Barbados' Leader Offers Climate Pragmatism From a Sinking Island
In the time since she became Prime Minister of Barbados in 2018, Mia Mottley has become known as a moral force for action on climate change.
The Bridgetown Initiative, which she launched at COP26 in 2021, transformed the conversation around climate finance – pushing rich nations to do more to support developing countries struggling with the impact of climate change.
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Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Oxford University to host global climate and human rights summit launch event
A panel of speakers from global climate leadership has been announced for a launch event in Oxford ahead of a climate summit. The University of Oxford will host the launch of the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit 2025 at the Sheldonian Theatre on Wednesday, June 4. Featuring keynote speeches, panel discussions, and performances, the event will bring together leading voices from policy, activism, business, and academia to explore the relationship between climate change and human rights. The launch event will take place ahead of a 24-hour global online plenary extending into World Environment Day on June 5. The evening will begin with introductory remarks from Professor Irene Tracey, vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford, and Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Professor Irene Tracey, vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford (Image: Contributed) The event will be hosted by Justin Rowlatt, climate editor at the BBC, and will include a rotation of speakers discussing how climate change impacts human rights and how these rights can inform responses to the climate crisis. The panel of speakers will include Lord Alok Sharma, a former COP26 president known for leading international negotiations resulting in the Glasgow Climate Pact. Vanessa Nakate, a climate justice activist and founder of the Rise Up Movement, who advocates for equitable climate solutions focusing on African communities, will also speak. Kate Raworth, an economist and co-founder of the Doughnut Economics Action Lab, whose work explores sustainable development within planetary boundaries, and Paul Polman, a business leader and former CEO of Unilever, known for championing responsible corporate climate action, will speak too. The audience will also hear from Professor Lavanya Rajamani, professor of international environmental law at Oxford, whose research and legal work supports climate-vulnerable nations in international negotiations, Emma Pinchbeck, chief executive of the Climate Change Committee, who leads the UK's independent advisory body on reaching net zero, and Dr Omnia El Omrani, a medical doctor and climate-health policy advocate, who has represented youth voices at recent UN climate summits and focuses on the health impacts of climate change. The event will be livestreamed and will conclude with a handover to partners at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji to begin the global programme at 10pm. The 24-hour plenary will include contributions from university hubs around the world, partners at UN Human Rights, and the International Universities Climate Alliance. The Oxford Mail and Oxford City Council are looking to find Oxford's climate heroes with this year's Oxford Climate Awards. Rose Hill and Iffley Low Carbon at the Oxford Climate Awards 2024 (Image: Joe Baker) They are looking for individuals or groups who champion environmental sustainability across categories including innovation in climate action, sustainable business, and green transport.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Yahoo
Hands-on Macron rekindles bromance with Lula
Emmanuel Macron and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva held hands and strolled around the grounds of the Elysée on Wednesday. In his latest tactile display, the touchy-feely Mr Macron embraced the 79-year-old Brazilian president on the first state visit from the country's head of government to France since Dilma Rousseff's trip in 2012. Their hand-holding walkabout comes a year after the pair were filmed ambling through the Amazon and posing beneath the soaring canopy in white button-down shirts during Mr Macron's state visit. They were later seen clasping hands on a boat as Mr Macron looked adoringly at Mr Lula, both leaders' faces lit by a gentle sun. The French president later posted on X: 'Some have compared the images of my visit to Brazil to those of a wedding, I tell them: it was one!,' He accompanied the post with a photo of himself and Lula photoshopped onto the movie poster from 'La La Land' in place of Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, adding: 'France loves Brazil and Brazil loves France!' Mr Lula replied with the flags of their two nations and an emoji of swirling hearts. The Brazilian head-of-state is by no means the only world leader to receive Mr Macron's full Gallic charm offensive. In March, the French president engaged in a brotherly hug, a 13-second handshake and warm pats on the back with Sir Keir Starmer during a Lancaster House summit about securing the future of Ukraine and advocating for a 'coalition of the willing' of countries who would join them. Diplomats said the 'bromance' suggested Britain and France are the closest they have been in more than a decade. Mr Macron also got tactile – again – with Donald Trump in February at the Oval Office where there were hugs, back slaps and touching knees as the leaders jostled to use body language as a power play. In a particularly tense moment, Mr Macron interrupted his 78-year-old counterpart as Mr Trump falsely claimed that Europe was 'loaning' money to Ukraine and would get 'their money back'. Mr Macron put his hand on Mr Trump's arm and carefully corrected him: 'No, in fact, to be frank, we paid 60 per cent of the total effort.' In 2018, during one of their meetings in the Vatican, the French president greeted the late Pope Francis by kissing his cheek. Both men were on first-name terms despite a string of disagreements from abortion rights to assisted dying. Mr Macron's hands-on approach led him to break royal protocol on numerous occasions during King Charles and Queen Camilla's trip to France in September 2023. As the monarch greeted crowds in Paris, the French president was seen reaching out to touch Charles on the arm and back. While it is considered only a minor infringement, the move still falls foul of protocol. The pair are known to have a friendly bond, as they were seen chatting at COP26 in Glasgow back in 2021. He also flirted with royal protocol by kissing Queen