1 week ago Bam! What is the acronym everyone is talking about at Cop30?

Securing the Belém Action Mechanism is a top priority for climate justice advocates at the talks in Brazil • Cop30: click here for full Guardian coverage of the climate talks in BrazilAll through the halls of the UN climate talks, civil society activists are wearing badges that read “Bam!”. They are not showing their fandom for old superhero comics but rather indicating their support for the Belém Action Mechanism (Bam), a proposal for states to drive action on a just transition towards a low-carbon economy.Securing the Bam is a top priority for climate justice advocates at Cop30. Proponents say that if a just transition is not a priority, climate action will unintentionally leave workers and communities behind. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago ‘This is survival’: Jamaica leads calls from vulnerable nations at Cop30

Countries including Mauritius and Cuba reiterate life-or-death nature of cutting emissions, calling it ‘a moral duty’Cop30: click here for full Guardian coverage of climate talks in BrazilJamaica has led calls from vulnerable nations at the Cop30 climate summit to urge immediate action on climate breakdown as the conference entered its second week.As high-level ministers from governments around the world took over negotiations in Belém, Brazil, vulnerable nations lined up to say how important it was that wealthier countries cut emissions in order to limit the worst effects of global heating. In addition, they renewed a longstanding call for rich nations to do more financially to help poor countries deal with warming. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Have courage to create fossil fuel phaseout roadmap at Cop30, Brazilian minister urges

Marina Silva says contentious plan would be ‘ethical answer’ to climate crisis but does not commit Brazil to itBrazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged all countries to have the courage to address the need for a fossil fuel phaseout, calling the drawing up of a roadmap for it an “ethical” response to the climate crisis.She emphasised, however, that the process would be voluntary for those governments that wished to participate, and “self-determined”. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Thousands hit streets of Belém to call for action during crucial Cop30 summit

Funeral for fossil fuels held as part of Great People’s March calling on governments to step up climate effortsThousands of people have turned out in the streets of Belém to demand urgent action on the climate crisis.It was the first major protest outside the annual climate talks since Cop26 four years ago in Glasgow, as the last three gatherings were held in locations with little tolerance for demonstrations – Egypt, Dubai and Azerbaijan. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Cop can be torturous and tedious – but here’s why it’s worth paying attention

In this week’s newsletter: Critics have yet come up with an alternative that would truly bring all countries together to work to solve the climate crisis• Don’t get Down to Earth delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereWorld leaders – or at least about 50 of them – flew away from preliminary Cop meetings in the Amazonian city of Belém last week, where they met to discuss the climate crisis, the ravages committed on the planet’s biggest rainforest only too apparent beneath them, if they chose to look.Deforestation, drought and the climate crisis are pushing the Amazon to what could become a “tipping point”, where it changes state from a rainforest to a savannah ecosystem, and from a massive absorber of carbon to releasing carbon into the atmosphere, which would have devastating consequences for the whole world.‘It will never be forgiven’: UN climate chief warns world to act or face disasterTyphoon Fung-Wong becomes second in a week to hit the PhilippinesI wish we could ignore Bill Gates...

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2 w. ago Oil and gas demand to rise for 25 years without global change of course, says IEA

International energy watchdog sets out new pessimistic scenario to reflect fading commitment to climate change

Politics

2 w. ago Nigel Farage blow as poll shows how people feel about net zero

Reform's vow to rip up Britain's climate commitments are not supported by the public, with a YouGov survey finding 60% back the UK’s green pledges, compared to 25% who are opposed

Politics

3 w. ago Less arguing, more action: will Brazil’s unorthodox approach to Cop30 work?

Host uses Indigenous concepts and changes agenda to help delegates agree on ways to meet existing climate goalsShipping containers, cruise ships, river boats, schools and even army barracks have been pressed into service as accommodation for the 50,000 plus people descending on the Amazon: this year’s Cop30 climate summit is going to be, in many ways, an unconventional one.Located in Belém, a small city at the mouth of the Amazon river, the Brazilian hosts have been criticised for the exorbitant cost of scarce hotel rooms and hastily vacated apartments. Many delegations have slimmed down their presence, while business leaders have decamped to hold their own events in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Another slip Keir? Starmer narrowly escapes a tumble as he arrives at COP30... before telling summit that Labour is 'all in' on Net Zero despite admitting climate consensus 'is gone'

In a speech to the global gathering in Belem, Brazil , the Prime Minister vowed the UK under his Government would be 'doubling down' on its climate commitments.

Politics

3 w. ago Prince William tells Cop30 'courage and unwavering commitment' needed to tackle climate crisis

The Prince of Wales made a landmark speech at the global climate summit in the Amazon in Brazil

Politics

3 w. ago The era of fine speeches and good intentions is over. Brazil’s Cop30 will be about action | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

This is our message to world leaders: make this the ‘Cop of truth’, before people lose faithLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva is the president of BrazilToday, in the Brazilian Amazon, the Belém summit opens ahead of the 30th United Nations climate change conference (Cop30). I have convened world leaders in the days leading up to the conference so that we can all commit to acting with the urgency the climate crisis demands.If we fail to move beyond speeches into real action, our societies will lose faith – not only in the Cops, but in multilateralism and international politics more broadly. That is why I have summoned leaders to the Amazon: to make this the “Cop of truth”, the moment we demonstrate the seriousness of our shared commitment to the planet.Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is the president of Brazil Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Starmer affirms UK commitment to climate action ahead of Cop30 summit

Starmer has reiterated the government’s dedication to clean energy goals and the UK’s role as a global climate leader

Politics

3 w. ago Starmer says he ‘hasn’t changed his mind’ on climate action before Cop30 summit

The Prime Minister reaffirmed his commitment to the Government’s clean energy ambitions and the UK’s role as a global climate leader.

Politics

4 w. ago Rachel Reeves’s 5% VAT cut on electricity bills will backfire, experts say

Critics believe cut would mostly benefit better-off people with larger homes and increase carbon emissionsProposals being considered by Rachel Reeves to cut tax on electricity bills will backfire, experts have warned, resulting in a giveaway to richer homeowners and undermining the UK’s climate commitments.The chancellor is understood to be looking at plans to eliminate the 5% VAT charge on electricity bills as a fast and simple way to reduce bills for consumers and ease the cost of living pressures that have aided the rise of Reform UK. Continue reading...

Science

4 w. ago ‘If you ignore emissions, we did great’: Germany’s challenging fight to go green

While still on track to meet net zero commitments, climate groups say country’s toughest hurdles are yet to come Continue reading...

Events

4 w. ago World leaders, remember that future generations will judge you. At Cop30, you can define how | Gordon Brown

Keir Starmer is taking the lead on tackling the climate crisis. With the US backing away, now is the moment when other nations must step upWith the once-familiar pillars of the old world order crumbling and the US stepping away from action on climate crisis, it falls to others to assume global environmental leadership. Those leaders who understand the urgency should seize the opportunity afforded by Brazil hosting Cop30 this month to build a coalition of committed countries determined to turn back the climate deniers.Many now see China – the most successful manufacturer of solar, wind, battery and electric vehicle technologies – as the global low-carbon powerhouse. But its national emission goals, recently submitted to the UN, are underwhelming and it is unclear whether China is willing to take up the mantle of climate leadership. Continue reading...

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