Can U.N. summits save the planet? A faltering year of talks brings up questions about the process
3 months, 1 week ago

Can U.N. summits save the planet? A faltering year of talks brings up questions about the process

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. He said he's been watching humanity “collectively fail as a species.” The Associated Press interviewed more than 20 experts and they called multilateral environmentalism broken because of a cumbersome consensus process, the power of the fossil fuel industry, geopolitical changes and the massive size of the problems they are trying to fix. Nine years ago, when more than 190 nations came together to adopt the historic Paris agreement, countries had a mindset that realized a healthy planet benefitted every one, but “we've lost track of that,” said former U.N. climate secretary Christiana Figueres, who shepherded that deal. “We need to find alternative pathways,” Harjeet Singh, of the Fossil Fuels Non Proliferation Treaty said, pointing to a climate case before the International Court of Justice. A changing world Part of the problem is that in the 1980s there were two superpower nations and they had “enough common interest among themselves to knock heads together and to make something happen,” said Princeton University climate scientist and international affairs professor Michael Oppenheimer.

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History of this topic

Can U.N. summits save the planet? A faltering year of talks brings up questions about the process
3 months, 1 week ago

Can U.N. summits save the planet? A faltering year of talks brings up questions about the process

Associated Press  

The world’s nations keep faltering in their efforts to join together to save the planet from several environmental crises. Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, from front left, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Simon Stiell, United Nations climate chief, Antonio Guterres, United Nations secretary-general, Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan …

UN climate summits turning dubious deepen crisis
3 months, 4 weeks ago

UN climate summits turning dubious deepen crisis

New Indian Express  

CHENNAI: The COP29 climate conference, hosted in Baku, concluded with palpable disappointment as developed nations committed to mobilising only $300 billion annually for climate action in developing countries. This disappointing outcome exemplifies a larger pattern that has emerged over the past several years with the annual climate summits consistently failing to deliver on their ambitious goals. According to the United …

UN climate talks no longer fit for purpose, say experts
4 months, 2 weeks ago

UN climate talks no longer fit for purpose, say experts

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Former high-ranking UN officials have written an open letter calling for a complete overhaul of …

Five things to look for at the Cop29 climate summit
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Five things to look for at the Cop29 climate summit

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The United Nations’ Cop29 climate summit kicks off in Azerbaijan’s capital city on Monday. Department …

Climate action will continue despite Trump’s return, US envoy tells COP29
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Climate action will continue despite Trump’s return, US envoy tells COP29

Al Jazeera  

John Podesta seeks to reassure, countries agree to carbon market rules, and the Taliban is in attendance on first day of climate summit. US climate envoy John Podesta has called on governments to believe in the United States’ clean energy economy, saying President-elect Donald Trump can slow but not stop its climate change pledges. On Monday, during the first day …

COP29 begins today: What is the point of the UN climate conference?
Trending News
4 months, 2 weeks ago

COP29 begins today: What is the point of the UN climate conference?

India Today  

Tens of thousands of people from around the globe will gather next week for COP29, the annual U.N. climate summit, in Azerbaijan's capital of Baku. Country representatives meet year round to build support for new climate action proposals ahead of the COP, where they can be agreed by consensus of all countries. While each summit is meant to advance global …

Big Oil just gifted us a lump of coal
1 year, 3 months ago

Big Oil just gifted us a lump of coal

Raw Story  

Watching Republicans ignore climate change while the planet cooks is like being trapped in the backseat of a car, windows rolled up and locked, with a chain-smoking uncle. The U.S. special envoy for climate change, John Kerry, called the pact “the most important decision since the Paris agreement.” The UN describes the agreement as “the beginning of the end of …

U.N. Climate Summit Ends With Lukewarm Agreement
1 year, 3 months ago

U.N. Climate Summit Ends With Lukewarm Agreement

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING The United Nations COP28 climate summit in Dubai ended Wednesday without a deal that explicitly calls for phasing out the fossil fuels that scientists say are rapidly destabilizing the planet’s life-support systems. The agreement, called the global stocktake, calls not for ”phasing out” fossil fuels, as dozens of nations had lobbied for, but rather “transitioning away from …

