International: United Nations
Examining COP28's potential impact on climate change
18 Dec 2023
Once the gavel came down in Dubai, the warm words flowed - but will it really have an impact on climate change?
How COP28 fell short
18 Dec 2023
Two weeks of talks aimed at securing an international consensus on a phase-out of fossil fuels have ended with a statement that critics say does little to advance the urgent work of averting a climate catastrophe.
COP28 “frustrating” but some significant breakthroughs - experts
15 Dec 2023
Small island states facing the existential threat of climate change were particularly effective negotiators at the latest UN climate summit, according to a Kiwi expert.
NZ government swimming against the tide of history: Oil Change International
15 Dec 2023
Oil Change International campaign manager David Tong says the COP28 call to move away from fossil fuels shows the New Zealand government is trying to swim against the tide of history.
Pacific Islands delegates leave COP28 climate summit disappointed and miss out on final say
15 Dec 2023
After COP28's central document was approved, Samoa's lead delegate delivered a critical assessment of the agreement's flaws — and pointed out the Pacific Islands delegates were not even in the room when the deal was done.
The COP28 climate agreement is a step backwards on fossil fuels
15 Dec 2023
The COP28 climate summit in Dubai has adjourned. The result is “The UAE consensus” on fossil fuels.
COP28, where is the dough?
15 Dec 2023
A transition away from fossil fuels seems as good as a commitment as you can expect from the 198 countries taking part in the United Nations climate conference.
Instagram influencers paid to boost UAE’s climate credentials over COP28
15 Dec 2023
The individuals who spoke to DeSmog said they were ‘deeply disappointed’ by the summit and had not fully understood the relationship between UAE and the organisers.
Nations strike deal at COP28 to transition away from fossil fuels
14 Dec 2023
Representatives from nearly 200 countries agreed at the COP28 climate summit to begin reducing global consumption of fossil fuels to avert the worst of climate change, signalling the eventual end of the oil age.
Key outcomes agreed at the UN climate talks in Dubai
14 Dec 2023
Nearly every country in the world has agreed to “transition away from fossil fuels” – the main driver of climate change – at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai.
COP28 climate summit signals the end of fossil fuels — but is it enough?
14 Dec 2023
Nations make historic pledge to 'transition' energy systems away from fossil fuels — some scientists are disappointed by the softened wording.
Carbon credits talks collapse at Cop28 over integrity concerns
14 Dec 2023
The EU and allies rejected proposed carbon trading rules that followed a “light-touch” approach favoured by the US.
COP28: Australia, US and UK say they won’t sign agreement that would be ‘death certificate’ for small islands
13 Dec 2023
Australian climate change minister, Chris Bowen, says umbrella group of countries is united in saying draft agreement is too weak.
Cop28 draft climate deal criticised as ‘grossly insufficient’ and ‘incoherent’
12 Dec 2023
Text now being considered by governments calls for ‘reducing both consumption and production of fossil fuels’.
Building wind power, canceling coal — it’s all drowning under borrowing costs
12 Dec 2023
Central banks’ efforts to tame inflation have made it harder for both wealthy and poor nations to shift away from fossil fuels.
UN climate chief slams opponents of fossil fuel phase-out at COP28
12 Dec 2023
Talks intensify over calls to phase out fossil fuels, as oil producers led by Saudi Arabia put up tough resistance.
Watts tells COP28 NZ is committed to "ambitious" NDC
11 Dec 2023
In his first major speech on climate change since becoming the minister, Simon Watts re-stated New Zealand’s commitment to meeting our “ambitious” Nationally Determined Contribution.
Kiwi nature-based solution at COP28
11 Dec 2023
A nature-based climate solution to strategically restore and enhance 2.1 million hectares of Indigenous forest across Aotearoa over the next decade took the stage at the UN’s global climate summit yesterday.
Observers see OPEC 'panicking' as COP28 climate talks focus on possible fossil fuel phase-out
11 Dec 2023
Veteran negotiators at the United Nations climate talks said that the push to wean the world from dirty fossil fuels had gained so much momentum that they had poked a powerful enemy: the oil industry.
COP28 chief pushes for fossil fuel deal as talks get bogged down
11 Dec 2023
The controversial oil executive presiding over global climate talks in Dubai is stepping up efforts to get a deal to curb all fossil fuels for the first time.
