Protesters at COP30 called out the AgriZone pavilion, organised by the Brazilian agricultural agency Embrapa, for being sponsored by companies linked to industrial agriculture, pesticides, and deforestation. It is the first time for a separate zone sponsored by the agriculture industry to be present at the UN climate talks. Located less than 2 km from the Blue Zone, the climate summit’s negotiation venue in Belém, the AgriZone is advertised  as a “major showcase of technologi

Nearly ten years after the Paris Agreement reset global climate ambition, COP30 arrived in Belém carrying the weight of a world that has not kept pace with its promises.  Paris marked the moment countries agreed on a shared destination. The test in Brazil was whether any are now prepared to take responsibility for the route. The outcome was mixed: short of transformational, but stronger than many feared in an era of geopolitical strain. Yet, climate ambition is still afloat. 

The conflict in Gaza is one of the most recent reminders that conflicts continue to inflict ecological damage worldwide.  Gaza, once home to around 2.1 million people , has been under attack for over 2 years. With devastating effects on infrastructure, human suffering and violent attacks, this war is not only a human crisis, it’s an environmental one too.  More than 39 million tons of war debris blanket the strip, polluting water systems, poisoning soil health and threatening

BREAKING: Delgates were ordered to evacuate as a fire broke out at COP30 earlier today in the pavilion area. The cause of the fire is not yet known. Videos have just surfaced online showing huge red flames piercing the roof as people ran around in panic while security staff frantically blew their whistles to order people to evacuate.  In the video many bystanders stayed to film the scene as people pushed past them holding fire extinguishers.  Environmental campaigner, Verel

In a striking display of international solidarity, more than 80 countries have joined forces at COP30 to demand a clear roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels, marking what campaigners are calling a potential turning point for global climate action.

The Brazilian government, earlier this week, confirmed one of the summit’s most consequential developments: the formal demarcation of ten Indigenous territories . According to the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples, the newly recognised areas include lands long sought by communities such as the Tupinambá, Munduruku, Mura, Guarani-Mbya and Pankará. The measure will be finalised through a presidential decree. This marks a significant expansion of a proce

It’s been a decade since world leaders came together in Paris in 2015, united by a single goal: to keep global warming below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Ten years on, has it kept its promises? 

The Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) is a new initiative launched by the Brazilian government to provide long-term financial support for tropical forest conservation.  The TFFF has already received endorsements from 53 countries, including 19 potential sovereign investors. 

The state of California's governor, Gavin Newsom, delivered one of the most forceful interventions of COP30, using the platform to deliver an unflinching rebuke of President Donald Trump's “dumb” US climate agenda. 

Located in the Southwest of the UK, the water and sewerage company, Wessex Water has been ordered to pay an £11 million enforcement package due to failures in its management of wastewater.  The Water regulator Ofwat has instructed that the penalty be paid by the company and its shareholders; it is not to be paid for by customers or added to bills. Currently, Wessex Water provides services to 2.9 million customers across Bristol, Bath, Dorset and Somerset.  Ofwat found that We

This afternoon the global news agency Reuters broke the news that Ethiopia will be hosting COP32 in 2027 following a plenary session at Brazil’s COP30.  Each year a new country hosts the COP and selects the host city of the conference. The main advantage of being a host is the ability to set goals for the summit while showcasing their own climate issues.   The announcement settles the debate between Ethiopia and Nigeria who were both bidding to host the 2027 UN climate summit

The COP30 Heads of State Summit began two days earlier than the main UN climate conference this week, bringing together world leaders in Belém, Brazil.   Valter Correia, the special secretary of COP30 said the reason the summit was held early was to allow time for “more in-depth reflection, without the pressure from hotels or the city, and will help us better organize the event’s official opening."   The summit focused on four central themes: forests and oceans, energy transi

At the opening planetary of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit yesterday, the UN Secretary General highlighted the dark reality of the rising temperatures but remained hopeful of the growth of the clean enery sector. On the 6th November, world leaders, heads of state and minister came together in Belém, Brazil to kick-off the two-day World Leaders Climate Action Summit. Each head of delegation will take the floor in the Plenary Hall to deliver their speeches on climate c

The United States has announced it will not send high-level officials to COP30 in Belém, Brazil. According to Reuters , some foreign officials welcomed the move, believing US involvement might have hindered negotiations. The decision, however, extends beyond climate diplomacy, as it is grounded in Washington’s economic and foreign-policy frameworks. Back in July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled  that states are legally bound to protect the climate and prevent e

One week to go, on the 10th November world leaders will gather in the city of Belém in Brazil for the annual Conference of the Parties (COP) organised by the United Nations.    This is the first time that the conference will be held in Brazil, home of the Amazon rainforest, and will run until the 21st November.  The COP30 website states that the location will ‘provide the world with a unique platform to discuss climate solutions, firmly rooted in the heart of the Amazon.’  Th

Plastic Bank was born as a collective action platform through which people, businesses, and big corporations can traceably fund plastic collection and support collector communities, while enabling circularity for the material. 

The non-for-profit search engine, Ecosia, has announced that it is making an offer to take over the stewardship of Google Chrome. ...

A Journey Rooted in Assam’s Climate Reality The first time I saw my school underwater, I didn’t know what climate change was. I just knew...

The Conference Corner – Organización Para Chicas When the planet heats up, so do inequalities — and menstruation remains one of the most...

Earlier this week, Climate Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC), a European climate innovations agency, announced the launch of the...