International: All stories
Ireland's greenhouse emissions lowest in 30 years
12 Jul 2024
Greenhouse gas emissions in the Republic of Ireland are at their lowest level in 30 years, according to the latest figures.
Using Toyota's hydrogen car as the Paris Olympics official vehicle 'will damage reputation of 2024 Games'
12 Jul 2024
More than 120 scientists, academics and engineers call for switch to battery electric vehicles, arguing that fuel-cell cars are ‘not a viable net zero solution’.
The Loss and Damage Fund must not leave fragile states behind
12 Jul 2024
As the Loss and Damage Fund’s board meets this week, it is addressing key issues such as selecting a host country, how to disburse its financial resources, and lobbying for more funding from donors.
New EU Parliament less supportive of green agenda, documents show
11 Jul 2024
The next European Commission will no longer be able to rely on a broad consensus among lawmakers in support of ambitious climate change policies, draft documents showed.
Flooding in northern Bangladesh displaces 40,000 people, shuts schools
11 Jul 2024
Flooding in Bangladesh has swept away homes and shug schools, displacing tens of thousands of people.
Another year of heat and floods spurs China’s climate-change awakening
11 Jul 2024
Beijing has made adapting to extreme weather a policy priority, and weather officials issued an unusually direct warning about the intensifying heat and rainfall
How different are the US presidential candidates on climate?
11 Jul 2024
An analysis of both Trump and Biden's climate policies quantifies the difference.
Global hydro rebound will curb fossil fuel growth in 2024
11 Jul 2024
Global hydroelectric generation slumped to a five-year low last year as a result of lower-than-average rainfall across China, North America and India, contributing to record fossil fuel combustion and emissions in 2023.
The obvious idea that slashes shipping's climate impact
11 Jul 2024
A motto in much of the shipping industry is "sail fast, then wait" – which can be an expensive and wasteful way of travelling.
French election sparks relief for scientists, hope on climate change reform
10 Jul 2024
Following a second round of voting in a snap election, France's left-wing New Popular Front has secured a leading plurality of seats in parliament.
South Africa energy minister vows change with 'aggressive' renewables rollout
10 Jul 2024
South Africa's new energy minister vows to accelerate the shift to renewable energy from coal, breaking with a predecessor who opposed swift decarbonision.
New UK govt lifts ‘absurd’ ban on onshore windfarms
10 Jul 2024
The de facto ban on new onshore windfarms has been dropped by the Labour government, to the delight of environmentalists and energy experts.
Can we air condition our way out of extreme heat?
10 Jul 2024
Air conditioning was initially a symbol of comfort and wealth, enjoyed by the wealthy in theaters and upscale homes.
Rabobank’s Ivory Coast tree planting project overestimates carbon credits by 600%
10 Jul 2024
Since 2020, Rabobank has been selling carbon credits through a programme called “Project Acorn”, that generates carbon offsets by encouraging cocoa farmers to plant trees on their land.
A growing spectre of Azerbaijani irredentism hangs over COP29
10 Jul 2024
Technically a diaspora rights organisation, critics say the Western Azerbaijan Community has become one of Baku’s key instruments for domestic radicalisation.
June sizzles to 13th straight monthly heat record
9 Jul 2024
Earth’s more than year-long streak of record-shattering hot months kept on simmering through June, according to the European climate service Copernicus.
Rising risks of climate disasters mean some Australian communities will need to move
9 Jul 2024
Many Australians live in areas increasingly exposed to climate change and associated extreme weather such as floods, fires, coastal erosion, cyclones and extreme heat.
Thousands evacuated from California wildfires
9 Jul 2024
Tens of thousands of people in northern California have been allowed to return to their homes after evacuating as wildfires spread in the region during a heatwave.
The ‘fearless young activists’ thrown in jail for climate campaigns in Cambodia
9 Jul 2024
They are young and passionate about protecting Cambodia’s rich and ecologically fragile environment.
