climate policy

Italy's parliament has approved a move toward restarting nuclear power, reversing a stance the country has held since abandoning nuclear energy after referendums following the Chernobyl disaster. The vote opens the way for new nuclear technology, including small modular reactors, as Italy seeks stable low-carbon energy supplies. Supporters frame it as energy security and climate policy; critics recall Italy's long-standing public opposition to nuclear power.

Commentators are examining what happens now that global average temperatures have risen past the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement. Coverage explains that the symbolic limit was meant to signal when climate change enters far more dangerous territory, and analysts are weighing what breaching it means for extreme weather, ecosystems, and international climate policy commitments.

UN News has published a feature looking at how the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy is changing the idea of energy security. The piece argues that the recent global energy crisis pushed countries to rethink dependence on imported fuels, and that expanding wind, solar and other renewables can reduce exposure to price shocks and supply disruptions while supporting climate goals.

Germany has for the first time formally committed to phasing out fossil fuels, setting a target date of 2045. The pledge, reported by the Guardian, marks a significant shift in the country's climate policy and aligns with its existing goal of climate neutrality by 2045. Observers are weighing how Germany plans to replace gas and coal while maintaining industrial output.

The European Union plans to delay its methane emissions rules following opposition from member governments, according to Reuters. The postponement affects measures targeting methane leaks, a potent greenhouse gas, and highlights resistance within the bloc to parts of its climate agenda. The move is likely to draw criticism from environmental groups and scrutiny of the EU's commitment to its emissions reduction targets.

The United States has finalized new, lower fuel economy standards, easing requirements on automakers in a move that supports continued production and sale of gas-powered vehicles. The rollback of stricter efficiency targets is drawing attention for its implications for the auto industry, fuel costs, and US climate policy.

The Trump administration is moving to roll back clean car regulations that were designed to reduce climate-warming emissions from vehicles. The plan would weaken emissions standards for cars and light trucks, reversing one of the flagship US climate policies of recent years. Environmental groups are expected to oppose the move, while automakers face uncertainty over which rules will apply.

The Trump administration has moved to sharply scale back US fuel economy standards, easing requirements that automakers improve the efficiency of cars and light trucks. The rollback, reported by The New York Times, is likely to be welcomed by carmakers seeking lower compliance costs but criticised by environmental groups who say it will increase emissions and fuel consumption.

Italy and the Czech Republic are preparing a joint call for the European Union to relax its rules on carbon permits and energy supply, according to a Reuters report. The push signals growing resistance within the bloc to strict emissions trading requirements as governments weigh energy security and industrial costs. It adds to debate over how far the EU should go in easing green regulations.

The Trump administration is moving to roll back fuel economy standards for automakers, loosening federal requirements on vehicle efficiency. The change would give car manufacturers more flexibility but is likely to draw criticism from environmental groups and states that back stricter emissions rules. Details on the scope and timing of the rollback remain limited.

The US Department of Transportation has moved to loosen federal fuel economy standards, easing requirements on automakers to improve vehicle efficiency. Supporters frame the rollback as cutting compliance costs and giving consumers more choice in vehicle types, while environmental and clean-energy advocates criticise it as a step backward on emissions reduction and climate goals. The change is expected to face legal and political challenges.

The Trump administration has moved to roll back US fuel economy standards, loosening requirements on how efficient cars and light trucks must be. The change, reported by Spectrum News, is expected to benefit automakers by easing compliance costs, while critics warn it will increase gasoline consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The rollback reverses stricter efficiency rules put in place under previous administrations.

The Bank of Japan is increasing its lending scheme that channels funds to banks supporting climate action, a programme first introduced in 2021. The move comes as policymakers and economists argue over how far central banks should go in supporting green goals, with critics warning that climate policy sits outside monetary mandates and supporters arguing financial stability depends on it.

US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has recused himself from a major climate change case before the court, according to reports from USA Today and the Detroit Free Press. The move means the remaining eight justices will decide the landmark litigation. His withdrawal is drawing attention because recusals at the Supreme Court are rare and the case could shape US climate policy.

The Trump administration has finalized its reversal of US fuel economy standards, undoing stricter efficiency requirements for cars and light trucks introduced under the previous administration. The move, reported by France 24, is expected to allow automakers to sell less efficient vehicles, drawing criticism from environmental groups and praise from industry, and could reshape the US auto market and emissions trajectory.

