar and wind capacity is projected to reach 1,720 GW, GlobalData said.
What do the European elections mean for EU climate action?
13 Jun 2024
This week’s European parliamentary election results saw parties on the populist right making big gains in France and Germany, while the historic “green wave” of 2019 receded.
The anti-windfarm 'odd couple' joining forces to fight the renewable energy projects Australia's already failing to build
13 Jun 2024
Deep in coal country, a lifelong environmentalist and one-time Greens candidate is feeling the applause.
Canada signs second deal to guarantee price of captured carbon
13 Jun 2024
The Canada Growth Fund, a federal clean-tech financing agency, signed its second deal to backstop carbon prices with a proposed Alberta facility that would convert landfill waste to electricity and sequester the resulting carbon emissions.
EU climate policies could be slowed in future after rightward shift in election
12 Jun 2024
A more rightward-leaning European Parliament will make it harder to pass ambitious EU climate policies, but the majority of current world-leading green policies are likely to stay put, analysts said.
Bonn bulletin: Fossil fuel transition left homeless
12 Jun 2024
Countries clash over where to negotiate the shift away from dirty energy agreed at COP28, while talks on a new climate finance goal make little progress.
Supreme court ruling delays climate litigation big oil has sought to thwart
12 Jun 2024
The supreme court asked the Biden administration to weigh in on big oil’s request to thwart litigation that could put them on the hook for billions of dollars.
Are we finally hitting a sweet spot in the energy transition?
12 Jun 2024
COMMENT: The race between a rapidly unraveling climate and a rapid buildout of renewable energy will determine just how many people die, how many cities drown, and how many species survive.
Brazil police raid Amazon carbon credit projects
12 Jun 2024
The Brazilian Federal Police arrested people and seized assets linked to some of the country’s largest carbon credit projects.
Scientists have built a ‘digital twin’ of Earth to predict the future of climate change
12 Jun 2024
The complex computer model takes into account weather and climate systems as well as our impact on the planet.
Australia’s leader says opposition will renege on greenhouse gas emissions target if elected
11 Jun 2024
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday said the opposition Liberal Party would renege on the nation’s ambitious target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 if it wins elections due within a year.
‘Crippling’ drought in Zambia threatens hunger for millions, says minister
11 Jun 2024
Collins Nzovu says country’s plight is foretaste of disasters that will increasingly afflict region as climate breakdown takes hold.
New bill to expand farmlands in the Amazon may derail Brazil’s green efforts
11 Jun 2024
A bill that would reduce the amount of primary forest that landowners in the Brazilian Amazon must preserve may lead to the deforestation of an area twice the size of Rio de Janeiro state.
Better refrigeration could avoid almost 2 billion tonnes of CO2 per year from food loss
11 Jun 2024
More consistent refrigeration of foods could cut almost 2bn tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from food loss each year, according to a new study.
The rise of the 'no buy year'
11 Jun 2024
As rampant consumerism continues to drive us towards climate breakdown, a growing number of people are hitting pause and committing 365 days to reset their relationship with spending.
“Great enabler of climate action” – UN urges Bonn progress on new finance goal
10 Jun 2024
UN Climate head Simon Stiell called on countries to start narrowing down options to strike a deal on post-2025 climate finance by COP29 in November.
World will miss target of tripling renewable electricity generation by 2030 – IEA
10 Jun 2024
Analysis of policies of nearly 150 countries shows shortfall to hit target viewed as vital for transition from fossil fuels.
UK climate aid reaches record £1.8bn in 2023 after loosening rules
10 Jun 2024
The UK government’s spending on climate aid reached its highest-ever level last year, with more than £1.8bn channelled into projects aimed at cutting emissions.
West African nations call for firms to be able to offset carbon
10 Jun 2024
A group of 10 West African countries has weighed into a debate over whether companies around the world should be allowed to use carbon offsets to cut emissions.
Are ‘manosphere’ influencers disengaging Gen-Z men from climate activism?
10 Jun 2024
In November last year, Jordan Peterson—dubbed “custodian of the patriarchy” by the New York Times—flew right-wing leaders from around the world to London, where they launched a full-scale attack on climate science.
Security group warns Australia’s democracy is being threatened by ‘anti-climate-action propaganda’
Today 11:00am
Australia’s democracy and sovereignty is being threatened by a propaganda machine aiding climate change deniers, a security group has warned.
California sues Trump energy department over revival of controversial oil pipeline
Today 11:00am
California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, said he has sued the US energy department to stop it from using a cold-war-era law to restart the long-disputed Sable Offshore pipeline system linking the Santa Ynez offshore platform to California refineries.
China tells oil refiners to suspend exports
Fri 20 Mar 2026
China has told its largest oil refiners to suspend exports of diesel and gasoline, Bloomberg News reported Thursday, citing unidentified sources, as the war in the Middle East risks an energy supply crunch.
Spain’s Sánchez attacks other EU leaders for exploiting energy prices to gut climate policies
Mon 23 Mar 2026
Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez said his country was on “the right side of history” when it comes to how it has handled the economic and social costs of previous energy crises.
Heat pumps for all new homes and plug-in solar in England green tech drive
Today 11:00am
Developers will be required to install solar panels and heat pumps in all new homes in England as part of updated planning requirements published by the government.
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.
Philippines declares national emergency over high fuel prices
Today 11:00am
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of the Philippines declared a national energy emergency on Tuesday, saying that high oil prices caused by the war in the Middle East were threatening the country’s energy security.
Pacific Nations fear fuel shortages as Middle East war sends oil prices soaring
Fri 20 Mar 2026
Leaders of Samoa and Tonga appealed for help this week as the import-reliant Pacific nations raised fears over possible fuel shortages and escalating costs caused by war in the Middle East.
Limiting warming to 2C is ‘crucial’ to protect pristine Antarctic Peninsula
24 Feb 2026
Keeping global warming to less than 2C above pre-industrial temperatures is “crucial” for limiting damage to the Antarctic Peninsula’s unique ecosystems, according to a new study.
'Blackwater' lakes and rivers in the Congo Basin are now emitting ancient carbon into the atmosphere
16 Mar 2026
Carbon that has been buried in the Congo Basin's peatlands for millennia is seeping into lakes and rivers. Why this is happening remains unclear, but researchers warn that tropical peatlands could be nearing a tipping point.
Surfing’s big break: how climate crisis insurance may save El Salvador’s waves
Thu 19 Mar 2026
Fearing that extreme weather threatened its epic breaks, Oriente Salvaje is piloting the first surf insurance policy to protect livelihoods and ecosystems.
Iran war should trigger faster exit from fossil fuel dependence, UN climate chief says
18 Mar 2026
The disruption to energy markets caused by the Iran war is a lesson on the risks of relying on fossil fuels which should drive governments to wean their economies off oil and gas faster, the U.N. climate secretary told Reuters on Monday.
