February%208%2C%202022%2C%20Denver%2C%20Colo.%20%E2%80%93%20In%20the%20first%20ruling%20of%20its%20kind%2C%20the%20United%20States%20Court%20of%20Appeals%20for%20the%20Tenth%20Circuit%20ruled%20today%20that%20the%20historic%20climate%20accountability%20lawsuits%20filed%20by%20Boulder%20County%2C%20San%20Miguel%20County%2C%20and%20the%20City%20of%20Boulder%20will%20continue%20to%20proceed%20in%20state%2C%20rather%20than%20federal%2C%20court.%20This%20decision%20sets%20a%20precedent%20for%20more%20than%20two%20dozen%20similar%20cases%20across%20the%20country.%0A%0AThe%20cases%2C%20against%20oil%20companies%20Exxon%20Mobil%20and%20Suncor%20for%20their%20decades%20of%20misinformation%20and%20other%20contributions%20to%20the%20climate%20crisis%2C%20had%20been%20proceeding%20in%20state%20court%20following%20an%20initial%20decision%20from%20the%20Tenth%20Circuit%20in%202020.%20Last%20year%2C%20however%2C%20the%20Supreme%20Court%20decided%20in%20BP%20v.%20Baltimore%20that%20the%20appeals%20court%20had%20to%20take%20another%20look%20at%20the%20issues%20in%20this%20case%20and%20several%20other%20climate%20accountability%20cases.%20%0A%0A%E2%80%9CThis%20is%20a%20massive%20win%20for%20the%20people%20of%20Colorado%20and%20for%20all%20communities%20on%20the%20frontlines%20of%20the%20climate%20crisis%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Marco%20Simons%2C%20General%20Counsel%20for%20EarthRights%20International%2C%20which%20represents%20the%20plaintiff%20communities.%20%E2%80%9CThe%20oil%20companies%E2%80%99%20strategy%20has%20been%20to%20delay%20these%20cases%20and%20to%20move%20them%20from%20court%20to%20court.%20But%20these%20lawsuits%20are%20now%20moving%20again%2C%20bringing%20these%20communities%20closer%20to%20remedies%20for%20the%20serious%20climate%20harms%20they%20are%20facing.%E2%80%9D%0A%0ALast%20month%2C%20the%20Marshall%20Fire%20tore%20through%20Boulder%20County%2C%20causing%20unprecedented%20damage.%20Colorado%20has%20experienced%20significant%20warming%2C%20increased%20risk%20of%20wildfires%20and%20droughts%2C%20and%20reduced%20snowpack.%20Experts%20agree%20that%20these%20impacts%20are%20evidence%20of%20a%20climate%20changed%20by%20fossil%20fuel%20use.%20%0A%0A%E2%80%9CWe%20are%20pleased%20with%20the%20court%E2%80%99s%20decision%20to%20allow%20our%20groundbreaking%20lawsuit%20against%20Exxon%20and%20Suncor%20to%20proceed%20here%20in%20Colorado%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Boulder%20Mayor%20Aaron%20Brockett.%20%E2%80%9DBoulder%20and%20Boulder%20County%20know%20all%20too%20well%20the%20threats%20climate%20change%20poses%20to%20our%20communities.%20It%E2%80%99s%20time%20we%20make%20those%20responsible%20pay.%E2%80%9D%0A%0A%E2%80%9CWe%20are%20pleased%20the%20courts%20are%20moving%20this%20case%20forward%20because%20climate%20change%20and%20its%20devastating%20impacts%20on%20our%20communities%20are%20not%20waiting%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Marta%20Loachamin%2C%20chair%20of%20the%20Boulder%20County%20Board%20of%20Commissioners.%20%E2%80%9CThe%20destruction%20of%20the%20Marshall%20Fire%20underscores%20the%20urgency%20of%20the%20climate%20crisis%20and%20the%20importance%20of%20finding%20ways%20to%20pay%20for%20the%20costs%20of%20climate%20disasters%20so%20that%20we%20can%20rebuild%20and%20prepare%20for%20the%20next%20climate%20disaster.%E2%80%9D%0A%0A%E2%80%9CWe%20are%20facing%20climate%20change%20each%20and%20every%20day%2C%E2%80%9D%20added%20Kris%20Holstrom%2C%20chair%20of%20the%20San%20Miguel%20County%20Board%20of%20Commissioners.%20%E2%80%9CAddressing%20current%20impacts%20as%20a%20small%20local%20government%20falls%20increasingly%20on%20our%20taxpayers%20at%20a%20time%20when%20costs%20keep%20rising.%20We%20believe%20fossil%20fuel%20companies%20that%20have%20reaped%20huge%20financial%20benefits%20have%20a%20responsibility%20to%20pay%20for%20their%20contributions%20to%20climate%20change.%20We%20applaud%20this%20decision%20and%20look%20forward%20to%20having%20this%20matter%20heard%20in%20state%20court.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AThe%20Baltimore%20case%20itself%20was%20re-argued%20to%20the%20Fourth%20Circuit%20Court%20of%20Appeals%20on%20January%2025%2C%202022.%20A%20decision%20in%20that%20case%20and%20several%20others%20are%20pending.%20%E2%80%9CWe%20hope%20that%20other%20courts%20will%20follow%20the%20Tenth%20Circuit%E2%80%99s%20lead%2C%20and%20quickly%20move%20to%20allow%20these%20cases%20to%20proceed%20in%20state%20court%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Simons.

Historic Climate Lawsuit will proceed in US court

The%20supreme%20court%20of%20Brazil%20has%20ruled%20that%20the%20Paris%20Agreement%2C%20an%20international%20treaty%20adopted%20in%202015%20to%20limit%20global%20warming%20to%202%C2%B0C%20or%2C%20preferably%2C%201.5%C2%B0C%2C%20is%20a%20human%20rights%20treaty%20that%20must%20take%20precedence%20over%20national%20laws.%20Brazil%20is%20the%20first%20country%20to%20declare%20such%20a%20ruling.%0A%0AIn%20the%20case%20PSB%20et%20al.%20v.%20Brazil%20(on%20Climate%20Fund)%20(ADPF%20708)%2C%20Brazil%E2%80%99s%20supreme%20court%20stated%20that%20the%20Paris%20Agreement%20is%20a%20%E2%80%9Csupranational%E2%80%9D%20human%20rights%20treaty.%20The%20case%20was%20filed%20by%20four%20political%20parties%20(the%20Workers%E2%80%99%20Party%2C%20Socialism%20and%20Liberty%20Party%2C%20Brazilian%20Socialist%20Party%20and%20Sustainability%20Network)%20after%20the%20government%20failed%20to%20distribute%20money%20from%20the%20national%20Climate%20Fund%20(Fundo%20Clima)%20since%202019.%20The%20fund%20was%20initially%20set%20up%20in%202009.%0A%0AThe%20Brazilian%20government%20argued%20that%20the%20Climate%20Fund%20was%20not%20constitutionally%20protected%20and%20court%20interference%20would%20violate%20the%20country%E2%80%99s%20separation%20of%20powers.%0A%0AThe%20Supreme%20Federal%20Court%20ruled%2C%20%E2%80%9CTreaties%20on%20environmental%20law%20are%20a%20type%20of%20human%20rights%20treaty%20and%2C%20for%20that%20reason%2C%20enjoy%20supranational%20status.%20There%20is%20therefore%20no%20legally%20valid%20option%20to%20simply%20omit%20to%20combat%20climate%20change.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AThe%20ruling%20also%20means%20that%20any%20laws%20made%20by%20the%20Brazilian%20government%20will%20be%20invalid%20if%20they%20contradict%20the%20Paris%20Agreement%2C%20and%20violating%20this%20ruling%20or%20the%20Paris%20Agreement%20is%20a%20violation%20of%20the%20country%E2%80%99s%20constitution%20and%20human%20rights.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CThe%20constitutional%20duty%20to%20allocate%20the%20funds%20effectively%20means%20that%20there%20is%20a%20duty%20to%20mitigate%20climate%20change%20considering%20the%20international%20commitments%20under%20the%20climate%20change%20framework%2C%E2%80%9D%20Columbia%20University%E2%80%99s%20Sabin%20Center%20for%20Climate%20Change%20Law%20case%20chart%20explained.%0A%0AThe%20Supreme%20Federal%20Court%20of%20Brazil%20is%20soon%20set%20to%20rule%20on%20two%20additional%20climate%20cases%2C%20one%20which%20is%20arguing%20for%20implementing%20the%20Action%20Plan%20for%20Prevention%20and%20Control%20of%20Deforestation%20in%20the%20Amazon%20and%20the%20other%20which%20argues%20that%20the%20government%20has%20failed%20to%20manage%20the%20Amazon%20Fund.%20Funding%20for%20the%20Amazon%20has%20been%20in%20steady%20decline%20since%20Jair%20Bolsonaro%20became%20president%2C%20Climate%20Home%20News%20reported.%0A%0ABrazil%20is%20considered%20%E2%80%98highly%20insufficient%E2%80%99%20in%20its%20climate%20actions%20to%20meet%20Paris%20Agreement%20targets%2C%20and%20deforestation%20is%20its%20No.%201%20source%20of%20emissions%2C%20followed%20by%20agriculture.%20With%20business%20as%20usual%2C%20Brazil%20would%20contribute%20to%20an%20estimated%204%C2%B0C%20of%20warming.%20Even%20if%20it%20fully%20implemented%20current%20policies%2C%20Brazil%20would%20still%20only%20reach%20a%20target%20of%203%C2%B0C%20warming.%20%0A%0ABut%20the%20ruling%20could%20help%20more%20climate%20policies%20to%20be%20properly%20implemented%20on%20the%20basis%20of%20human%20rights.%20The%20ruling%20in%20PSB%20et%20al.%20v.%20Brazil%20(on%20Climate%20Fund)%20could%20create%20a%20lasting%20impact%20outside%20of%20Brazil%2C%20too.%0A%0ACaio%20Borges%2C%20a%20law%20and%20climate%20portfolio%20manager%20at%20the%20Instituto%20Clima%20e%20Sociedade%20(iCS)%20in%20Brazil%2C%20told%20Climate%20Home%20News%20of%20the%20ruling%2C%20%E2%80%9CHaving%20a%20constitutional%20court%20qualifying%20the%20Paris%20Agreement%20as%20a%20human%20rights%20treaty%20may%20spur%20a%20global%20movement%20for%20the%20courts%20to%20follow%20suit%20in%20that%20recognition.%E2%80%9D

Advances in climate rights in courts of the world

Shooting%20birds%20using%20lead%20shot%20will%20be%20banned%20in%20all%20wetlands%20in%20the%20European%20Union%20from%20this%20week.%20The%20law%20will%20apply%20to%20all%2027%20EU%20countries%2C%20as%20well%20as%20Iceland%2C%20Norway%20and%20Liechtenstein.%20An%20estimated%20one%20million%20waterbirds%20die%20of%20lead%20poisoning%20in%20the%20EU%20every%20year.%0A%0AUnder%20the%20ban%20adopted%20by%20the%20European%20Commission%20from%2016%20February%2C%20shooters%20will%20have%20to%20use%20non-toxic%20ammunition%20such%20as%20steel%2C%20bismuth%20or%20other%20non-toxic%20metals%20in%20or%20within%20100%20metres%20of%20wetlands.%0A%0AThe%20move%20has%20been%20welcomed%20by%20campaigners.%20%E2%80%9CThis%20is%20huge%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Barbara%20Herrero%2C%20senior%20EU%20nature%20policy%20officer%20at%20BirdLife%20Europe.%20%E2%80%9CDespite%20banning%20lead%20from%20paint%2C%20pencils%20and%20virtually%20everything%20else%20several%20decades%20ago%2C%20it%20was%20still%20allowed%20to%20poison%20our%20shared%20environment%20%E2%80%93%20even%20when%20alternatives%20exist.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CWith%20this%20ban%2C%20the%20EU%20has%20addressed%20a%20significant%20part%20of%20the%20problem.%20We%20now%20call%20on%20EU%20countries%20to%20make%20sure%20the%20ban%20is%20enforced.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AIn%20the%20EU%2C%2044%2C000%20tonnes%20of%20lead%20ends%20up%20in%20the%20environment%20every%20year%3B%2057%25%20from%20sports%20shooting%2C%2032%25%20from%20hunting%2C%20and%2011%25%20from%20fishing.%0A%0AWaterbirds%20are%20believed%20to%20eat%20the%20shot%2C%20mistaking%20it%20for%20food%20or%20grit%2C%20which%20they%20need%20to%20help%20digest%20food.%20Scavengers%20and%20predatory%20birds%20are%20poisoned%20by%20eating%20lead%20shot%20in%20their%20prey.%20Birds%20that%20have%20ingested%20lead%20are%20often%20weakened%20due%20to%20the%20release%20of%20dangerous%20toxins%20and%20are%20more%20likely%20to%20be%20targeted%20by%20predators%2C%20which%20in%20turn%20spreads%20the%20contamination%20through%20the%20ecosystem.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CIt%E2%80%99s%20such%20a%20huge%20milestone%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Dr%20Julia%20Newth%2C%20from%20the%20Wildfowl%20%26%20Wetlands%20Trust%20(WWT).%20%E2%80%9CLead%20shot%20has%20been%20contaminating%20wetlands%20for%20more%20than%20a%20century%3B%20finally%2C%20this%20law%20is%20coming%20into%20force.%20It%E2%80%99s%20something%20to%20be%20celebrated%2C%20but%20there%20is%20more%20work%20to%20be%20done%2C%20with%20wider%20restrictions%20currently%20being%20considered%20in%20the%20European%20Union.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AThe%20UK%2C%20where%20up%20to%20100%2C000%20waterbirds%20die%20of%20lead%20poisoning%20each%20year%2C%20is%20considering%20introducing%20wider%20restrictions%20on%20lead%20ammunition%20across%20all%20habitats%2C%20with%20a%20decision%20pushed%20back%20to%20next%20year.%0A%0ANewth%20supports%20a%20complete%20ban%20on%20lead%20ammunition%20in%20all%20British%20habitats.%20%E2%80%9CMany%20species%20of%20waterbirds%2C%20such%20as%20Bewick%E2%80%99s%20swans%2C%20feed%20outside%20wetlands%20in%20areas%20where%20it%20is%20currently%20legal%20to%20shoot%20with%20lead%20and%20become%20poisoned%2C%E2%80%9D%20she%20said.%20%E2%80%9CWe%20know%20current%20restrictions%20aren%E2%80%99t%20working.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AIn%20England%20and%20Wales%2C%20using%20lead%20shot%20to%20kill%20wildfowl%20on%20foreshores%20and%20listed%20wetlands%20is%20banned%2C%20but%20researchers%20say%20there%20is%20poor%20compliance.%20Lead%20shot%20is%20already%20banned%20in%20wetlands%20in%20Northern%20Ireland%20and%20Scotland%2C%20but%20according%20to%20the%20WWT%2C%20the%20number%20of%20birds%20eating%20it%20has%20not%20gone%20down.%20This%20could%20be%20because%20shooters%20are%20continuing%20to%20use%20it%20or%20because%20the%20birds%20have%20been%20eating%20lead%20shot%20in%20fields%20where%20it%20can%20still%20be%20used.%0A%0AGame%20killed%20with%20lead%20shot%20is%20also%20a%20risk%20to%20people%2C%20potentially%20harming%20the%20developing%20brain%20and%20nervous%20system%2C%20with%20children%20and%20pregnant%20women%20most%20vulnerable.%20Waitrose%20%E2%80%93%20Britain%E2%80%99s%20largest%20retailer%20of%20game%20%E2%80%93%20has%20banned%20the%20sale%20of%20game%20shot%20with%20lead%20due%20to%20these%20health%20concerns.%0A%0AUsing%20lead%20shot%20over%20any%20land%20is%20already%20banned%20in%20Denmark%2C%20the%20Netherlands%20and%20the%20Flanders%20region%20of%20Belgium%2C%20with%20steel%20a%20popular%20alternative.%20France%2C%20Greece%2C%20Sweden%2C%20Bulgaria%2C%20Slovakia%2C%20Cyprus%2C%20Luxembourg%20and%20Malta%20have%20bans%20in%20place%20in%20wetlands.%20Other%20countries%20have%20partial%20bans%20in%20place%2C%20either%20on%20specific%20wetlands%20or%20for%20use%20on%20waterfowl.%20Poland%2C%20Romania%20and%20Ireland%20have%20no%20restrictions%20at%20all.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CThis%20EU-wide%20restriction%20harmonises%20the%20national%20legislation%20already%20in%20place%20in%20various%20forms%2C%E2%80%9D%20says%20the%20EU%E2%80%99s%20European%20Chemicals%20Agency%2C%20which%20is%20pushing%20for%20more%20extensive%20bans%20across%20the%20union%2C%20including%20bullets%20used%20in%20hunting%20and%20outdoor%20sports%20shooting%2C%20as%20well%20as%20lead%20used%20as%20weights%20and%20in%20lures%20for%20angling.%0A%0AWetlands%2C%20which%20make%20up%2011%25%20of%20the%20EU%2C%20include%20many%20wildlife-rich%20habitats%20including%20estuaries%2C%20deltas%2C%20rivers%2C%20floodplains%2C%20lakes%2C%20freshwater%20marshes%2C%20peatlands%20and%20artificial%20wetlands.%20Enforcement%20officers%2C%20which%20could%20be%20national%20police%20or%20protected%20area%20rangers%2C%20will%20be%20monitoring%20whether%20people%20are%20using%20lead%20shot.

Ban on hunting birds with lead shot in EU wetlands

European%20Union%20lawmakers%20on%20Tuesday%20toughened%20up%20a%20draft%20law%20to%20crack%20down%20on%20illegal%20timber%20trade%20and%20other%20crimes%20against%20the%20environment%2C%20with%20sanctions%20that%20include%20imprisonment%20for%20up%20to%2010%20years%20for%20the%20most%20serious%20offences.%0A%0AThe%20EU%20draft%20law%2C%20proposed%20in%20December%202021%2C%20updates%20and%20introduces%20bloc-wide%20definitions%20of%20environmental%20crimes%20to%20help%20protect%20biodiversity%2C%20including%20the%20combatting%20of%20illegal%20abstraction%20of%20water%2C%20with%20minimum%20sanctions%20that%20EU%20states%20would%20have%20to%20apply.%0A%0A%22There%20can%20be%20no%20more%20excuses%20when%20it%20comes%20to%20environmental%20crime%2C%22%20Dutch%20centre-right%20member%20of%20the%20European%20Parliament's%20legal%20affairs%20committee%2C%20Antonius%20Manders%2C%20said%20in%20a%20statement.%0A%0AThe%20committee%20backed%20cross-party%20compromises%20to%20toughen%20the%20draft%20law%2C%20including%20a%20requirement%20for%20EU%20states%20to%20ensure%20that%20any%20conduct%20which%20causes%20or%20is%20likely%20to%20cause%20death%20or%20serious%20harm%20to%20any%20person%E2%80%99s%20health%2C%20quality%20of%20air%2C%20soil%2C%20water%2C%20animals%20or%20plants%20constitutes%20a%20criminal%20offence.%0A%0ASuch%20offences%20should%20be%20punishable%20by%20at%20least%2010%20years%20in%20prison%2C%20the%20committee%20agreed.%0A%0AThe%20committee%20backed%20fines%20of%20up%20to%2010%25%20of%20a%20company's%20average%20worldwide%20turnover%20in%20the%20three%20business%20years%20preceding%20the%20fine%2C%20tougher%20than%20the%203%25%20of%20worldwide%20turnover%20in%20the%20previous%20one%20year%20proposed%20in%20the%20draft%20law.%0A%0AIt%20also%20backed%20a%20clause%20saying%20that%20member%20states%20%22shall%20ensure%20that%20from%20the%20moment%20a%20conduct%20becomes%20unlawful%2C%20the%20perpetrator%20cannot%20invoke%20the%20issuance%20of%20an%20authorisation%20to%20be%20exempted%20of%20any%20criminal%20liability%22.%0A%0AParliament%20has%20joint%20say%20with%20EU%20states%20on%20the%20draft%20law%2C%20and%20member%20countries%20in%20December%20reached%20their%20own%20position%20ahead%20of%20joint%20negotiations%20with%20parliament%20that%20will%20begin%20in%20the%20coming%20months.

