Wary of Trump, Azerbaijan, businesses shun COP climate talks
Companies are anxiously wondering: Can we get hotel rooms? What about the autocratic regime hosting? What if Trump wins?
COP28
Fossil fuel extraction compatible with climate action, says COP29 host Azerbaijan
The Azerbaijani presidency made that claim while presenting a flurry of initiatives for the Baku summit.
Ukraine reicht geplantes Milliardenpaket nicht
Das Briefing dazu, wie sich Entscheidungen in Brรผssel auf Sie auswirken. Mit dem Wissen des grรถรten Newsrooms der europรคischen Hauptstadt. Im Browser anzeigen oder hier anhรถren von JรRGEN KLรCKNER Mit LAURA HรLSEMANN und JULIUS BRINKMANN DIE TOP-THEMEN โ Ukraine fordert mehr Hilfen: Justizminister Maljuska kritisiert im POLITICO-Interview die Entscheidung der EU, nur die Zinseinnahmen auf [โฆ]
Good COP, bad COP: Azerbaijanโs climate charm offensive is backfiring
Hosting the prestigious U.N. talks is drawing unwanted attention to the oil-and-gas-rich nationโs foreign influence networks and political crackdowns.
Protests erupt in Italy as G7 ministers meet to discuss climate crisis
The Group of Seven will meet in Turin on Monday, in the first big session of environment talks since the world pledged to transition away from coal, oil and gas at the UN’s COP28 climate summit in December.
Italy can do without Russian gas, says energy minister
Rome has no reason to oppose EU sanctions targeting Russian LNG, Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin says.
Teresa Ribera named to lead Spanish socialistsโ list for EU elections
The nomination makes it likely she could become Spain’s pick for a post in the European Commission.
The future of low carbon fuels โ why all eyes are on green ammonia to help drive the net zero transition [Promoted content]
The world is preparing for a phase-out of fossil fuels following the historic COP28 agreement, but what does the energy mix of the future look like? According to Japanese engineering company IHI, interest in green ammonia in Europe is growing as heavy …
The life and death of Rosa Reichel: the brilliant girl who was swept away
She was just 15 and her friends couldnโt save her from the rising waters. For her family and everyone in this flooded region of Belgium, nothing will ever be the same againIt was not a river. It was scarcely a stream. The Ruisseau des Quartes, Marcourt…
Tony Blair seeks climate role at COP29 in Azerbaijan
The former PM’s interest highlights the contradictions for the powerbrokers and consultants running U.N. climate talks.
EUโs pretending to be an honest trade cop
The bloc is overregulating โ and itโs overreaching.
War, money, politics: Discord among wealthy countries hampers landmark climate fund
Squabbles involving the EU, Russia, Turkey and the United States are holding up the launch of a board that’s supposed to oversee aid to communities wracked by disasters.
Von der Leyenโs human rights hypocrisy
The European Commission chief is emboldening oppressive leaders, in effect telling them, donโt do as I say, if I bother to mention anything, do what you want to do.
Oil and gas companies lash out at Labourโs new windfall tax plans
U.K. opposition party set out new pledges for a “proper windfall tax” on oil and gas companies on Thursday.
The US and Saudi Arabia are taking COP28 pledges seriously
The US and Saudi Arabia have reduced investment in oil and gas supply, putting consuming countries in front of their responsibilities by forcing them to act and deliver on their COP28 pledges, writes Thierry Bros.
EU conservatives are fueling far right with Green Deal crusade, Spainโs deputy PM warns
โThey tried to emulate the far right to avoid the far right. At the end, everybody goes towards the far right,โ Teresa Ribera told POLITICO.
EU heavyweights urge โambitiousโ 2040 climate targets โ breaking silence
The appeal comes despite a rising climate policy backlash and has backing from countries like Germany, France and the Netherlands.
Women added to Cop29 climate summit committee after backlash
Panel was originally composed of 28 men, a move condemned as โregressiveโ and โshockingโThe president of Azerbaijan has added 11 women to the previously all-male organising committee for the Cop29 global climate summit, which the country will host in D…
The Davos โdo-goodersโ
A sampling of people trying to make the world a better place, one keynote address and aprรจs-ski shindig at a time.
