Guardian Environment
‘Historic breakthrough’: Colombia climate talks end with hopes raised for fossil fuel phaseout
Nearly 60 countries have agreed to develop national roadmaps outlining how they will phase out fossil fuel production and consumption, following a landmark climate conference in Colombia. The voluntary initiative emerged from growing frustration with the pace of progress at UN climate summits and represents one of the broadest multilateral commitments yet to ending reliance on coal, oil, and gas. While participation remains voluntary, proponents argue the framework sets a meaningful new benchmark for global climate ambition.
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Democrats say EPA head’s budget cut proposal ‘reads like climate change deniers’ manifesto’
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin faced sharp criticism from Senate Democrats during a budget hearing Wednesday, where lawmakers blasted a proposal to slash the agency's funding by half. Critics charged that the cuts would gut core environmental and public health protections, with one senator saying the plan "reads like a climate change denier's manifesto." Zeldin defended the measures as a push for greater efficiency within the agency.
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Australians will pay more if Albanese fast-tracks fossil fuel projects, former oil and gas leaders warn
Fast-tracking fossil fuel projects would leave Australian consumers exposed to volatile global energy prices rather than shielding them from shocks, former senior executives from BP and Shell are warning the Albanese government. The group of 16 ex-industry leaders argues that renewables investment offers greater long-term price stability and consumer protection. Their intervention carries weight precisely because it comes from insiders who built careers in the sector they are now cautioning against.
Read article →Carbon Brief
China Briefing 30 April 2026: Fossil fuel ‘strict controls’ | El Niño approaches | Why cleantech exports have surged
China is moving to implement "strict controls" on fossil fuel use as El Niño conditions loom, raising fresh concerns about energy demand and emissions in the world's largest carbon emitter. Meanwhile, analysts are unpacking the forces behind China's cleantech export surge, which has reshaped global markets for solar, batteries, and electric vehicles. Together, these developments underscore China's increasingly central and contradictory role in the global energy transition.
Read article →Carbon Brief
Traditional models still ‘outperform AI’ for extreme weather forecasts
Despite the rapid rise of AI in meteorology, conventional physics-based models retain a critical edge when it comes to predicting record-breaking weather events. Researchers found that AI systems struggle to accurately forecast conditions that fall outside their training data — precisely the scenarios that matter most as climate change drives more frequent extremes. The findings underscore a key limitation of machine learning approaches in high-stakes forecasting, where getting it wrong carries serious consequences.
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