EU: tightening bill on environmental crimes

The%20European%20Parliament%20gave%20its%20final%20approval%20to%20tougher%20national%20targets%20to%20cut%20emissions%20in%20some%20sectors%2C%20and%20expand%20CO2-absorbing%20natural%20ecosystems%20like%20forests.%0A%0AThe%20two%20laws%20are%20part%20of%20a%20major%20package%20of%20climate%20change%20legislation%20passing%20through%20the%20European%20Union's%20policymaking%20process%2C%20designed%20to%20ensure%20the%2027-country%20bloc%20cuts%20greenhouse%20gas%20emissions%2055%25%20by%202030%2C%20from%201990%20levels.%0A%0AOne%20regulation%20sets%20national%20targets%20to%20slash%20planet-warming%20emissions%20in%20sectors%20including%20road%20transport%2C%20heating%20of%20buildings%2C%20agriculture%20and%20waste%20management.%0A%0AThese%20sectors%2C%20unlike%20industry%20and%20the%20power%20sector%2C%20are%20not%20covered%20by%20the%20EU's%20carbon%20market%2C%20but%20generate%20about%2060%25%20of%20EU%20greenhouse%20gas%20emissions.%0A%0AThe%20new%20law%20aims%20to%20curb%20their%20emissions%2040%25%20by%202030%2C%20compared%20with%202005.%20It%20replaces%20a%20current%20target%20for%20a%2030%25%20cut%20in%20these%20sectors.%0A%0ARicher%20countries%20face%20tougher%20targets%2C%20with%20Denmark%2C%20Finland%2C%20Germany%2C%20Luxembourg%20and%20Sweden%20facing%2050%25%20emission%20cuts%2C%20versus%20Bulgaria's%2010%25%20goal.%20The%20new%20law%20also%20tightens%20the%20amount%20of%20emissions%20savings%20from%20past%20or%20future%20years%20that%20countries%20can%20%22bank%22%20and%20%22borrow%22%20to%20meet%20their%20targets.%0A%0A%22The%20new%20rules%20for%20national%20emission%20cuts%20ensure%20that%20all%20member%20states%20contribute%2C%22%20said%20Jessica%20Polfj%C3%A4rd%2C%20lead%20lawmaker%20on%20the%20file.%0A%0AThe%20second%20law%20would%20expand%20Europe's%20forests%2C%20marshes%20and%20other%20%22sinks%22%20that%20absorb%20CO2%20from%20the%20atmosphere%2C%20to%20ensure%20this%20sector%20removes%20a%20net%20310%20million%20tonnes%20of%20CO2%20equivalent%20by%202030%20-%20a%20roughly%2015%25%20increase%20from%20today.%0A%0AThe%20aim%20is%20to%20reverse%20a%20recent%20decline%20in%20Europe's%20carbon%20sinks%2C%20which%20can%20be%20done%20by%20recreating%20old%20forests%20or%20generating%20new%20ones%2C%20rewetting%20peatland%20or%20changing%20farming%20practices%20such%20as%20reduced%20tilling%20to%20trap%20more%20carbon%20in%20the%20soil.%0A%0AEach%20EU%20country%20would%20face%20binding%20targets%20to%20absorb%20more%20emissions%20so%20that%20the%20EU-wide%20goal%20is%20reached.%0A%0AThe%20EU%20Parliament%20approved%20both%20laws%20with%20a%20comfortable%20majority.%20EU%20countries%20will%20vote%20on%20them%20in%20the%20coming%20months%2C%20and%20if%20approved%2C%20the%20laws%20will%20enter%20into%20force.%0A%0AEU%20countries%20and%20lawmakers%20agreed%20the%20details%20last%20year%20after%20months%20of%20negotiations%2C%20so%20the%20final%20votes%20typically%20approve%20laws%20with%20no%20changes.

EU countries approve CO2-cutting targets

A%20UN%20resolution%20was%20adopted%20on%20Wednesday%20that%20should%20make%20it%20easier%20to%20hold%20polluting%20countries%20legally%20accountable%20for%20failing%20to%20tackle%20the%20climate%20emergency%2C%20in%20a%20vote%20which%20was%20hailed%20as%20a%20historic%20victory%20for%20climate%20justice.%0A%0AThe%20UN%20general%20assembly%20adopted%20by%20consensus%20the%20resolution%20spearheaded%20by%20Vanuatu%2C%20a%20tiny%20Pacific%20island%20nation%20vulnerable%20to%20extreme%20climate%20effects%2C%20and%20youth%20activists%20to%20secure%20a%20legal%20opinion%20from%20the%20international%20court%20of%20justice%20(ICJ)%20to%20clarify%20states%E2%80%99%20obligations%20to%20tackle%20the%20climate%20crisis%20%E2%80%93%20and%20specify%20any%20consequences%20countries%20should%20face%20for%20inaction.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CToday%20we%20have%20witnessed%20a%20win%20for%20climate%20justice%20of%20epic%20proportions%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Ishmael%20Kalsakau%2C%20prime%20minister%20of%20Vanuatu.%20%E2%80%9CToday%E2%80%99s%20historic%20resolution%20is%20the%20beginning%20of%20a%20new%20era%20in%20multilateral%20climate%20cooperation%2C%20one%20that%20is%20more%20fully%20focused%20on%20upholding%20the%20rule%20of%20international%20law%20and%20an%20era%20that%20places%20human%20rights%20and%20intergenerational%20equity%20at%20the%20forefront%20of%20climate%20decision-making.%E2%80%9D%0A%0A%E2%80%9CWe%20are%20just%20ecstatic%20that%20the%20world%20has%20listened%20to%20the%20Pacific%20youth%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Cynthia%20Houniuhi%2C%20president%20of%20Pacific%20Island%20students%20fighting%20climate%20change%20(PISFCC).%20%E2%80%9CThrough%20no%20fault%20of%20our%20own%2C%20we%20are%20living%20with%20devastating%20tropical%20cyclones%2C%20flooding%2C%20biodiversity%20loss%20and%20sea%20level%20rise.%20We%20have%20contributed%20the%20least%20to%20the%20global%20emissions%20that%20are%20drowning%20our%20land.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CAs%20young%20people%2C%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20failure%20to%20stop%20planet-killing%20emissions%20is%20not%20a%20theoretical%20problem.%20It%20is%20our%20present%20and%20it%20is%20our%20future%20that%20is%20being%20sold%20out.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AThe%20resolution%2C%20which%20was%20co-sponsored%20by%20more%20than%20120%20countries%20including%20the%20UK%2C%20but%20not%20the%20US%2C%20will%20help%20establish%20a%20legal%20litmus%20test%20of%20sorts%20for%20the%20global%20climate%20justice%20movement%20seeking%20to%20hold%20countries%20to%20account%20for%20climate%20failures%20in%20the%20courts.%0A%0AIt%20comes%20on%20the%20day%20the%20Biden%20administration%20opened%20an%20auction%20to%20drill%2073m%20acres%20of%20the%20Gulf%20of%20Mexico%20for%20oil%20and%20gas%20%E2%80%93%20and%20just%20days%20after%20the%20self-acclaimed%20%E2%80%9Cclimate%20president%E2%80%9D%20approved%20a%20massive%2C%20multi-decade-long%20oil%20and%20gas%20drilling%20project%20in%20Alaska%2C%20which%20will%20create%20one%20of%20the%20largest%20%E2%80%9Ccarbon%20bombs%E2%80%9D%20on%20US%20soil.%0A%0AWhile%20the%20opinion%20from%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20highest%20court%20will%20not%20be%20binding%20in%20domestic%20courts%2C%20establishing%20international%20legal%20rules%20can%20be%20influential%20on%20judges%20and%20governments.%20It%20also%20represents%20the%20first%20attempt%20to%20establish%20climate%20action%20obligations%20under%20international%20law%2C%20which%20advocates%20hope%20will%20strengthen%20climate-related%20litigation%20by%20helping%20vulnerable%20states%20and%20advocates%20hold%20countries%20accountable%20for%20their%20action%20and%20inaction.%0A%0A%0AThe%20resolution%20emerged%20out%20of%20mounting%20frustration%20at%20the%20mismatch%20between%20the%20global%20community%E2%80%99s%20rhetoric%20and%20action%20on%20climate%20change%2C%20amid%20escalating%20losses%20for%20countries%20such%20as%20Vanuatu%2C%20which%20face%20an%20existential%20threat%20due%20to%20sea-level%20rise.%20The%20frustration%20spurned%20a%20social%20movement%20led%20by%20Vanuatu%20law%20students%20turned%20youth%20activists%2C%20and%20work%20on%20the%20resolution%20was%20led%20by%20Indigenous%20lawyers%20in%20the%20Pacific.%0A%0AIn%20essence%2C%20the%20ICJ%20advisory%20will%20help%20establish%20whether%20there%20is%20legal%20obligation%20for%20countries%20to%20do%20what%20they%20have%20committed%20to%20in%20non-binding%20treaties%20such%20as%20the%202015%20Paris%20climate%20accord%2C%20and%20whether%20failure%20to%20do%20so%20can%20be%20challenged%20through%20litigation.%0A%0AIt%20comes%20a%20week%20after%20the%20final%20report%20by%20the%20IPCC%2C%20which%20underscored%20the%20urgent%20need%20to%20phase%20out%20fossil%20fuels%20to%20curtail%20global%20heating%20and%20avoid%20catastrophic%20climate%20chaos.%20Transitioning%20to%20renewables%20and%20green%20technology%20is%20not%20enough%2C%20warned%20scientists%2C%20fossil%20fuels%20projects%20must%20be%20phased%20out%2C%20not%20expanded.%0A%0AHarjeet%20Singh%2C%20head%20of%20global%20political%20strategy%20at%20Climate%20Action%20Network%20International%2C%20said%3A%20%E2%80%9CThe%20UN%20resolution%20to%20take%20the%20issue%20of%20climate%20change%20to%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20highest%20court%20is%20a%20historic%20moment%20in%20the%20fight%20for%20climate%20justice%2C%20human%20rights%20and%20intergenerational%20equity.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CThe%20advisory%20opinion%20must%20serve%20as%20an%20important%20accountability%20tool%20towards%20states%20obligations%20in%20protecting%20the%20environment%20and%20future%20generations%20from%20climate%20impacts.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AVanuatu%2C%20an%20archipelago%20of%20islands%20500%20miles%20west%20of%20Fiji%20with%20about%20325%2C000%20habitants%2C%20was%20last%20month%20hit%20by%20two%20category%204%20hurricanes%20within%2072%20hours%20of%20each%20other.%20They%20caused%20widespread%20infrastructure%20damage%2C%20evacuation%20and%20left%20residents%20without%20water%20and%20electricity%20for%20several%20days.

UN adopts landmark resolution on climate justice

Australia%20has%20passed%20tough%20new%20laws%20capping%20oil%20and%20gas%20emissions.%20The%20breakthrough%20legislation%20-%20passed%20late%20on%20Thursday%20night%20local%20time%20-%20requires%20coal%20mines%20and%20oil%20refineries%20to%20curb%20their%20emissions%20by%20about%20five%20per%20cent%20each%20year.%0A%0AThe%20centre-left%20Labor%20government%20behind%20the%20new%20laws%20estimate%20it%20will%20prevent%20200%20million%20tonnes%20of%20carbon%20emissions%20over%20the%20next%20decade.%0A%0A%22What%20the%20parliament%20has%20done%20today%20is%20safeguard%20our%20climate%2C%20safeguard%20our%20economy%20and%20safeguard%20our%20future%2C%22%20Australia's%20Climate%20Change%20Minister%20Chris%20Bowen%20told%20MPs.%0A%0A%22What%20the%20parliament%20has%20done%20today%20is%20brought%20an%20end%20to%2010%20years%20of%20dysfunction%20and%2010%20years%20of%20delay.%22%0A%0AWhat%20does%20Australia%E2%80%99s%20new%20climate%20law%20do%3F%0A%0AUnder%20the%20new%20legislation%2C%20coal%20mines%2C%20oil%20refineries%2C%20aluminium%20smelters%20and%20other%20large%20polluters%20will%20be%20forced%20to%20cut%20their%20emissions%20by%204.9%20per%20cent%20each%20year.%0A%0AIt%20will%20apply%20to%20215%20industrial%20polluters%20overall%20and%20marks%20the%20first%20time%20emissions%20reductions%20have%20been%20written%20into%20Australian%20law.%0A%0AThe%20bill%20was%20passed%20with%20support%20from%20the%20left-wing%20Green%20party.%0A%0AGreens%20leader%20Adam%20Bandt%20celebrated%20the%20legislation%20which%20enshrines%20oil%20and%20gas%20emissions%20cuts%20%22for%20the%20first%20time%20ever%20in%20law%22.%0A%0APrime%20Minister%20Anthony%20Albanese%20promised%20that%20the%20so-called%20safeguard%20mechanism%20will%20set%20Australia%20on%20a%20%E2%80%9Crealistic%E2%80%9D%20path%20to%20net%20zero%20by%202050.%0A%0AAustralia%20has%20been%20a%20climate%20pariah%20for%20years%0A%0AAustralia%20is%20one%20of%20the%20largest%20per-capita%20polluters%20in%20the%20world.%0A%0AAccording%20to%202020%20figures%20from%20Our%20World%20in%20Data%20-%20the%20most%20recent%20available%20-%20each%20person%20in%20Australia%20emits%2015.4%20tonnes%20of%20CO2%20annually.%20This%20is%20around%20three%20times%20the%20global%20average.%0A%0AThe%20country%E2%80%99s%20economy%20is%20heavily%20dependent%20on%20exporting%20its%20resources%2C%20meaning%20attempts%20to%20regulate%20the%20industry%20have%20been%20met%20with%20bitter%20opposition%20and%20intense%20lobbying.%0A%0AFormer%20prime%20minister%20Scott%20Morrison%20-%20ousted%20in%20a%20federal%20election%20last%20year%20-%20famously%20brought%20a%20lump%20of%20coal%20into%20parliament%0A%0A%E2%80%9CThis%20is%20coal.%20Don't%20be%20afraid.%20Don't%20be%20scared.%20It%20won't%20hurt%20you%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20told%20MPs.%0A%0AThe%20new%20prime%20minister%20Anthony%20Albanese%20has%20taken%20a%20more%20progressive%20stance%20on%20climate.%20Last%20year%2C%20the%20government%20passed%20emissions%20reduction%20targets%20for%20the%20first%20time%2C%20pledging%20to%20cut%20emissions%20by%2043%20per%20cent%20by%202030%20compared%20to%202004%20levels.%0A%0AThe%20previous%20target%20was%20a%2026%20per%20cent%20to%2028%20per%20cent%20cut.

Tough laws capping oil, gas emissions of Australia

The%20Italian%20government%20has%20approved%20a%20draft%20law%20that%20would%20ban%20food%20grown%20in%20laboratories%2C%20including%20artificial%20meat%2C%20as%20it%20seeks%20to%20%E2%80%9Csafeguard%20our%20nation%E2%80%99s%20heritage%E2%80%9D.%0A%0AUnder%20the%20ban%2C%20which%20needs%20to%20be%20passed%20in%20both%20houses%20of%20parliament%2C%20those%20who%20produce%2C%20export%20or%20import%20food%20grown%20from%20animal%20cells%20would%20face%20fines%20of%20up%20to%20%E2%82%AC60%2C000%20and%20risk%20having%20their%20manufacturing%20plants%20closed.%0A%0AColdiretti%2C%20Italy%E2%80%99s%20biggest%20farmers%E2%80%99%20association%2C%20has%20lobbied%20for%20the%20ban%2C%20arguing%20that%20homegrown%20produce%20needs%20to%20be%20shielded%20from%20%E2%80%9Cthe%20attacks%20of%20multinational%20companies%E2%80%9D.%0A%0AThe%20production%20of%20cell-based%20food%2C%20which%20supporters%20argue%20avoids%20the%20need%20for%20animals%20to%20be%20killed%20and%20is%20better%20for%20the%20environment%2C%20has%20not%20yet%20taken%20off%20in%C2%A0Europe%2C%20and%20it%20is%20expected%20to%20be%20years%20before%20such%20products%20appear%20on%20supermarket%20shelves.%0A%0AItaly%E2%80%99s%20move%20to%20ban%20the%20practice%20is%20%E2%80%9Cbased%20on%20precautionary%20principles%E2%80%9D%2C%20the%20health%20minister%2C%20Orazio%20Schillaci%2C%20said%20during%20a%20press%20conference.%20%E2%80%9C%5BBecause%5D%20there%20are%20no%20scientific%20studies%20yet%20on%20the%20effects%20of%20synthetic%20foods.%20We%20want%20to%20safeguard%20our%20nation%E2%80%99s%20heritage%20and%20our%20agriculture%20based%20on%20the%20Mediterranean%20diet.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AItaly%E2%80%99s%20rightwing%20government%20led%20by%20Giorgia%20Meloni%20promised%20to%20protect%20Italian%20food%20from%20technological%20advancements%20when%20it%20came%20to%20power%20in%20October.%0A%0AFrancesco%20Lollobrigida%2C%20the%20minister%20for%20agriculture%20and%20food%20sovereignty%2C%20said%20the%20aim%20of%20the%20bill%20was%20to%20%E2%80%9Cprotect%20our%20culture%20and%20our%20tradition%2C%20including%20food%20and%20wine%E2%80%9D.%20He%20said%3A%20%E2%80%9CLaboratory%20products%2C%20in%20our%20opinion%2C%20do%20not%20guarantee%20quality%2C%20wellbeing%20and%20the%20protection%20of%20our%20culture%2C%20our%20tradition.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AThe%20opposition%20and%20animal%20rights%E2%80%99%20groups%20have%20criticised%20the%20move.%20Riccardo%20Magi%2C%20the%20president%20of%20the%20small%20leftwing%20party%20Pi%C3%B9%20Europa%2C%20said%20the%20government%20had%20%E2%80%9Ccreated%20a%20new%20crime%E2%80%9D.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CThis%20time%20they%20are%20taking%20it%20out%20on%20synthetic%20food%20and%20prefer%20to%20continue%20with%20their%20reckless%20prohibition%20instead%20of%20doing%20research%20and%20developing%20a%20technology%20that%20could%20allow%20us%20to%20pollute%20and%20kill%20less%2C%E2%80%9D%20Magi%20said.%0A%0AAlthough%20there%20have%20been%20advances%20in%20cultured%20meat%20in%20recent%20years%2C%20production%20remains%20small.%20To%20date%2C%20Singapore%20is%20the%20only%20country%20to%20have%20allowed%20the%20sale%20of%20cultivated%20chicken%2C%20while%20two%20companies%20in%20the%20US%20have%20been%20granted%20regulatory%20clearance%20to%20produce%20lab-grown%20chicken.%0AEuropean%20countries%20including%20the%20UK%2C%20the%20Netherlands%20and%20Spain%20have%20announced%20investments%20in%20the%20research%20and%20development%20of%20cell-based%20foods.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CItaly%20is%20essentially%20a%20complete%20outlier%20here%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Alice%20Ravenscroft%2C%20the%20head%20of%20policy%20at%20the%20Good%C2%A0Food%C2%A0Institute%20Europe%2C%20an%20NGO%20helping%20to%20build%20a%20more%20sustainable%20food%20system.%20%E2%80%9CWhat%20we%E2%80%99re%20seeing%20across%20the%20rest%20of%20Europe%20is%20that%20other%20governments%20are%20eager%20to%20unlock%20some%20of%20the%20benefits%20of%20cultivated%20meat%20and%20are%20therefore%20being%20supportive.%E2%80%9D%0A%0ARavenscroft%20said%20Italy%E2%80%99s%20reasons%20for%20the%20ban%20%E2%80%9Cseem%20extremely%20misguided%E2%80%9D.%20%E2%80%9CIt%E2%80%99s%20important%20to%20stress%20that%20cultivated%20meat%20has%20a%20lot%20of%20potential%20benefits%20and%20the%20passing%20of%20such%20a%20law%20would%20essentially%20shut%20Italy%20off%20from%20these%2C%E2%80%9D%20she%20said.%0A%0ACiting%20research%2C%20Ravenscroft%20said%20cultivated%20meat%20could%20cause%20up%20to%2092%25%20fewer%20emissions%20than%20conventional%20meat%2C%20reduce%20air%20pollution%20associated%20with%20meat%20production%20by%20up%20to%2094%25%2C%20and%20use%20up%20to%2090%25%20less%20land.%20%E2%80%9CWe%20could%20satisfy%20demand%20for%20meat%20while%20protecting%20the%20environment%2C%E2%80%9D%20she%20said.