US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has recused himself from a major climate change case before the court, CNN reports. The move means only eight justices will weigh the dispute, raising the possibility of a 4-4 split that would leave lower-court rulings in place. No reason for the recusal has been given, and the development is drawing attention because the case could shape US climate policy.

The US Department of Transportation has finalized plans to weaken federal fuel efficiency standards, describing the move as one of the largest deregulatory actions of the second Trump Administration. The decision rolls back Biden-era rules that would have required carmakers to raise fleet-wide average fuel economy, easing pressure on automakers while drawing criticism from climate and consumer advocates.

The Trump administration has moved to roll back fuel economy standards introduced under President Biden. The rules, which required automakers to improve vehicle efficiency, were a centerpiece of the previous administration's climate agenda. The reversal is expected to draw criticism from environmental groups and could affect US automakers' long-term production plans, while supporters argue it will lower vehicle costs.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has recused himself from a high-profile climate case before the Court, according to Politico. The withdrawal removes one justice from a closely watched dispute over climate regulation, potentially affecting how the Court rules on an issue with sweeping implications for federal environmental policy and the states and industries involved.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature used the UN General Assembly and New York Climate Week to advance its agenda on nature protection, ocean conservation and climate action. The organisation says the gatherings offered a key moment to push for stronger commitments linking biodiversity and climate policy ahead of upcoming global negotiations.

The Trump administration has moved to weaken fuel efficiency standards for new cars sold in the United States, rolling back requirements that automakers improve the average fuel economy of their fleets. The change relaxes emissions and mileage rules on manufacturers, a decision likely to draw criticism from environmental groups and praise from parts of the auto industry.

The Trump administration has unveiled rules loosening the nation's fuel economy standards, framing the change as a way to save consumers money. The regulations also mark a further retreat from federal policies encouraging drivers to switch from gasoline-powered cars to electric vehicles, reversing emissions and efficiency requirements that automakers had faced for years.

The Trump administration has moved to loosen federal fuel economy standards for vehicles, easing requirements on automakers. The change rolls back stricter efficiency rules from prior administrations, and is being covered as a significant regulatory shift with likely consequences for car prices, emissions and US climate policy. Industry groups are expected to welcome the move, while environmental advocates oppose it.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has stepped aside from a major climate-related case before the Court. The recusal removes him from deliberations, potentially affecting the outcome in a closely watched environmental dispute. The development is drawing attention because recusals by sitting justices are rare and the case carries significant implications for US climate policy.

A new tool has been developed that directly links carbon emissions to the amount of environmental and economic damage they cause. The tool, reported by The Guardian, is intended to make the consequences of emitting greenhouse gases easier to quantify, potentially aiding policymakers, courts and businesses in assessing responsibility and the costs of climate change.

Spain, Portugal and Luxembourg are pushing the European Union to adopt a binding renewables target for 2040, according to Bloomberg. The joint appeal calls on Brussels to set a clear goal for expanding clean energy as part of the bloc's next phase of climate policy, signalling that member states want firmer commitments ahead of negotiations over the EU's post-2030 emissions and energy framework.

President Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy have finalized the "Freedom Means Affordable Cars" initiative, which resets federal fuel economy standards and ends what the administration calls an illegal electric vehicle mandate. The Department of Transportation framed the move as lowering car prices for American consumers, while the rollback of efficiency rules is expected to draw criticism from environmental and clean-energy groups.

The Wall Street Journal reports that American pressure is energizing Canada's energy sector, framing it as a sleeping giant now being roused. The piece suggests U.S. policy is pushing Canada to develop and assert its energy resources more aggressively. Further details from the article are not available, so the specific measures and reactions remain unclear.

The Trump administration is scrapping fuel economy standards put in place under President Biden, including the aggressive mileage requirements that pushed automakers toward electric vehicles. Officials cited slow consumer adoption of EVs and pressure on carmakers as justification for easing the rules. The rollback marks a significant reversal of Biden-era climate and transportation policy and is drawing attention from automakers, regulators, and environmental groups nationwide.

President Trump is escalating a fight against California's authority to set its own climate and emissions standards, challenging rules that have long made the state a national leader on environmental policy. The confrontation raises questions over whether federal power or state-level climate ambition will prevail, with regulators, automakers and other states watching closely for the outcome.

The Trump administration has moved to cut US fuel economy standards back to levels last set in 2014, undoing stricter efficiency requirements for cars and light trucks. The rollback is expected to lower compliance costs for automakers while drawing criticism from environmental groups who warn it will increase fuel consumption and emissions.