Nations Agree To Transition Away From Fossil Fuels In 'Historic' Deal At UN Climate Summit
1 year, 3 months ago

Nations Agree To Transition Away From Fossil Fuels In 'Historic' Deal At UN Climate Summit

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — United Nations climate negotiators directed the world on Wednesday to transition away from planet-warming fossil fuels in a move the talks chief called historic, despite critics’ worries about loopholes. United Nations Climate Secretary Simon Stiell told delegates their efforts were “needed to signal a hard stop to humanity’s core climate problem: fossil …

In a first, delegates at UN climate talks agree to transition away from planet-warming fossil fuels
1 year, 3 months ago

In a first, delegates at UN climate talks agree to transition away from planet-warming fossil fuels

Associated Press  

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Nearly 200 countries agreed Wednesday to move away from planet-warming fossil fuels — the first time they’ve made that crucial pledge in decades of U.N. climate talks though many warned the deal still had significant shortcomings. “This document sends very strong messages to the world.” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement that …

For the first time, U.N. climate summit calls on world to ‘transition away’ from fossil fuels
1 year, 3 months ago

For the first time, U.N. climate summit calls on world to ‘transition away’ from fossil fuels

LA Times  

Nearly 200 countries agreed Wednesday to move away from planet-warming fossil fuels — the first time they’ve made that crucial pledge in decades of United Nations climate talks, though many warned that the deal still had significant shortcomings. “This document sends very strong messages to the world.” U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement that “for the first time, …

At climate summit, pageantry is over and negotiations get intense. ‘It’s go time’ to save a planet in peril
1 year, 3 months ago

At climate summit, pageantry is over and negotiations get intense. ‘It’s go time’ to save a planet in peril

LA Times  

People walk near national flags during the COP28 U.N. climate summit on Friday in Dubai. COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber said he was “quite positive, hopeful and optimistic” that the summit could bring a “paradigm shift centered around and based on the science.” Members of the four pairs of high-level special teams — who will work with negotiators from nearly …

Gore blasts COP28 climate chief and oil companies’ emissions pledges at UN summit
1 year, 3 months ago

Gore blasts COP28 climate chief and oil companies’ emissions pledges at UN summit

Associated Press  

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Don’t trust the oil and gas industry to report their actual carbon pollution, said former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, who added that the man leading the United Nations climate talks runs one of the “dirtiest” oil companies out there. Gore said al-Jaber’s Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. is “one of the largest and one …

U.N. climate talks head says "no science" backs ending fossil fuels. That's incorrect
1 year, 3 months ago

U.N. climate talks head says "no science" backs ending fossil fuels. That's incorrect

NPR  

U.N. climate talks head says "no science" backs ending fossil fuels. That's incorrect Enlarge this image toggle caption Kamran Jebreili/AP Kamran Jebreili/AP The head of United Nations climate talks underway in Dubai insisted incorrectly that there is no science to support phasing out fossil fuels to avoid catastrophic warming. Sponsor Message In reality, scientists warn that the only paths to …

Developing nations press rich world to better fight climate change at U.N. climate summit
1 year, 3 months ago

Developing nations press rich world to better fight climate change at U.N. climate summit

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

FAQ: Annual climate negotiations are about to start. Do they matter?
1 year, 4 months ago

FAQ: Annual climate negotiations are about to start. Do they matter?

NPR  

FAQ: Annual climate negotiations are about to start. "One of the big values of the U.N. process, actually, is that everybody's at the table," says David Waskow, director of the International Climate Initiative at the World Resources Institute. "The needs for climate finance are much, much higher — more on the order of a trillion dollars per year," says Laura …

Editorial: On climate change, world leaders are saying one thing and doing another
1 year, 4 months ago

Editorial: On climate change, world leaders are saying one thing and doing another

LA Times  

World leaders will gather for the COP28 United Nations climate summit in Dubai starting Thursday. A U.N.-backed report released earlier this month found that despite their promises, the world’s governments still plan to produce and consume more than twice as much coal, oil and gas in 2030 as they should to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a gap …

UN climate summit chief calls on countries to unite on ‘inevitable’ fossil fuel phase down
1 year, 4 months ago

