Daily Briefing: IPCC delay | Nature talks ‘reset’ | Funds for Nepal

19.10.26

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News

IPCC: Top global climate science body suspends meeting without deal on major review timeline

Sudarshan Varadhan, Reuters

Several outlets cover the news that a key meeting of the members of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was suspended on Friday without an agreement on a timeline to publish its next review of the latest climate science. Reuters reports: “The meeting was suspended after it ran over its planned duration on the last day and many delegations from least-developed countries and small island states had to leave, the IPCC said ⁠in a statement. Agreeing publication dates for its next review of the latest science was the main agenda of the IPCC meeting of 195 member states in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa…Governments are set to assess progress toward goals set in the 2015 Paris agreement at the UN climate talks in November 2028, in a so-called ‘global stocktake’.” Agence France-Press reports French envoy Benoit Faraco saying that “a few countries” had pressed to delay publication after the 2028 date that many European countries had wanted.

Writing in Climate Home News, Meena Raman, deputy director at Third World Network, and Leon Sealey-Huggins, senior campaigner in global climate justice and just transition at War on Want, argue that “early completion of the next global climate science assessment reports risks excluding research from the global south, which is key to ensuring the findings are fair”. India Today says “India, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Kenya are pressing against the 2028 deadline for IPCC AR7, when governments are set to review progress on the goals agreed upon in the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement. The nations are arguing that developing countries need more time to take part and contribute more thoroughly.” [See Carbon Brief’s Q&A: “Why the standoff between nations over the next IPCC reports matters.”]

COP17: Nations seek reset at UN talks as nature goals off track

Agence France-Presse

Many outlets cover the opening of the UN’s COP17 in Yerevan, with Agence France-Presse beginning its report: “Nearly 200 nations are gathering in Armenia on Monday for critical negotiations as governments come under pressure to salvage a landmark nature pact whose goals are slipping out of reach. Most countries joined a historic call four years ago to halt and reverse the destruction of nature by 2030 but governments have been slow to act on these pledges. Many goals of the so-called ‘Paris Agreement for nature’ are falling behind, including a centrepiece commitment to protect 30% of Earth’s land and oceans. Some of the toughest objectives of the pact, such as cutting subsidies for fossil fuels and other powerful industries, have made little progress.” The Guardian has published an explainer headlined: “COP17 at a glance: everything you need to know about the UN’s nature summit.” Edie also has an article with “everything you need to know” about COP17.

Meanwhile, EU Observer carries a comment piece by Spanish MEP Cesar Luena under the headline: “Europe can’t lead on nature at COP17 while cutting biodiversity cash at home.” Rapporteur says: “Question of who pays set to loom large at COP17 biodiversity summit.” China’s state newswire Xinhua says: “Leaders’ summit puts security, regional cooperation, finance at heart of upcoming COP17.” [See Carbon Brief’s COP17 page for four preview articles. Carbon Brief’s Orla Dwyer and Aruna Chandrasekhar are both in Yerevan for the next fortnight to cover the negotiations.]

Loss and damage fund set to give Nepal $20m for floods

Joe Lo, Climate Home News

The board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) will “decide on Thursday on whether to ‘provisionally set aside’ $20m for Nepal to deal with some of the effects of the climate-driven flood it suffered in August”, reports Climate Home News. The outlet adds: “The motion, seen by Climate Home News, has been drafted by a group of board members from both developed and developing countries and so is likely to pass easily at the fund’s first-ever extraordinary board meeting on 22 October.” [See Carbon Brief’s recent analysis: “Nepal’s $20m ‘loss-and-damage’ claim only covers 0.7% of flood costs.]

China proposes export controls on solar-manufacturing technologies

Colleen Howe, Reuters

China has “proposed export controls on 12 technologies used to make solar equipment”, as well as on some fully-assembled solar technologies, reports Reuters. The newswire adds that the restrictions would be placed on technology “used to ⁠make some thin wafers, perovskite and tandem solar cells, as well as large-scale fluidised-bed polysilicon production technologies”. The restrictions come as China “seeks to maintain its technological edge in renewable energy”, reports Bloomberg. Industry outlet PV Magazine notes that, while the proposed restrictions have not yet taken effect, a separate interim registration requirement has. A commerce ministry spokesperson has said China’s solar exports have increased national security risks, says Singapore-based newspaper Lianhe Zaobao. Separately, financial news outlet Cailianshe reports that China’s industry ministry has issued draft solar manufacturing rules that aim to “reduce projects focused solely on expanding production capacity”. The Associated Press: “China moves to curb tech exports, including AI, citing national security risks.”

