The first trial in several US climate change cases brought by youths began on Monday in Montana, where 16 young people are seeking to hold the state accountable for fossil fuel-friendly policies they claim exacerbate global warming and threaten their futures. Roger Sullivan, a lawyer for the young plaintiffs, painted a sweeping picture of the […]
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned on Thursday that the world is hurtling towards a climate change disaster, while criticising the global response as “pitiful”. Mr Guterres, who is hosting a climate summit in New York in September, noted that current policies would lead to a staggering 2.8°C temperature rise by the end of the century. […]
News this week about the planet rapidly approaching the critical global-warming threshold of a 1.5°C rise above pre-industrial levels has frightened and dismayed many. The report from World Meteorological Organisation scientists was published shortly after the world’s fourth-warmest April since records began in 1950 and months ahead of the Cop28 summit in the UAE. Although […]
Vulnerable Middle East countries affected by conflict should be offered easier access to global finance to help mitigate the effects of climate change, humanitarian experts said on Thursday. In a joint report focusing on Iraq, Syria and Yemen, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Norwegian Red Cross said the combined effects of […]
Last month’s average temperatures across the world were the fourth warmest for April since records began in 1950. The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) found temperatures were above average over south-west Europe last month, with Spain and Portugal recording their highest April temperatures. The C3S, which is part of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and […]
It is a measure of how technology has advanced that a modern smartphone is now more powerful than the vast computer Nasa used to manage the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, which culminated in Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walking on the Moon. This extraordinary progress in computing power is set to continue and even accelerate, because the […]
The Cop28 summit in the UAE could produce a new global battle plan to curb the worst effects of climate change, diplomats have said. A new “road map” could set out a way forward on switching to clean energy and helping vulnerable countries prepare for disasters. The idea was discussed at talks in Berlin this week jointly hosted by Germany and […]
Getting global climate goals back on track means the Cop28 summit in the UAE must rise to meet high expectations and overcome low levels of trust, especially in the countries hardest hit by change, said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, the meeting’s president-designate. Pointing to the latest report that the world was “off-track” to meet the […]
The leaders of Britain and Germany have been challenged to throw their weight behind a shake-up of global finance to pay for climate action in developing countries. The call comes as Germany hosts the three-day Petersberg Climate Dialogue, a summit laying the groundwork for Cop28 in the UAE. The developing world is lobbying for funds to deal with climate-related disasters that are […]
The UK government has been criticised for scrapping its most senior climate diplomat post, previously held by Nick Bridge. Prof Sir David King, the former special representative for climate change from 2013-2017, called the decision “extremely disappointing” and a “very backward step”. He urged the government to reconsider and appoint a strong person for the role. Prof King highlighted […]