Italia plans to ban lab-grown food

The%20European%20Parliament%20voted%20on%20Wednesday%20to%20ensure%20that%20a%20large%20number%20of%20products%20on%20the%20EU%20market%20are%20deforestation-free%2C%20a%20huge%20step%20forward%20when%20it%20comes%20to%20tackling%20environmental%20destruction.%0A%0ACompanies%20will%20have%20to%20prove%20that%20what%20they%20sell%20has%20no%20link%20to%20deforestation%20from%202021%20onwards%2C%20both%20in%20Europe%20and%20throughout%20the%20world.%0A%0AThe%20list%20includes%20palm%20oil%2C%20coffee%2C%20soy%2C%20wood%2C%20cattle%2C%20cocoa%2C%20rubber%2C%20charcoal%20and%20printed%20paper%2C%20as%20well%20as%20derived%20products%2C%20such%20as%20beef%2C%20furniture%2C%20or%20chocolate.%0A%0AChristophe%20Hansen%2C%20the%20lead%20MEP%20on%20the%20new%20law%2C%20said%20in%20an%20interview%20that%20the%20new%20rules%20are%20a%20significant%20achievement%20in%20the%20fight%20against%20climate%20change.%0A%0A%22We%20are%20losing%20every%20year%20around%2010%20million%20hectares%20of%20forests%20all%20over%20the%20world%20and%20this%20instrument%20is%20going%20to%20halt%20that%2C%20at%20least%20our%20part%20in%20the%20complicity%20in%20that%20deforestation%20because%20our%20shelves%20are%20currently%20filled%20with%20chocolate%2C%20coffee%2C%20etc.%2C%20soy%20products%20that%20contribute%20massively%20to%20the%20forest%20destruction%20-%20around%2010%25%20of%20this%2010%20million%20yearly%2C%22%20the%20Luxembourgish%20MEP%20told%20Euronews.%0A%0A%22And%20with%20this%2C%20we%20now%20see%20all%20the%20products%20that%20are%20produced%20on%20the%20surfaces%20that%20have%20been%20deforested%20after%2031st%20December%202020%20will%20not%20be%20allowed%20anymore%20to%20enter%20the%20European%20internal%20market.%20So%2C%20I%20think%20this%20is%20a%20big%20step%20in%20combating%20climate%20change%20and%2C%20as%20well%2C%20global%20biodiversity%20loss.%22%0A%0AHowever%2C%20many%20products%20are%20not%20included%20in%20the%20list%2C%20something%20Hansen%20said%20could%20change%20in%20the%20future.%0A%0A%22We%20have%20been%20from%20the%20Parliament%20side%20pushing%20for%20more%20and%20more%20ambition.%20We%20wanted%20to%20extend%20the%20territorial%20scope%20to%20other%20wooded%20lands.%20This%20has%20not%20worked%2C%20but%20we%20have%20a%20review%20clause%20after%20one%20year%20to%20eventually%20include%20this%2C%22%20he%20said.%0A%0A%22Secondly%2C%20we%20have%20a%20review%20clause%20after%20two%20years%20where%20we%20could%20include%20additional%20products%2C%20such%20as%20maize%2C%20but%20as%20well%20ethanol%2C%20for%20example%2C%20bioethanol%20that%20is%20produced%20out%20of%20sugar%20cane.%20%0A%0A%22So%2C%20these%20products%20are%20on%20our%20radar%20and%20the%20European%20Commission%20needs%20to%20assess%20them.%20It%20makes%20sense%20to%20include%20them.%20So%2C%20I%20think%20we%20need%20to%20have%20a%20regulation%20that%20is%20applicable%20in%20the%20first%20place%20and%20then%20over%20time%20you%20can%20strengthen%20it%20once%20it%20is%20up%20and%20running.%22%0A%0ACompanies%20will%20have%20to%20provide%20information%20to%20the%20relevant%20EU%20authorities%2C%20like%20geolocation%20coordinates%2C%20from%20which%20satellite%20images%20of%20the%20area%20can%20be%20assessed%20for%20any%20possible%20forest%20degradation%20or%20deforestation.%0A%0AIf%20they%20fail%20to%20comply%20with%20the%20rules%20businesses%20can%20be%20fined.%0A%0ACritics%20argue%20that%20the%20new%20measures%20will%20push%20up%20the%20cost%20of%20goods%2C%20but%20for%20Green%20MEP%20Marie%20Toussaint%20this%20price%20hike%20would%20only%20be%20in%20the%20short%20term.%0A%0A%22So%2C%20actually%2C%20what%20we%20try%20to%20push%2C%20is%20to%20push%20for%20one%20economy%20towards%20another%20model%20of%20economy%20-%20an%20economy%2C%20where%20we%20destroy%20the%20planet%2C%20where%20we%20destroy%20also%20conditions%20of%20lives%20for%20a%20certain%20number%20of%20people%2C%20towards%20an%20economy%20where%20we%20do%20respect%20nature%20and%20people%2C%22%20Toussaint%20told%20Euronews.%0A%0A%22And%20this%20can%20have%2C%20of%20course%2C%20a%20price%20that%20is%20felt%20on%20the%20consumers%20at%20the%20start%2C%20but%20in%20a%20really%20short%20time%2C%20this%20would%20change%20how%20the%20economy%20is%20structured%20and%20then%20the%20price%20wouldn't%20be%20so%20high%20for%20people.%20It%20would%20just%20be%20somehow%20a%20transition%2C%20a%20shift%20towards%20another%20model.%22%0A%0AProtecting%20the%20rights%20of%20indigenous%20people%20is%20another%20requirement%20for%20products%20entering%20the%20EU%20market.%0A%0AOnce%20the%20rules%20come%20into%20force%2C%20businesses%20and%20traders%20will%20have%2018%20months%20to%20implement%20them%2C%20with%20smaller%20companies%20given%20longer.

EU backs ban on goods linked to deforestation

Germany%20plans%20to%20ban%20the%20installation%20of%20most%20oil%20and%20gas%20heating%20systems%20from%20next%20year%2C%20with%20proposals%20approved%20on%20Wednesday%20triggering%20angry%20divisions%20in%20the%20cabinet.%0A%0AThe%20radical%20plans%20are%20designed%20to%20transform%20Germany%E2%80%99s%20heating%20systems%20in%20an%20attempt%20to%20meet%20net%20zero%20emission%20targets%20that%20critics%20have%20called%20unworkable%20and%20discriminatory.%20About%20half%20of%20Germany%E2%80%99s%2041m%20households%20currently%20use%20natural%20gas%20heating%2C%20and%20almost%20a%20quarter%20use%20heating%20oil.%0A%0AChampioned%20by%20the%20economics%20minister%2C%20Robert%20Habeck%20of%20the%20Greens%2C%20the%20bill%20is%20due%20to%20come%20to%20parliament%20in%20June.%20But%20the%20pro-business%20FDP%20has%20lashed%20out%2C%20calling%20it%20the%20equivalent%20of%20an%20%E2%80%9Catomic%20bomb%E2%80%9D%20for%20Germany%20and%20expressing%20concerns%20about%20its%20effect%20on%20the%20economy%2C%20the%20burden%20it%20will%20put%20on%20poorer%20households%20and%20the%20technical%20practicalities%20of%20implementing%20it.%0A%0AThe%20FDP%E2%80%99s%20leader%2C%20Christian%20Lindner%2C%20who%20is%20also%20the%20finance%20minister%2C%20indicated%20in%20a%20protocol%20note%20sent%20to%20his%20cabinet%20colleagues%20that%20he%20was%20prepared%20to%20support%20the%20bill%20only%20if%20changes%20were%20made.%20He%20said%20he%20feared%20the%20budget%20needed%20to%20carry%20out%20the%20task%20would%20in%20effect%20blow%20up%20Germany%E2%80%99s%20tight%20debt%20control%20mechanisms.%20The%20party%E2%80%99s%20general%20secretary%2C%20Bijan%20Djir-Sarai%2C%20said%20the%20proposal%20was%20not%20practical%20and%20would%20have%20to%20be%20changed.%0A%0AThe%20opposition%20CDU%2C%20which%20has%20said%20it%20would%20oppose%20the%20bill%2C%20has%20called%20it%20a%20%E2%80%9Ccrowbar%20reform%E2%80%9D%2C%20and%20Jens%20Spahn%2C%20the%20vice-parliamentary%20group%20leader%2C%20said%20his%20party%20would%20%E2%80%9Cdo%20everything%20possible%20to%20ensure%20this%20law%20doesn%E2%80%99t%20happen%20in%20this%20form%E2%80%9D.%0A%0AEnvironmentalists%20have%20largely%20welcomed%20the%20proposal%2C%20with%20Greenpeace%20calling%20it%20a%20long%20overdue%20milestone.%20Many%20experts%20have%20said%20it%20does%20not%20go%20far%20enough.%0A%0AHabeck%20said%20it%20was%20a%20necessary%20part%20of%20Germany%E2%80%99s%20ambition%20to%20become%20carbon%20neutral%20by%202045%2C%20and%20he%20said%20the%20country%20was%20lagging%20behind.%20%E2%80%9CComparative%20to%20other%20countries%20who%E2%80%99ve%20done%20this%20earlier%2C%20we%E2%80%99re%20starting%20late%20with%20this%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20said%2C%20referring%20to%20Nordic%20countries%2C%20which%20are%20far%20less%20reliant%20on%20fossil%20fuels%20to%20heat%20their%20homes.%0A%0AHe%20hit%20back%20at%20the%20criticism%20from%20the%20FDP%2C%20saying%20that%20%E2%80%9Cgazing%20in%20astonishment%20at%20a%20problem%20does%20not%20make%20things%20better%E2%80%9D.%0A%0AIf%20the%20bill%20is%20passed%20in%20June%2C%20it%20will%20enact%20a%20virtual%20ban%20on%20the%20installation%20of%20gas%20and%20oil%20heating%20from%202024.%20It%20will%20require%20almost%20all%20newly%20installed%20heating%20systems%20to%20run%20on%2065%25%20renewable%20energy%20in%20new%20as%20well%20as%20old%20buildings%2C%20in%20which%20defunct%20models%20would%20need%20to%20be%20replaced.%0A%0AHomeowners%20will%20be%20encouraged%20to%20install%20heat%20pumps%20to%20run%20on%20renewable%20sources%20of%20electricity%2C%20or%20to%20switch%20to%20district%20heating%2C%20electric%20or%20solar%20thermal%20systems.%20Biomass%20heat%2C%20hydrogen%20and%20gas%20obtained%20from%20an%20approved%20environmentally%20friendly%20source%2C%20such%20as%20biomethane%2C%20will%20all%20be%20encouraged%20under%20a%20programme%20of%20subsidy%20payments%20of%2010-40%25%20for%20each%20heating%20system%2C.%0A%0AIn%20addition%2C%20%E2%80%9CKlimabonis%E2%80%9D%20or%20additional%20climate%20bonus%20payments%2C%20will%20be%20available%20in%20certain%20cases%2C%20for%20instance%20if%20someone%20voluntarily%20switches%20to%20a%20more%20climate-friendly%20system%2C%20regardless%20of%20their%20income.%0A%0AThe%20challenge%20will%20be%20to%20make%20these%20energy%20sources%20more%20readily%20available.%20Other%20questions%20relate%20to%20a%20shortage%20of%20heating%20engineers%20%E2%80%93%20industry%20estimates%20a%20shortfall%20of%2060%2C000%20workers%20%E2%80%93%20supply%20chain%20problems%20and%20lack%20of%20technological%20development.%20Heat%20pumps%20are%20still%20thought%20unsuitable%20for%20many%20older%20types%20of%20houses%2C%20for%20which%20they%20require%20large%20amounts%20of%20electricity%20to%20be%20effective%2C%20even%20as%20the%20bigger%20heating%20sector%20providers%20are%20working%20feverishly%20to%20improve%20the%20systems.%0A%0AHomeowners%20over%20the%20age%20of%2080%20will%20be%20exempted%20from%20having%20to%20switch%20to%20new%20systems%2C%20as%20will%20those%20who%20receive%20social%20welfare%20benefits.%0A%0AGermany%E2%80%99s%20Association%20of%20Local%20Utilities%20(VKU)%2C%20which%20governs%20municipal%20infrastructure%2C%20urged%20the%20government%20to%20extend%20the%20transition%20periods%2C%20calling%20the%20proposed%20law%20an%20%E2%80%9Cemotional%20rollercoaster%E2%80%9D.%0A%0AA%20poll%20by%20the%20Forsa%20Institute%20showed%2078%25%20of%20Germans%20were%20against%20the%20plans%20and%2062%25%20expected%20heating%20bills%20to%20increase%20as%20a%20result%20of%20the%20move%20to%20renewables.%0A%0AThe%20scheme%20is%20initially%20expected%20to%20cost%20German%20taxpayers%20about%20%E2%82%AC9.16bn%20a%20year%20until%202028%2C%20decreasing%20to%20%E2%82%AC5bn%20from%202029%20as%20renewable%20energy%20expansion%20and%20a%20reduction%20in%20the%20cost%20of%20heat%20pumps%20because%20of%20mass%20production%20help%20to%20offset%20costs.%0A%0AIt%20is%20to%20be%20financed%20from%20the%20%E2%82%AC180bn%20Climate%20and%20Transformation%20Fund%2C%20into%20which%20the%20money%20raised%20from%20a%20CO2%20emission%20levy%20on%20fossil%20fuels%20is%20paid.%20A%20large%20segment%20of%20this%20fund%20is%20already%20dedicated%20to%20building%20insulation%20projects%20to%20make%20them%20more%20energy%20efficient%2C%20prompting%20concerns%20that%20finances%20may%20be%20tight.%0A%0AFines%20of%20%E2%82%AC5%2C000-%E2%82%AC50%2C000%20can%20be%20imposed%20on%20people%20failing%20to%20abide%20by%20the%20law.%0A%0AThe%20discussion%20about%20phasing%20out%20gas%20heating%20in%20Germany%20was%20the%20preserve%20of%20environment%20experts%20until%20Moscow%E2%80%99s%20invasion%20of%20Ukraine%2C%20which%20halted%20gas%20and%20oil%20supplies%20from%20Russia%20and%20turbo-charged%20the%20decision%20to%20switch%20from%20fossil%20fuel%20imports.%0A%0ALast%20week%2C%20Germany%20turned%20off%20the%20last%20of%20its%20three%20working%20nuclear%20power%20plants%2C%20after%20decades%20of%20discussion.

Germany approves bill to phase out oil heating

New%20York%20has%20become%20the%20first%20US%20state%20to%20pass%20a%20law%20banning%20gas%20stoves%20and%20other%20fossil%20fuels%20in%20most%20new%20buildings%2C%20in%20a%20victory%20for%20environmental%20activists.%0A%0AThe%20legislation%20adopted%20by%20lawmakers%20in%20the%20Democratic-run%20state%20legislature%20late%20Tuesday%20will%20require%20newly%20built%20homes%20to%20be%20all-electric%20in%20three%20years'%20time.%0A%0AThe%20move%20aims%20to%20tackle%20climate%20change%20by%20reducing%20New%20York's%20dependence%20on%20natural%20gas.%0A%0A%22Changing%20the%20ways%20we%20make%20and%20use%20energy%20to%20decrease%20our%20reliance%20on%20fossil%20fuels%20will%20help%20ensure%20a%20healthier%20environment%20for%20us%20and%20our%20children%2C%22%20said%20state%20assembly%20speaker%20Carl%20Heastie.%0A%0AThe%20law%2C%20which%20could%20face%20legal%20challenges%20from%20the%20gas%20industry%2C%20will%20require%20solely%20electric%20heating%20and%20cooking%20in%20new%20buildings%20under%20seven%20stories%20from%202026.%0A%0AFor%20taller%20skyscrapers%2C%20the%20deadline%20is%202029.%0A%0AHospitals%2C%20critical%20infrastructure%20such%20as%20transportation%2C%20and%20commercial%20food%20establishments%20will%20be%20exempt.%0A%0AThe%20law%20will%20also%20not%20apply%20to%20buildings%20where%20the%20local%20grid%20is%20not%20capable%20of%20handling%20the%20load.%0A%0AExisting%20buildings%20are%20also%20not%20affected%20by%20the%20legislation%2C%20meaning%20residents%20can%20keep%20gas%20stoves%20they%20already%20have.%0A%0AThe%20appliances%20became%20an%20unlikely%20flashpoint%20in%20America's%20bitterly%20partisan%20politics%20earlier%20this%20year%20when%20a%20federal%20official%20suggested%20the%20government%20might%20ban%20new%20gas%20stoves%20over%20concerns%20they%20cause%20harmful%20air%20pollution%20indoors.%0A%0ARepresentatives%20from%20the%20fossil%20fuel%20industry%20and%20Republican%20allies%20slammed%20the%20comments%20by%20Richard%20Trumka%20Jr%2C%20a%20member%20of%20the%20US%20Consumer%20Product%20Safety%20Commission%2C%20and%20the%20White%20House%20was%20forced%20to%20clarify%20that%20stoves%20would%20not%20be%20banned.%0A%0AAccording%20to%20the%20US%20Energy%20Department%2C%2052%20percent%20of%20households%20in%20New%20York%20state%20use%20natural%20gas%20for%20heating%20or%20cooking.%0A%0ANew%20York's%20measure%20was%20included%20in%20a%20%24229%20billion%20budget%20that%20local%20lawmakers%20approved%20for%20the%20state.%0A%0AThe%20budget%20also%20authorizes%20the%20New%20York%20Power%20Authority%2C%20the%20state-owned%20public%20utility%20provider%2C%20to%20build%20and%20operate%20renewable%20energy%20facilities.%0A%0AThat%20move%20is%20to%20help%20New%20York%20meet%20its%20goal%20of%20reducing%20emissions%20by%2085%20percent%20by%202050.