UN climate summit chief calls on countries to unite on ‘inevitable’ fossil fuel phase down

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The United Arab Emirates president of Cop28 said on Monday he was aware countries had …

UN chief warns of ‘gates of hell’ in climate summit, but carbon polluting nations stay silent
1 year, 6 months ago

UN chief warns of ‘gates of hell’ in climate summit, but carbon polluting nations stay silent

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — The head of the United Nations warned Wednesday that the “gates of hell” are at hand as climate change intensifies, and top international officials said the world’s leaders still aren’t doing nearly enough to curb pollution of heat-trapping gases. The only countries that touted their efforts — “first movers and doers,” the United Nations called them — …

Special U.N. summit, protests, week of talk turn up heat on fossil fuels and global warming
1 year, 6 months ago

Special U.N. summit, protests, week of talk turn up heat on fossil fuels and global warming

The Hindu  

The heat is about to be turned up on fossil fuels, the United States and President Joe Biden. “This really is an unprecedented soft power moment where the U.N. chief is throwing fossil fuels into the limelight and forcing heads of states to respond,” Ms. Su said. "The U.N. secretary-general has moral authority and he’s using that.” Mr. Guterres “can …

Special UN summit, protests, week of talk turn up heat on fossil fuels and global warming
1 year, 6 months ago

Special UN summit, protests, week of talk turn up heat on fossil fuels and global warming

Associated Press  

The heat is about to be turned up on fossil fuels, the United States and President Joe Biden. “This really is an unprecedented soft power moment where the U.N. chief is throwing fossil fuels into the limelight and forcing heads of states to respond,” Su said. “We’ve got to a point where we can no longer be able to afford …

Special UN summit, protests, week of talk turn up heat on fossil fuels and global warming
1 year, 6 months ago

Special UN summit, protests, week of talk turn up heat on fossil fuels and global warming

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Whether it’s yes or no, he’s at least forcing them to respond as to …

Paris summit aims to shake up the financial system. It will test leaders’ resolve on climate
1 year, 9 months ago

Paris summit aims to shake up the financial system. It will test leaders’ resolve on climate

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Heads of state, finance leaders and activists from around the world will converge in Paris this week to seek ways to overhaul the world’s development banks — like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank — and help them weather a warmer and stormier world. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, new World Bank President …

UN climate chief calls fossil fuel phase out key to curbing warming but may not be on talks’ agenda
1 year, 9 months ago

UN climate chief calls fossil fuel phase out key to curbing warming but may not be on talks’ agenda

The Hindu  

The world needs to phase out fossil fuels if it wants to curb global warming, the United Nations climate chief said in an interview with The Associated Press. A phase out of heat-trapping fossil fuels “is something that is at top of every discussion or most discussions that are taking place”, UN climate Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said. When asked …

UN climate chief calls fossil fuel phase out key to curbing warming but may not be on talks’ agenda
1 year, 9 months ago

UN climate chief calls fossil fuel phase out key to curbing warming but may not be on talks’ agenda

Associated Press  

The world needs to phase out fossil fuels if it wants to curb global warming, the United Nations climate chief said in an interview with The Associated Press. A phase out of heat-trapping fossil fuels “is something that is at top of every discussion or most discussions that are taking place,” U.N. climate Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said. When asked …

Are Cop climate summits really fit for purpose?
1 year, 11 months ago

Are Cop climate summits really fit for purpose?

The Independent  

Greenwashing, fragmented real-world action, and the continued failure to reign-in climate-altering emissions are increasingly defining international summits designed to address the climate crisis. With leaders from the UN, the hosts of this year’s climate summit, and governments across the world meeting in Bonn, Germany yesterday, there remains little time to chart a better course for the future. The way world …

UN chief calls for credible climate action, convenes summit
2 years, 3 months ago

UN chief calls for credible climate action, convenes summit

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations chief warned Monday that the world is failing to address the “existential threat” from global warning and announced that he will convene a “Climate Action Summit” in September to accelerate an urgent response to the climate crisis. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the “non-negotiable” price of entry to the summit for leaders from governments, …

Scientists warn U.N. summit to ‘avoid trade-offs’ between people and conservation needs
2 years, 3 months ago

