International: United Kingdom
Millions face long-term coastal flooding risk in UK without climate action, scientists warn
Thu 23 Jul 2026
Up to 13 million people in the UK face the long-term risk of coastal flooding due to the climate crisis, scientists have warned, with a “reasonable worst-case scenario” suggesting the need for the large-scale movement of populations away from a dramatically reshaped coast.
Will new UK PM’s green measures at home cause climate finance pain overseas?
Thu 23 Jul 2026
Andy Burnham will cut bus fares and household electricity tax in a boost for UK climate action – but this will be funded partly by switching international climate finance from grants to loans.
UK's Burnham to maintain ban on North Sea exploration licences
Tue 21 Jul 2026
Andy Burnham will stick to Labour’s contentious ban on new exploration licences in the North Sea, dashing oil and gas industry hopes for a radical change in government policy towards fossil fuels.
UK withdraws millions in funding from world’s second-largest rainforest in Congo
17 Jul 2026
The UK has abandoned projects worth tens of millions of pounds that were meant to help protect Congo rainforests and support local people.
The heat waves are Andy Burnham’s problem now
17 Jul 2026
Recent record-breaking hot weather in the U.K. has made a chunk of voters more worried about climate change and impatient for help from the government.
Low-cost loans for solar panels could save households hundreds on bills – thinktanks
9 Jul 2026
Millions of UK households could save hundreds of pounds a year on their energy bills if the government were to approve low-cost loans for solar panel installation, research has found.
'Extreme' marine heatwave expected for parts of UK
9 Jul 2026
A marine heatwave could reach "extreme" levels around parts of the UK later this week, according to the Met Office, raising concerns for marine life.
‘But we’re just 1% of emissions’: do smaller countries’ climate efforts matter?
6 Jul 2026
Past and present leaders of wealthy nations such as UK and Germany have argued their actions are insignificant.
Wales' emissions fall significantly after steelworks changes
29 Jun 2026
There has been a "significant" cut to Wales' greenhouse gas emissions, mainly due to the closure of the blast furnaces at Port Talbot steelworks, according to a new report.
Weakening UK net zero policy would damage economy, chief climate adviser says
26 Jun 2026
Weakening the UK’s net zero policy would disrupt business and damage the economy, the UK’s chief climate adviser has warned.
London event on extreme heat adaptation cancelled as heatwave grips
25 Jun 2026
An event due to be held in central London about how the world can adapt to extreme heat has been cancelled due to soaring temperatures.
We recreated the legendary heatwave summer of 1976 in today’s climate – here’s what we found
25 Jun 2026
The summer of 1976 was an extraordinary heatwave for its time. With 15 consecutive days of temperatures over 32°C, it was an unprecedented length for a UK heatwave, coming at the end of a year-long drought.
UK heatwave: 40C in June must be wake-up call on climate crisis, scientists warn
24 Jun 2026
Scientists are warning that politicians are failing to appreciate the magnitude of the climate crisis after the Met Office forecast that temperatures in the UK could hit 40C for just the second time since records began.
Royals kick off London Climate Action Week
23 Jun 2026
The week, which runs from 22 to 28 June, brings together world leaders, scientists, entrepreneurs and activists to accelerate action on the climate crisis.
Record-breaking heat expected across UK this week, says Met Office
22 Jun 2026
The Met Office forecasts that extremely high temperatures could last from Monday until Thursday, leading to health concerns for elderly and vulnerable people.
UK electric car sales target set to be weakened
19 Jun 2026
The UK government is set to water down its target for how many new cars that are sold need to be electric vehicles.
UK rivers face rising risk of climate 'whiplash'
18 Jun 2026
Climate change could push UK rivers to dangerous extremes and bring more frequent rapid swings between wet and dry conditions – a phenomenon known as hydroclimatic whiplash – according to research.
Millions of UK homes at risk of sinking as climate crisis worsens
12 Jun 2026
Millions of homes are at risk from climate-related subsidence, according to an analysis by the British Geological Survey.
BP relegates Net Zero division as it pivots back towards oil and gas
11 Jun 2026
BP has pared back its Net Zero division as it pivots back towards oil and gas.
Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions fall slightly as progress slows
10 Jun 2026
Scotland's planet-warming emissions have reduced but progress has continued to slow, new figures show.