Meanwhile, European “leaders rallied behind a tough new set of powers to counter coercive trade practices”, reports Bloomberg. It adds that the EU will “likely” use the agreement with China on hybrid vehicles as a “blueprint” for other sectors. China’s finance minister has told EU officials in Bangkok that China is ready to cooperate in “tackling global imbalances”, says Reuters. State news agency Xinhua says the hybrid-car agreement emphasised the principles of “compliance”, “respect for facts” and “non-discrimination”. In an editorial, state-run newspaper China Daily says that the EU “has an incorrect understanding…if it thinks that it has won concessions from China and can win more by exerting more pressure”. An editorial in the Financial Times argues that “Europe cannot rely on trade barriers to counter China”.

MORE ON CHINA

President Xi Jinping has called for “pursuing green development” in an inspection trip to Inner Mongolia, says Xinhua. China has begun its latest round of environmental inspections, with an aim to accelerate “green transformation”, reports CGTN.
China’s foreign minister has told his Turkish counterpart that China supports Turkey’s hosting of COP31 and seeks “deeper [climate] cooperation”, says Yicai.
The central government has urged Shanxi province to “strengthen” coal supply for the “heating season”, says Jiemian. China has “stockpiled” gas and [is] building a “buffer” for winter heating supply, reports Bloomberg.
The Chinese government has issued a 2026-2028 action plan for urban heating, ensuring “warm conditions in winter”, says BJX News.
The New York Times: “After welcoming China’s electric vehicles, [Thailand] is paying the price.”
Caixin reports that the “main challenge” with low-carbon steel “now is the business model”, not technologies.

Heat pumps and insulation would cut UK living costs more than new oilfields, study suggests

Fiona Harvey, The Guardian

The Guardian covers new research by thinktank E3G which shows that “insulating Britain’s homes and investing in heat pumps would do more to cut the cost of living, create jobs and boost the UK’s economy than drilling for new oil”. The newspaper adds: “The government’s £15bn warm homes plan, currently under threat of cuts as ministers seek budget savings, would slash £1bn a year from household energy bills across the UK, concentrated on those on low incomes, according to [E3G]. It would also provide a £1.6bn yearly boost to the economy, and about 50,000 new jobs spread across thousands of small businesses.”

The climate-sceptic Sunday Telegraph reports that the “Industry First Group, set up by Henry Tufnell and Steve Yemm, both Labour MPs, has laid out an ‘emergency plan for industry’, calling on the government to cut carbon taxes and secure the future of UK oil and gas”. The Sun also has the story. A separate article in the Sunday Telegraph claims: “[Foreign secretary] Ed Miliband has been accused of blocking investment in AI amid a cabinet split over net-zero. Senior government sources told the Sunday Telegraph there was frustration with the former energy secretary, who has questioned whether AI expansion can support Labour’s net-zero plans.”

Separately, the Sunday Times carries an interview with François Provost under the headline: “Banning petrol cars is stupid, Renault boss tells the UK.” It adds: “Britain must scrap a ‘stupid’ 2030 ban on sales of petrol and diesel cars to seal a crucial trade deal with the European Union, the boss of Renault has said.” In contrast, the Financial Times reports: “Andy Burnham’s government is looking at a smaller than expected cut in Britain’s target for electric vehicle sales, in a move that is likely to disappoint domestic carmakers.” The Guardian says “No 10 has left the door open to imposing tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles as part of the Made in Europe package, prompting a warning from Beijing that such a move would be ‘discriminatory’.” Politico says: “UK is prepared to align with EU tariffs on Chinese EVs, minister indicates.”

MORE ON UK

The i newspaper: “Zero-interest loans for heat pumps set to launch within weeks.”
BBC News: “Third runway at Heathrow Airport would drive growth, Healey says.”
The Times: “Nearly all UK’s puffins could die out by 2050”. The Guardian carries a book extract by nature historian Stephe Moss under the headline: “How the quirky puffin became a symbol of the climate crisis – and hope.”
BBC News: “[Cardiff] data-centre developers may build ‘climate-wrecking’ gas power plant next door.”
The climate-sceptic Daily Telegraph claims that “Britain will be forced to rely on the EU to keep its lights on this winter”, while another Daily Telegraph article is headlined: “The British investor betting on North Sea oil.”
The climate-sceptic Mail on Sunday reports claims on its frontpage – followed up by the Sun and Daily Express – that school children are being “brainwashed by the left-wing BBC”, including on net-zero. [This is the BBC Bitesize webpage on net-zero the newspapers deem to be so offensive.]

Brazil sees record fall in Amazon deforestation as key election looms

Ione Wells and Joel Guinto, BBC News

Brazil’s government says deforestation rates in the country’s Amazon and savanna regions have fallen to record lows ahead of a presidential election run-off in which the rainforest’s future is a key issue, reports BBC News. It adds: “Left-wing president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva…pledged to end deforestation by 2030 in the Amazon. It had surged under his right-wing predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.” It quotes Marcio Astrini, executive secretary at climate advocacy group Observatorio do Clima, saying “with political will, it is possible to curb deforestation”. The Associated Press says Brazil’s annual deforestation rate has now fallen to its “lowest level since records began in 1988”. The New York Times Brazil bureau chief Adam Ellick explains “how the Brazilian left lost the Amazon – and why a local backlash could have global consequences”. [See Carbon Brief’s recent analysis: “Lula presidency saved at least 20,000km2 of Brazilian Amazon since 2022.”]