Can medical advances in nanotechnology make agriculture more sustainable?
9 Jul 2024
Researchers explore medical nanotech that could help crops use fertilizer more efficiently, fight disease, and adapt to climate change.
The secret to decarbonising buildings might be right beneath your feet
9 Jul 2024
Along with earthworms, rocks, and the occasional skeleton, there’s a massive battery right under your feet.
‘Our work is urgent’: Will the UK’s new Labour government prioritise the climate crisis?
8 Jul 2024
Campaigners and experts say support for environmental policies in the UK general election means Labour must now make climate action a top priority.
Market forces are not enough to halt climate change
8 Jul 2024
At the heart of attempts to halt damaging climate change is a pair of ideas: decarbonise electricity and electrify the economy. So, how is it going? Badly, is the answer.
Oil companies delete carbon capture mentions on websites before new Canadian regulations kick in
8 Jul 2024
Drastic action in advance of rules to rein in greenwashing shows fossil-fuel backers don’t have evidence on CCS “to support the story they’re selling.”
Women 14 times more likely to die in natural disasters: Australian study
8 Jul 2024
Women faced increased rates of violence and homelessness after climate disasters in Australia, researchers say.
How Europe’s conspiracy influencers went from COVID-19 to the climate
8 Jul 2024
Conspiratorial narratives about climate action have entered the mainstream all over Europe.
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.
Datacentres should be forced to invest in wind and solar energy, all states agree – except Queensland
Wed 13 May 2026
Power hungry datacentres that are growing to meet the demands of artificial intelligence could be forced to invest in enough new solar and wind generation to completely cover their electricity needs.
US EPA moves to speed clean air permits for power plants, industry
Wed 13 May 2026
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it would speed up the process for large polluters to obtain clean air permits, the latest move by the Trump administration to ease regulatory burdens on American power plants and industry.
China’s leadership calls for ‘strict control’ of fossil fuels
28 Apr 2026
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.
Inequality causing 100,000 extra deaths a year from heat and cold in Europe
Tue 12 May 2026
Economic inequality adds more than 100,000 deaths to the vast toll from heat and cold in Europe each year, research has found.
Nature recovery zones inspired by Attenborough
Tue 12 May 2026
A wildlife trust has been inspired by Sir David Attenborough's climate change mantra to designate 11 nature recovery zones in honour of the broadcaster's 100th birthday.
Carbon capture ‘doesn’t work’: Former British Columbia premier
Fri 8 May 2026
Former British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell warned the costly, troubled technology has failed to deliver, undercutting a central justification for billions in public subsidies and new oil infrastructure.
Climate change, socioeconomic shifts threaten Nepal’s yak herding traditions
7 May 2026
According to the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), warming temperatures are fundamentally altering Himalayan high-altitude ecosystems.
How climate change threatens the economic backbone of the Pacific
4 May 2026
The vast Pacific Ocean and the islands dotted within it produce more than half of the world's tuna.
‘Triple whammy of climate chaos’: Why Antarctica's sea ice collapse is no longer a mystery
Mon 11 May 2026
Scientists have finally identified the ‘triple whammy’ behind Antarctica’s dramatic collapse, shedding new light on the chain reaction that has pushed its sea ice to record lows.
With its first marine reserve, Ghana protects its ocean to secure its future
5 May 2026
Comment: Last month, Ghana made news when it declared its first marine reserve and sited it in one of the nation’s most ecologically and biologically significant marine environments.
The country where lethal hantavirus cases are on the rise. Experts blame climate change
Wed 13 May 2026
Experts believe environmental degradation caused by climate change and human activity is contributing to its spread by allowing the rodents that transmit the virus to thrive in new areas.
UN methane alert system expanded to coal and waste sectors after Indian landfill named among world’s top emitters
6 May 2026
The United Nations is expanding its methane monitoring system to cover coal mines and waste facilities, after satellite analysis identified a landfill in India among the world’s three largest methane-emitting sites.
