Climate deal set for UN signing, environmental doubts remain
The UK is among more than 160 countries set to sign up to the world’s first comprehensive deal to tackle climate change at a ceremony in New York.
UN
Total fined over oil-for-food case in Iraq
French oil giant Total has been fined EUR750,000 for corrupting foreign officials relating to the United Nations' Iraqi oil-for-food programme.
UN moves to block IS terror funds
Finance ministers from the United Nations Security Council’s 15 powers are poised to adopt a resolution aimed at disrupting the Islamic State (IS) terror group’s earnings from oil and antiquities sales, ransom payments and other criminal activities. IS is already subject to UN sanctions under resolutions dealing with al Qaida. But the proposed resolution, sponsored by the United States and Russia, elevates IS to the same level as al Qaida, reflecting its split from al Qaida and the growing threat it poses especially in the Middle East and North Africa. US treasury secretary Jacob Lew, who will chair today’s meeting, said disrupting IS’ revenue and cutting it off from the international financial system “are critical to effectively combating this violent terrorist group”.
UN closes the books on decade-long Iran nuclear probe
The UN nuclear agency have approved a resolution that ends a decade-long probe of allegations that Iran worked on atomic weapons. The probe had to be formally closed as part of an Iran-six nation deal restricting Iran’s current nuclear programmes which could be used to make such weapons, in exchange for sanctions relief for Tehran.
High ambition coalition calls for strong climate deal
A “high ambition coalition” of countries including the EU, some of the world's poorest and most vulnerable countries and the US, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Iceland and Norway has called for a strong climate deal, with Brazil the most recent country to join the group.
Climate deal “meaningless” without five year reviews
A new international climate deal would be “meaningless” without measures to review and ramp up the action countries will take to curb their emissions, European leaders have said.
Russia seeks tighter UN crackdown on terror financing, after unanimous oil vote
Russia is planning to circulate a draft United Nations resolution that will tighten the world body’s crackdown on financing terrorist groups including the Islamic State (IS).
Shell fails to clean four Nigeria oil spill sites, Amnesty says
Royal Dutch Shell Plc has failed to clean up four oil-spill sites in the crude-producing Niger River delta, three of which an under-resourced Nigerian regulator dealing with leakages said had been decontaminated, Amnesty International said in a report on Tuesday.
Divided Libya announces national unity leadership
Libya is forming a national unity government after months of difficult talks between the country’s two rival administrations. The north African country’s United Nations envoy Bernardino Leon said candidates for the new government had been decided. The announcement, made in Morocco, is a step towards stitching together the oil-rich but chaotic country that fell apart after the overthrow of former dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The country has been split between an Islamist-backed government based in Tripoli and an internationally-recognised administration in the east.
CCS experts sign open letter to UN ahead of Paris talks
An open letter by 41 signatories has been sent to the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) regarding CCS (Carbon Capture Storage). Scientists and experts from Scotland to China said they had written to reassure the UNFCCC that CCS is “safe, secure and effective”. They said extensive research had shown CO2 storage at selected sites was unlikely to lead to any leakages.
Oil bosses to meet in Paris ahead of climate talks
The leaders of eight of the world’s top oil companies are set to meet in Paris next week to show how they will combat climate change. The move is part of an offensive ahead of a UN summit which will be held in December. The meeting will be followed by a press conference where the company bosses are also expected to renew a call for a global carbon pricing mechanism. Total chief executive Patrick Pouyanne said company leaders would present proposals to combat global warming ahead of the talks.
Soma Oil & Gas calls for meeting with UN over corruption allegations
Soma Oil & Gas has called for a meeting with the United Nations (UN) to discuss allegations regarding its dealings in Somalia. The move comes after the company became the subject of a criminal investigation by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in relation to alleged corruption. Soma, which is chaired by former Conservative Party leader Michael Howard, wants to arrange talks with UN Security Council Committee chairman Rafael Dario Ramirez Carreno.
Call made for climate change treaty
World leaders gathered in Samoa for the Small Island Developing States Summit were greeted with an unexpected photo message.