World Bank will back fossil gas ‘where appropriate’

Joe Lo, Climate Home News

World Bank president Ajay Banga told the bank’s annual meeting in Bangkok on Friday that his organisation will continue to support some gas-power projects in developing countries alongside renewables, nuclear and hydropower, despite criticism from climate campaigners who say gas power is expensive and polluting, reports Climate Home News. The outlet adds: “His comments come in a week during which he faced pressure from the US to finance more gas projects and from climate campaigners to stop funding fossil fuels altogether, part of a tightrope he has walked on the bank’s climate policy since Donald Trump’s re-election in 2025.”

Comment

Trump’s losing battle with green energy

Editorial, The Financial Times

An editorial in the Financial Times argues that, despite hostility from the Trump administration, “America’s green energy build-out has proved remarkably resilient”. It continues: “In 2025, US utilities generated a record amount of electricity from renewable sources. This year, a record 45 gigawatts of clean-energy capacity is forecast to be added.” It adds that despite Trump and high fossil-fuel prices, clean-energy stocks have “mostly outperformed their oil and gas counterparts since Trump’s second inauguration”. It continues: “The administration’s problem is that the economics of green power are proving harder to overturn than the policies supporting it.” The editorial concludes: “[T]he case to go green increasingly rests on the need for cheaper, faster and more secure power and less on the climate-conscious moralising of recent years. Trump may have placed obstacles in the way of the green transition, but he has also, inadvertently, helped make the case for it harder to ignore.”

MORE COMMENT

Serge Schmemann, a former Moscow, Bonn and Jerusalem bureau chief of the New York Times, sets out three scenarios now that the “old world order is over”. Each scenario includes what could happen to action on climate change.
The “big read” in the Financial Times: “The monster El Niño putting AI to the test.”
Justin Worland in Time: “The climate story hiding in plain sight in the global economy.”
Gavin Maguire in Reuters: “The global south is wiring up for an electric future.”
Jay Van Bavel in the Guardian: “The problem with telling people the world is ending.”

Britain must maintain its lead to unlock energy’s holy grail

Jeremy Warner, The Daily Telegraph

Daily Telegraph assistant editor Jeremy Warner focuses his latest column on nuclear fusion, writing that there have been “some very definite signs of the required breakthroughs” in recent years. He says that some of these are happening in the UK, which despite its “academic excellence” has been “notably poor at commercialising” new technology, in contrast to the US and “increasingly China”. He asks “Is fusion likely to suffer the same fate?” Warner concludes: “The same rivalry already apparent between the West and China in AI is beginning to take hold in nuclear fusion…Still, Britain is for now very much part of the race. The UK was the first country in the world to produce nuclear power at scale for civilian use. It would be nice to think it is still capable of doing the same with fusion.”

MORE UK COMMENT

Former UK prime minister (and net-zero sceptic) Rishi Sunak writes in the Sunday Times: “Cars are just part of China’s dangerous dependency strategy. We need a new coalition to stand up to Beijing’s unfair trade and industrial practices.”
Dominic O’Connell in the Times: “Carbon deal will be model for Andy Burnham’s European ambitions. Alignment with the EU on emissions trading will be one area where the prime minister can quietly start rebuilding ties with the bloc.”
An editorial in the climate-sceptic Sun sits under the headline: “We cannot escape our need for fossil fuels – it’s time the PM put the country before party politics.”
An editorial in the Times argues that “Ukraine may need to pause attacks on Russian energy”.

Andrew Warren, chair of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, writing in Energy in Buildings & Industry argues that “new funds and tax breaks [for carbon capture] keep being introduced” by the UK government, which “also act as fossil-fuel subsidies”.
An editorial in the climate-sceptic Sunday Telegraph falsely claims high electricity prices are due to the “Left’s obsession with net-zero”. The newspaper also gives space to columnist Liam Halligan, who is now the director of a climate-sceptic lobby group, to argue that “restrictions on domestic oil and gas production are disastrous”.

Research

Over the coming decades, Arctic winter sea ice extent could be nearly one million square kilometres lower than previously thought, according to analysis of paleoclimate records | Nature Geoscience
Changes in vegetation following wildfires in California may result in an increase in water availability, helping to “offset future reduced precipitation and snowpack and therefore increase water supply resilience” | Environmental Research Climate
In the US, Democrats are consistently more likely to exhibit “pro-climate choices” than Republicans, with “no evidence of moderation by objective extreme weather exposure” | Nature Climate Change

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