Scientists warn U.N. summit to ‘avoid trade-offs’ between people and conservation needs

LA Times  

A Maasai man walks with his livestock in search of grassland for them to graze in Kenya on Nov. 9. Scientists around the world are warning governments who will be gathering in Montreal this week for a United Nations biodiversity summit to not repeat past mistakes and are urging officials to “avoid trade-offs” between people and conservation needs in a …

Editorial: U.N. climate fund will become a money pit if we don’t stop burning fossil fuels
2 years, 4 months ago

Editorial: U.N. climate fund will become a money pit if we don’t stop burning fossil fuels

LA Times  

The United Nations climate summit in Egypt this month broke ground with a new agreement to compensate poor nations for the effects of global warming. Most countries are falling far short of their climate goals under the 2015 Paris agreement, and the world isn’t moving anywhere near fast enough to cut pollution and keep global warming from reaching catastrophic levels. …

The Latest | UN Climate Summit
2 years, 4 months ago

The Latest | UN Climate Summit

Associated Press  

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt — The European Union’s climate chief criticized the outcomes of the meeting Sharm el-Sheikh, saying it was “not enough of a step forward for people and planet” and did “not address the yawning gap between climate science and our climate policies.” Frans Timmermans said the 27-nation bloc had supported the deal in order to ensure the creation …

The Latest | UN Climate Summit
2 years, 4 months ago

The Latest | UN Climate Summit

Associated Press  

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt — The Latest on COP27, the United Nations climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The group, known by the acronym BASIC, issued a joint statement at the U.N. climate talks Tuesday saying that “unilateral measures and discriminatory practices, such as carbon border taxes, that could result in market distortion and aggravate the trust deficit amongst parties, must …

Climate change: Global collaboration holds key to sustainability
2 years, 4 months ago

Climate change: Global collaboration holds key to sustainability

Firstpost  

The COP27 will be an interesting summit to see if the world can push for greater cooperation and find new leaders in the battle against climate change The transition from October to early November is a very curious time at the national capital as after months of sweltering heat as the city welcomes the winters. According to the UN Climate …

Climate negotiations: 30 years of melting hope and US power
2 years, 4 months ago

Climate negotiations: 30 years of melting hope and US power

Associated Press  

Thirty years ago there was hope that a warming world could clean up its act. “The U.S. has been the absolute dominant force throughout all of this,” said climate negotiations historian Joanna Depledge of the University of Cambridge in England. The world recognized that climate change “is going to affect us all and we all have to deal with it,” …

Climate negotiations: 30 years of melting hope and US power
2 years, 4 months ago

Climate negotiations: 30 years of melting hope and US power

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “The U.S. has been the absolute dominant force throughout all of this,” said climate …

After six years, UN climate summit returns to Africa
2 years, 4 months ago

After six years, UN climate summit returns to Africa

Associated Press  

MOMBASA, Kenya — The U.N. climate summit is back in Africa after six years and four consecutive Europe-based conferences. Hosts Egypt say the meeting represents a unique opportunity for Africa to align climate change goals with the continent’s other aims, like improving living standards and making countries more resilient to weather extremes. The Paris Agreement, considered a major success of …

World heading for ‘climate catastrophe’ as countries’ plans fail to deliver – UN
2 years, 5 months ago

World heading for ‘climate catastrophe’ as countries’ plans fail to deliver – UN

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Current climate policies put the world on track for warming of 2.8C and plans countries have set out for …

UN: World faces 2.5C of warming as climate action ‘nowhere near’ levels needed
2 years, 5 months ago

UN: World faces 2.5C of warming as climate action ‘nowhere near’ levels needed

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Pledges by countries to cut greenhouse gases will see the world warming by around 2.5C …

African nations to finalize aims ahead of UN climate summit
2 years, 5 months ago

African nations to finalize aims ahead of UN climate summit

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The final meeting of African …

UN chief urges rich nations to address climate injustice
2 years, 6 months ago

UN chief urges rich nations to address climate injustice

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Rich energy companies should be …

UN chief names panel to probe companies’ climate efforts
2 years, 11 months ago

UN chief names panel to probe companies’ climate efforts

Associated Press  

BERLIN — The head of the United Nations announced the appointment Thursday of an expert panel led by Canada’s former environment minister to scrutinize whether companies’ efforts to curb climate change are credible or mere “ greenwashing.” Recent years have seen an explosion of pledges by businesses — including oil companies — to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to “net …

Editorial: Climate catastrophe is already here. What will it take for the world to act?
3 years ago

Editorial: Climate catastrophe is already here. What will it take for the world to act?