Britain sets 87% emissions reduction target by 2040
4 Jun 2026
Britain on Tuesday set a target to cut emissions by around 87% by 2040 from 1990 levels as it increases efforts to meet net zero goals that it says will help to curb energy costs and create jobs, but it has yet to outline how the goal will be met.
How UK’s seventh carbon budget will deliver ‘£865bn’ in economic benefits
4 Jun 2026
The Labour government wants to cut UK greenhouse gas emissions to 87% below 1990 levels by 2040, which it says will deliver £865bn in economic benefits.
Record-breaking heat and dry spring leave parts of England without water
2 Jun 2026
Thousands of households in southeast England were left without water or facing low pressure during a record-breaking heatwave this week, as high demand followed a dry spring to expose the failings in Britain's ageing infrastructure.
London to miss 2030 net-zero target, mayor admits
2 Jun 2026
The mayor of London has conceded that the capital will not reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, and has urged ministers to hand him greater control over energy policy.
Britain ‘sleepwalking into a food crisis’ without urgent action, experts say
29 May 2026
Industry figures warn of national security risk and call for ministers to address the impact of extreme weather, inflation and Iran war.
UK temperatures matching May 1944 record not evidence climate change is a hoax
29 May 2026
A single UK high temperature in May matching a record set in 1944 is not evidence that global warming is a deception, climate experts say.
Britain’s green transition should belong to everyone
28 May 2026
Opinion: Tearing up planning and using protest laws to criminalise local people – this isn’t how to build the broad consent needed.
New breed of political prisoner arises in Britain as anti-protest sentences rise
27 May 2026
More people are being jailed in England and Wales as a result of acting to prevent climate breakdown and the war in Gaza, research reveals.
The UK faces growing climate threats – where is the response to match?
19 May 2026
COMMENT: UK voters’ dissatisfaction with business as usual must be harnessed to address public concerns and build a country that is resilient to climate change impacts.
UK halves Green Climate Fund contribution, as it spends more on security
15 May 2026
After promising £1.6 billion to the UN’s flagship climate fund in 2023, the UK government has now said it will only hand over half as much.
Risk of drought in UK grows after unusually dry start to spring
14 May 2026
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.
Renewable energy hub planned for Scottish coal museum
14 May 2026
A former 19th Century coal mining 'super-pit' in Midlothian is to be turned into a renewable energy hub providing green electricity for the local community.
Nature recovery zones inspired by Attenborough
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.
Factcheck: What the UK car industry is not saying about EV targets
12 May 2026
For several years, the UK car industry has been claiming that demand is not high enough to meet the government’s targets for sales of “zero emissions vehicles”. However, the car industry has actually beaten the targets under the government’s ZEV mandate.
Wind and solar have saved UK from gas imports worth £1.7bn since Iran war began
11 May 2026
The UK has avoided the need for gas imports worth £1.7bn since the start of the Iran war, as a result of record electricity generation from wind and solar, reveals Carbon Brief analysis.
Why is Northern Ireland facing a growing threat from wildfires?
7 May 2026
Figures show that spring drought events are happening more often while there has been a sharp rise in "fire weather" - a mix of warmth, dryness, and wind that allows fires to ignite and spread rapidly. Experts warn this combination, along with climate change, is creating a longer and more volatile wildfire season.
UK scientists to fire salt water into the sky in bid to tackle climate crisis
1 May 2026
Government supporting new geoengineering techniques as race against unregulated companies seeking to capitalise on need for climate cooling tech heats up.
Sail-power offers passengers new crossing between England and France
30 Apr 2026
As governments and travellers look for ways to cut transport-related emissions, a small British startup is offering passengers an alternative way to cross the English Channel: by sail.
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.
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.
Britain hits renewable power record in 2025, but fossil fuel use also up
8 Apr 2026
Renewable power such as wind and solar provided a record 52.5% of Britain’s electricity generation in 2025, government data showed on Thursday, but fossil fuel use also rose.
The vested interests lobbying for North Sea oil and gas expansion
7 Apr 2026
In the wake of the fossil fuel crisis created by Donald Trump’s war in Iran, a host of influential figures and groups in the UK have been calling not for the rapid rollout of renewable energy, but a growing reliance on oil and gas.
Record wind output helps shield the UK from worst of Iran war fallout
1 Apr 2026
Record output from wind farms has helped boost total clean power supplies in the United Kingdom to new highs so far in 2026, and allowed power firms to pare use of fossil fuels to multi-year lows.