Camilla's hand. The rekindling bromance between Mr Macron and Mr Lula comes just after the French president received a shove in the face with both hands from his wife Brigitte during a trip to Vietnam as the pair prepared to descend from the presidential plane in Hanoi. The French president later strenuously denied any 'domestic dispute' and complained that this was the latest attempt by 'crazy people', 'fools', and opponents out to smear him at all costs. He told reporters in Hanoi: 'We are horsing around and, really, joking with my wife, and I am surprised by this.' He also lamented the fact that the footage had been turned into 'a kind of global catastrophe where some people are even coming up with theories'. Despite their warm encounter, Mr Macron and Mr Lula don't agree on all diplomatic matters. France has staunchly opposed ratifying the so-called Mercosur agreement, a trade deal between the European Union and four South American nations, including Brazil, over fears a flow of lower-cost agricultural goods would outcompete Europe's farmers. In a further nod to their proximity, Mr Lula said on Thursday: 'Open your heart a little to this opportunity to finalise this agreement with our dear Mercosur.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
News24
05-05-2025
- News24
Backing SA's green future with over R2bn for just transition projects
The challenging global context has not deterred our commitment to the Just Energy Transition Partnership with South Africa, it has reaffirmed it, writes the International Partners Group (IPG). The IPG consists of donor countries — United Kingdom, Germany, France, the European Union, Denmark and the Netherlands - who have pledged climate finance in the form of commercial debt and equity, concessional loans and grants to help South Africa achieve its climate ambitions and a just transition to a low carbon economy. Last week South Africa hosted the second Energy Transitions working group as part of its G20 Presidency. This was a critical moment to reflect on the important priorities set out by South Africa, including the delivery of just, affordable, reliable and inclusive energy transitions. To limit global warming to 1.5°C it is essential that we work towards a global reduction in emissions from fossil fuels, and the energy sector will have to lead the way. Exceeding 1.5°C risks potentially irreversible consequences, affecting the natural and human systems that keep us alive. As the world's 15th largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and as chair of the G20, South Africa's contribution is crucial. The countries of the IPG are aligned with South Africa on the importance of decarbonising our economies, while ensuring access to secure and affordable energy for all. To support these objectives, the Just Energy Transition Partnership was launched at COP26 in 2021. It is a partnership underpinned by a clear commitment to those directly affected by the energy transition. Workers, communities, and especially women and girls, must not be left behind. No country should have to choose between fighting poverty and fighting climate change. READ | ANALYSIS | South Africa vs US: What's really at stake We recognise that much has already been achieved but that difficult decisions will still need to be made. If managed well, the energy transition will be a source of job creation and economic growth. According to the World Bank, South Africa could create 815 000 direct jobs in the transition, significantly more that the estimated 302 000 jobs that would be lost. The challenging global context has not deterred our commitment to the JETP. It has reaffirmed it. Almost $12.8 billion (approximately R226.36 billion) of funding has now been pledged by IPG members and other partners committed to supporting South Africa. To date over $2.6 billion (R46 billion) of IPG funding has been allocated, including over $583 million (R10.3 billion) of grant funding. Of the grants, 30 projects totalling $116 million (R2.1 billion) are "Just" projects, aiming to create viable economic alternatives in coal-dependent regions, to ensure no community is left behind. For example: the Netherlands has partnered with Eskom to create agricultural jobs near the Grootvlei power plant; the UK is supporting citrus and nut farming and SMEs in Mpumalanga, aiming to create up to 3 200 local jobs; Denmark and France have provided 300 poor households in coal mining areas with energy access through solar; the EU is partnering with municipalities to improve delivery of water, energy services, and public infrastructure; and Germany, with co-funding from Switzerland, is providing measures for improving transition into employment to over 1 200 young people and support to over 500 SMMEs and entrepreneurs. IPG support is offered across all the pillars of South Africa's Just Energy Transition Implementation Plan, including electricity. The IPG are sharing expertise and financing to help improve energy infrastructure and implement an energy market. This is critical in achieving a sustainable and secure energy future for South Africa. For example, France and Germany have provided over EUR1.5 billion (R30 billion) in concessional loans to the government focused on managing the social impact of the just energy transition and Germany and Denmark have provided technical assistance to the government and Eskom to enable progress towards the liberalisation of the energy market. READ | SA pursues climate loans from Germany, UK as US walks away Germany's concessional financing of EUR150 million (R2.9 billion) for the City of Cape Town is strengthening grid infrastructure and the UK's Development Finance Institutions are providing innovative guarantees totalling $117 million (R2.1 billion) to trading companies to unlock renewable energy capacity through energy trading. Collaboration is at the heart of our JETP approach. A successful transition requires the continued knowledge and insights of South African universities, industries, businesses, and communities. We are committed to working with them all and ensuring as much project funding as possible is allocated locally. We know that the transition to a new energy future is a long and challenging journey that impacts the lives of all South Africans. All the countries of the IPG can be counted on as responsible, committed and reliable partners, and we are proud to support South Africa towards achieving a just and sustainable energy future that benefits all South Africans. This is a joint opinion piece by the International Partners Group which consists of the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the European Union, Denmark, and the Netherlands.