LA Times  

A new United Nations report blares dire warnings of the escalating effects of climate change: Our planet is no longer on the brink of catastrophe; the catastrophe is well underway. In a sweeping assessment released Monday by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, scientists from across the globe found that climate change is causing “dangerous and widespread disruption” to billions …

Good COP, bad COP? Takeaways from the new UN climate deal
3 years, 4 months ago

Good COP, bad COP? Takeaways from the new UN climate deal

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Side deals brokered by host country Britain covered issues …

Here's what world leaders agreed to — and what they didn't — at the U.N. climate summit
3 years, 4 months ago

Here's what world leaders agreed to — and what they didn't — at the U.N. climate summit

NPR  

Here's what world leaders agreed to — and what they didn't — at the U.N. climate summit Enlarge this image toggle caption Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images World leaders signed off on a new climate change agreement after two weeks of intense negotiations in Glasgow, Scotland. As early drafts of the COP26 agreement were released, climate activists …

Op-Ed: Glasgow’s hope at a critical moment in the climate battle
3 years, 4 months ago

Op-Ed: Glasgow’s hope at a critical moment in the climate battle

LA Times  

President Biden arrives at the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, on Nov. 1. The final COP26 decision statement, for the first time in a COP agreement, contains language directing all nations to increase efforts toward phasing down unabated coal and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, though it gives no firm deadlines. On Wednesday, China and the U.S. — the world’s …

At COP26, nations strike climate deal that falls short
3 years, 4 months ago

At COP26, nations strike climate deal that falls short

Al Jazeera  

Revised deal was approved after last-minute change on coal, which drew complaints from vulnerable nations and others. pic.twitter.com/NluZWgOJ9p — António Guterres November 13, 2021 UN chief Antonio Guterres called the global deal “an important step” but said, “it’s not enough. United States climate envoy John Kerry said governments had no choice but to accept India’s coal language change: “If we …

World leaders reach agreement during climate summit
3 years, 4 months ago

World leaders reach agreement during climate summit

LA Times  

Global leaders went into overtime to reach agreement at a U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland. A coalition of countries, cities and automakers, including Ford, General Motors, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz, committed to phase out sales of new fossil-fuel vehicles by 2040 and by 2035 in “leading markets.” More than 40 countries pledged to phase out coal by 2030 and stop …

Explained: Important terms and issues from UNFCC's COP26 summit you need to know
3 years, 4 months ago

Explained: Important terms and issues from UNFCC's COP26 summit you need to know

Firstpost  

The Paris accord set a target for limiting global warming but left it up to each country to submit its own emissions reduction targets, known as Nationally Determined Contributions. The U.N. climate summit, known as COP26 this year, brings officials from almost 200 countries to Glasgow to haggle over the best measures to combat global warming. NDCs The Paris accord …

Greta Thunberg calls U.N. climate talks ‘a failure’
3 years, 4 months ago

Greta Thunberg calls U.N. climate talks ‘a failure’

LA Times  

People walk past posters placed by environmental activists ahead of a protest march Friday in Glasgow, Scotland, the host city of the U.N. climate summit. Environmental activist Greta Thunberg branded the U.N. climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland, so far “a failure,” accusing leaders of actively creating loopholes in rules and greenwashing their countries’ emissions. “They cannot ignore the scientific consensus, …

Leaders vow to protect forests, plug methane leaks at COP26
3 years, 4 months ago

Leaders vow to protect forests, plug methane leaks at COP26

Associated Press  

GLASGOW, Scotland — World leaders promised to protect Earth’s forests, cut methane emissions and help South Africa wean itself off coal at the U.N. climate summit Tuesday — part of a flurry of deals intended to avert catastrophic global warming. Johnson had a message for negotiators from around the globe who will strain over the next 10 days to turn …

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