SIMON STIELL
"Very salient": UN climate chief backs PM Modi's remarks on clean energy cushioning India against oil price shock
UN climate chief Simon Stiell has endorsed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that clean energy investments helped India withstand the oil price shock, calling them "very salient". Stiell also welcomed India's Green Energy Corridor, emphasising the role of renewable energy, stronger electricity grids and battery storage in protecting economies.
Wars, energy security reshape global climate debate at COP31
COP31’s Leaders’ Summit highlighted a shift in how climate action is being viewed, with governments increasingly linking it to economic and energy security amid geopolitical tensions, wars and rising energy costs. Leaders warned that weaker international cooperation and competing priorities around tariffs and security could undermine efforts to curb emissions, while UN officials stressed that climate action can help ease inflationary and fiscal pressures. With nearly 70 heads of state and government attending, the summit also underscored the growing importance of climate finance and international cooperation.
Iran uses global climate talks to highlight impact of US strike on Minab school
Iran is utilizing the COP31 climate summit to highlight the consequences of a US missile strike on a school. The national pavilion features images of the incident’s aftermath along with a virtual reality experience. Additionally, visiting officials will see exhibits from Ukraine addressing efforts in renewable energy amid conflict. The conference has become a platform for discussing global energy price increases related to regional conflicts.
Global climate talks open with big questions, smaller goals
Climate negotiators from nearly 200 countries are attending COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, to address rising global temperatures and emissions. The summit will focus on achieving existing commitments rather than making ambitious new goals amidst geopolitical tensions and financial constraints.
AI is part of solution for climate change, COP31 pledge says
Turkey is set to introduce a pledge at the upcoming COP31 climate summit in Antalya. This pledge suggests that artificial intelligence can help in combating climate change effectively. However, data centers are reportedly increasing fossil fuel emissions significantly, raising environmental concerns.
Nations get moving on Paris Climate Accord, but the pace is slow: UNFCCC
The reports assess the progress countries have made towards tackling climate change and achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. Countries are investing in the clean energy transition, adapting to the impacts of climate change and building resilience, and there are international financial flows to climate action, the reports said.
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Climate needs same urgency as defense spending, COP31 Chief says
Spending on the issue by Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, fell last year and the nation missed a pledge on climate financing.
At Pre-COP31, Bhupender Yadav calls for closing climate gaps, fulfilling Paris Agreement commitments and accelerating implementation
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav addressed COP31 priorities during the Pre-COP31 meetings in Fiji. He highlighted the need for bridging knowledge gaps and fulfilling climate obligations effectively before upcoming conferences. Yadav conducted bilateral talks with UN officials, focusing on significant climate priorities such as adaptation and climate finance.
UN climate chief hails India's Green Energy Corridor-III, says grid strengthening will deliver "big dividends"
India’s Rs 1.86 lakh crore Green Energy Corridor Phase-III has won backing from the UN’s top climate official, who said stronger grids and battery storage could boost energy security, jobs and economic growth. The scheme aims to enable evacuation of about 135 GW of renewable power, deploy 50 GWh of battery storage and support India’s 500 GW non-fossil capacity target for 2030.
Climate Week talks balance hope for clean energy against uncertainty over AI
Global leaders are meeting to address Earth's worsening health and climate change impacts. A renewable energy boom offers hope, while artificial intelligence presents new challenges. Fossil fuel price surges from global conflicts are accelerating the shift to cleaner energy sources. Scientists warn that seven planetary boundaries have already been breached by human activity. Urgent action is needed to triple renewable power capacity by the end of the decade.
Global renewable capacity hits record 693 GW addition in 2025: IRENA
Global renewable power capacity expanded by a record 693 GW in 2025, taking total installed renewable capacity to 5.15 TW, according to IRENA. The pace has narrowed the gap to the COP28 goal of tripling renewable capacity by 2030, but the world remains short of the target. Rising electricity demand from cooling, AI and data centres is also limiting the displacement of fossil fuels, which still accounted for 86% of global energy in 2025.
A hotter planet: August heat smashes climate records
Earth experienced its hottest month ever in August, surpassing climate thresholds. This extreme heat resulted from human-caused climate change and a strong El Nino. Global ocean temperatures also tied their all-time record for the warmest month. The United States recorded its hottest summer, breaking records from the Dust Bowl era. Scientists warn that continued fossil fuel burning will lead to more record-breaking heat.
Nepal PM Balendra Shah demands climate action after Himalayan disaster takes over 939 lives
Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah has blamed climate change for last week’s devastating Himalayan flood, calling it an “extraordinary” disaster triggered by a glacial collapse. With at least 939 people dead and nearly 4,500 missing, Shah urged Nepal to press the international community for climate action and support.
Nepal-China flash flood disaster exposes fragility of Hindu Kush Himalayas: UN climate chief
A glacial collapse and flash flood near Nepal and China border occurred. UN climate chief Simon Stiell highlighted mountain environment fragility and climate risks. Scientists and local communities have warned about the Hindu Kush Himalayas' huge risk. A warming climate makes such tragedies more likely and severe globally.