New York State bans natural gas in new buildings

French%20lawmakers%20have%20voted%20to%20ban%20smoking%20in%20all%20forests%20and%20woods%20during%20the%20fire%20season%2C%20part%20of%20a%20series%20of%20proposed%20measures%20to%20tackle%20growing%20destruction%20and%20dangers%20from%20climate%20change-related%20blazes.%0A%0ANational%20Assembly%20lawmakers%20voted%20197-0%20in%20a%20first%20reading%20on%20Wednesday%20night%20of%20a%20proposed%20law%20to%20better%20prevent%20and%20tackle%20forest%20fires.%20The%20draft%20has%20already%20passed%20through%20the%20Senate.%0A%0AAn%20amendment%20also%20adopted%20by%20lawmakers%20would%20ban%20smoking%20in%20or%20near%20all%20forests%20and%20woods%20when%20authorities%20deem%20the%20fire-risk%20to%20be%20elevated.%20The%20fire%20season%20that%20was%20commonly%20in%20summer%20is%20now%20extending%20to%20other%20months%20in%20drought-hit%20areas%20of%20southern%20France%20and%20other%20parts%20of%20Europe%20where%20climate%20warming%20poses%20the%20greatest%20risks.%0A%0AFrance's%20firefighters%20have%20already%20battled%20woodland-destroying%20blazes%20that%20started%20unusually%20early%20this%20year.%20Droughts%20that%20hit%20France%20last%20year%20have%20been%20compounded%20by%20shortages%20of%20rain%20this%20past%20winter%2C%20leaving%20tinder-dry%20woodlands%20at%20even%20greater%20risk.%0A%0AThe%20smoking%20ban%20will%20build%20on%20an%20existing%20forest%20law%20that%20already%20bans%20the%20lighting%20of%20fires%20within%20200%20meters%20of%20wooded%20areas.%20It%20aims%20to%20reduce%20the%20risk%20of%20fires%20started%20by%20discarded%20cigarettes%E2%80%94a%20frequent%20cause%20of%20blazes%2C%20especially%20when%20woodlands%20are%20tinder-dry.%20The%20government%20says%20human%20activity%20is%20by%20far%20the%20most%20frequent%20trigger%20of%20forest%20fires%20in%20France%2C%20responsible%20for%2090%25%20of%20blazes.%0A%0ALawmaker%20Anthony%20Brosse%2C%20who%20proposed%20the%20smoking%20amendment%2C%20said%20it%20would%20make%20the%20legislation%20clearer%20for%20French%20citizens.%0A%0ASenators%20and%20National%20Assembly%20lawmakers%20will%20work%20next%20on%20a%20final%20draft%20of%20the%20proposed%20law%20before%20its%20expected%20adoption.%0A%0AForest%20fires%20have%20long%20regularly%20afflicted%20France%2C%20one%20of%20the%20most%20wooded%20countries%20in%20Europe.%20But%20they%20generally%20used%20to%20start%20later%20in%20the%20year.%20Major%20wildfires%20in%20Europe%20are%20now%20starting%20earlier%2C%20becoming%20more%20frequent%20and%20harder%20to%20stop%2C%20and%20doing%20more%20damage.%20Scientists%20say%20they'll%20likely%20get%20worse%20as%20climate%20change%20intensifies.%20The%20Mediterranean%20region%20is%20warming%20faster%20than%20the%20global%20average.

France moves to ban smoking in woodlands

A%20groundbreaking%20climate%20change%20trial%20will%20begin%20on%20Monday%20in%20a%20courtroom%20in%20Montana%E2%80%99s%20capital%20city%2C%20involving%2016%20young%20residents%20who%20allege%20state%20officials%20violated%20their%20constitutional%20rights%20to%20a%20healthy%20environment.%0A%0AFiled%20in%20March%202020%2C%20the%20lawsuit%2C%20Held%20v%20Montana%2C%20will%20mark%20the%20first-ever%20constitutional%20climate%20trial%20in%20US%20history.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CWe%E2%80%99re%20asking%20the%20government%20and%20the%20courts%20to%20do%20their%20job%20and%20protect%20us%2C%20along%20with%20the%20rest%20of%20Montana%E2%80%99s%20citizens%20and%20our%20incredible%20home%20state%3B%20this%20case%20is%20one%20big%20opportunity%20for%20the%20state%20to%20become%20a%20leader%20in%20preserving%20a%20safe%2C%20beautiful%20and%20prosperous%20future%20for%20Montana%2C%E2%80%9D%20Grace%20Gibson-Snyder%2C%20a%2019-year-old%20plaintiff%2C%20said.%0A%0AAdvocates%20hope%20the%20trial%20could%20set%20precedent%20for%20similar%20cases%20to%20move%20forward%20and%20that%20it%20could%20inspire%20legal%20action%20in%20other%20states.%0A%0AThe%20state%E2%80%99s%20constitution%20has%20since%201972%20guaranteed%20that%20the%20%E2%80%9Cstate%20and%20each%20person%20shall%20maintain%20and%20improve%20a%20clean%20and%20healthful%20environment%20in%20Montana%20for%20present%20and%20future%20generations%E2%80%9D.%20By%20propping%20up%20fossil%20fuels%2C%20the%20plaintiffs%20argue%2C%20the%20state%20has%20failed%20to%20uphold%20this%20responsibility.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CI%E2%80%99m%20thrilled%20about%20this%20unique%20opportunity%20to%20lay%20out%20the%20whole%20story%20of%20how%20the%20government%20promotes%20fossil%20fuel%20development%2C%20how%20those%20policies%20exacerbate%20climate%20change%2C%20and%20how%20that%20in%20turn%20harms%20me%20and%20the%20other%20youth%20plaintiffs%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Gibson-Snyder.%0A%0AJim%20Nelson%2C%20a%20retired%20Montana%20supreme%20court%20justice%2C%20says%20Montana%20has%20%E2%80%9Cnever%2C%20never%E2%80%9D%20fulfilled%20its%20duty%20to%20maintain%20a%20healthy%20environment.%20Just%20this%20session%2C%20he%20said%2C%20the%20state%E2%80%99s%20legislature%20enacted%20two%20dozen%20bills%20that%20will%20%E2%80%9Cadversely%20affect%20the%20environment%E2%80%9D.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CThe%20legislature%20basically%20thumbed%20its%20nose%20at%20these%20constitutional%20provisions%2C%E2%80%9D%20Nelson%20said.%0A%0AA%20favorable%20judgment%2C%20he%20said%2C%20could%20%E2%80%9Cforce%20the%20legislature%20and%20public%20officials%20in%20the%20state%20administration%20to%20actually%20do%20what%20the%20constitution%20requires%E2%80%9D.%0A%0AThe%20two-week%20trial%20in%20Helena%2C%20Montana%2C%20is%20scheduled%20to%20run%20from%2012%20to%2023%20June.%20A%20judge%20is%20expected%20to%20issue%20a%20ruling%20sometime%20after%20its%20conclusion.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CGiven%20the%20urgency%20of%20the%20climate%20crisis%2C%20we%20would%20hope%20that%20she%20would%20make%20a%20decision%20fairly%20promptly%2C%20but%20we%20totally%20understand%20that%20she%E2%80%99s%20going%20to%20have%20a%20whole%20lot%20of%20evidence%20and%20a%20whole%20lot%20of%20testimony%20to%20consider%20as%20well%20as%20to%20research%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Philip%20Gregory%2C%20an%20attorney%20for%20the%20plaintiffs.%20%E2%80%9CSo%20it%20could%20be%20a%20matter%20of%20weeks%20or%20it%20could%20be%20a%20matter%20of%20months.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AThe%20court%20case%20specifically%20alleges%20that%20two%20Montana%20statutes%20are%20unconstitutional%3A%20the%20state%20energy%20policy%2C%20which%20directs%20statewide%20energy%20production%20and%20use%2C%20and%20a%20part%20of%20the%20Montana%20Environmental%20Policy%20Act%20which%20prevents%20the%20state%20from%20considering%20how%20its%20energy%20economy%20may%20contribute%20to%20climate%20change.%0A%0AEarlier%20this%20year%2C%20state%20lawmakers%20repealed%20the%20state%20energy%20policy%20in%20what%20attorneys%20on%20the%20case%20assert%20was%20a%20thinly%20veiled%20attempt%20to%20avert%20a%20trial.%20But%20in%20May%2C%20Judge%20Kathy%20Seeley%20of%20the%20first%20judicial%20district%20court%2C%20who%20is%20scheduled%20to%20hear%20the%20case%2C%20rejected%20the%20state%E2%80%99s%20bid%20to%20throw%20out%20the%20suit%2C%20allowing%20the%20trial%20to%20proceed.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CThe%20judge%20saying%20the%20case%20can%20go%20to%20trial%20is%20always%20a%20win%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Gregory%2C%20adding%20that%20he%20felt%20%E2%80%9Cvery%20excited%E2%80%9D%20and%20%E2%80%9Chonored%E2%80%9D%20about%20the%20opportunity%20for%20the%20judge%20to%20hear%20the%20case.%0A%0ALast%20week%2C%20the%20state%E2%80%99s%20supreme%20court%20rebuffed%20a%20last-ditch%20attempt%20by%20the%20state%20attorney%20general%20to%20delay%20the%20trial%2C%20clearing%20the%20path%20for%20it%20to%20open%20on%20Monday%20as%20planned.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CThe%20very%20fact%20that%20we%20are%20going%20to%20trial%20is%20empowering%2C%20because%20it%20means%20that%20the%20courts%20are%20willing%20to%20hold%20the%20government%20accountable%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Gibson-Snyder.%0A%0AHeld%20v%20Montana%20follows%20the%20highly%20publicized%202015%20Juliana%20v%20United%20States%20in%20which%2021%20young%20people%20sued%20the%20US%20government%20for%20violating%20their%20constitutional%20rights%20to%20life%2C%20liberty%20and%20property%20by%20enacting%20pro-fossil%20fuel%20policies%20that%20drove%20climate%20change.%20Last%20week%2C%20a%20US%20district%20court%20ruled%20in%20favor%20of%20the%20youth%20plaintiffs%2C%20allowing%20that%20their%20claims%20can%20be%20decided%20at%20trial%20in%20open%20court.

First U.S. youth climate change trial kicks off

Members%20of%20the%20United%20Nations%20adopted%20the%20first-ever%20treaty%20to%20protect%20marine%20life%20in%20the%20high%20seas%20on%20Monday.%20The%20UN's%20chief%20hailed%20the%20historic%20agreement%20as%20giving%20the%20ocean%20%22a%20fighting%20chance%22.%0A%0ADelegates%20from%20the%20193%20member%20nations%20burst%20into%20applause%20and%20then%20stood%20up%20in%20a%20sustained%20standing%20ovation%20when%20the%20treaty%20was%20approved%20with%20no%20objections.%0A%0AOceans%20produce%20most%20of%20the%20oxygen%20we%20breathe%20and%20absorb%20carbon%20dioxide%2C%20which%20makes%20them%20increasingly%20critical%20in%20reducing%20carbon%20emissions%20that%20fuel%20global%20warming.%20Yet%2C%20currently%20only%201%20per%20cent%20of%20the%20vast%20ocean%20areas%20are%20protected.%0A%0AA%20treaty%20to%20protect%20biodiversity%20in%20waters%20outside%20national%20boundaries%2C%20known%20as%20the%20high%20seas%2C%20covering%20nearly%20half%20of%20Earth%E2%80%99s%20surface%2C%20had%20been%20under%20discussion%20for%20more%20than%2020%20years.%20%0A%0AEfforts%20repeatedly%20stalled%20until%20March%2C%20when%20delegates%20to%20an%20intergovernmental%20conference%20established%20by%20the%20UN%20General%20Assembly%20agreed%20on%20a%20treaty.%20This%20was%20then%20subject%20to%20legal%20scrutiny%20and%20translated%20into%20the%20UN%E2%80%99s%20six%20official%20languages.%0A%0AThe%20new%20treaty%20will%20be%20opened%20for%20signatures%20on%2020%20September%2C%20during%20the%20annual%20meeting%20of%20world%20leaders%20at%20the%20General%20Assembly.%20It%20will%20take%20effect%20once%20it%20is%20ratified%20by%2060%20countries.%0A%0AHow%20will%20the%20UN%20'high%20seas'%20treaty%20protect%20marine%20life%3F%0A%0AThe%20treaty%20will%20create%20a%20new%20body%20to%20manage%20conservation%20of%20ocean%20life%20and%20establish%20marine%20protected%20areas%20in%20the%20high%20seas.%20It%20also%20establishes%20ground%20rules%20for%20conducting%20environmental%20impact%20assessments%20for%20commercial%20activities%20in%20the%20oceans.%0A%0ASecretary-General%20Antonio%20Guterres%20told%20delegates%20that%20the%20adoption%20of%20the%20treaty%20comes%20at%20a%20critical%20time%2C%20with%20the%20oceans%20under%20threat%20on%20many%20fronts.%0A%0AClimate%20change%20is%20disrupting%20weather%20patterns%20and%20ocean%20currents%2C%20raising%20sea%20temperatures%2C%20%E2%80%9Cand%20altering%20marine%20ecosystems%20and%20the%20species%20living%20there%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20said.%0A%0AMarine%20biodiversity%20%E2%80%9Cis%20under%20attack%20from%20overfishing%2C%20over-exploitation%20and%20ocean%20acidification%2C%E2%80%9D%20the%20UN%20chief%20continued.%20%E2%80%9COver%20one-third%20of%20fish%20stocks%20are%20being%20harvested%20at%20unsustainable%20levels.%20And%20we%20are%20polluting%20our%20coastal%20waters%20with%20chemicals%2C%20plastics%20and%20human%20waste.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AGuterres%20said%20the%20treaty%20is%20vital%20to%20address%20these%20threats%20and%20he%20urged%20all%20countries%20to%20spare%20no%20efforts%20to%20ensure%20that%20it%20is%20signed%20and%20ratified%20as%20soon%20as%20possible.%20%E2%80%9CThis%20is%20critical%20to%20addressing%20the%20threats%20facing%20the%20ocean%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20stressed.%0A%0AThe%20treaty%20also%20establishes%20principles%20to%20share%20%E2%80%9Cmarine%20genetic%20resources%E2%80%9D%20discovered%20by%20scientists%20in%20international%20waters.%20This%20was%20a%20key%20demand%20of%20developing%20countries%20who%20insisted%20that%20the%20fruits%20of%20such%20discoveries%20could%20not%20be%20solely%20controlled%20by%20richer%20countries%20with%20money%20to%20finance%20expeditions%20to%20look%20for%20potentially%20new%20lucrative%20ingredients%20for%20medicine%20and%20cosmetics.%0A%0A'An%20exceedingly%20important%20day%20for%20biodiversity'%0A%0AAfter%20the%20treaty%E2%80%99s%20approval%2C%20the%20Group%20of%2077%2C%20the%20UN%20coalition%20of%20134%20mainly%20developing%20nations%20and%20China%2C%20called%20it%20%E2%80%9Can%20exceedingly%20important%20day%20for%20biodiversity%E2%80%9D.%20They%20praised%20their%20successful%20struggle%20to%20achieve%20benefit-sharing%20in%20the%20final%20text%20as%20well%20as%20funding%20to%20help%20implement%20the%20treaty%20when%20ratified.%0A%0AThe%20Alliance%20of%20Small%20Island%20States%2C%20some%20of%20whose%20members%20fear%20that%20climate%20change%20and%20rising%20seas%20can%20obliterate%20their%20countries%2C%20said%20they%20have%20been%20championing%20a%20treaty%20for%20decades.%20Its%20adoption%20will%20have%20far-reaching%20implications%20%E2%80%9Con%20our%20livelihoods%2C%20cultures%20and%20economies%2C%E2%80%9D%20they%20said.%0A%0ARussia%20has%20called%20the%20treaty%20'unacceptable'%0A%0ABut%20Russia%20said%20it%20%E2%80%9Cdistances%20itself%20from%20the%20consensus%20on%20the%20text%20of%20the%20agreement%E2%80%9D%20which%20it%20called%20%E2%80%9Cunacceptable%E2%80%9D.%20It%20%E2%80%9Cundermines%20the%20provisions%20of%20the%20most%20importa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UN adopts 'historic' high seas treaty

The%20European%20Commission%20has%20proposed%20the%20continent%E2%80%99s%20first%20soil%20law%2C%20intended%20to%20undo%20some%20of%20the%20damage%20done%20by%20intensive%20farming%20and%20mitigate%20global%20heating.%0A%0AAmid%20intense%20opposition%20to%20proposed%20laws%20on%20nature%20restoration%20and%20curbs%20on%20pesticides%2C%20the%20European%20Commission%20put%20forward%20proposals%20in%20Brussels%20on%20Wednesday%20to%20revive%20degraded%20soils.%20Research%20indicates%20that%20this%20could%20help%20absorb%20carbon%20from%20the%20atmosphere%20and%20ensure%20sustainable%20food%20production.%0A%0AThe%20new%20law%20would%20see%20member%20states%20monitor%20the%20health%20of%20soils%2C%20fertiliser%20use%20and%20erosion%2C%20but%20stops%20short%20of%20country-level%20targets%20for%20improving%20soil%20quality.%20This%20drew%20criticism%20from%20the%20European%20agri-food%20industry%2C%20which%20called%20for%20more%20ambition%20to%20improve%20the%20%E2%80%9Cworrying%E2%80%9D%20state%20of%20soils.%0A%0ASpeaking%20to%20the%20Guardian%2C%20the%20EU%20environment%20commissioner%2C%20Virginijus%20Sinkevi%C4%8Dius%2C%20said%20the%20ultimate%20aim%20was%20for%20the%20continent%20to%20have%20healthy%20soils%20by%202050.%20More%20than%2060%25%20of%20the%20EU%E2%80%99s%20soils%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20in%20an%20unhealthy%20state.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CIf%20our%20soils%20continue%20to%20degrade%2C%20the%20biggest%20risk%20is%20to%20our%20food%20security%20and%20farmers.%20Basically%2C%20their%20business%20model%20is%20wiped%20out%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20said.%20%E2%80%9CI%20can%20hardly%20imagine%20how%20we%20could%20do%20agriculture%20without%20fertile%20soils.%20The%20worst%20effects%20of%20droughts%20and%20flood%20can%20be%20avoided%20with%20healthier%20soils.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AThe%20new%20law%20would%20not%20have%20legally%20binding%20targets%2C%20however.%20%E2%80%9CWe%20are%20opening%20the%20way%20to%20additional%20income%20opportunities%20for%20farmers%20and%20landowners%20through%20a%20voluntary%20certification%20scheme%20for%20soil%20health%20and%20strong%20synergies%20with%20carbon%20farming%20and%20payments%20for%20ecosystem%20services%2C%E2%80%9D%20Sinkevi%C4%8Dius%20said.%0A%0ALand%20use%20is%20the%20second%20major%20source%20of%20greenhouse%20gas%20emissions%20after%20fossil%20fuels%2C%20and%20a%20major%20cause%20of%20biodiversity%20loss%2C%20with%20overuse%20of%20fertilisers%20and%20peatland%20degradation%20a%20driver%20of%20both%20crises.%20Research%20released%20earlier%20this%20week%20indicated%20that%20modest%20improvements%20to%20agricultural%20soils%20around%20the%20world%20might%20store%20enough%20carbon%20to%20keep%20the%20world%20within%201.5C%20of%20global%20heating.%0A%0AOne%20Planet%20Business%20for%20Biodiversity%20(OP2B)%2C%20the%20main%20representative%20of%20the%20European%20agri-food%20industry%20in%20Brussels%2C%20said%20the%20proposals%20did%20not%20go%20far%20enough.%20%E2%80%9CThe%20EU%20needs%20to%20go%20further%20to%20tackle%20the%20trend%20of%20deteriorating%20soil%20health%20in%20Europe%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20OP2B%E2%80%99s%20director%20Stefania%20Avanzini%20in%20a%20statement.%0A%0AThe%20organisation%20is%20calling%20on%20EU%20member%20states%20and%20the%20European%20parliament%20to%20raise%20the%20ambition%20of%20the%20proposal.%20%E2%80%9CWe%20very%20much%20value%20the%20importance%20the%20commission%20gives%20to%20agriculture%20and%20its%20central%20role%20in%20the%20management%20of%20soil%2C%E2%80%9D%20Avanzini%20said.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CStill%2C%20we%20would%20have%20appreciated%20the%20commission%20grasping%20the%20magnitude%20of%20the%20efforts%20needed%20to%20move%20to%20sustainable%20management%20practices%20and%20mobilising%20the%20necessary%20funds%20to%20support%20the%20transition%20to%20regenerative%20agriculture%20at%20scale.%E2%80%9D

EU sets out first-ever soil law

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that%20is%20also%20laid%20out%20in%20the%20EU%20nature%20restoration%20law.