Green groups urge end to LNG expansion to stop 'climate chaos'
11 Dec 2023
Environmental groups urged countries gathered at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai to stop support for expansion of the global trade in liquefied natural gas (LNG), saying the industry was undermining efforts to contain global warming.
‘Magical’ tech innovations a distraction from real solutions, climate experts warn
11 Dec 2023
Overemphasis on innovation and carbon removal risks distracting from main goal of stopping use of fossil fuels, say scientists.
COP28 Update: Day 7
8 Dec 2023
COP28 has highlighted new policy areas such as health, agriculture and clean cooking, and according to media, there have been pledges totalling more than $83 billion.
Turning the tap off slowly – why Australia’s decision to end overseas fossil fuel finance matters
8 Dec 2023
At the COP28 climate negotiations, Australia announced it will sign the Glasgow Statement and will no longer finance international oil, gas and coal projects.
‘Low-carbon product’ promoted by COP28 president 3 times more damaging than ‘regular’ fuels
7 Dec 2023
COP28 president Sultan Al Jaber promotes blue ammonia as a decarbonisation solution. Various experts disagree.
It's Gender Day at COP28 - here's why women and girls must be at the heart of climate action
7 Dec 2023
COP28 is well underway, with world leaders gathering in Dubai to discuss their plans to deal with climate change.
2023 declared hottest year on record as UN slams climate inaction
7 Dec 2023
The temperature record was confirmed as a UN official condemned ‘posturing’ at COP28 climate summit.
Five climate change solutions under the spotlight at COP28
7 Dec 2023
The Earth's climate is changing rapidly and urgent action is needed to avoid the most damaging consequences for people and nature.
As fossil fuel phase-out gathers steam, resistance builds
7 Dec 2023
Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Turkey are among the most vocal opponents of a decision at Cop28 to phase out coal, oil and gas.
US envoy calls out Chevron as lagging on climate at COP28
6 Dec 2023
US climate envoy John Kerry criticized some US oil producers for not doing enough to combat global warming and singled out Chevron Corp. for particular scrutiny.
Controversial carbon credits flood COP28, yet still no rules
6 Dec 2023
The COP28 climate talks have been flooded with announcements hyping controversial carbon credits before rules for them have been hammered out, with environmental groups fearing "greenwashing" on a massive scale.
Global warming could cost poor countries trillions. They've urged the UN climate summit to help.
6 Dec 2023
A prominent developing-world leader on the issue of climate change said that global taxes on the financial services, oil and gas, and shipping industries could drum up hundreds of billions to poorer countries adapt to and cope with global warming.
Record number of fossil fuel delegates at climate talks
6 Dec 2023
The number of delegates at this year's UN climate talks who are also linked to fossil fuel producers has quadrupled since last year, campaigners say.
More than 100 countries at COP28 call for fossil fuel phaseout
6 Dec 2023
Climate activists and countries hard hit by climate disasters seek to break the fossil fuel industry’s stranglehold on global climate talks.
Govt under pressure to show 'coherent' climate policy after failing to sign renewables pledge
5 Dec 2023
New Zealand was one of only a few developed countries that didn’t sign a renewables pledge at the international climate summit in Dubai over the weekend. The country is now under “significant pressure” to show it has coherent climate policy consistent with its international obligations, an expert says.
Carbon capture is no solution to oil and gas emissions
5 Dec 2023
OPINION: The oil and gas industry wants you to believe it can capture its emissions and keep drilling as usual. That’s no way to avert climate chaos.
What Brazil should have said at COP28 - but didn’t
5 Dec 2023
Brazil’s President Lula made important contributions to COP28 in demanding that the 1.5°C temperature increase limit be respected, in recognising the risk of Amazon forest collapse, and in promising to end Brazil’s Amazon deforestation by 2030.
New Zealand continues to punch above its weight in Fossil awards
4 Dec 2023
New Zealand has once again won itself the dubious honour of a Fossil of the Day Award at COP 28 in Dubai, the third time in as may years.
G7 countries agree to phase out coal by 2030, announces French President Emmanuel Macron
4 Dec 2023
Over $12 billion pledged for Green Climate Fund; 118 countries commit to tripling renewable and double energy efficiency by 2030.
Clashes over fossil fuels, Gaza war at COP28 climate summit
4 Dec 2023
Israel’s assault on Gaza resumes the day after the summit reaches an agreement over a long-sought rehabilitation fund.