[Feature] Norway might not end up having a food waste law after all
In 2023, the Nordic Council aid it was aiming to intensify efforts to combat food waste โ but despite wanting to focus on this during the COP28, Norway has not yet passed a food waste law of its own.
John Kerry to step down as Biden climate envoy
The veteran diplomat helped craft the 2015 Paris climate agreement, and more recently led the U.S. team at COP28 in Dubai.
Azerbaijan taps former oil industry leader to head this yearโs climate talks
The selection stands to raise questions about the role of fossil fuel executives in global climate negotiations.
New oil and gas law risks UKโs green cred, says former climate chief
Alok Sharma speaks out as MPs prepare to vote on controversial Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill for the first time Monday.
The best of Power Play 2023
As we enter a mammoth election year on either side of the Atlantic, Power Play looks back on the highlights from our interviews in 2023 to set the scene for the big geopolitical stories of 2024.ย In this weekโs bumper New Year edition, host Anne McElvoy takes a tour through the best of Power Play [โฆ]
2023: In pictures
POLITICO looks back on the images that defined the year 2023.
POLITICO London Playbook awards 2023: all the winners from a wild year in UK politics
From minister of the year to the wildest social media storms, POLITICO’s essential Westminster newsletter picks the big hitters.
2023: The year in figures and charts
A look back at the last 12 months, through data.
Unlocked: Top 10 behind-the-paywall stories of 2023
A Christmas gift for all the policy wonks out there.
King Charles IIIโs unfiltered Christmas speech
POLITICO absolutely, 100 percent obtained an early leaked copy of the British monarch’s traditional address to the nation. Yep.
Naughty or nice? How Santa decides which politicians get Christmas gifts
In a exclusive interview, Father Christmas reveals who’ll be getting a present this festive season.
French biodiversity minister assesses 2023 progress on key measures
In an interview with Euractiv, French Secretary of State for Biodiversity Sarah El Haรฏry reflected on the EU’s progress this year, following the COP28 summit in Dubai, the adoption of France’s national biodiversity strategy as well as the EU’s pesticid…
Sustainable Agriculture: Did COP28 deliver?
As expected, fossil fuels dominated the headlines from the recent COP28 UN climate summit in Dubai. However, a less-talked-about aspect of the discussions was farming and nature restoration, a focus experts argue is key to safeguarding our environment.
COP28, the UAE Consensus and the EU: A Milestone in Multilateral Unity for Climate Action [Promoted content]
As the curtains fall on COP28, the global community can collectively take a breath of relief, having achieved significant milestones in the fight against climate change. By H.E Mohamed Al Sahlawi, who is the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates…
Europeโs time to lead on climate action
COP28 has come to an end, with its share of hope and disappointment. Yet, the European Union has a crucial role to play in global climate diplomacy in the coming year 2024, write Simone Tagliapietra, Giovanni Sgaravatti and Cecilia Trasi.
COP28 commitments will require improvements to the solar supply chain
Europe has relied immensely on Chinese production for its solar growth, and analysts are warning that maintaining this reliance will make all renewable targets subject to the whims of Beijing.
Treating green tech like COVID vaccines will only benefit the rich
Technology transfer is a crucial part of helping global south countries respond to climate breakdown, and it should be seen as a fundamental part of โloss and damage.โ
The Brief โ Venues of COP are not top
Holding the presidency of a UN climate summit gives the host country huge influence on its agenda and outcomes. If you thought Dubai was a bad venue for COP28, here comes COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, another petrostate. COP is the…
To save the climate, change the game for petrostates
Future negotiations should focus more on reshaping incentives for oil and gas producing countries, and less on fulminating at their villainy.
Worldโs cartoonists on this weekโs events
Drawing the top stories around the globe.
