International: All stories
Electric car sales soar 51% in mainland Europe as Iran war drives up fuel prices
22 Apr 2026
Buyers’ interest in electric cars has risen across Europe since the start of the war in Iran in late February, as the rising cost of petrol highlights the cheaper power available from a plug.
‘We are not going back’: Iran war forces global energy shift
21 Apr 2026
This week’s gathering of financial heavyweights at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings in Washington made one thing clear: The Iran war is setting the world on a new energy path.
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.
Tehran will never cede control of Strait of Hormuz, senior Iranian politician tells BBC
21 Apr 2026
"Never." That's when a senior Iranian lawmaker says they'll be ready to give up their control of the Strait of Hormuz.
What Magyar’s defeat of Orbán in Hungary means for climate and energy
21 Apr 2026
Hungary has played a disproportionate role in EU climate and energy policy in recent years, by repeatedly vetoing climate action and by delaying the phaseout of Russian fossil-fuel imports.
How 50 days of the Iran war led to the loss of $50 billion worth of oil
21 Apr 2026
The world has lost over $50 billion worth of crude oil that has not been produced since the Iran war began nearly 50 days ago and the aftershock of the crisis will be felt for months and even years to come.
Europe has 'maybe six weeks of jet fuel left', energy boss warns
20 Apr 2026
Stocks would reach a tipping point in June if Europe was unable to replace at least half of its imports from the Middle East, the organisation said in a report this week.
Judge dismisses Trump administration’s bid to block Hawaii climate lawsuit
20 Apr 2026
It was the second defeat for the Trump administration’s unusual litigation to stop states from acting on climate change.
IMF warns EU not to offset the energy price spike too much
20 Apr 2026
European governments should not excessively shield businesses and consumers from more expensive energy because that distorts the price signal to cut consumption and could be fiscally very expensive, the International Monetary Fund said.
Thousands protest in Germany urging faster shift to renewable energy, amid Iran war
20 Apr 2026
Thousands of people demonstrated across Germany on April 18, urging a faster shift to renewable energy and accusing conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition of putting the brakes on the transition.
‘A disturbing lack of integrity’: Columbia students file complaint against energy thinktank taking big oil money
20 Apr 2026
thinktank at Columbia University is engaging in deceptive trade practices by hiding the extent of its financial ties to the fossil fuel industry, according to a first-of-its-kind administrative complaint filed by student activists and shared with the Guardian.
Monarch Tractor CEO: ‘We should have pivoted harder and faster’
20 Apr 2026
Electric tractor pioneer cofounder Praveen Penmetsa says the company's collapse reflects the limits of an ambitious full-stack hardware model in a changing economic climate—not a failure of the underlying technology.
Critical Atlantic current significantly more likely to collapse than thought
17 Apr 2026
The critical Atlantic current system appears significantly more likely to collapse than previously thought after new research found that climate models predicting the biggest slowdown are the most realistic
EU working on jet fuel plan as Iran crisis threatens air travel
17 Apr 2026
The European Union is drafting plans to tackle a looming jet fuel supply crunch and maximise refinery output, officials said.
Middle East war damage to energy assets may cost up to $58 billion, research firm Rystad says
17 Apr 2026
The Middle East conflict could saddle the region with as much as $58 billion in repair costs for energy-linked infrastructure, with oil and gas facilities alone accounting for up to $50 billion, according to a report by Rystad Energy.
Why cheap power could matter more than clean power in the push for net zero
17 Apr 2026
The issue has taken on new urgency as conflict in the Middle East pushes up oil and gas prices, raising fears that high energy costs could persist.
As energy costs rise, some states back off ambitious climate goals
17 Apr 2026
Seven years ago, New York lawmakers set ambitious goals for slashing greenhouse gas emissions with clarion calls about saving the future. Now, with slow progress made and political realities shifting, Gov. Kathy Hochul is seeking a delay, saying she wants to save consumers money.
The environmental cost of war
17 Apr 2026
War is not often described in environmental terms, but it should be. Modern conflict is carbon-intensive at nearly every stage.
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.
India walked away from its bid to host COP33 – here's why
16 Apr 2026
India has quietly abandoned its bid to host the UN's top-tier climate conference COP33, marking a shift from PM Narendra Modi's pledge in 2023. Experts and analysts explore what's behind the decision.
