In June and July 2019, multilateral development banks (MDBs) and the World Bank Group reported on progress towards increasing climate finance, as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) approved funding for ten new projects and programmes. “Negative expenditures” on the climate in the form of fossil fuel subsidies were highlighted in a joint report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) raising concerns about a global slowdown in reducing fossil fuel subsidies. Informed by this report, G20 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to phase out fossil fuel subsidies.

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Posted on - 2019-07-18

With the deadline looming for the new IMO regulations reducing vessel sulphur dioxide emissions, new research suggests that fuel costs for shippers on the Asia-Europe trades could rise as much as 50%.

The International Maritime Organization’s sulphur regulations will come into force on 1 January and see the sulphur content of ship fuel reduced to 0.5%.

It will force ship operators to choose between using more refined marine gas oil (MGO) instead of heavy fuel oil (HFO), or continue using HFO but put the engine emissions through a “scrubber” system that cleans it of the sulphur.

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Posted on - 2019-07-17

From New Zealand you could go half way around the world for the price of a flight to Tuvalu.

After stopping in Fiji, you fly due north for three hours on a small turboprop plane and drop down on a sliver of land in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean.

There may be two attempts if there's a dog on the runway. When the few flights aren't due in or out, the tarmac becomes a sports pitch, a walking and jogging strip and children's playground.

But a tour operator Susana Taafaki says tourists do come from all over the world, some to visit historic world war two sites and others who've heard about Tuvalu's fight against the impacts of climate change.

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Posted on - 2019-07-17