[Opinion] Macron’s hypocrisy at COP28
A few days after French president Emmanuel Macron performed an unending monologue at COP28, serenading every actor but France about their responsibility to do more, it is worth looking at the French government’s behaviour in EU negotiations.
Carbon price tumbles as investors fret over โweakโ impact of COP28 deal
EU futures contracts drop below โฌ66 per tonne in London after traders left unconvinced by wording of agreement
How the EU hopes to strong-arm Orbรกn into supporting Ukraine
Also in this newsletter: Why EU officials are satisfied with the compromise outcome of COP28
The two days that salvaged a climate deal
โThere were times in the last 48 hours where some of us thought this could fail,โ U.S. climate envoy John Kerry said later.
In the global fight against climate change, the leadership is not there yet โ but a way forward is
As COP28 concludes, the question remains โ who is going to provide the leadership we so desperately need, Prof Lee White CBE writes.
COP28 is better than feared, but less than needed
Call to move away from fossil fuels lacks deadlines to phase them out
COP28 strikes โhistoricโ deal to transition away from fossil fuels: What are the key takeaways?
Potholes, loopholes and the end of the road for COP28: Campaigners and experts react to the UN climate summit in Dubai agreement.
COP28 deal to only ‘transition away’ from fossil fuel agreed
World leaders agreed to ‘transition away’ from fossil fuel at the UN climate summit in Dubai โ but a massive funding gap remains as wealthy countries fail to commit to new climate financing for low-income countries.
The price tag of COP28โs renewable energy pledge
POLITICO crunched the numbers and found that while the renewable energy vow is within reach, hitting the energy efficiency goal will be harder.
EUโs von der Leyen hails COP28 as โbeginning of post-fossil eraโ
EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen hailed on Wednesday (13 December) the deal struck at the COP28 climate summit as the dawn of a new world with no need for coal or oil.
Climate summit makes โhistoric progressโ โ but the world still canโt quit oil
The contradictions in nationsโ attitudes toward fossil fuels were at the forefront of the talks in Dubai.
Press release – COP28 climate talks agree on transitioning away from fossil fuels
Following the end of the 2023 global climate negotiations, the MEPs leading Parliamentโs delegation reacted to the outcome of the COP28.Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Source : ยฉ European Union, 2023 – EP
For climate action, look to Brussels, not Dubai
While the worldโs attention is focused on the COP28 international climate summit in Dubai, the European Union has been quietly leading from behind in Brussels when it comes to climate action, writes Frรฉdรฉric Simon.
Maximising energy usersโ role in net zero with carbon-free hourly matching [Promoted content]
A week ago at COP28 the United States Federal Government, the nationโs largest energy user, signed the UN 24/7 carbon free energy (CFE) compact committing to match every hour of power consumption with carbon-free energy on every grid globally.
COP28 leaders announce newest attempt to seal long-fought climate compromise
The two-week-long U.N. summit in Dubai has deadlocked on the question of whether nearly 200 countries should commit to phasing out production of oil, natural gas and coal.
The Brief โ Another lost year for energy efficiency
At COP28, international leaders once again fell short of embracing energy efficiency targets, representing perhaps the biggest missed opportunity of the decade. Meet energy efficiency, the magical millions of hard-to-grasp levers that allow us to do mo…
COP28: A call for strategic water action in Europe [Promoted content]
The 28th United Nations Climate Change conference just wrapped up in Dubai. 118 nations pledged to triple renewable energy by 2030. But what about their water dependency? The water crisis still needs to be tackled. Globally, 69% of the publicly…
UK flies its COP28 chief home early to help save Rishi Sunakโs skin
Downing Street confirmed Graham Stuart will be flying back to London for Rwanda vote before returning to Dubai.
At COP28, is Europeโs guiding light actually blinding?
The European Union held a day of transport side-events at COP28 on 6 December. However, the gap between Europeโs regulatory approach and that of other nations raises questions as to what lessons can be gleaned from the EU example.
Draft COP28 text โinsufficientโ and โunacceptableโ, EU says
The Emirati head of COP28 climate talks on Monday (11 December) stopped short of pushing for a phase-out of fossil fuels, in a first bid for consensus that drew immediate fire from Western powers who had hoped for a historic turning point.