EU politicians back major plan to protect nature

The%20Council%20today%20adopted%20a%20new%20regulation%20that%20strengthens%20sustainability%20rules%20for%20batteries%20and%20waste%20batteries.%20The%20regulation%20will%20regulate%20the%20entire%20life%20cycle%20of%20batteries%20%E2%80%93%20from%20production%20to%20reuse%20and%20recycling%20%E2%80%93%20and%20ensure%20that%20they%20are%20safe%2C%20sustainable%20and%20competitive.%0A%0AThe%20regulation%20of%20the%20European%0A%0AParliament%20and%20the%20Council%20will%20apply%20to%20all%20batteries%20including%20all%20waste%20portable%20batteries%2C%20electric%20vehicle%20batteries%2C%20industrial%20batteries%2C%20starting%2C%20lightning%20and%20ignition%20(SLI)%20batteries%20(used%20mostly%20for%20vehicles%20and%20machinery)%20and%20batteries%20for%20light%20means%20of%20transport%20(e.g.%20electric%20bikes%2C%20e-mopeds%2C%20e-scooters).%0A%0ACircular%20economy%0A%0AThe%20new%20rules%20aim%20to%20promote%20a%20circular%20economy%20by%20regulating%20batteries%20throughout%20their%20life%20cycle.%20The%20regulation%20therefore%20establishes%20end-of-life%20requirements%2C%20including%20collection%20targets%20and%20obligations%2C%20targets%20for%20the%20recovery%20of%20materials%20and%20extended%20producer%20responsibility.%0A%0AThe%20regulation%20sets%20targets%20for%20producers%20to%20collect%20waste%20portable%20batteries%20(63%25%20by%20the%20end%20of%202027%20and%2073%25%20by%20the%20end%20of%202030)%2C%20and%20introduces%20a%20dedicated%20collection%20objective%20for%20waste%20batteries%20for%20light%20means%20of%20transport%20(51%25%20by%20the%20end%20of%202028%20and%2061%25%20by%20the%20end%20of%202031).%0A%0AThe%20regulation%20sets%20a%20target%20for%20lithium%20recovery%20from%20waste%20batteries%20of%2050%25%20by%20the%20end%20of%202027%20and%2080%25%20by%20the%20end%20of%202031%2C%20which%20can%20be%20amended%20through%20delegated%20acts%20depending%20on%20market%20and%20technological%20developments%20and%20the%20availability%20of%20lithium.%20%20%0A%0AThe%20regulation%20provides%20for%20mandatory%20minimum%20levels%20of%20recycled%20content%20for%20industrial%2C%20SLI%20batteries%20and%20EV%20batteries.%20These%20are%20initially%20set%20at%2016%25%20for%20cobalt%2C%2085%25%20for%20lead%2C%206%25%20for%20lithium%20and%206%25%20for%20nickel.%20Batteries%20will%20have%20to%20hold%20a%20recycled%20content%20documentation.%0A%0AThe%20recycling%20efficiency%20target%20for%20nickel-cadmium%20batteries%20is%20set%20at%2080%25%20by%20the%20end%20of%202025%20and%2050%25%20by%20the%20end%202025%20for%20other%20waste%20batteries.%20%20%0A%0AThe%20regulation%20provides%20that%20by%202027%20portable%20batteries%20incorporated%20into%20appliances%20should%20be%20removable%20and%20replaceable%20by%20the%20end-user%2C%20leaving%20sufficient%20time%20for%20operators%20to%20adapt%20the%20design%20of%20their%20products%20to%20this%20requirement.%20This%20is%20an%20important%20provision%20for%20consumers.%20Light%20means%20of%20transport%20batteries%20will%20need%20to%20be%20replaceable%20by%20an%20independent%20professional.%0A%0AFair%20rules%20for%20all%20operators%0A%0AThe%20new%20rules%20aim%20to%20improve%20the%20functioning%20of%20the%20internal%20market%20for%20batteries%20and%20ensure%20fairer%20competition%20thanks%20to%20the%20safety%2C%20sustainability%20and%20labelling%20requirements.%0A%0AThis%20will%20be%20reached%20through%20performance%2C%20durability%20and%20safety%20criteria%2C%20tight%20restrictions%20for%20hazardous%20substances%20like%20mercury%2C%20cadmium%20and%20lead%20and%20mandatory%20information%20on%20the%20carbon%20footprint%20of%20batteries.%0A%0AThe%20regulation%20introduces%20labelling%20and%20information%20requirements%2C%20among%20other%20things%20on%20the%20battery's%20components%20and%20recycled%20content%2C%20and%20an%20electronic%20%E2%80%9Cbattery%20passport%E2%80%9D%20and%20a%20QR%20code.%20In%20order%20to%20give%20member%20states%20and%20economic%20actors%20on%20the%20market%20enough%20time%20to%20prepare%2C%20labelling%20requirements%20will%20apply%20by%202026%20and%20the%20QR%20code%20by%202027.%0A%0AReducing%20environmental%20and%20social%20impacts%0A%0AThe%20new%20regulation%20aims%20to%20reduce%20environmental%20and%20social%20impacts%20throughout%20the%20life%20cycle%20of%20the%20battery.%20To%20that%20end%2C%20the%20regulation%20sets%20tight%20due%20diligence%20rules%20for%20operators%20who%20must%20verify%20the%20source%20of%20raw%20materials%20used%20for%20batteries%20placed%20on%20the%20market.%20The%20regulation%20provides%20for%20an%20exemption%20for%20SMEs%20from%20the%20due%20diligence%20rules.%0A%0ANext%20steps%0A%0AThe%20vote%20by%20the%20Council%20today%20closes%20the%20adoption%20procedure.%20The%20regulation%20will%20now%20be%20signed%20by%20the%20Council%20and%20the%20European%20Parliament.%20It%20will%20then%20be%20published%20in%20the%20EU%E2%80%99s%20Official%20Journal%20and%20enter%20into%20force%2020%20days%20after.%0A%0ABackground%0A%0AThe%20regulation%20on%20batteries%20aims%20to%20create%20a%20circular%20economy%20for%20the%20batteries%20sector%20by%20targeting%20all%20stages%20of%20the%20life%20cycle%20of%20batteries%2C%20from%20design%20to%20waste%20treatment.%20This%20initiative%20is%20of%20major%20importance%2C%20particularly%20in%20view%20of%20the%20massive%20development%20of%20electric%20mobility.%20Demand%20for%20batteries%20is%20expected%20to%20grow%20by%20more%20than%20ten-fold%20by%202030.%0A%0AThe%20new%20regulation%20will%20replace%20the%20current%20batteries%20directive%20of%202006%20and%20complete%20the%20existing%20legislation%2C%20particularly%20in%20terms%20of%20waste%20management.%0A%0AThe%20European%20Commission%20presented%20a%20proposal%20for%20a%20regulation%20on%20batteries%20on%2010%20December%202020.%20The%20Council%20adopted%20a%20general%20approach%20on%2017%20March%202022.%20The%20European%20Parliament%20adopted%20its%20negotiating%20position%20in%20the%20plenary%20on%2010%20March%202022.%20Following%20interinstitutional%20negotiations%2C%20a%20provisional%20agreement%20was%20reached%20between%20the%20Council%20presidency%20and%20European%20Parliament%20negotiators.%20The%20outcome%20of%20the%20agreement%20was%20adopted%20in%20plenary%20by%20the%20European%20Parliament%20on%2014%20June%202023.

New regulation on batteries and waste batteries

The%20Australian%20state%20of%20Victoria%20will%20ban%20natural%20gas%20connections%20to%20new%20homes%20from%20next%20year%20as%20part%20of%20a%20plan%20to%20cut%20emissions%20and%20lower%20energy%20bills%2C%20the%20state%20climate%20action%20minister%20said%20on%20Friday.%0A%0AAustralia's%20second-most%20populous%20state%20is%20the%20country's%20largest%20consumer%20of%20natural%20gas%20with%20around%2080%25%20of%20homes%20connected%20but%20also%20has%20ambitious%20plans%20to%20reach%20net%20zero%20emissions%20by%202045%2C%20five%20years%20ahead%20of%20the%20federal%20government.%0A%0AMinister%20for%20Climate%20Action%20Lily%20D'Ambrosio%20said%20on%20Friday%20that%20new%20homes%20requiring%20planning%20permits%20must%20connect%20to%20all-electric%20networks%20from%20January%202024.%0A%0AThe%20gas%20sector%20contributes%2017%25%20of%20the%20state's%20emissions.%0A%0A%22Reducing%20our%20reliance%20on%20gas%20is%20critical%20to%20meeting%20our%20ambitious%20emission%20reduction%20target%20of%20net%20zero%20by%202045%20and%20getting%20more%20Victorians%20on%20more%20efficient%20electric%20appliances%20which%20will%20save%20them%20money%20on%20their%20bills%2C%22%20D'Ambrosio%20said%20in%20a%20statement.%0A%0AThe%20changes%20will%20apply%20to%20all%20new%20public%20buildings%20yet%20to%20reach%20the%20design%20stage%2C%20including%20housing%2C%20schools%2C%20and%20hospitals.%0A%0AThe%20plan%20comes%20as%20southeastern%20Australia%20faces%20potential%20gas%20shortages%20from%20mid-decade%20as%20output%20falls%20from%20the%20offshore%20fields%2C%20operated%20by%20Exxon%20Mobil%20Corp%20(XOM.N)%2C%20that%20have%20long%20supplied%20the%20region.%0A%0AThe%20ban%20will%20do%20little%20to%20help%20the%20climate%20because%20it%20will%20push%20households%20onto%20the%20coal-based%20electricity%20grid%2C%20according%20to%20a%20statement%20from%20the%20Australian%20Petroleum%20Production%20and%20Exploration%20Association.%0A%0APower%20generation%20in%20Victoria%2C%20heavily%20dependent%20on%20coal%2C%20accounts%20for%20about%20half%20of%20the%20state's%20carbon%20emissions.%0A%0A%22The%20Victorian%20Government%20is%20taking%20choice%20away%20from%20consumers%20for%20limited%20climate%20benefit%20while%20ignoring%20the%20fact%20that%20the%20best%20way%20to%20bring%20gas%20prices%20down%20is%20to%20invest%20in%20more%20gas%20supply%2C%22%20said%20Chief%20Executive%20Samantha%20McCulloch.%0A%0ARewiring%20Australia%2C%20a%20non-profit%20which%20advocates%20for%20electrification%2C%20backed%20the%20move%20and%20said%20%22electrification%20is%20the%20fastest%20and%20most%20cost-effective%20way%20to%20shave%20thousands%20of%20dollars%20a%20year%20from%20energy%20bills%20and%20lower%20our%20emissions.%22%0A%0AAustralia%20last%20month%20finalised%20a%20package%20of%20rules%20for%20the%20domestic%20gas%20market%20including%20a%20cap%20on%20wholesale%20prices%20that%20was%20first%20introduced%20in%20December.

Australian state bans gas to new homes from 2024

The%20EU%20has%20struck%20a%20deal%20that%20will%20force%20the%20fossil%20fuel%20industry%20to%20rein%20in%20dangerous%20methane%20pollution.%0A%0AUnder%20the%20proposed%20law%2C%20which%20is%20the%20first%20of%20its%20kind%2C%20coal%2C%20oil%20and%20gas%20companies%20would%20be%20required%20to%20report%20their%20methane%20emissions%20and%20take%20steps%20to%20avoid%20them.%20The%20measures%20include%20finding%20and%20fixing%20leaks%2C%20and%20limiting%20wasteful%20practices%20such%20as%20venting%20and%20flaring%20gas%20by%202027.%0A%0AJutta%20Paulus%2C%20a%20German%20MEP%20with%20the%20Green%20grouping%20who%20worked%20on%20the%20proposal%2C%20said%3A%20%E2%80%9CFinally%2C%20the%20EU%20tackles%20the%20second%20most%20important%20greenhouse%20gas%20with%20ambitious%20measures.%20Less%20methane%20emissions%20mean%20more%20climate%20protection%20and%20more%20energy%20sovereignty.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AMethane%20has%20more%20than%2080%20times%20the%20global%20heating%20power%20of%20carbon%20dioxide%20over%20a%2020-year%20timespan%20but%20does%20not%20last%20as%20long%20in%20the%20atmosphere.%20Cutting%20methane%20emissions%20is%20seen%20as%20a%20cheap%20and%20easy%20way%20to%20stop%20extreme%20weather%20growing%20more%20violent%20in%20the%20short-term.%0A%0AThe%20new%20EU%20rules%2C%20which%20were%20agreed%20on%20Wednesday%20by%20the%20European%20parliament%20and%20European%20Council%2C%20mean%20fossil%20fuel%20companies%20must%20try%20to%20repair%20leaks%20no%20more%20than%20five%20days%20after%20finding%20them%2C%20and%20fully%20fix%20them%20within%20a%20month.%20By%20the%20end%20of%20next%20year%2C%20operators%20will%20have%20to%20survey%20their%20existing%20sites%20and%20submit%20action%20plans%20to%20find%20and%20fix%20methane%20leaks.%0A%0AThe%20rules%20will%20also%20tackle%20imported%20fuels%2C%20which%20experts%20say%20could%20raise%20the%20bar%20for%20fossil%20fuel%20companies%20around%20the%20world.%20Analysis%20by%20the%20environmental%20nonprofit%20organisation%20Clean%20Air%20Task%20Force%20last%20month%20found%20global%20methane%20emissions%20from%20oil%20and%20gas%20could%20decrease%20by%2030%25%20if%20foreign%20suppliers%20were%20held%20to%20the%20same%20standards%20as%20domestic%20ones.%0A%0ABrandon%20Locke%2C%20a%20methane%20expert%20at%20the%20Clean%20Air%20Task%20Force%2C%20said%3A%20%E2%80%9CConsidering%20the%20prospect%20of%20an%20import%20standard%20was%20nothing%20more%20than%20a%20dream%20a%20year%20ago%2C%20this%20outcome%20is%20a%20major%20step%20forward.%20While%20we%20preferred%20a%20faster%20timeline%20to%20reduce%20emissions%20before%202030%2C%20this%20agreement%20will%20nonetheless%20go%20a%20long%20way%20to%20dramatically%20cut%20global%20methane%20pollution.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AMethane%2C%20which%20is%20responsible%20for%20about%20one-third%20of%20global%20heating%20since%20the%20Industrial%20Revolution%2C%20seeps%20into%20the%20air%20from%20fossil%20fuel%20infrastructure%2C%20farms%20and%20landfills.%20The%20International%20Energy%20Agency%20has%20found%20that%20more%20than%2075%25%20of%20methane%20emissions%20from%20oil%20and%20gas%20operations%20and%20half%20of%20emissions%20from%20coal%20can%20be%20abated%20with%20existing%20technology%2C%20often%20at%20low%20cost.%0A%0AThe%20campaign%20group%20Climate%20Action%20Network%20(CAN)%20welcomed%20the%20monitoring%20and%20reporting%20measures%20in%20the%20EU%E2%80%99s%20new%20rules%20but%20said%20%E2%80%9Cthe%20biggest%20loophole%E2%80%9D%20was%20the%20timing.%20The%20European%20Commission%20will%20be%20tasked%20with%20determining%20a%20methodology%20for%20the%20maximum%20intensity%20of%20methane%20emissions%20by%202027%2C%20and%20the%20EU%20will%20apply%20it%20to%20imports%20by%202030.%0A%0AEsther%20Bollendorff%2C%20a%20gas%20expert%20at%20CAN%20Europe%2C%20said%3A%20%E2%80%9CApplying%20a%20methane%20intensity%20target%20only%20three%20years%20after%20entry%20into%20force%20of%20this%20regulation%20is%20far%20too%20little%2C%20too%20late%2C%20as%20methane%20emissions%20from%20producers%20outside%20the%20EU%20would%20risk%20remaining%20dangerously%20high%20up%20to%202030.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AUnder%20the%20new%20rules%2C%20EU%20member%20states%20will%20have%20to%20set%20up%20a%20public%20inventory%20of%20coalmines%20that%20have%20been%20closed%20or%20abandoned%20in%20the%20last%2070%20years%20and%20measure%20the%20methane%20leaking%20from%20them.%20Operators%20will%20also%20have%20to%20phase%20out%20venting%20and%20flaring%20in%20mines%20that%20are%20still%20operational.%20Such%20practices%20will%20be%20banned%20in%20mines%20that%20have%20been%20shut%20down%20from%202030.%0A%0ASabina%20Assan%2C%20a%20methane%20analyst%20at%20clean%20energy%20thinktank%20Ember%2C%20said%3A%20%E2%80%9CThe%20regulation%20is%20one%20of%20the%20first%20of%20its%20kind%20for%20coalmines%2C%20and%20a%20massive%20leap%20forward%20in%20terms%20of%20monitoring%2C%20reporting%20and%20mitigation%20of%20methane%20from%20underground%20and%20abandoned%20mines.%20Even%20so%2C%20the%20requirements%20for%20mitigation%20are%20not%20particularly%20ambitious.%E2%80%9D%0A%0A%0APolicymakers%20have%20started%20to%20pay%20more%20attention%20to%20methane%20emissions%2C%20which%20have%20been%20unregulated%20in%20much%20of%20the%20world.%20Since%20the%20Cop26%20climate%20summit%20in%20Glasgow%20two%20years%20ago%2C%20149%20countries%20and%20the%20EU%20have%20joined%20a%20pledge%20to%20reduce%20global%20methane%20emissions%20by%20at%20least%2030%25%20from%202020%20levels%20by%202030.%0A%0AChina%2C%20which%20did%20not%20sign%20the%20pledge%2C%20published%20a%20methane%20action%20plan%20last%20week%20that%20did%20not%20include%20an%20overall%20target%20or%20date.%20On%20Tuesday%2C%20the%20US%20and%20China%20said%20in%20a%20joint%20statement%20they%20would%20include%20methane%20reduction%20targets%20in%20their%20next%20climate%20action%20plans.%0A%0AThe%20Cop28%20climate%20summit%20opens%20in%20the%20United%20Arab%20Emirates%20in%20just%20over%20two%20weeks%E2%80%99%20time.%0A%0AFlavia%20Sollazzo%2C%20an%20energy%20expert%20at%20the%20US-based%20nonprofit%20group%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ecohubmap.com%2Fcompany%2FNGO%2Fenvironmental-defense-fund-edf%2F83q4m1kqekp8qzdxy%22%3EEnvironmental%20Defense%20Fund%3C%2Fa%3E%2C%20said%3A%20%E2%80%9CThis%20is%20a%20very%20clear%20message%20from%20the%20EU%20and%20particularly%20ahead%20of%20Cop28%20%E2%80%93%20that%20climate%20responsibility%20doesn%E2%80%99t%20stop%20at%20its%20borders.%20And%20that%20as%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20largest%20buyer%20of%20natural%20gas%2C%20it%20is%20prepared%20to%20use%20its%20influence%20to%20help%20drive%20global%20methane%20emission%20reduction.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AThe%20International%20Association%20of%20Oil%20and%20Gas%20Producers%20has%20been%20approached%20for%20comment.