Sixteen experts urge IEA to accelerate the clean energy transition
16 Apr 2026
Sixteen specialists have written to IEA executive director Fatih Birol, urging the agency to move beyond emergency measures and guide governments on accelerating clean technologies amid the global energy crisis.
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.
Meeting climate targets requires humanity to reorient its relationship with nature, new study says
16 Apr 2026
A team including scientists, Indigenous people and conservationists point to the ecosystem connecting Yellowstone and the Yukon as an example of a region where humans and nature are flourishing together.
War spurs EU plan for electricity tax cuts, faster shift from fossil fuels, draft shows
16 Apr 2026
The European Union plans to reduce electricity taxes and expand clean technologies faster to cut consumers' exposure to soaring oil and gas prices, as part of its plan to offset the Iran war's energy impact, a draft document showed.
Don’t mention the climate: Trump creates ‘beyond absurd’ situation at global finance talks
15 Apr 2026
Governments desperate for cash to protect their citizens from the growing impacts of the climate crisis are being put in a “beyond absurd” situation this week at global finance talks: they are being urged not to mention the climate, even as they address the current oil crisis.
IMF, World Bank, IEA urge countries to stop hoarding energy supplies, imposing export controls
15 Apr 2026
The International Monetary Fund, World Bank and International Energy Agency on Monday urged countries to avoid hoarding energy supplies and imposing export controls that could worsen what they called the biggest shock ever to the global energy market.
China's climate envoy warns of energy security risks, urges renewables shift
15 Apr 2026
The ongoing global energy crisis has highlighted the risks of heavy dependence on fossil fuel imports, prompting an urgent need for countries to rethink their energy security strategies and accelerate the transition to renewable energy, Liu Zhenmin, China's climate envoy for climate change, has said recently.
ETS divisions sharpen as EU carbon market review nears
15 Apr 2026
The EU’s carbon market is heading towards a pivotal review, with tensions mounting between Member States over how the system shapes energy prices, industrial competitiveness and the pace of decarbonisation.
Gun manufacturers won the ultimate legal shield. Big Oil wants that, too
15 Apr 2026
Backed by the Trump administration, the industry is seeking to block all climate lawsuits that seek compensation from fossil fuel producers for damages.
AI surge gives carbon capture a new push
15 Apr 2026
Technology that captures carbon emissions from power plants may finally get a breakthrough as deep-pocketed tech companies try to meet climate goals while powering the AI race.
Marine heatwaves ‘nearly double’ the economic damage caused by tropical cyclones
14 Apr 2026
Tropical cyclones that rapidly intensify when passing over marine heatwaves can become “supercharged”, increasing the likelihood of high economic losses, a new study finds.
UK ‘green’ jet fuel imports linked to illegal Amazon deforestation
14 Apr 2026
A major supplier of ‘green’ airline fuel to the UK has sourced beef fat linked to illegal Amazon deforestation, court documents and shipping data show.
The world just had its second-warmest March on record
14 Apr 2026
According to NCEI’s statistical analysis, it is almost certain that 2026 will rank among the 10 warmest years on record, and very likely that it will place in the top five.
France unveils electrification plan to cut fossil fuel dependence
14 Apr 2026
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu outlined a national electrification plan on Friday aimed at reducing reliance on fossil fuels and strengthening the country’s energy sovereignty.
Hormuz blockade could deepen world’s worst energy crisis – and risk a dangerous misstep
14 Apr 2026
President Donald Trump ordered a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, dimming hopes for a quick end to the conflict in the Middle East and escalating a standoff with Iran that has already triggered the worst energy shock in history.
Is the Keystone XL pipeline back?
14 Apr 2026
A company has proposed to build a crude oil pipeline crossing the Canadian border near where the long-contested project would have entered the United States.
Microsoft is pausing carbon removal purchases
13 Apr 2026
Microsoft has begun telling suppliers and partners that it is pausing future purchases of carbon removal, according to two people who have been informed of its plans.
The case against energy bail-outs
13 Apr 2026
As war rages in Iran, governments must not repeat the mistakes of 2022.
Australia eyes new fuel supply from US, Mexico and Asia as diesel prices spike to record high
13 Apr 2026
Australia could get more fuel from the US, Mexico or its Asian neighbours, with a new government policy helping refineries bid for oil shipments as diesel prices spike to new record highs.
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.
King Charles warns of climate change dangers in open letter on 'devastating' Northern Territory wet season
13 Apr 2026
The king says the flooding is an example of extreme weather events "becoming both more frequent and more ferocious in their impact" due to the "harsh reality of climate change".