EU ministers call out โinsufficientโ COP28 draft deal
Also in this newsletter: Why NGOs are sceptical of Brusselsโ proposal to fight foreign interference
Trump who? Republicans in Dubai try to carve out their own climate agenda.
GOP lawmakers came to the U.N. climate summit to promote a vision that champions U.S. fossil fuels and nuclear energy while acknowledging the need to cut carbon. Itโs unclear how much that will matter if the former president regains the White House.
Anger erupts as fossil fuel โphaseoutโ is dropped from proposed climate deal
“COP28 is now on the verge of complete failure,โ former US Vice President Al Gore said. But organizers of the summit in Dubai urged nations to be flexible and compromise.
Final fight over oil and gas phase-out at COP28 looms
As negotiators enter the final stretch of talks at the UN climate conference in Dubai, a group of countries united in a call for a fossil-fuel phase-out.
COP28 focuses on EU failure to cut livestock emissions
This year’s COP28 casts its eye on agriculture, which generates one-third of global emissions. A sector in which EU climate policies lack ambition โ as even acknowledged by members of the EU delegation.
David Cameron threat over Humza Yousafโs meeting with Turkish president
Foreign secretary says FCDO support for Scottish ministers could be withdrawn after Recep Tayyip Erdoฤan talksDavid Cameron has threatened to withdraw Foreign Office support for Scottish ministers after Humza Yousaf met the Turkish president without UK…
Behind the scenes: A billionaire at COP28
Australian tycoon Andrew Forrest has made a big bet โ that after building a mining empire, his next fortune will come from the green transition.
Saudi-led fight against COP28 deal shows โpanic,โ German climate envoy says
The OPEC oil cartel and Saudi Arabia are leading a push against any climate deal that would cut down fossil fuel production.
Building wind power, canceling coal โ itโs all drowning under borrowing costs
Central banksโ efforts to tame inflation have made it harder for both wealthy and poor nations to shift away from fossil fuels.
COP28: sticking points remain on fossil fuels as talks near crunch time
Negotiators are urged to narrow down their options in order to agree on how to save the planet from disastrous levels of warming and help vulnerable societies adapt to weather extremes.
EU environment chief warns against โlegitimizingโ the far rightโs Green Deal attack
Virginijus Sinkeviฤius told POLITICO that heโs concerned to see moderate politicians adopting far-right talking points on green legislation.
COP28: Fossil fuel pledges not enough to limit warming, IEA says and food agreements on the table
Negotiations in Dubai are entering their final days. Can countries deliver a deal that tackles fossil fuels and unlocks funding for climate-vulnerable nations?
Making water the engine for climate action
By 2030, global water demand will exceed availability by 40 percent.
EU urges COP28โs oil chief to โleadโ on fossil fuel phaseout
Sultan al-Jaber, the climate summit president and oil CEO, must help ‘identify how we can open this pathway,’ EU representative Teresa Ribera tells POLITICO.
Millions of green jobs are open to people with the right skills. The problem is many donโt have them
We spoke to LinkedIn co-founder Allen Blue on the sidelines of COP28 to find out how to prepare the worldโs workforce for a green future.
Azerbaijan gets nod to host COP29 climate summitย
Russia and geopolitical tensions had left the 2024 conference in limbo for months.
John Kerry warns against carbon captureโs โgreat facadeโ
At the COP28 climate talks, Saudi Arabia is among the countries arguing carbon scrubbing technology can replace the need to eliminate fossil fuel use.
Another oil state hosting climate summit? Azerbaijan clears hurdle
Petro-state Azerbaijan has cleared a key hurdle to host next year’s UN climate summit despite the controversy over COP28 taking place in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates.
COP28: ‘Excitingโ language on fossil fuels and a major climate march on day 9 of the UN summit
The biggest march for climate justice at COP is taking place today, as negotiations on the Global Stocktake resume.
