Climate News

Figueres: Time for World Bank coal investment to end
Top UN climate change official Christiana Figueres said that it is ‘no longer necessary’ for the World Bank to rely on coal in its funding activities, after commending World Bank director Jim Yong...
INFOGRAPHIC: 13 Oil Spills in 30 Days
Since March 11, the global oil industry has had 13 spills on three continents. In North and South America alone, they've spilled more than a million gallons of oil and toxic chemicals - enough to fil...
Poland: $3.6 billion coal power project bites the dust
Poland’s state-backed utility PGE will not be moving forward with plans to build two new coal-fired power units worth $3.6 billion. Low demand and falling electricity prices have turned the tables o...
Pipeline leak floods U.S. neighborhood with tar sands oil
On Friday March 29th, families in Mayflower, Arkansas were evacuated after an ExxonMobil oil pipeline burst in their neighborhood, sending over 80,000 gallons of tar sands crude down their streets in ...
IMF: World spends $2 trillion in fossil fuel subsidies
The IMF reports that governments around the world are spending nearly $2 trillion to subsidize oil, natural gas, coal and electricity production. Almost 9% of all annual country budgets are spent supp...

Top Climate News

India's coal tax will help fund new solar capacity in the country. Creative Commons: UN/Ariane Rummery, 2007

India’s coal tax to help fund 750MW of new solar capacity

The Indian government is set to offer millions of dollars in financial support for solar power project developers, from the funds raised by the country’s coal tax over the last few years.

Controversial changes that will weaken land clearing laws could see 2 million hectares of forest cleared for agriculture. Creative Commons: Marshal Hedin, 2010

Queensland government accused of driving deforestation

Scientists and environmentalists have accused the Queensland government of putting 2 million hectares of bushland at risk of deforestation with changes that will weaken land clearing laws.

Protest against the Keystone XL Pipeline in San Francisco. Source: Tar Sands Solutions Network, 2013

New alliance promises reality check for Canada’s Tar Sands

The fight against Canadian tar sands oil, one of the most resource-intensive and polluting sources of energy, continues to gain momentum around the world. The many campaigns working to stop its development internationally are coming together ...

The Caribbean island of Saint Lucia has signed up to the Carbon War Room’s ‘Ten Island Challenge’. Creative Commons: Jon Callas, 2011

Saint Lucia pledges to phase out fossil fuels

Caribbean island signs up to the Carbon War Room’s ‘Ten Island Challenge’ and pledges to phase out fossil fuel imports in favour of green energy.

Cities suffer more during heat waves than more rural, open areas because they trap heat. Creative Commons: 2011

Cities at risk for more heat-related deaths due to climate change

New research has found that heat-related deaths in cities will increase as climate change continues to worsen a global pattern of heat waves and record-setting high temperatures. Urban areas are especially vulnerable to the impacts of heat wa...

New research aims to better project melting glaciers contribution to sea level rise. Creative Commons: 2008

Scientists warn of 70cm sea level rise by 2100

New research, aimed at helping scientists better understand the contribution of glacier melt to rising sea levels, projects sea level rise of 70 cm by 2100.

Professor James Hansen tells reporters that arguments that climate change has stalled are misleading. Creative Commons: 2012

World’s top climate scientist lays major denier theory to rest

Speaking on his European tour, renowned climate scientist Professor James Hansen labelled theories that climate change has stalled as misleading and a “diversionary tactic” by deniers aimed at confusing the public debate.

Observers have criticised the Arctic Council declaration for failing to act on climate change: Creative Commons: Paul, 2007

Arctic Council decision ‘fails to act’ on climate change

As the Arctic Council Ministerial wrapped up in Sweden this week observers say the outcome fails to act on climate change or protect the region from fossil fuel exploration.

New report warns that delaying investments in decarbonising Europe until 2030 could leave the continent facing a costly sprint. Creative Commons: 2008

Delaying climate action in Europe will have ‘disastrous results’, warns power sector

New report warns that delaying investments in decarbonising Europe until 2030 due to weak and uncoordinated policies could leave the continent facing a costly sprint.

Lord Stern warns that climate change could displace hundreds of millions of people by 2100. Creative Commons: UN Photo/Tim McKulka, 2008

‘Hundreds of millions’ could be displaced by climate change

New figures show 32.4 million people were forced from their homes by natural disasters in 2012, but one leading economist ‘hundreds of millions’ could be displaced by climate change in the future.