COP28 president says there is ‘no science’ behind demands for phase-out of fossil fuels
4 Dec 2023
UAE’s Sultan Al Jaber says phase-out of coal, oil and gas would take world ‘back into caves’.
Climate aid fund established on first day of COP28 after 30-year controversy
1 Dec 2023
COP28 climate summit head Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber notched a win on the first official day of talks in Dubai, with the adoption of an agreement to set up a "loss and damage" fund to help developing nations.
Four questions for COP28 to settle about a global carbon market
1 Dec 2023
As carbon credits face intense scrutiny, negotiators will wrangle over how to ensure the integrity of a new global carbon market.
Big meat unveils battle plans for COP28
30 Nov 2023
Polluting livestock companies and lobby groups will target pavilions in a coordinated campaign at the UN climate summit, documents show.
Can a climate summit in an oil state change anything?
30 Nov 2023
The world's most important climate meeting, which starts today, is being hosted in Dubai by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - one of the world's top ten oil producers.
Saudi Arabia’s grand plan to ‘hook’ poor countries on oil
29 Nov 2023
Climate scientists say fossil fuel use needs to fall rapidly – but oil-rich kingdom is working to drive up demand.
Biden not scheduled to attend COP 28 climate summit
29 Nov 2023
US President Biden is not expected to attend the opening of COP 28 this week but will send top US officials to the UN climate summit in Dubai, the White House confirmed.
Who wants what at COP28?
29 Nov 2023
As a year of record-breaking temperatures and climate change-fuelled disasters draws to a close, nations are once again preparing to gather for another round of UN climate talks.
COP28: UAE planned to use climate talks to make oil deals
28 Nov 2023
The United Arab Emirates planned to use its role as the host of UN climate talks as an opportunity to strike oil and gas deals, the BBC has learned.
Why deals at COP28 to ‘triple renewables’ and ‘double efficiency’ are crucial for 1.5C
23 Nov 2023
COP28 president Sultan Al Jaber has urged governments to agree on global goals to triple renewables capacity and double the rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030.
Australian Nationals formally abandon commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050
Mon 3 Nov 2025
Nationals leader David Littleproud said the party would shift its focus to climate adaptation instead of being "focused solely" on reducing emissions, noting Australia's small share of the global effort.
Exxon funded thinktanks to spread climate denial in Latin America, documents reveal
Tue 4 Nov 2025
Texas-based fossil fuel company financed Atlas Network in attempt to derail UN-led climate treaty process.
Why climate change now threatens China’s future
Tue 4 Nov 2025
Extreme weather is hurting its economy and worrying its leaders.
Norway faces European Court climate ruling over oil licences
29 Oct 2025
The European Court of Human Rights will decide on Tuesday if Norway breached its climate obligations when it awarded Arctic oil exploration licenses in 2016.
Bank of England must better address climate risk to tackle inflation
Tue 4 Nov 2025
The central bank is being urged to take a series of actions to better respond to environmental risks.
Renewables are a global economic engine, not a culture war threat
2 Oct 2025
Energy companies are learning this lesson faster than Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.
For Indian women workers, a just transition means surviving climate impacts with dignity
Tue 4 Nov 2025
Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) members call for just transition talks at COP30 to help them become more resilient to climate shocks by building social protection systems that secure their livelihoods.
Mystery heatwave warms Pacific Ocean to new record
21 Oct 2025
The waters of the north Pacific have had their warmest summer on record, according to BBC analysis of a mysterious marine heatwave that has confounded climate scientists.
Scientists discovered something alarming seeping out from beneath the ocean around Antarctica
13 Oct 2025
Planet-heating methane is escaping from cracks in the Antarctic seabed as the region warms, with new seeps being discovered at an “astonishing rate".
Nigerian billionaire plans expansion of Africa’s biggest oil refinery
Fri 31 Oct 2025
The billionaire owner of Africa’s largest refinery plans to expand its capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day to meet growing fuel needs in the continent and beyond.
Police raids in Brazil’s Rio kill 64 ahead of events related to COP30 climate summit
Thu 30 Oct 2025
At least 64 people died on Oct 28 in Rio de Janeiro’s most deadly police operation ever, which targeted a major gang days before the city hosts global events related to the United Nations climate summit known as COP30.