Deal on first-ever EU law curbs methane emissions

Negotiations%20on%20the%20European%20Commission%E2%80%99s%20proposal%20to%20crack%20down%20on%20environmental%20crime%2C%20tabled%20in%20December%202021%2C%20concluded%20on%20Thursday%20evening%20(16%20November)%20with%20an%20agreement%20between%20the%20European%20Parliament%20and%20EU%20countries.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CFor%20too%20long%20criminals%20have%20profited%20from%20weak%20sanctions%20and%20lack%20of%20enforcement%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20the%20EU%E2%80%99s%20Environment%20Commissioner%20Virginijus%20Sinkevi%C4%8Dius.%20%E2%80%9CWith%20this%20strengthened%20law%2C%20the%20EU%20steps%20up%20its%20action%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20added%20in%20a%20statement.%0A%0AThe%20agreed%20law%20will%20be%20formally%20approved%20by%20Parliament%20in%20February%202024%2C%20with%20EU%20countries%20expected%20to%20rubber-stamp%20it%20soon%20after.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CIf%20you%20pollute%2C%20you%20will%20pay%20for%20your%20crimes%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20the%20Parliament%E2%80%99s%20chief%20negotiator%20Antonius%20Manders%2C%20a%20German%20lawmaker%20from%20the%20centre-right%20European%20People%E2%80%99s%20Party%20(EPP).%0A%0AFighting%20pollution%2C%20which%20is%20often%20cross-border%2C%20requires%20%E2%80%9Charmonised%2C%20dissuasive%20and%20effective%20sanctions%20to%20prevent%20new%20environmental%20crimes%E2%80%9D%20at%20the%20EU%20level%2C%20Manders%20said.%0A%0AThe%20new%20rules%20could%20result%20in%20a%2010-year%20prison%20sentence%20for%20individuals%20or%20company%20representatives%20who%20commit%20%E2%80%9Cenvironmental%20offences%E2%80%9D%20leading%20to%20death.%20%E2%80%9CQualified%E2%80%9D%20offences%20could%20lead%20to%20an%20eight-year%20prison%20term%2C%20with%20other%20offences%20capped%20at%20five%20years.%0A%0AFines%20could%20be%20much%20more%20painful%2C%20too.%20Aside%20from%20the%20loss%20of%20operating%20licences%20and%20public%20subsidies%2C%20offending%20companies%20could%20be%20fined%20up%20to%205%25%20of%20their%20global%20turnover.%0A%0AA%20loophole%20was%20added%20here%2C%20though%2C%20as%20EU%20countries%20will%20be%20able%20to%20choose%20a%20penalty%20rate%20ranging%20from%203%20to%205%25%20and%20opt%20for%20less%20painful%20fixed%20fines%20of%20%E2%82%AC24-40%20million.%0A%0AWhile%20penalties%20will%20not%20be%20fully%20harmonised%2C%20the%20definition%20of%20what%20constitutes%20environmental%20crime%20will%20be.%20For%20instance%2C%20newly%20covered%20offences%20will%20include%20the%20marketing%20of%20products%20linked%20to%20deforestation%2C%20maritime%20pollution%2C%20and%20illegal%20water%20withdrawals.%0A%0A%3Cb%3EEcocide%20included%2C%20illegal%20fishing%20not%3C%2Fb%3E%0A%0AIn%20a%20global%20first%2C%20the%20notion%20of%20ecocide%20was%20also%20added%20to%20the%20list%20of%20criminal%20offences.%0A%0AFor%20proponents%20of%20a%20global%20criminalisation%20of%20ecocide%2C%20the%20agreement%20represents%20a%20milestone%20in%20their%20advocacy%20campaign.%20%E2%80%9CWe%20won!%20The%20EU%20lays%20the%20foundations%20for%20the%20recognition%20of%20ecocide%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Marie%20Toussaint%2C%20a%20Green%20lawmaker%20from%20France%20who%20was%20part%20of%20the%20Parliament%E2%80%99s%20negotiating%20team.%0A%0AThe%20definition%20for%20%E2%80%9Cqualified%E2%80%9D%20offences%20%E2%80%93%20those%20that%20do%20not%20directly%20result%20in%20death%20but%20are%20punishable%20by%20jail%20terms%20of%20up%20to%20eight%20years%20%E2%80%93%20will%20include%20ecocide.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CThe%20offence%20recognised%20for%20the%20most%20serious%20crimes%20is%20very%20close%20to%20that%20of%20the%20international%20panel%20of%20jurists%20on%20ecocide%2C%E2%80%9D%20Toussaint%20said%2C%20noting%20that%20their%20definition%20had%20been%20mentioned%20in%20the%20final%20law%20agreed%20at%20the%20EU%20level.%0A%0AThe%20next%20step%20will%20be%20to%20change%20the%20statute%20of%20the%20International%20Criminal%20Court%20where%20EU%20countries%20are%20represented%20with%2020%25%20of%20members%2C%20Toussaint%20said.%0A%0ACampaigners%20welcomed%20the%20agreement%2C%20with%20the%20WWF%E2%80%99s%20European%20Policy%20Office%20commending%20%E2%80%9Cthe%20high%20integrity%20and%20overall%20ambition%20of%20the%20final%20compromise%20text%E2%80%9D%20reached%20by%20legislators.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CThanks%20to%20the%20determination%20of%20the%20European%20Parliament%2C%20the%20inclusion%20of%20a%20qualified%20offence%20covering%20the%20most%20severe%20environmental%20crimes%2C%20punishable%20by%20higher%20sanctions%2C%20adds%20teeth%20to%20the%20law%20and%20will%20provide%20competent%20authorities%20with%20a%20new%20tool%20in%20their%20arsenal%2C%E2%80%9D%20the%20%20WWF%E2%80%99s%20Audrey%20Chambaudet%20said.%0A%0AThey%20regretted%2C%20however%2C%20that%20the%20proposal%20does%20not%20include%20illegal%2C%20unreported%2C%20and%20unregulated%20fishing%20(IUU%20fishing)%20as%20an%20additional%20offence%20punishable%20by%20law.

EU strikes deal on new ‘ecocide’ rules

Representatives%20from%20nearly%20200%20countries%20agreed%20at%20the%20COP28%20climate%20summit%20on%20Wednesday%20to%20begin%20reducing%20global%20consumption%20of%20fossil%20fuels%20to%20avert%20the%20worst%20of%20climate%20change%2C%20signalling%20the%20eventual%20end%20of%20the%20oil%20age.%0A%0AThe%20deal%20struck%20in%20Dubai%20after%20two%20weeks%20of%20hard-fought%20negotiations%20was%20meant%20to%20send%20a%20powerful%20message%20to%20investors%20and%20policy-makers%20that%20the%20world%20is%20united%20in%20its%20desire%20to%20break%20with%20fossil%20fuels%2C%20something%20scientists%20say%20is%20the%20last%20best%20hope%20to%20stave%20off%20climate%20catastrophe.%0A%0ACOP28%20President%20Sultan%20al-Jaber%20called%20the%20deal%20%22historic%22%20but%20added%20that%20its%20true%20success%20would%20be%20in%20its%20implementation.%0A%0A%22We%20are%20what%20we%20do%2C%20not%20what%20we%20say%2C%22%20he%20told%20the%20crowded%20plenary%20at%20the%20summit.%20%22We%20must%20take%20the%20steps%20necessary%20to%20turn%20this%20agreement%20into%20tangible%20actions.%22%0A%0ASeveral%20countries%20cheered%20the%20deal%20for%20accomplishing%20something%20that%20until%20now%20eluded%20decades%20of%20climate%20talks.%0A%0A%22It%20is%20the%20first%20time%20that%20the%20world%20unites%20around%20such%20a%20clear%20text%20on%20the%20need%20to%20transition%20away%20from%20fossil%20fuels%2C%22%20Norway's%20Minister%20of%20Foreign%20Affairs%20Espen%20Barth%20Eide%20said.%0A%0AMore%20than%20100%20countries%20had%20lobbied%20hard%20for%20strong%20language%20in%20the%20COP28%20agreement%20to%20%22phase%20out%22%20oil%2C%20gas%20and%20coal%20use%2C%20but%20came%20up%20against%20powerful%20opposition%20from%20the%20Saudi%20Arabia-led%20oil%20producer%20group%20OPEC%2C%20which%20said%20the%20world%20can%20cut%20emissions%20without%20shunning%20specific%20fuels.%0A%0AThat%20battle%20pushed%20the%20summit%20a%20full%20day%20into%20overtime%20on%20Wednesday%2C%20and%20had%20some%20observers%20worried%20the%20negotiations%20would%20end%20at%20an%20impasse.%0A%0AMembers%20of%20the%20Organization%20of%20the%20Petroleum%20Exporting%20Countries%20control%20nearly%2080%25%20of%20the%20world's%20proven%20oil%20reserves%20along%20with%20about%20a%20third%20of%20global%20oil%20output%2C%20and%20their%20governments%20rely%20heavily%20on%20those%20revenues.%0A%0ASmall%20climate-vulnerable%20island%20states%2C%20meanwhile%2C%20were%20among%20the%20most%20vocal%20supporters%20of%20language%20to%20phase%20out%20fossil%20fuels%20and%20had%20the%20backing%20of%20major%20oil%20and%20gas%20producers%20such%20as%20the%20United%20States%2C%20Canada%20and%20Norway%2C%20as%20well%20as%20the%20European%20Union%20and%20scores%20of%20other%20governments.%0A%0A%22This%20is%20a%20moment%20where%20multilateralism%20has%20actually%20come%20together%20and%20people%20have%20taken%20individual%20interests%20and%20attempted%20to%20define%20the%20common%20good%2C%22%20U.S.%20climate%20envoy%20John%20Kerry%20said%20after%20the%20deal%20was%20adopted.%0A%0AThe%20lead%20negotiator%20for%20the%20Alliance%20of%20Small%20Island%20States%2C%20Anne%20Rasmussen%2C%20criticised%20the%20deal%20as%20unambitious.%0A%0A%22We%20have%20made%20an%20incremental%20advancement%20over%20business%20as%20usual%2C%20when%20what%20we%20really%20need%20is%20an%20exponential%20step%20change%20in%20our%20actions%2C%22%20she%20said.%0A%0ABut%20she%20did%20not%20formally%20object%20to%20the%20pact%2C%20and%20her%20speech%20drew%20a%20standing%20ovation%20that%20lasted%20nearly%20two%20minutes.%0A%0ADanish%20Minister%20for%20Climate%20and%20Energy%20Dan%20Jorgensen%20marvelled%20at%20the%20circumstances%20of%20the%20deal%3A%20%22We're%20standing%20here%20in%20an%20oil%20country%2C%20surrounded%20by%20oil%20countries%2C%20and%20we%20made%20the%20decision%20saying%20let's%20move%20away%20from%20oil%20and%20gas.%22%0A%0AThe%20deal%20calls%20for%20%22transitioning%20away%20from%20fossil%20fuels%20in%20energy%20systems%2C%20in%20a%20just%2C%20orderly%20and%20equitable%20manner%20...%20so%20as%20to%20achieve%20net%20zero%20by%202050%20in%20keeping%20with%20the%20science.%22%0A%0ATo%20some%20extent%2C%20that%20language%20describes%20what%20has%20already%20begun%20to%20happen%2C%20with%20some%20governments%20enacting%20policies%20in%20recent%20years%20to%20transition%20to%20a%20greener%20economy.%0A%0AEurope%20and%20the%20U.S.%20have%20retired%20fleets%20of%20coal-fired%20power%20plants%3B%20global%20installation%20of%20renewable%20power%20capacity%20is%20at%20record%20levels%20and%20many%20countries%20have%20policies%20to%20encourage%20sales%20of%20electric%20vehicles.%0A%0AThe%20deal%20calls%20on%20governments%20to%20accelerate%20that%20-%20specifically%20by%20tripling%20of%20renewable%20energy%20capacity%20globally%20by%202030%2C%20speeding%20up%20efforts%20to%20reduce%20coal%20use%2C%20and%20accelerating%20technologies%20such%20as%20carbon%20capture%20and%20storage%20that%20can%20clean%20up%20hard-to-decarbonise%20industries.%0A%0AA%20source%20familiar%20with%20Saudi%20Arabia's%20position%20described%20the%20deal%20as%20%22a%20menu%20where%20every%20country%20can%20follow%20its%20own%20pathway%2C%22%20saying%20it%20%22shows%20the%20various%20tracks%20that%20will%20allow%20us%20to%20maintain%20the%20objective%20of%201.5%20(degrees%20Celsius)%20in%20accordance%20with%20the%20characteristics%20of%20every%20nation%20and%20in%20the%20context%20of%20sustainable%20development.%22%0A%0ASeveral%20other%20oil%20producer%20countries%2C%20including%20the%20summit%20host%20UAE%2C%20had%20advocated%20for%20a%20role%20for%20carbon%20capture%20in%20the%20pact.%20Critics%20say%20the%20technology%20remains%20expensive%20and%20unproven%20at%20scale%2C%20and%20say%20it%20can%20be%20used%20to%20justify%20continued%20drilling.%0A%0AFormer%20U.S.%20Vice%20President%20Al%20Gore%20also%20welcomed%20the%20deal%2C%20but%20said%3A%20%22The%20influence%20of%20petrostates%20is%20still%20evident%20in%20the%20half%20measures%20and%20loopholes%20included%20in%20the%20final%20agreement.%22%0A%0ANow%20that%20the%20deal%20is%20struck%2C%20countries%20are%20responsible%20for%20delivering%20through%20national%20policies%20and%20investments.%0A%0AChina%2C%20the%20world's%20biggest%20carbon%20polluter%20today%2C%20suggested%20that%20industrialised%20countries%20should%20lead%20the%20way.%0A%0A%22Developed%20countries%20have%20unshirkable%20historical%20responsibilities%20for%20climate%20change%2C%22%20the%20country's%20vice%20environment%20minister%20Zhao%20Yingmin%20said%20after%20the%20pact%20was%20approved.%0A%0AIn%20the%20United%20States%2C%20the%20world's%20top%20producer%20of%20oil%20and%20gas%20and%20the%20biggest%20historical%20emitter%20of%20greenhouse%20gases%2C%20climate-conscious%20administrations%20have%20struggled%20to%20pass%20laws%20aligned%20with%20their%20climate%20vows%20through%20a%20divided%20Congress.%0A%0AU.S.%20President%20Joe%20Biden%20scored%20a%20major%20victory%20last%20year%20with%20passage%20of%20the%20Inflation%20Reduction%20Act%2C%20which%20contained%20hundreds%20of%20billions%20of%20dollars%20in%20clean%20energy%20subsidies.%0A%0AMounting%20public%20support%20for%20renewables%20and%20electric%20vehicles%20from%20Brussels%20to%20Beijing%20in%20recent%20years%2C%20along%20with%20improving%20technology%2C%20sliding%20costs%2C%20and%20rising%20private%20investment%20have%20also%20driven%20rapid%20growth%20in%20their%20deployments.%0A%0AEven%20so%2C%20oil%2C%20gas%2C%20and%20coal%20account%20for%20about%2080%25%20of%20the%20world's%20energy%2C%20and%20projections%20vary%20widely%20about%20when%20global%20demand%20will%20finally%20hit%20its%20peak.%0A%0ARachel%20Cleetus%2C%20policy%20director%20at%20the%20Union%20of%20Concerned%20Scientists%2C%20praised%20the%20climate%20deal%2C%20but%20said%20it%20does%20not%20commit%20rich%20countries%20to%20offer%20more%20financing%20to%20help%20developing%20countries%20pay%20for%20the%20transition%20away%20from%20fossil%20fuels.%0A%0A%22The%20finance%20and%20equity%20provisions...%20are%20seriously%20insufficient%20and%20must%20be%20improved%20in%20the%20time%20ahead%20in%20order%20to%20ensure%20low-%20and%20middle-income%20countries%20can%20transition%20to%20clean%20energy%20and%20close%20the%20energy%20poverty%20gap%2C%22%20she%20said.

COP28: Deal to transition away from fossil fuels

At%20a%20Parliament%20meeting%20in%20Strasbourg%20on%20Wednesday%20(17%20January)%2C%20593%20MEPs%20voted%20to%20pass%20the%20directive%20while%20only%2021%20voted%20against%20its%20implementation.%20The%20deal%20still%20needs%20the%20approval%20of%20the%20EU%20Council%20but%20this%20is%20likely%20to%20happen%20swiftly.%0A%0AUnder%20the%20directive%2C%20businesses%20selling%20in%20the%20EU%20will%20not%20be%20permitted%20to%20make%20vague%20claims%20about%20the%20environmental%20impact%20of%20their%20products%20or%20services%20unless%20they%20can%20be%20backed%20up%20with%20evidence.%20Claims%20in%20the%20firing%20line%20include%20%E2%80%98eco-friendly%E2%80%99%2C%20%E2%80%98environmentally%20friendly%E2%80%99%2C%20%E2%80%98natural%E2%80%99%2C%20%E2%80%98recycled%E2%80%99%20and%20%E2%80%98biodegradable.%0A%0AAnother%20point%20of%20contention%20is%20claims%20supported%20by%20carbon%20offsetting.%20Businesses%20will%20essentially%20be%20banned%20from%20labelling%20their%20offerings%20as%20%E2%80%98climate-neutral%E2%80%99%20or%20%E2%80%98carbon-neutral%E2%80%99%20if%20they%20rely%20on%20offsetting%20to%20balance%20their%20emissions%20sheets.%20This%20is%20due%20to%20widespread%20concern%20about%20the%20credibility%20of%20some%20carbon%20offsetting%20schemes.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CThere%20is%20no%20such%20thing%20as%20%E2%80%98carbon-neutral%E2%80%99%20or%20%E2%80%98CO2-neutral%E2%80%99%20cheese%2C%20plastic%20bottles%2C%20flights%20or%20bank%20accounts.%20Carbon-neutral%20claims%20are%20greenwashing%2C%20plain%20and%20simple%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Ursula%20Pachl%2C%20the%20deputy%20director%20of%20EU%20consumer%20advocate%20body%20BEUC.%0A%0AAdditionally%2C%20the%20Directive%20will%20put%20an%20end%20to%20claims%20that%20conflate%20progress%20made%20on%20one%20topic%20or%20about%20one%20product%20with%20the%20company%E2%80%99s%20overall%20environmental%20footprint.%0A%0AChanges%20are%20set%20to%20come%20into%20force%20from%20early%202026%20because%2C%20thanks%20to%20the%20Parliament%20vote%20this%20week%2C%20EU%20member%20states%20now%20have%20two%20years%20to%20transpose%20the%20directive%20into%20their%20own%20national%20laws.%0A%0AThe%20Directive%E2%80%99s%20passage%20into%20fruition%20has%20been%20lengthy%20and%20much-anticipated.%20It%20was%20first%20proposed%20by%20the%20European%20Commission%20in%20March%202022.%0A%0ABusinesses%20of%20all%20manner%20of%20sizes%20and%20sectors%20will%20be%20impacted.%20The%20EU%20estimates%20that%20three-quarters%20of%20products%20sold%20within%20the%20bloc%20currently%20carry%20a%20green%20claim%20and%20has%20heard%20evidence%20that%20more%20than%20half%20of%20them%20are%20vague%20or%20misleading.%0A%0AThe%20European%20Environmental%20Bureau%E2%80%99s%20policy%20officer%20Miriam%20Thiemann%20welcomed%20the%20news%2C%20stating%20that%20the%20law%20%E2%80%9Ccuts%20through%20the%20smoke%20of%20misleading%20green%20marketing%2C%20putting%20a%20leash%20on%20shady%20claims%20and%20boosting%20the%20credibility%20of%20sustainability%20labels%E2%80%9D.%0A%0ARegarding%20certifications%20and%20labels%2C%20the%20Directive%20will%20result%20in%20a%20temporary%20ban%20on%20the%20creation%20of%20new%20ecolabelling%20scheme.%20For%20existing%20labels%2C%20a%20review%20process%20will%20be%20kick-started%2C%20requiring%20schemes%20to%20have%20a%20third-party%20verification%20element%20to%20enhance%20their%20credibility%20and%20reliability.%0A%0AEach%20member%20state%20will%20have%20to%20select%20which%20%E2%80%9Cnational%20competent%20authority%E2%80%9D%20it%20will%20task%20with%20overseeing%20the%20ecolabel%20requirements.%20These%20can%20be%20existing%20regulators%20or%20watchdogs%2C%20or%20nations%20may%20wish%20to%20create%20new%20organisations.%0A%0ADue%20to%20Brexit%2C%20the%20rules%20do%20not%20apply%20in%20the%20UK.%20But%20as%20many%20UK-based%20businesses%20sell%20into%20EU%20markets%2C%20the%20directive%20will%20likely%20have%20a%20ripple%20effect%20on%20the%20product%20messaging%20seen%20in%20Britain.%0A%0A%3Cb%3EEarly%20obsolescence%3C%2Fb%3E%0A%0ACoupled%20with%20the%20directive%20on%20green%20claims%20is%20a%20new%20requirement%20for%20manufacturers%20and%20retailers%20to%20provide%20customers%20with%20information%20on%20the%20repairability%20of%20products.%20This%20information%20will%20need%20to%20be%20available%20at%20the%20point%20of%20sale.%20A%20wide%20range%20of%20product%20categories%20are%20covered%20including%20electronic%20goods%2C%20electricals%20and%20furniture.%0A%0ATraders%20will%20be%20forbidden%20from%20advertising%20used%20or%20faulty%20goods%20without%20making%20this%20information%20clear%20to%20customers.%20But%20there%20is%20a%20loophole%20%E2%80%93%20if%20a%20trader%20claims%20they%20were%20not%20aware%20of%20any%20potential%20problems%2C%20they%20are%20exempt%20from%20this%20requirement.%0A%0AThe%20requirements%20are%20intended%20to%20complement%20existing%20%E2%80%98Right%20to%20Repair%E2%80%99%20legislation.%20Passed%20in%202021%2C%20that%20package%20mandates%20that%20sellers%20offer%20a%20repair%20within%20a%20legal%20guarantee%20and%20ensure%20that%20repairs%20beyond%20the%20guarantee%20period%20are%20simple.%0A%0ABut%20some%20had%20hoped%20that%20the%20new%20directive%20would%20go%20further%2C%20ending%20the%20business%20practice%20of%20intentionally%20designing%20products%20for%20shorter%20lifetimes%20to%20encourage%20earlier%20replacement%20purchases.%20This%20is%20known%20as%20early%20obsolescence%20or%20planned%20obsolescence.%0A%0A

