Climate

The president of the ongoing UN climate talks Sultan al-Jaber has hit back at claims that he denies a core part of climate science.

Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says he will provide an update on New Zealand's stance on a global renewables pledge when he lands in Dubai at the end of the week.

Pacific Islands Forum secretary general is encouraging the dozens of Pacific representatives at COP28 to remain optimistic that a good result is achievable from the two-week summit.

Heat stress. Lung damage from wildfire smoke - the way that public health has been impacted by climate change is in focus for the first time ever at the annual UN climate summit.

More than 100 countries at UN climate talks in Dubai have promised to treble world renewable energy use by 2030.

The call comes from about two dozen countries that call themselves the climate high ambition coalition.

New Zealand has signed an international agreement saying agriculture and food production must urgently adapt to respond to climate change.

UN Secretary General António Guterres urged world leaders at the COP28 climate summit on Friday to plan for a future without fossil fuels.

It is hoped COP28 will help keep alive the goal of limiting long-term global temperature rises to 1.5C. This was agreed by nearly 200 countries in Paris in 2015.

Palau's President has slammed New Zealand's new government for its oil and gas exploration plans, as the COP28 global climate summit gets underway. Audio

The Pacific Islands Climate Action Network says while the Loss and Damage Fund deal reached at the COP28]summit in Dubai is "significant", it does not go far enough. Audio

Progress on climate issues may be slow but COP remains the best mechanism for pressuring governments to make the changes needed to avert catastrophe.

Banning new developments, managed retreats, ground strengthening and creating more water storage are among the options unveiled to help South Dunedin face future hazards.

Wealthy nations at COP28 have adopted a new fund to help poor nations handle climate-related disasters.

A controversial climate-change-themed public artwork 13 years in the making is due to be completed in Kerikeri this week.

The human rights of people living on small Pacific Islands are already being impeded due to climate change, a study published in Nature Climate Change says. Audio

The Huntly power station would still be needed for peak demand, but coal use would be reduced and replaced with biomass and possibly hydrogen, while gas would be needed for the transition, Genesis…