How “loss and damage” was handled at COP27

Saleemul Huq, director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development at the Independent University in Bangladesh and a friend of EiD has argued for many years that developing countries need serious support to address their own concerns because of climate change. One of the few positive outcomes of COP27 was the agreement to … Continue reading How “loss and damage” was handled at COP27

Preparing for COP28: The Emirates are seeking international clout as the Gulf’s most proactive nation on climate action

The Gulf oil and gas exporter is going big on renewable energy investment and food security, while expanding hydrocarbon production. Chloé Farand reviews the plans of the UAE host of COP28 in an article on the Climate Change News website.   UAE plans to have it both ways as Cop28 climate summit host If there … Continue reading Preparing for COP28: The Emirates are seeking international clout as the Gulf’s most proactive nation on climate action

Developing an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution

Michael Birnbaum writes on the Washington Post website about negotiations underway in Uruguay to have an international treaty to reduce plastic pollution. No one says it will be easy. For those wanting to follow latest developments, please go to the Energy Negotiations Bulletin website of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).   Work is … Continue reading Developing an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution

Hope is not lost: 2022 was an historic year for international climate policy

A lot of the reports out of COP27 in Egypt reflect failure of the international community to make any progress to raise the ambition needed to stay on the path to limit global warming to 1.5℃. Katherine Lake, Research Associate at the Centre for Resources, Energy and Environmental Law at the University of Melbourne takes … Continue reading Hope is not lost: 2022 was an historic year for international climate policy

The latest EU state to leave the Energy Charter Treaty: Luxembourg

The Luxembourg government has decided to exit the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), an international trade and investment agreement concluded in the early 1990s to protect investments in the energy sector, Luxembourg’s Minister of Energy and Spatial Planning, Claude Turmes, announced on Friday 18 November. Frédéric Simon discusses latest developments in an article on the Euractiv website.   … Continue reading The latest EU state to leave the Energy Charter Treaty: Luxembourg

With the current architecture for climate finance, cities are being left out

The current architecture of the institutions and funds that provide climate finance is, however, not designed to work at a sub-national level. Therefore across the globe, cities are being left out. This situation is even more pertinent for African cities as Africa is both the fastest urbanising continent in the world and among the most … Continue reading With the current architecture for climate finance, cities are being left out

New EEA report on impact of heatwaves on health

Unprecedented heatwaves — as seen this year — are the greatest direct climate-related health threat to Europe’s population. Heatwaves already account for numerous deaths and illnesses. This burden is set to increase without more climate change adaptation and mitigation measures. Heat-health action plans, urban greening, better building design and adjusting working times can contribute to … Continue reading New EEA report on impact of heatwaves on health

Carbon emissions: “You have to ask: When are they going to go down?”

Pandemic recovery and an uptick in the use of coal amid the Ukraine war are significant drivers behind carbon emissions. Roshni Majumdar discusses latest developments in an article on the Deutsche Welle website.   COP27: Fossil fuel carbon emissions to hit all-time high Climate scientists warned Friday that harmful carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels … Continue reading Carbon emissions: “You have to ask: When are they going to go down?”

Children and young people are a big part of COP27

Aoife Daly, Lecturer in Law at University College Cork writes on the Conversation website about how young people are playing an increasingly important role at the UN climate summit this year.   COP27: how young climate activists are changing international human rights law World leaders and climate scientists aren’t the only ones who have gathered … Continue reading Children and young people are a big part of COP27

While “loss and damage” is gaining more attention ahead of COP27, who’s going to pay?

Loss and damage has been at the heart of much media reporting about the upcoming Cop27 climate talks in Egypt in November. With many disasters recently, such as the flooding in Pakistan, the importance of loss and damage compensation gains attention. Isabella Kaminski writes on the Climate Change News about the challenges involved. She notes that … Continue reading While “loss and damage” is gaining more attention ahead of COP27, who’s going to pay?