EU signs off on anti-greenwashing legislation

The%20European%20Parliament%20approved%20a%20flagship%20law%20to%20restore%20nature%20on%20Tuesday%2C%20salvaging%20at%20least%20part%20of%20EU%20plans%20to%20protect%20the%20environment%20after%20farmers'%20protests%20ignited%20a%20backlash.%0A%0AThe%20vote%20took%20place%20after%20weeks%20of%20farmers'%20protests%20across%20Europe%2C%20including%20a%20violent%20demonstration%20on%20Monday%20outside%20the%20European%20Union's%20headquarters%20in%20Brussels.%20Among%20the%20protesters'%20complaints%20are%20EU%20green%20policies%20that%20they%20say%20impose%20excessive%20bureaucracy%20on%20farmers.%0A%0AEU%20lawmakers%20adopted%20the%20law%20with%20329%20votes%20in%20favour%2C%20275%20against%20and%2024%20abstentions.%0A%0AIt%20passed%20despite%20the%20European%20People's%20Party%20lawmaker%20group%20deciding%20at%20the%20last%20minute%20to%20oppose%20the%20law%2C%20arguing%20it%20would%20subject%20farmers%20to%20more%20red%20tape.%0A%0AThe%20nature%20law%20is%20one%20of%20the%20EU's%20biggest%20pieces%20of%20environmental%20legislation%2C%20requiring%20countries%20to%20introduce%20measures%20restoring%20nature%20on%20a%20fifth%20of%20their%20land%20and%20sea%20by%202030.%0A%0AEU%20Environment%20Commissioner%20Virginijus%20Sinkevicius%20said%20the%20policy%20was%20the%20EU's%20%22concrete%20contribution%20to%20preserve%20biodiversity%2C%20precious%20ecosystems%2C%20healthy%20soils%20and%20waters%20-%20first%20and%20foremost%2C%20for%20our%20farmers%22.%0A%0AIt%20aims%20to%20reverse%20the%20decline%20of%20Europe's%20natural%20habitats%20-%2081%25%20of%20which%20are%20classed%20as%20being%20in%20poor%20health%20-%20and%20includes%20specific%20targets%2C%20for%20example%20to%20restore%20peatlands%20so%20they%20can%20absorb%20CO2%20emissions.%0A%0AStill%2C%20the%20final%20policy%20is%20far%20weaker%20than%20originally%20planned.%0A%0AThe%20nature%20law%20has%20faced%20fierce%20political%20backlash%20since%20the%20European%20Commission%20proposed%20it%20in%202022.%20Centre-right%20lawmakers%20had%20attempted%20to%20scrap%20it%20completely%2C%20and%20eventually%20won%20changes%20to%20weaken%20parts%20including%20a%20goal%20to%20introduce%20more%20trees%2C%20ponds%20and%20other%20biodiverse%20features%20to%20farmland.%0A%0AThe%20policy%20now%20needs%20final%20approval%20from%20EU%20countries%20before%20it%20enters%20into%20force.%20That%20approval%20is%20usually%20a%20simple%20formality%2C%20and%20it%20looks%20set%20to%20avoid%20the%20fate%20of%20other%20green%20policies%20that%20the%20EU%20has%20scrapped%20to%20appease%20the%20farmers.%0A%0AEarlier%20this%20month%2C%20the%20European%20Commission%20withdrew%20a%20proposed%20law%20to%20reduce%20pesticides%20and%20delayed%20an%20obligation%20for%20farmers%20to%20set%20aside%20more%20land%20to%20nature.%0A%0ASo%20far%2C%20those%20moves%20have%20failed%20to%20quell%20the%20farmers'%20protests.%20Some%20protest%20organisers%20say%20green%20policies%20are%20not%20the%20problem%2C%20and%20instead%20want%20the%20EU%20to%20take%20action%20to%20curb%20cheap%20food%20imports.

EU Parliament passes nature law

European%20Union%20lawmakers%20on%20Wednesday%20adopted%20a%20law%20to%20place%20methane%20emission%20limits%20on%20Europe's%20oil%20and%20gas%20imports%20from%202030%2C%20pressuring%20international%20suppliers%20to%20clamp%20down%20on%20leaks%20of%20the%20potent%20greenhouse%20gas.%0A%0AMethane%2C%20the%20main%20component%20of%20natural%20gas%2C%20is%20the%20second-biggest%20cause%20of%20climate%20change%20after%20carbon%20dioxide%20and%20in%20the%20short%20term%20has%20a%20far%20higher%20warming%20effect.%20Rapid%20cuts%20in%20methane%20emissions%20this%20decade%20are%20crucial%20if%20the%20world%20is%20to%20avoid%20severe%20climate%20change.%0A%0A%22The%20EU%20is%20finally%20fighting%20the%20climate%20killer%20methane%2C%22%20Green%20lawmaker%20Jutta%20Paulus%2C%20the%20EU%20Parliament's%20co-lead%20negotiator%2C%20said%20in%20a%20statement.%0A%0A%22The%20first%20European%20law%20to%20reduce%20the%20second%20most%20important%20greenhouse%20gas%20will%20make%20an%20important%20contribution%20to%20achieving%20the%20EU%20climate%20target%20and%20fulfilling%20the%20commitments%20in%20the%20Global%20Methane%20Pledge.%22%0A%0AThe%20import%20rules%20-%20which%20will%20impose%20limits%20on%20%22methane%20intensity%20values%22%20from%202030%20on%20producers%20sending%20fossil%20fuels%20into%20the%20EU%20-%20are%20likely%20to%20hit%20major%20gas%20suppliers%20which%20include%20the%20United%20States%2C%20Algeria%20and%20Russia.%0A%0AMoscow%20slashed%20deliveries%20to%20Europe%20last%20year%20and%20has%20since%20been%20replaced%20as%20Europe's%20biggest%20pipeline%20gas%20supplier%20by%20Norway%2C%20whose%20supply%20has%20among%20the%20world's%20lowest%20methane%20intensity.%0A%0AThe%20law%20now%20also%20has%20to%20be%20formally%20adopted%20by%20the%20European%20Council%2C%20before%20being%20published%20in%20the%20EU%20Official%20Journal%20and%20will%20be%20entering%20into%20force%2020%20days%20later.

EU lawmakers adopt law to hit fossil fuel imports

More%20than%20190%20nations%20agreed%20Friday%20on%20a%20new%20treaty%20to%20combat%20so-called%20biopiracy%20and%20regulate%20patents%20stemming%20from%20genetic%20resources%20such%20as%20medicinal%20plants%2C%20particularly%20ones%20whose%20uses%20owe%20a%20debt%20to%20traditional%20knowledge.%0A%0AAfter%20lengthy%20negotiations%2C%20delegates%20approved%20to%20cheers%20and%20applause%20the%20%22first%20WIPO%20Treaty%20to%20address%20the%20interface%20between%20intellectual%20property%2C%20genetic%20resources%20and%20traditional%20knowledge%22%2C%20the%20UN's%20World%20Intellectual%20Property%20Organization%20said%20in%20a%20statement.%0A%0AThe%20talks%20had%20been%20clouded%20by%20uncertainty%2C%20with%20one%20sticking%20point%20being%20sanctions%20for%20offenders%2C%20which%20pits%20developing%20countries%20against%20developed%20ones%20broadly%20speaking.%0A%0AGenetic%20resources%20are%20increasingly%20used%20by%20companies%20in%20everything%20from%20cosmetics%20to%20seeds%2C%20medicines%2C%20biotechnology%20and%20food%20supplements.%0A%0AThey%20have%20enabled%20considerable%20progress%20in%20health%2C%20climate%20and%20food%20security%2C%20according%20to%20the%20United%20Nations.%0A%0AAfter%20more%20than%2020%20years%20of%20discussions%20on%20the%20subject%2C%20WIPO's%20more%20than%20190%20member%20states%20began%20negotiating%20on%20May%2013%20at%20the%20UN%20innovation%20and%20patenting%20agency's%20Geneva%20headquarters%20on%20finalizing%20a%20treaty.%0A%0A%22It's%20a%20realistic%20text.%20It's%20a%20balanced%20text%2C%22%20a%20Western%20negotiator%20told%20AFP%20before%20the%20final%20agreement%20was%20reached.%0A%0AThe%20treaty%20text%20says%20patent%20applicants%20will%20be%20required%20to%20disclose%20where%20the%20genetic%20resources%20used%20in%20an%20invention%20came%20from%2C%20and%20the%20indigenous%20people%20who%20provided%20the%20associated%20traditional%20knowledge.%0A%0AThe%20goal%20is%20to%20combat%20biopiracy%20by%20ensuring%20that%20an%20invention%20is%20genuinely%20new%2C%20and%20that%20the%20countries%20and%20local%20communities%20concerned%20agree%20with%20the%20use%20of%20their%20genetic%20resources%2C%20such%20as%20plant%20species%20cultivated%20over%20time%2C%20and%20the%20traditional%20knowledge%20surrounding%20them.%0A%0A%3Cb%3ERed%20lines%3C%2Fb%3E%0A%0AWhile%20natural%20genetic%20resources%E2%80%94such%20as%20those%20found%20in%20medicinal%20plants%2C%20agricultural%20crops%20and%20animal%20breeds%E2%80%94cannot%20be%20directly%20protected%20as%20intellectual%20property%2C%20inventions%20developed%20using%20them%20can%20be%20patented.%0A%0AAs%20it%20is%20currently%20not%20mandatory%20to%20publish%20the%20origin%20of%20innovations%2C%20many%20developing%20countries%20are%20concerned%20that%20patents%20are%20being%20granted%20that%20circumvent%20the%20rights%20of%20indigenous%20people.%0A%0AAntony%20Scott%20Taubman%20set%20up%20WIPO's%20traditional%20knowledge%20division%20in%202001%20but%20no%20longer%20works%20with%20the%20agency.%0A%0A%22I%20wouldn't%20go%20so%20far%20as%20to%20say%20it's%20revolutionary%2C%22%20he%20said%20of%20the%20treaty.%0A%0A%22Conceptually%20what%20we're%20looking%20at%20here%20is%20a%20recognition%20that%20when%20I%20apply%20for%20a%20patent%2C%20it's%20not%20purely%20a%20technical%20step...%20it%20recognizes%20that%20I%20have%20liabilities%2C%22%20he%20told%20AFP.%0A%0ABrazilian%20ambassador%20Guilherme%20de%20Aguiar%20Patriota%2C%20who%20has%20chaired%20the%20talks%2C%20hailed%20the%20new%20treaty%20early%20Friday%20as%20a%20%22very%20carefully%20balanced%20outcome%22%20of%20the%20talks.%0A%0A%22It%20constitutes%20the%20best%20possible%20compromise%20and%20a%20carefully%20calibrated%20solution%2C%20which%20seeks%20to%20bridge%20and%20to%20balance%20a%20variety%20of%20interests%2C%20some%20very%20passionately%20held%20and%20assiduously%20expressed%20and%20defended%20over%20the%20course%20of%20decades.%22%0A%0A%3Cb%3EImpact%20on%20innovation%3C%2Fb%3E%0A%0ASanctions%20had%20been%20the%20main%20stumbling%20block.%0A%0ASome%20developing%20countries%20wanted%20a%20patent%20to%20be%20easily%20revoked%20if%20the%20holder%20has%20not%20provided%20the%20required%20information%20on%20knowledge%20and%20resources.%0A%0AHowever%2C%20wealthy%20countries%20took%20a%20dim%20view%20of%20this%20option%2C%20fearing%20that%20heavy%20sanctions%20will%20only%20serve%20to%20hamper%20innovation.%0A%0A%22The%20difficulty%20is%20trying%20to%20promote%20a%20form%20of%20convergence%20between%20those%20who%20already%20have%20significant%20legislation%20and%20those%20who%20do%20not%2C%22%20the%20Western%20negotiator%20said%20of%20the%20sanctions.%0A%0AMore%20than%2030%20countries%20already%20have%20disclosure%20requirements%20in%20their%20national%20laws.%0A%0AMost%20of%20these%20are%20emerging%20and%20developing%20economies%2C%20including%20China%2C%20Brazil%2C%20India%20and%20South%20Africa%2C%20but%20others%20are%20European%20states%2C%20such%20as%20France%2C%20Germany%20and%20Switzerland.%0A%0AHowever%2C%20the%20procedures%20vary%20and%20are%20not%20always%20mandatory.%0A%0AIn%20the%20end%2C%20the%20treaty%20text%20says%20countries%20%22shall%20provide%20an%20opportunity%20to%20rectify%20a%20failure%20to%20disclose%20the%20information%20required...%20before%20implementing%20sanctions%22.%0A%0AHowever%2C%20that%20opportunity%20does%20not%20need%20to%20be%20extended%20in%20%22cases%20where%20there%20has%20been%20fraudulent%20conduct%20or%20intent%20as%20prescribed%20by%20national%20law%22.%0A%0ADeveloping%20countries%20have%20long%20been%20calling%20for%20greater%20transparency%20on%20the%20origin%20of%20genetic%20resources.%0A%0AIt%20took%20years%20of%20negotiations%20to%20reduce%205%2C000%20pages%20of%20documentation%20on%20the%20subject%20down%20to%20the%20agreement.

Agreement reached at UN on biopiracy treaty

There%20is%20now%20a%20robust%20legal%20framework%20to%20tackle%20serious%20environmental%20crimes%2C%20but%20experts%20say%20the%20Council%20of%20Europe%20missed%20a%20chance%20to%20protect%20human%20rights.%0AThe%20Council%20of%20Europe%20has%20just%20adopted%20an%20international%20treaty%20which%20will%20help%20member%20countries%20to%20tackle%20serious%20environmental%20crime.%20This%2046-member%20international%20organisation%20upholds%20human%20rights%2C%20democracy%20and%20the%20rule%20of%20law%20in%20Europe.%20%0A%0AIt%20adopted%20the%20Convention%20on%20the%20Protection%20of%20the%20Environment%20through%20Criminal%20Law%20at%20the%20Committee%20of%20Ministers%20meeting%20in%20Luxembourg%20on%20Wednesday%2C%2014%20May%2C%20alongside%20other%20key%20environmental%20objectives.%20%0A%0ABut%20legal%20experts%20say%20the%20Committee%20missed%20the%20chance%20to%20legally%20protect%20the%20right%20to%20a%20clean%2C%20healthy%20and%20sustainable%20environment%20for%20all%20in%20Europe.%0A%0A%3Cb%3EHow%20will%20the%20Convention%20help%20countries%20to%20fight%20serious%20environmental%20crime%3F%3C%2Fb%3E%0A%0AThis%20legally%20binding%20international%20treaty%20provides%20a%20robust%20legal%20framework%20with%20which%20countries%20can%20tackle%20serious%20environmental%20crimes%20that%20have%2C%20at%20times%2C%20gone%20unpunished%20or%20under-prosecuted.%20Even%20those%20that%20occur%20across%20borders.%20%0A%0ADeveloped%20over%20two%20years%20by%20experts%20and%20stakeholders%20from%20the%20Council%E2%80%99s%2046%20member%20states%2C%20with%20contributions%20from%20the%20EU%2C%20UN%2C%20INTERPOL%20and%20civil%20society%20groups%2C%20it%20defines%20and%20criminalises%20a%20wide%20array%20of%20environment-related%20offences.%20%0A%0AStates%20will%20now%20be%20able%20to%20prosecute%20intentional%20acts%20that%20result%20in%20environmental%20disasters%20that%20are%20akin%20to%20ecocide.%20%0A%0A%E2%80%9CThis%20Convention%20is%20a%20game-changer%20for%20environmental%20protection%2C%E2%80%9D%20Council%20of%20Europe%20Secretary%20General%20Alain%20Berset%20says.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CIt%20tackles%20today%E2%80%99s%20urgent%20ecological%20threats%20head-on%20and%20taps%20into%20the%20strength%20of%20criminal%20justice%20to%20defend%20the%20planet.%20The%20Convention%20is%20one%20of%20the%20pillars%20of%20our%20new%20Strategy%20on%20the%20Environment.%20Together%2C%20they%20mark%20a%20bold%20step%20forward%2C%20linking%20environmental%20action%20with%20human%20rights%2C%20democracy%2C%20and%20the%20rule%20of%20law.%E2%80%9D%0A%0A%3Cb%3ELegal%20experts%20say%20environmental%20measures%20fall%20short%3C%2Fb%3E%0A%0AAlongside%20the%20treaty%20to%20protect%20the%20environment%20through%20criminal%20law%2C%20the%20Council%20of%20Europe%20also%20adopted%20a%20new%20long-term%20environmental%20strategy.%20It%20includes%20five%20key%20objectives%3A%20%0A%0A1.%20To%20integrate%20human%20rights%20into%20environmental%20policies%20and%20vice%20versa.%20%0A%0A2.%20To%20strengthen%20democratic%20governance%20in%20environmental%20matters.%20%0A%0A3.%20To%20support%20and%20protect%20environmental%20human%20rights%20defenders%2C%20environmental%20defenders%20and%20whistleblowers.%0A%0A4.%20To%20prevent%20and%20prosecute%20environment-related%20crimes.%0A%0A5.%20To%20protect%20wildlife%2C%20ecosystems%2C%20habitats%20and%20landscapes.%0A%0ABut%20environmental%20law%20experts%20say%20the%20Council%20missed%20a%20key%20opportunity%20to%20start%20legally%20protecting%20the%20right%20to%20a%20clean%2C%20healthy%20and%20sustainable%20environment%20for%20all%20in%20Europe.%20%0A%0AAt%20a%20time%20when%20Europeans%20are%20increasingly%20affected%20by%20the%20triple%20planetary%20crisis%20of%20pollution%2C%20climate%20change%2C%20and%20biodiversity%20loss%2C%20they%20say%2C%20states%20refused%20to%20act%20upon%20the%20call%20by%20parliamentarians%2C%20academics%2C%20and%20civil%20society%20by%20taking%20decisive%20action%20to%20legally%20protect%20the%20right%20to%20a%20healthy%20environment.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CIt%E2%80%99s%20outrageous%20that%20in%202025%2C%20Europe%20still%20hasn%E2%80%99t%20legally%20recognised%20the%20right%20to%20a%20healthy%20environment%20as%20a%20basic%20human%20right%2C%E2%80%9D%20says%20Sebastien%20Duyck%2C%20senior%20attorney%20for%20the%20Center%20for%20International%20Environmental%20Law%20(CIEL).%0A%0A%3Cb%3EEurope%20is%20the%20only%20continent%20which%20doesn%E2%80%99t%20recognise%20the%20right%20to%20a%20healthy%20environment%3C%2Fb%3E%0A%0ADuyck%20says%20that%20throughout%20the%20ministerial%20negotiations%2C%20Switzerland%20and%20Norway%20led%20the%20opposition%20against%20recognising%20the%20right%20to%20a%20healthy%20environment%2C%20despite%20mounting%20evidence%20of%20the%20devastating%20impact%20of%20environmental%20harms.%20%0A%0A%E2%80%9CEurope%20should%20be%20leading%20-%20not%20lagging%20-%20when%20it%20comes%20to%20human%20rights%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20adds.%20%0A%0A%E2%80%9CBut%20the%20tide%20is%20turning.%20Thankfully%2C%20following%20the%20lead%20of%20France%2C%20Slovenia%2C%20and%20Portugal%2C%20some%20governments%20are%20hearing%20the%20call%20from%20citizens%20and%20experts%20to%20step%20up%20and%20ensure%20that%20Europe%20is%20no%20longer%20the%20only%20continent%20whose%20regional%20human%20rights%20system%20does%20not%20legally%20recognise%20the%20right%20to%20a%20healthy%20environment%20as%20a%20basic%20human%20right.%E2%80%9D%0A%0ADuyck%20adds%20that%20the%20Council%20of%20Europe%20must%20begin%20negotiations%20for%20a%20protocol%20to%20protect%20this%20right%20under%20the%20European%20Convention%20on%20Human%20Rights%20without%20delay.