State of the Union: Antisemitism rises, low COP28 expectations & EU-China summit
The war between Israel and Hamas continues to poison the atmosphere in our societies, with the number of hate crimes rising to alarming levels.
Azerbaijanโs path to COP29 clear after Bulgaria drops bid
The oil-rich country’s candidacy to host next yearโs climate summit still requires formal approval.ย
Diplomatic cables reveal UK fears over $15B Vietnam coal deal
Briefing notes reveal private worries about a major green deal struck between Vietnam and international donors.
John Kerry wants to interview the worldโs top musicians
Some names?ย Paul McCartney,ย Elton Johnย and Bruce Springsteen.
World divided at COP28 over whether to end fossil fuel era
It’s the issue at the core of COP28: will this year’s UN climate talks, held in major oil producer the United Arab Emirates, produce the first global agreement to phase out fossil fuel use?
COP28 in Dubai: Climate action and fossil fuel phase-out urgent
This week, the Beyond the Byline podcast takes stock of what’s been happening at the UN’s Climate Summit COP28, currently taking place in Dubai. What can we expect from the negotiations? What’s the world’s reaction been to the s…
John Kerry: US has to get rid of โcrazyโ oil and gas subsidies
Presented by Novavax.
John Kerry: US must get rid of โcrazyโ oil subsidies
‘We cannot allow the emissions to be going up,’ the top US climate envoy tells POLITICO.
John Kerry warns UK and Germany against โbusiness as usualโ on climate
“Nobody should be going backwards,” Kerry told POLITICO. “We must meet the Paris goals.”
Putin trolls COP28 with oil talks next door
His presence presented a symbolic split screen: Global climate talks in one frame, Putin’s oil negotiations in the other.
Mary Robinson reiterates call for rapid phase-out of fossil fuels
Former Ireland leader issues firm response in row over comments made to her by Cop28 presidentCop28 live โ latest updatesMary Robinson, the former president of Ireland, has called for a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels, in a diplomatic but firm response…
Germanyโs budget crisis: No clear way forward after coalition misses deadline
Governing parties failed to reach a deal on the 2024 budget, prolonging Germany’s fiscal freeze.
COPping out
The COP28 climate conference is in full swing in Dubai and not a single day has passed since the grand opening on Thursday (30 November) without new announcements being made.
2023 set to be hottest year on record, says climate monitor
This year will be theย hottestย in recorded history after an “extraordinary” November became the sixth record-breaking month in a row,ย Europe’s climate monitor said Wednesday, piling pressure on the COP28 talks to act on climate change.
Brazilโs anger over EU carbon tax infiltrates COP28
A green trade row is spilling into the COP talks in Dubai, and Brazil has China’s support.
30 countries commit to mutual recognition of clean hydrogen certificates
Work on fostering a global hydrogen economy is progressing, with the launch in Dubai of a 30-country coalition committed to mutual recognition of certificates and a new international standard. Hydrogen, a clean burning gas, is expected to play a crucia…
Russia-Ukraine war: more Ukrainian children to be returned from Russia โ as it happened
This live blog is now close, you can read more of our Ukraine war coverage hereVladimir Putin will make a one-day trip to both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia tomorrow, the Kremlin said.The Russian president will hold talks focusing on bilate…
Record more than 2,000 fossil fuel lobbyists at COP28 talks: NGOs
A record almost 2,500 fossil fuel lobbyists have been accredited for UN climate talks in Dubai, as negotiators wrestle with calls to end all new oil, gas and coal projects to curb global warming, campaign groups said Tuesday (5 December).
Record number of fossil fuel lobbyists allowed to attend COP28 climate talks, campaigners say
There are almost 4 times more lobbyists at this COP than last year’s.
How COP28 is putting mayors to work on climate action
Mayors of large cities have a key role to play in combatting climate change, UN Secretary General Antรณnio Guterres said at COP28, calling on them to “demand a seat at the table”.
German budget crisis strikes at heart of the Greensโ ambitions
The party wanted to make Germany a ‘forerunner’ in the fight against climate change. But budget woes have thrown a wrench in their plans.