UN climate chief Simon Stiell lauds India’s renewable push
UN climate chief Simon Stiell is visiting India to understand its energy transition progress. He met with ministers and business leaders to discuss climate agenda items. Preparations and expectations for COP31 were also a key topic of discussion. India's participation in recent climate negotiations has been limited due to austerity measures. Future informal meetings will likely see similar arrangements for Indian representation.
Worsening climate change main culprit behind India's extreme heat: UN climate chief
UN climate chief Simon Stiell highlighted the severe human and economic impact of the heatwave, particularly on people living in homes without cooling facilities and those working long hours outdoors.
UN climate Chief Simon Stiell calls for cooperation in unstable world
UN climate chief Simon Stiell highlights climate action as a vital tool for global security and prosperity. He notes that despite global instability, investments in clean energy are growing rapidly. Renewables are now the leading electricity source, and global emissions have dropped. Stiell acknowledges progress but stresses the need for faster and fairer transitions.
UN climate chief urges COP30 negotiators to not 'waste time on stonewalling'
UN climate chief Simon Stiell has urged ministers to accelerate COP30 talks in Brazil. Negotiations are facing deadlock with five days remaining. Key issues include trade barriers, climate warming targets, and financing for developing nations. Ministers are arriving to break the impasse and finalize agreements.
India already exceeding key climate targets, can grow faster using clean energy: UN climate chief
India is exceeding key climate targets and has the potential for even faster growth through clean energy, says UN climate chief Simon Stiell. He highlights India's achievements in solar power and electricity access, urging investment in climate resilience for a sustainable economic rise.
UN climate head urges nations to step up action
In his first address of the year, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) executive secretary Stiell stressed that countries are aware of the opportunities and benefits that climate action brings. "A country may step back - but others are already stepping into their place to seize the opportunity, and to reap the massive rewards: stronger economic growth, more jobs, less pollution and far lower health costs, more secure and affordable energy," he said.
G20 role in climate finance critical: UN body chief
Ahead of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, UN climate chief Simon Stiell urged world leaders to prioritize climate action and increase financial support for developing countries. Stiell emphasized the urgency of the situation as negotiators in Baku work towards finalizing post-2025 climate finance goals.
COP29: Need to improve financing to enable climate action, says UN climate chief Simon Stiell
Referring to the findings of the progress report on efforts to raise over $100 billion a year prepared by the COP's Standing Committee on Finance, Stiell said the overall trend shows an increase in the funds with more money being allocated for adaptation. However, there is a need to improve transparency, access and affordability, he said. "The new goal is not just about a target but about enabling action," the UN climate chief stressed.
International climate finance must 'grow up, step up, and scale up, to meet this moment': UN Climate chief
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell articulates the urgent need to step up climate finance, articulating a two-pronged approach—one, within the UN process and the other, outside with the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and G20 stepping up. Reminding that COP29 must deliver on finance but must not be treated as an opportunity to renegotiate the Paris Agreement, Stiell calls on all countries and stakeholders to recognise more climate finance is in everyone’s interest.
G7 must lead the way on tackling global warming: UN climate chief
Stiell urges G7 at Turin to take lead with deeper emissions cuts and increased climate finance to meet Paris Agreement goals and avoid a global economic disaster.
U.N. climate chief says two years to save the planet
Governments, business leaders and development banks have two years to take action to avert far worse climate change, the U.N.'s climate chief said on Wednesday, in a speech that warned global warming is slipping down politicians' agendas.
UN climate chief's blunt message: Fewer loopholes, way more cash to really halt climate change
To keep Earth from overheating too much, the nations of the world need to put fewer loopholes in climate agreements and far more money - trillions of dollars a year - into financial help for poor nations, the United Nations climate chief said on Friday. In an unusual and blunt lecture at a university in Baku, Azerbaijan, the host city of upcoming international climate negotiations later this year, United Nations Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell called gains made in the past not nearly enough.
UN climate chief tells nations to act rather than score points at COP28
UN climate chief Simon Stiell told countries on Wednesday to agree ambitious action to tackle global warming at the COP28 climate summit rather than fall into the trap of point scoring and "lowest common denominator politics". At a summit where tension is growing over different visions for the future of fossil fuels, Stiell told a news conference: "All governments must give their negotiators clear marching orders. We need highest ambition, not point scoring or lowest common denominator politics."
G20 climate statements 'woefully inadequate': UN climate chief Simon Stiell
The G20, which accounts for about 85 percent of the world's economy and greenhouse gas emissions, will meet in New Delhi in the absence of China and Russia's leaders, as the invasion of Ukraine, trade and the future of fossil fuels stir tensions.
UAE vows to allow 'peaceful' assembly of climate activists at COP28
The choice for it to host COP28 has sparked criticism from environmental groups which warn that the involvement of a major oil exporter could slow progress in the fight against global warming. Non-government groups including Human Rights Watch have also warned that the Gulf state's restrictions on freedom of expression could hinder the meaningful participation of climate activists.
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