International: All stories
What does Biden’s LNG ‘pause’ mean for global emissions?
1 Feb 2024
In a surprise move, US president Joe Biden has announced a “temporary pause” on liquified natural gas (LNG) terminal expansion.
Saudi Arabia ditches plan to raise oil production
1 Feb 2024
World’s biggest exporter says it will no longer seek to increase output to 13mn barrels a day.
In carbon terms, grass-feed beef is not the greenest choice
1 Feb 2024
When researchers factored in land use, they found pasture-finished beef was significantly more carbon-intensive than the grain-finished alternative.
How many birds do wind farms kill?
1 Feb 2024
Wind farms kill far less than other hazards, but there are still ways that we can reduce them.
China installed more solar panels last year than the US has in total
31 Jan 2024
China is the world leader in renewable energy, including 40 percent of the planet’s entire solar capacity, reported Rystad Energy. The United States comes in second place with 12 percent.
A giant fund for climate disasters will soon open. Who should be paid first?
31 Jan 2024
More than three billion people stand to benefit from a historic climate loss-and-damage fund. But spending it involves agonising choices about who has suffered most.
New York’s first all-electric skyscraper doesn’t use a drop of fossil fuel
31 Jan 2024
The architects behind this 44-story tower explain how they designed it to run on electricity alone.
Scientists think the way humans have evolved may be preventing us from solving climate change
31 Jan 2024
While studying human evolution to find solutions for the growing climate crisis, researchers found a mix of encouraging and depressing results.
As a Swiss glacier melts, a trove of invaluable climate data is being lost
31 Jan 2024
By analysing ice collected from glaciers, scientists can study the past composition of the atmosphere and better understand how humans have altered the climate.
Climate change worsens human trafficking of the poor in Sierra Leone
31 Jan 2024
Sierra Leone’s poorest communities have long been prey to human traffickers. Climate change is making things worse.
East Africa's new love affair with geothermal energy
30 Jan 2024
There has been little interest in geothermal power in East Africa but Kenya's trailblazing energy transformation policy is now inspiring others.
COP29 host Azerbaijan launches green energy unit to sceptical response
30 Jan 2024
Azerbaijan’s state oil and gas firm promises a green push but a lack of climate policies and plans to expand gas production are causing scepticism.
Chicago could be first major Midwestern city to ban gas in new construction
30 Jan 2024
Buildings are Chicago’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, but efforts to decarbonize them are facing union opposition.
Electric vehicles use half the energy of gas-powered vehicles
30 Jan 2024
US residents are collectively burning about 8.9 million barrels of gasoline a day, or a little over one gallon each for every person in the country.
Migratory birds are struggling to adapt to climate change
30 Jan 2024
Alarming new research has uncovered the profound effects of climate change on migratory birds.
The race to build climate-resilient coral reefs
30 Jan 2024
Novel restoration methods can speed up the recovery of threatened corals – but for a lasting impact, they need to be backed by action to stop ocean warming.
Clean energy was top driver of China’s economic growth in 2023
29 Jan 2024
Clean energy contributed a record US$1.6tn to China’s economy in 2023, accounting for all of the growth in investment and a larger share of economic growth than any other sector.
Climate change driving South America dengue spike
29 Jan 2024
South America is seeing a surge in cases of the mosquito-borne disease dengue during the southern hemisphere summer, prompting Brazil to roll out a novel vaccine campaign.
World's largest cruise ship sets sail amid climate concerns
29 Jan 2024
The world's largest cruise ship has set sail from Miami, Florida, on its maiden voyage, but there are concerns about the vessel's methane emissions.
Collaboration key to curbing plastic pollution
29 Jan 2024
OPINION: Investing in industry–academic partnerships is the most effective path to solving the plastic pollution crisis and mitigating harm to the environment and to humans.
How nature can fight climate change - and how it can't
29 Jan 2024
With research showing that nature is already "mopping up" about half of human-caused greenhouse-gas emissions every year, natural climate solutions are moving into the mainstream.
Could 'apocalyptic optimism' be the antidote for 'climate fatalism'?
29 Jan 2024
OPINION: I call myself an apocalyptic optimist. I believe we can save ourselves from the climate crisis that we have caused; I also believe it will only be possible with a mass mobilization driven by the pain and suffering of climate shocks around the world.
Biden administration reportedly pauses approval of ‘carbon mega bomb’ gas export hub
26 Jan 2024
The Biden administration will reportedly pause a decision on approving what would be one of the world’s largest gas export hubs, amid concern from climate experts that greenlighting the project would create a “carbon mega bomb”.
Carbon startups pin hopes on future regulation to boost their fortunes
26 Jan 2024
Carbon credits startup, Ceezer, is part of the new wave of tech-driven offsetting and/or removal platforms trying to bring transparency and cohesion to a sector that has been rocked by charges of “green-washing”.
The propane industry is trying to dupe you
26 Jan 2024
Documents and recordings obtained by HEATED detail a multi-million dollar plan to spin the fossil fuel as "clean" and "renewable".
New Shell files could aid climate cases, attorneys say
26 Jan 2024
Newly-discovered Shell documents dating back decades could help strengthen lawsuits aiming to hold the oil major to account for climate damages, climate attorneys say.
Pre-pesticides, pro-farmer: the rise of agroecology
26 Jan 2024
One part ancient practices, one part worker justice, a new-old way of farming is adapting agriculture for an uncertain world.