Heat pumps for all new homes and plug-in solar in England green tech drive
25 Mar 2026
Developers will be required to install solar panels and heat pumps in all new homes in England as part of updated planning requirements published by the government.
UK regulator to investigate climate change denial complaints for first time since 2017
25 Mar 2026
Regulator makes U-turn over complaints after claims it let some broadcasters ‘spout dangerous climate lies’.
Analysis: CO2 from UK data centres could be ‘hundreds of times’ higher than thought
24 Mar 2026
Emissions from the new data centres set to drive the UK’s AI “revolution” could be hundreds of times higher than government estimates, according to analysis by Carbon Brief.
UK climate aid cuts ‘short-sighted’ and leave ‘fossil fuel profits untouched’, campaigners say
23 Mar 2026
Campaigners have condemned the UK government's decision to cut its international climate finance as "extremely short-sighted" and a "moral abdication," warning the move threatens national security, abandons communities on the frontlines of climate change, and leaves "windfall profits from fossil fuels untouched".
UK emissions fall 2.4% in 2025 as coal hits 400-year low
9 Mar 2026
The UK’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 2.4% in 2025 to their lowest level in more than 150 years, according to new analysis.
Nature loss could cost twice as much as the financial crash, leaked report reveals
5 Mar 2026
ITV News has seen a classified government intelligence report which appears to show some of the most worrying potential impacts of nature loss weren't disclosed to the public.
Earth's heat to power 10,000 homes in renewable energy first for UK
4 Mar 2026
The UK's first geothermal power plant has been turned on, providing a completely new type of renewable electricity using hot water from underground.
Climate and rock art advocates take on ‘carbon bomb’ gas project in Aus federal court
Wed 22 Jul 2026
The Albanese government’s decision to approve one of the world’s largest gas projects in Western Australia is being challenged in the federal court, setting up a significant test of how Australia’s environment law deals with the climate crisis.
Trump blames Canada for wildfire smoke affecting US
Tue 21 Jul 2026
A series of Republican “leaders” have started producing angry denunciations of Canada for polluting America’s air with their "thoughtless" fires.
China solar exports to South, Southeast Asia and Africa rise despite post-rebate slump
Wed 22 Jul 2026
China's solar exports to Southeast and South Asia as well as Africa rose year-over-year in June, customs data showed on Monday, though overall solar exports slipped for a second month after China removed an export tax rebate.
Norway’s national oil company’s profits double to $11.5bn amid war on Iran
Fri 24 Jul 2026
Profits at Norway’s state oil company nearly doubled to $11.5bn (£8.6bn) in the three months to the end of June as the jump in oil and gas prices caused by the war against Iran boosted earnings.
Ontario seeks federal support for evacuations as wildfires devastate remote Canadian towns
Mon 20 Jul 2026
Ontario requested federal assistance to evacuate people from remote northern Canadian communities ravaged by wildfires on Thursday, as smoke brought poor air quality to Toronto and much of the Northeastern U.S.
Extreme heat costing India’s poorest workers 2% of GDP, survey finds
Thu 23 Jul 2026
India’s informal workers are estimated to be losing $78 billion in wages per year because of productivity declines and illness caused by intensifying heat.
French Polynesia objects to an American seabed mining plan made without its input
Fri 24 Jul 2026
The government of French Polynesia plans to challenge an American startup’s proposal to explore the waters just beyond its maritime borders for seabed mining.
‘I can’t work in the farce of climate change cruise tourism anymore’: why Antarctic guides quit their dream jobs
Wed 22 Jul 2026
“You’d see massive glacier calvings, and you’d just want to cry. But all the guests would be cheering. And you’d be like … ‘can you not put two and two together?’”
West Africa signs off $25bn mega gas-pipeline plan
Wed 22 Jul 2026
One of Africa's most ambitious energy infrastructure projects has finally been signed off at the highest level, with West African leaders formally endorsing the long-awaited Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline.
Panama Canal braces for El Niño, announcing first transit restrictions
Fri 24 Jul 2026
The probability of a severe El Nino has risen from 25% to 81% and the Panama Canal is preparing to restrict transits.
COP31 president says electrification is ‘surest way to protect citizens’
14 Jul 2026
Last month, COP31 president-designate Murat Kurum launched a target for 35% of the world’s final energy to come from electricity by 2035. In an interview with Carbon Brief, Kurum says that the target was not a political choice, but instead reflects the latest evidence on “what is needed to keep 1.5C within reach”.