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.
India pulls out of bid to host UN climate summit
10 Apr 2026
Climate experts term the decision as a setback and surprise as India had been using the proposed summit to position itself as climate leader of the Global South.
Empty ships and shut wells: Why the Iran war oil crisis is not over yet
10 Apr 2026
While reopening the Strait of Hormuz provides a vital release valve for energy, delays in restarting production and transport mean the energy crisis is far from over.
US EPA head gives keynote address at climate sceptic conference
10 Apr 2026
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin gave the keynote speech Wednesday at a conference hosted by a climate denial group.
From war to weather: A ‘super El Niño’ event poses fresh risks to global food costs
10 Apr 2026
An unusually powerful El Niño later this year could exacerbate food security fears as disruption caused by the Iran war strains supply for crucial fertilier products.
France's emissions cuts slow again in 2025, throwing climate targets off track
10 Apr 2026
While France's overall emissions are still in decline, the rate of their decline had slowed for the second year in a row, throwing the country off course to meet its 2030 climate goals.
More harsh weather in store for Afghanistan after 148 deaths
10 Apr 2026
Afghanistan faces further rough conditions on Thursday, the country's weather authorities warned, following floods, earthquakes and landslides that have killed 148 people over the past two weeks.
Solar energy, cheap battery storage can meet 90% of India’s power demand at affordable costs: Ember report
9 Apr 2026
Battery storage is now cheap enough in India that solar power can meet 90% of the country’s power demand at lower lifetime costs than current average purchase rates in most states, a new study has found, a finding that could potentially point to a future buffer against global energy shocks.
A new economic superpower could spark a global retreat from fossil fuels
9 Apr 2026
Eighty-five countries have sought a roadmap to phasing out fossil fuels. A conference this month offers hope they could unite.
Australia declares El Nino set to be strongest in decades
Wed 17 Jun 2026
Australia's weather bureau warned on Tuesday that an El Nino weather pattern has formed in the tropical Pacific and could intensify in the second half of 2026 to become one of the strongest in seven decades.
US defence spending on critical minerals surges in the last decade
Mon 22 Jun 2026
Members of communities affected by some of these projects said that U.S. state backing has meant projects are being fast-tracked without the necessary social and environmental checks or meaningful consultation.
China to raise power prices for energy-intensive sectors in green transition push
Fri 19 Jun 2026
Beijing’s latest road map aims to cut carbon emissions by 200 million tonnes by 2028 – but analysts say implementation may vary across regions.
Half of France under red heat alert as alcohol banned at street music festival
Today 11:45am
France has issued red heatwave alerts for around half the country including Paris for Monday as a heatwave pushes temperatures towards record levels.
Royals kick off London Climate Action Week
Today 11:45am
The week, which runs from 22 to 28 June, brings together world leaders, scientists, entrepreneurs and activists to accelerate action on the climate crisis.
Canada signs landmark LNG energy deal with Germany
29 May 2026
Canada has announced a landmark energy agreement with Germany that will see the first-ever long-term shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Canada to Europe in the coming years.
Asia warming nearly twice as fast as before
Fri 19 Jun 2026
A new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) highlights record ocean heat, accelerating glacier loss and a series of extreme weather events causing significant human and economic losses across Asia.
‘Those blocking climate science are not our friends': Pacific leaders warn at Bonn talks
Today 11:45am
Pacific nations and civil society groups have united at UN climate talks, pushing back against efforts to weaken agreed language on global temperature limits as negotiations continue behind closed doors.
Antarctica’s west coast missing an area of sea ice the size of France as temperatures peak 20C above average
16 Jun 2026
A vast area of the Bellingshausen Sea should be covered by sea ice by now, with one expert calling the loss of ice ‘depressing’.
Mombasa ocean summit drives progress on marine protection, but threats persist
Today 11:45am
At the 11th Our Ocean conference in Kenya, its founder John Kerry says the ocean must become central to climate solutions and needs to be looked after.
Colombia’s climate crossroads: Trumpism casts shadow over presidential battle
26 May 2026
Colombia is a global leader in climate activism. Could US influence drag country to a future of mining and fracking?
Bonn climate talks end in “gridlock” on adaptation and emissions-cutting
Mon 22 Jun 2026
After two weeks of climate negotiations riven by arguments over finance and science, the UN climate chief expressed disappointment and denounced governments for “cherry-picking” commitments they have already made and waiting for others to move first.