Climate change drives Amazon rainforest's record drought, study finds
26 Jan 2024
Climate change is the main culprit for a record drought in the Amazon rainforest that has drained rivers, killed endangered dolphins and upended life for millions of people in the region, according to a study.
IPCC: Govts split on ‘accelerated’ climate reports for next UN global stocktake
25 Jan 2024
Governments have decided against adopting a new structure for the next IPCC assessment cycle, committing instead to the traditional set of three “working group” reports and just one “special” report.
This counterintuitive technology fights climate change by making more carbon dioxide
25 Jan 2024
Scientists are trying to pull methane from dairy barns and coal mines to make CO2. It’s a surprisingly good idea.
Amazon of the ocean - can coral reefs survive the Anthropocene epoch?
25 Jan 2024
The world’s coral reefs could collapse by the end of this century, jeopardising millions of marine species and humans. “Super reefs” may be our last hope.”
China’s green tech surge could turn global climate politics on its head
25 Jan 2024
Beijing’s industrial policy gives it an interest in forcing others to decarbonise more.
Climate change in South China Sea will impact global weather: experts
25 Jan 2024
The impact of climate change in the South China Sea and its surrounding areas on the local and global weather system could be “profound,” new scientific research has found.
Bangladeshi farmers eye drought-resistant tree as a climate and economic solution
25 Jan 2024
Farmers in Bangladesh are increasingly turning to the fast-growing, drought-resistant moringa tree, which is indigenous to South Asian nations.
Why 2024 will be a crucial year for climate litigation
24 Jan 2024
Advocates predict activists and local governments will look to the courts to bring about accountability for climate damage.
Earth 2.0°C: How to make passing the 1.5°c climate change threshold an opportunity
24 Jan 2024
Addressing the climate crisis will be difficult and demand focused attention and action.
UN makes ‘global appeal’ for $7.9bn to help 140 million migrants
24 Jan 2024
The United Nations migration agency has launched its first “global appeal”, aiming to drum up $7.9bn to help those forced to leave their homes due to everything from conflict to climate change.
Fiscal reforms needed to address global problems like climate change and ageing
24 Jan 2024
The world needs to cut high levels of debt and raise tax revenues to deal with challenges such as climate change and rapid ageing in developed countries, said Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
North Sea oil and gas claims fact-checked
24 Jan 2024
The UK government has been defending a plan that could see new licences granted every year for fossil fuel drilling in the North Sea.
Companies are hiding their climate progress - a new report explains why
24 Jan 2024
In a twist, the greenest companies are talking about their climate efforts the least.
The people have a right to climate data
23 Jan 2024
OPINION: As a climate scientist documenting the multi-trillion-dollar price tag of the climate disasters shocking economies and destroying lives, I field requests from strategic consultants looking for climate data, analysis and computer code.
Junk offset sellers push to enter new UN carbon market
23 Jan 2024
Renewable energy schemes make up four-fifths of Kyoto-era projects hoping to keep selling offsets under Article 6, sparking concerns over the credibility of the new market.
Extreme cold still happens in a warming world – in fact climate instability may be disrupting the polar vortex
23 Jan 2024
Extremely cold Arctic air and severe winter weather swept southward into much of the US in mid-January, breaking daily low temperature records from Montana to Texas.
Iron fertilisation isn’t going to save us
23 Jan 2024
The controversial geoengineering technique can defer, at best, a few years’ worth of emissions. And that’s ignoring the potential side effects.
Bottom trawling is kicking up tons of carbon dioxide
23 Jan 2024
Your shrimp cocktail comes with a side of carbon dioxide, according to scientists who have for the first time quantified greenhouse emissions caused by a destructive fishing technique known as bottom trawling.
Long-term prairie drought raises concerns over groundwater levels
23 Jan 2024
In the middle of a Canadian mountain playground, adjacent to a popular ski resort, there’s a well sunk into the bedrock that has a water scientist worried.
Flying hurts the planet but it’s vital for island tourism. Is there a greener way?
22 Dec 2023
Electric aviation and renewable energy among shifts needed for the Pacific to build a more sustainable tourist industry.
Nine breakthroughs for climate and nature in 2023 you may have missed
22 Dec 2023
In a tumultuous year, the positive milestones for the climate and nature might well have gone under your radar. Future Planet rounds up nine quiet wins of the year, plus one much louder one.
Adapting in the face of climate change in rural Kenya
22 Dec 2023
For farmers across the globe, access to reliable weather and climate data is critical in adapting to a new normal.
Why people still fall for fake news about climate change
22 Dec 2023
It was the hottest year on Earth in 125,000 years, and #climatescam is taking off.
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.
Some inconvenient truths in bringing climate science to the judiciary
Today 11:45am
OPINION: Climate science had been knocking on the courthouse doors for quite some time when the Supreme Court of the United States finally invited it into the realm of legal action in 2007.
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.
Risk of drought in UK grows after unusually dry start to spring
Today 11:45am
The risk of drought is rising after an unusually dry start to spring has pushed river flow, groundwater and reservoir stores below normal levels across much of the country, especially in central and southern England.
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.
While the world hesitates, India must continue leading on climate
Today 11:45am
India’s updated climate targets must translate into systems that secure growth, resilience, and autonomy.
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.
