9 mins read

Science ‘under attack’ from fossil fuel interests at UN climate talks

Dozens of countries have called out growing “coordinated attacks” by fossil fuel interests aimed at undermining the role of climate science in the UN negotiations at the mid-year talks in Bonn. Under the banner of ‘Friends of Science’, in an overflowing press conference room lined with negotiators and civil society supporters, diplomats from Fiji, Nepal, […]

10 mins read

The vote that stopped a data center: US communities query resource-hungry AI

On quiet streets across the Californian city of Monterey Park, green-and-white “YES on Measure NDC” signs stood on front-yard lawns as volunteers walked door-to-door, drumming up support among residents to vote in favor of a ban on new data centers in their area. They clarified the ballot wording in English, Spanish and Chinese, while distributing […]

6 mins read

Coral reefs are not doomed – but policy must catch up with the science 

Dr. Stacy Jupiter is the Executive Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Global Marine Program. Melissa Wright is Bloomberg Ocean Initiative Lead at Bloomberg Philanthropies.  For years, the dominant story on coral reefs has been one of inevitable loss, with news headlines focusing on mass bleaching, ecosystem collapse, and catastrophic tipping points. As ocean temperatures continue to […]

9 mins read

UN’s first Paris Agreement carbon credits face human rights and climate concerns

Civil society groups have called for an investigation into the first carbon credits approved under a new UN mechanism, alleging the project is linked to Myanmar’s military junta – which the UN says is guilty of human rights abuses – and has “massively” overstated its climate impact.  The programme, which aims to cut emissions by […]

8 mins read

European, island states seek clear future for global roadmap to cut fossil fuels

The global roadmap on transitioning away from fossil fuels now being developed should be a “continuing conversation” which is part of UN climate talks, not just a one-off report, several governments told the Brazilian COP30 Presidency on Friday in Bonn. During a 90-minute exchange of views at the annual mid-year climate talks in Germany, several […]

13 mins read

Climate adaptation helps African nations tackle rising conflict over resources

Somali farmers and herders battered by droughts, floods and decades of conflict are starting to get help in the form of climate-smart crops and animals, new wells and restoration of barren landscapes to boost their resilience in a warming world. Some of this support is being provided under Ugbaad, the Somali name for a new […]

6 mins read

Fewer journalists register for Bonn talks, as cuts to climate reporting bite

The number of journalists registered to attend the annual climate negotiations in Bonn has declined this year, as climate reporters have been let go and media coverage of climate issues falls around the world. Data from UN Climate Change, which runs the two weeks of talks, shows that just 135 media representatives have signed up […]

7 mins read

WHO issues new guidance on heat-health action plans, as El Niño sets in

The World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled new guidance for governments seeking to protect people from extreme heat, a growing priority as climate change pushes temperatures higher worldwide and intensifies heatwaves and related health risks. The launch came as the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said on Thursday that El Niño has developed in […]