International: United Nations
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.
US plans to push for curbs on methane emissions worldwide at key UN meet
22 Nov 2023
Curbing methane is the fastest and cheapest way to keep average temperature rise under 1.5 degrees Celsius, a US state department official said.
COP28 must not repeat the mistakes of the Africa Climate Summit
22 Nov 2023
Lobbyists for big emitters in the Global North must not be allowed to push false solutions on COP28.
Oil and gas companies are digging in. That’s why COP28 must force a phase-down of fossil fuels
21 Nov 2023
COP28 is just a few weeks away, and if we are to have any hope of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees and a positive outcome at the conference, we must see the oil and gas sector start to move the needle.
What happens when you put a fossil fuel exec in charge of solving climate change?
20 Nov 2023
For a taste of the United Arab Emirates, try the cappuccino at Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace hotel. At around $25, it’s a quality cup of coffee, but the gold flakes that come sprinkled on top are its primary selling point.
COP28: Loss-and-damage fund set to disappoint poor countries
17 Nov 2023
A year on from the breakthrough on climate-change funding, poor countries eye disappointment at the Dubai summit.
Aotearoa could make a real impact on cutting greenhouse gas emissions internationally: Thomas Pogge
7 Nov 2023
By Jeremy Rose | The director of Yale University’s Global Justice Program, Thomas Pogge, says for a relatively small investment of, say, US$100 million, New Zealand could make a significant impact on cutting the greenhouse gas emissions of the developing world.
Scientists say only transformational change will avoid environmental tipping points
6 Nov 2023
Ahead of COP28, UN-backed scientists warn that to avoid six irreversible climatic and ecological changes, the root causes must be addressed.
COP28 Presidency launches net zero transition charter
3 Nov 2023
Charter launched to drive corporate climate action amid flurry of pre-COP activity, including confirmation that King Charles will attend climate talks.
Deep divisions ahead of crucial UN climate talks
2 Nov 2023
There are already signs that deep divisions could hamper progress at the UN's crucial COP28 climate summit.
A critical meeting before the big COP28 summit will tackle thorny issues
1 Nov 2023
Set against the backdrop of heightened Middle Eastern tensions, the United Arab Emirates is hosting a series of key meetings this week to prepare for the upcoming UN Climate Summit in Dubai.
Inside the campaign that put an oil boss in charge of a climate summit
31 Oct 2023
Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of the UAE’s national oil company, secured the COP28 presidency despite questions over his green credentials.
Impact of farming on climate crisis will be a key COP topic – finally
25 Oct 2023
Cop28 will discuss how global food production must become sustainable to stay within 1.5C.
Heat on UAE to give COP28 ambitious edge we need
25 Oct 2023
To meet climate goals, countries will have to get far more ambitious and quickly. Here's what to look for at COP28.
Africa and India push rich nations to phase out fossil fuels faster
18 Oct 2023
At Cop28, developed nations will face calls to quit fossil fuels faster than developing countries, who did less to cause the climate crisis.
‘I wasn’t the obvious choice’: meet the oil man tasked with saving the planet
10 Oct 2023
When COP28 starts next month, Sultan Al Jaber will be front and centre. He is the United Arab Emirates’ choice to head up the climate talks – and he also happens to be head of the national oil company. What’s the problem with that, he asks.
Climate leaders gather in Spain before ‘challenging’ COP28
5 Oct 2023
Energy ministers and climate leaders from around the world gather in Madrid before the next month’s climate summit.
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.