Council of Europe steps up on the environment

A%20%22clean%2C%20healthy%20and%20sustainable%20environment%22%20is%20a%20human%20right%20and%2C%20if%20countries%20fail%20to%20take%20%22appropriate%20action%20to%20protect%20the%20climate%20system%22%2C%20they%20could%20be%20in%20violation%20of%20international%20law%2C%20according%20to%20the%20UN's%20top%20court.%0A%0AJudges%20at%20the%20International%20Court%20of%20Justice%20(ICJ)%20have%20just%20delivered%20a%20long-awaited%20advisory%20opinion%20on%20nations'%20climate%20obligations%20and%20the%20consequences%20they%20face%20if%20they%20don't%20fulfil%20them.%0A%0A%22Failure%20of%20the%20state%20to%20take%20appropriate%20action%20to%20protect%20the%20climate%20system%20from%20GHG%20(greenhouse%20gas)%20emissions...may%20constitute%20an%20internationally%20wrongful%20act%20which%20is%20attributable%20to%20that%20state%2C%22%20ICJ%20President%20Yuji%20Iwasawa%20said%2C%20including%20through%20fossil%20fuel%20production%2C%20fossil%20fuel%20consumption%20or%20the%20provision%20of%20fossil%20fuel%20subsidies%0A%0AThe%20court%20affirmed%20that%20a%20%22clean%2C%20healthy%20and%20sustainable%20environment%22%20is%20a%20human%20right.%0A%0AIt%20also%20said%20that%20countries%20harmed%20by%20climate%20change%20could%20also%20be%20entitled%20to%20reparations%2C%20but%20what%20they%20are%20owed%20must%20be%20decided%20on%20a%20case-by-case%20basis.%0A%0A%22Today%2C%20the%20tables%20have%20turned%2C%22%20Mary%20Robinson%2C%20Member%20of%20the%20Elders%2C%20First%20woman%20President%20of%20Ireland%20and%20former%20UN%20High%20Commissioner%20for%20Human%20Rights%2C%20said%20in%20a%20statement.%0A%0A%22The%20World's%20highest%20court%20provided%20us%20with%20a%20powerful%20new%20tool%20to%20protect%20people%20from%20the%20devastating%20impacts%20of%20the%20climate%20crisis%20and%20to%20deliver%20justice%20for%20the%20harm%20their%20emissions%20have%20already%20caused.%22%0A%0ARalph%20Regenvanu%2C%20Vanuatu's%20minister%20for%20climate%20change%2C%20called%20the%20ruling%20an%20%22important%20milestone%20in%20the%20fight%20for%20climate%20justice%22.%0A%0A%22We%20now%20have%20a%20common%20foundation%20based%20on%20the%20rule%20of%20law%2C%20releasing%20us%20from%20the%20limitations%20of%20individual%20nations'%20political%20interests%20that%20have%20dominated%20climate%20action.%22%0A%0AHe%20added%20that%20Vanuatu%20was%20%22proud%20and%20honoured%22%20to%20have%20spearheaded%20the%20initiative%20to%20bring%20the%20issue%20to%20the%20ICJ%2C%20praising%20the%20determination%20of%20Small%20Island%20Developing%20States%20(SIDS)%20and%20youth%20activists.%0A%0A%22Their%20persistence%20has%20transformed%20a%20grassroots%20movement%20into%20the%20biggest%20case%20in%20the%20history%20of%20international%20law%2C%20placing%20climate%20justice%20at%20the%20heart%20of%20international%20discourse.%22%0A%0A%3Cb%3EClimate%20change%20is%20an%20'urgent%20and%20existential'%20threat%3C%2Fb%3E%0A%0AICJ%20President%20Yuji%20Iwasawa%20called%20climate%20change%20an%20%22existential%20problem%20of%20planetary%20proportions%20that%20imperils%20all%20forms%20of%20life%20and%20the%20very%20health%20of%20our%20planet%22.%0A%0AHe%20said%20that%2C%20building%20on%20the%20latest%20science%20and%20decisions%20at%20UN%20climate%20conferences%2C%20the%20target%20of%20limiting%20global%20warming%20to%201.5%20%C2%B0C%20above%20pre-industrial%20levels%20must%20be%20understood%20to%20be%20the%20internationally%20agreed-upon%20objective%20of%20climate%20policies.%0A%0AIwasawa%20added%20that%20countries%20have%20a%20duty%20to%20cooperate%20on%20preventing%20harm%20caused%20by%20climate%20change%20and%20must%20make%20sure%20their%20national%20climate%20targets%20represent%20the%20highest%20possible%20ambition.%0A%0AThe%20ICJ%20described%20the%20climate%20system%20as%20an%20%22integral%20and%20vitally%20important%20part%20of%20the%20environment%20and%20which%20must%20be%20protected%20for%20present%20and%20future%20generations%22.%0A%0A%3Cb%3EWhat%20does%20the%20ICJ%20opinion%20mean%20for%20global%20climate%20action%3F%3C%2Fb%3E%0A%0AThough%20the%20500-page%20advisory%20opinion%20is%20non-binding%20and%20the%20court%20can't%20force%20countries%20to%20act%2C%20it%20forms%20an%20important%20basis%20for%20international%20climate%20obligations.%20All%20UN%20member%20states%2C%20including%20emitters%20such%20as%20the%20United%20States%20and%20China%2C%20are%20parties%20to%20the%20court.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CWhen%20a%20court%20like%20the%20ICJ%20recognises%20new%20connections%20between%20conduct%20and%20legal%20norms%2C%20like%20the%20idea%20that%20failing%20to%20curb%20fossil%20fuels-related%20emissions%20can%20violate%20international%20legal%20obligations%2C%20it%20does%20not%20stop%20there.%20That%20recognition%20opens%20the%20door%20for%20further%20legal%20claims%2C%22%20explains%20Sebastien%20Duyck%2C%20senior%20attorney%20at%20the%20Center%20for%20International%20Environmental%20Law.%0A%0A%22If%20states%20have%20legal%20duties%20to%20prevent%20climate%20harm%2C%20then%20victims%20of%20that%20harm%20have%20a%20right%20to%20redress.%20In%20this%20way%2C%20the%20ICJ%20advisory%20opinion%20does%20not%20only%20clarify%20existing%20rules%2C%20it%20creates%20legal%20momentum.%20It%20reshapes%20what%20is%20now%20considered%20legally%20possible%2C%20actionable%2C%20and%20ultimately%20enforceable.%E2%80%9D%0A%0ASarah%20Mead%2C%20co-director%20of%20the%20Climate%20Litigation%20Network%2C%20adds%20that%20the%20ruling%20validates%20what%20a%20majority%20of%20people%20around%20the%20world%20expect%20from%20their%20governments%20-%20meaningful%20climate%20action.%0A%0A%22Nearly%20all%20countries'%20climate%20plans%20are%20falling%20short%20of%20what's%20needed%20to%20keep%20everyone%20safe%2C%20which%20is%20why%20more%20and%20more%20people%20are%20turning%20to%20courts%20to%20hold%20their%20governments%20to%20account%2C%22%20she%20says.%0A%0A%22Today%2C%20the%20law%20stands%20firmly%20on%20their%20side%2C%20confirming%20leaders%20do%20in%20fact%20have%20a%20duty%20to%20protect%20the%20planet%20and%20safeguard%20everyone's%20future.%22%0A%0A%3Cb%3E'The%20world's%20smallest%20countries%20have%20made%20history'%3C%2Fb%3E%0A%0AThe%20ruling%20comes%20after%20years%20of%20lobbying%20from%20vulnerable%20island%20nations%20spearheaded%20by%20Vanuatu%2C%20which%20led%20to%20the%20ICJ%20being%20asked%20by%20the%20UN%20General%20Assembly%20in%202023%20to%20deliver%20an%20advisory%20opinion.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CToday%2C%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20smallest%20countries%20have%20made%20history%2C%22%20says%20Vishal%20Prasad%2C%20Director%20of%20Pacific%20Islands%20Students%20Fighting%20Climate%20Change.%0A%0A%22The%20ICJ%E2%80%99s%20decision%20brings%20us%20closer%20to%20a%20world%20where%20governments%20can%20no%20longer%20turn%20a%20blind%20eye%20to%20their%20legal%20responsibilities.%20It%20affirms%20a%20simple%20truth%20of%20climate%20justice%3A%20those%20who%20did%20the%20least%20to%20fuel%20this%20crisis%20deserve%20protection%2C%20reparations%2C%20and%20a%20future.%0A%0A%22This%20ruling%20is%20a%20lifeline%20for%20Pacific%20communities%20on%20the%20frontline.%E2%80%9D%20%0A%0AA%20panel%20of%2015%20judges%20was%20tasked%20with%20answering%20two%20questions.%20Firstly%2C%20what%20obligations%20do%20states%20have%20under%20international%20law%20to%20address%20climate%20change%20for%20both%20current%20and%20future%20generations%3F%20Second%2C%20what%20are%20the%20legal%20consequences%20for%20states%20that%20fail%20to%20meet%20these%20obligations%2C%20causing%20serious%20climate%20harm%3F%0A%0AAt%20hearings%20in%20December%20last%20year%2C%20the%20ICJ%20heard%20from%20more%20than%20100%20countries%20and%20organisations%2C%20with%20written%20statements%20or%20comments%20from%20around%20150%20more%2C%20making%20it%20the%20largest%20case%20the%20top%20UN%20court%20has%20ever%20seen.%0A%0AVanuatu's%20minister%20for%20climate%20change%20said%20that%20they%20will%20now%20take%20the%20ruling%20back%20to%20the%20UN%20General%20Assembly%20to%20pursue%20a%20resolution%20that%20will%20support%20the%20implementation%20of%20the%20decision.%0A%0AAhead%20of%20the%20ruling%2C%20activists%20gathered%20outside%20the%20court%20holding%20banners%20that%20read%20%22Courts%20have%20spoken.%20The%20law%20is%20clear.%20States%20must%20ACT%20NOW.%22%0A%0AThey%20watched%20the%20ruling%20on%20a%20giant%20screen%2C%20clapping%20and%20cheering%20at%20times%20during%20the%20two-hour%20hearing.%20When%20it%20was%20over%2C%20others%20emerged%20from%20the%20courtroom%20laughing%20and%20hugging.

UN top court affirms right to healthy environment

New%20Zealand%20has%20approved%20controversial%20legislation%20designed%20to%20prevent%20companies%20from%20being%20sued%20in%20civil%20courts%20over%20damage%20allegedly%20caused%20by%20their%20greenhouse%20gas%20emissions%20and%20contribution%20to%20climate%20change.%0A%0AThe%20legal%20amendment%20passed%20its%20final%20parliamentary%20vote%20on%20Tuesday%2C%20August%2018%2C%20with%2067%20lawmakers%20supporting%20the%20measure%20and%2053%20voting%20against%20it.%0A%0AThe%20country's%20right-leaning%20coalition%20government%20argues%20that%20climate%20policy%20should%20be%20determined%20through%20national%20legislation%20rather%20than%20individual%20lawsuits.%20Officials%20say%20allowing%20courts%20to%20establish%20separate%20corporate%20climate%20obligations%20could%20create%20regulatory%20uncertainty%2C%20weaken%20investor%20confidence%20and%20conflict%20with%20the%20emissions%20framework%20already%20established%20by%20Parliament.%0A%0AThe%20legislation%20was%20introduced%20amid%20a%20high-profile%20climate%20lawsuit%20brought%20by%20M%C4%81ori%20climate%20activist%20Michael%20Smith%20against%20six%20major%20New%20Zealand%20companies.%0A%0A%3Ch2%3EClimate%20lawsuit%20against%20major%20New%20Zealand%20companies%3C%2Fh2%3E%0A%0ASmith's%20case%20sought%20to%20hold%20several%20prominent%20businesses%20responsible%20for%20environmental%20damage%20associated%20with%20their%20greenhouse%20gas%20emissions.%20Among%20the%20defendants%20was%20Fonterra%2C%20New%20Zealand's%20major%20dairy%20cooperative%20and%20one%20of%20the%20country's%20best-known%20companies.%0A%0AThe%20new%20legislation%20effectively%20brings%20the%20legal%20challenge%20to%20an%20end%20by%20restricting%20this%20type%20of%20civil%20climate%20litigation.%0A%0ASmith%20strongly%20criticized%20Parliament's%20intervention%2C%20describing%20the%20decision%20as%20a%20serious%20setback%20for%20democratic%20accountability.%20Speaking%20to%20New%20Zealand%20broadcaster%20RNZ%2C%20he%20argued%20that%20allowing%20lawmakers%20to%20terminate%20an%20active%20court%20case%20could%20create%20a%20dangerous%20precedent%20for%20other%20legal%20claims%20that%20become%20politically%20contentious.%0A%0AThe%20legislation%20has%20also%20faced%20fierce%20criticism%20from%20opposition%20politicians.%0A%0AGreen%20Party%20MP%20Steve%20Abel%20argued%20in%20Parliament%20that%20courts%20should%20remain%20an%20avenue%20for%20addressing%20climate-related%20harm%20when%20government%20policies%20and%20voluntary%20action%20by%20industries%20fail%20to%20deliver%20sufficient%20results.%0A%0AAbel%20accused%20the%20companies%20involved%20in%20Smith's%20lawsuit%20of%20turning%20to%20the%20government%20after%20failing%20to%20stop%20the%20case%20through%20the%20legal%20system.%0A%0A%3Ch2%3EGovernment%20says%20law%20will%20reduce%20business%20uncertainty%3C%2Fh2%3E%0A%0AJustice%20Minister%20Paul%20Goldsmith%20defended%20the%20amendment%2C%20saying%20businesses%20need%20greater%20certainty%20about%20their%20responsibilities%20for%20greenhouse%20gas%20emissions.%0A%0AAccording%20to%20Goldsmith%2C%20ongoing%20litigation%20could%20effectively%20establish%20a%20separate%20climate%20liability%20regime%20through%20court%20decisions%2C%20potentially%20conflicting%20with%20rules%20already%20adopted%20by%20Parliament.%0A%0AThe%20government%20believes%20such%20uncertainty%20could%20negatively%20affect%20investment%20and%20business%20confidence.%0A%0AGoldsmith%20also%20argued%20that%20courts%20are%20not%20the%20appropriate%20institutions%20for%20determining%20how%20responsibility%20for%20climate%20change%20should%20be%20distributed%20among%20individual%20companies.%0A%0AClimate%20policy%20involves%20interconnected%20environmental%2C%20social%20and%20economic%20considerations%2C%20he%20said%2C%20making%20a%20nationwide%20regulatory%20framework%20more%20suitable%20than%20separate%20lawsuits%20against%20individual%20emitters.%0A%0AUnder%20the%20government's%20approach%2C%20responsibility%20for%20managing%20New%20Zealand's%20response%20to%20climate%20change%20should%20therefore%20remain%20primarily%20with%20elected%20officials%20and%20national%20institutions.%0A%0A%3Ch2%3EClimate%20commission%20warns%20New%20Zealand%20could%20miss%20targets%3C%2Fh2%3E%0A%0AThe%20decision%20comes%20as%20New%20Zealand%20faces%20growing%20scrutiny%20over%20whether%20its%20existing%20climate%20policies%20are%20sufficient%20to%20meet%20national%20emissions%20reduction%20targets.%0A%0AThe%20Climate%20Change%20Commission%2C%20an%20independent%20advisory%20organization%20established%20under%20legislation%20in%202019%2C%20recently%20warned%20that%20current%20government%20policies%20could%20put%20the%20country's%20climate%20commitments%20at%20risk.%0A%0AIn%20a%20report%20released%20last%20month%2C%20the%20commission%20said%20Prime%20Minister%20Christopher%20Luxon's%20government%20had%20not%20followed%20some%20of%20its%20emissions%20reduction%20recommendations%20during%202025.%0A%0AThe%20commission%20warned%20that%20the%20window%20for%20correcting%20New%20Zealand's%20emissions%20trajectory%20is%20narrowing.%0A%0ASeveral%20policy%20decisions%20could%20contribute%20to%20higher%20emissions%2C%20according%20to%20the%20advisory%20body.%20These%20include%20excluding%20agriculture%20from%20emissions%20pricing%2C%20modifying%20clean%20vehicle%20policies%2C%20reducing%20some%20corporate%20reporting%20requirements%20and%20pursuing%20plans%20for%20a%20liquefied%20natural%20gas%20import%20facility.%0A%0AThe%20commission%20said%20additional%20emissions%20generated%20by%20these%20measures%20could%20outweigh%20reductions%20achieved%20through%20other%20climate%20initiatives.%0A%0A%3Ch2%3ENew%20Zealand%20faces%20growing%20climate%20policy%20debate%3C%2Fh2%3E%0A%0AClimate%20Change%20Commission%20chief%20executive%20Jo%20Hendy%20described%20the%20latest%20findings%20as%20a%20clear%20warning%20about%20the%20country's%20progress.%0A%0AWhile%20New%20Zealand's%20overall%20emissions%20have%20been%20gradually%20declining%2C%20the%20commission%20found%20that%20progress%20stalled%20in%202024%20and%20warned%20that%20current%20policies%20are%20not%20reducing%20emissions%20quickly%20enough.%0A%0AThe%20new%20legislation%20restricting%20corporate%20climate%20lawsuits%20is%20therefore%20likely%20to%20intensify%20debate%20over%20how%20New%20Zealand%20should%20enforce%20climate%20accountability.%0A%0ASupporters%20of%20the%20law%20argue%20that%20a%20unified%20national%20framework%20provides%20companies%20with%20predictable%20rules%20and%20prevents%20courts%20from%20creating%20fragmented%20climate%20obligations.%0A%0ACritics%2C%20however%2C%20contend%20that%20limiting%20access%20to%20civil%20litigation%20removes%20an%20important%20mechanism%20for%20holding%20major%20greenhouse%20gas%20emitters%20accountable%2C%20particularly%20when%20government%20climate%20policies%20are%20considered%20insufficient.%0A%0AWith%20the%20Climate%20Change%20Commission%20already%20warning%20that%20New%20Zealand%20risks%20falling%20behind%20its%20emissions%20reduction%20goals%2C%20the%20dispute%20highlights%20a%20broader%20question%20facing%20governments%20worldwide%3A%20whether%20climate%20responsibility%20should%20be%20determined%20exclusively%20through%20legislation%20and%20regulation%20or%20whether%20courts%20should%20also%20play%20a%20role%20in%20addressing%20climate-related%20harm.