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Signage during the COP30 climate summit in Belem

UN slams 'meagre results' and 'fatal inaction' at COP30

The UN rights chief has lamented the "meagre results" at the COP30 climate summit, warning that the "fatal inaction" of leaders might one day be considered a crime against humanity.

Climate • 24 Nov

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions couldn't be more urgent

The need to reduce or "mitigate" greenhouse gas emissions, to limit the rise in global temperatures could not be more urgent, writes George Lee.

Analysis and Comment • 23 Nov

General view during the plenary session at the COP30 UN Climate Change Conference in Belem, Para state, Brazil

Compromise deal at COP30 sidesteps fossil fuels

Brazil's COP30 presidency has pushed through a compromise climate deal that would boost finance for poor nations coping with global warming but that omitted any mention of the fossil fuels driving it.

Climate Change • 23 Nov

Minister for Climate Darragh O'Brien speaking at COP30

COP30 negotiations at difficult stage, says minister

Minister for Climate Energy and Environment, Darragh O'Brien, who is attending the COP30 summit at Belem in Brazil has said the climate negotiations have reached a difficult stage.

Climate Change • 21 Nov

'Unstoppable momentum' toward renewables, says Robinson

Former President for Ireland and now member of the Elders Mary Robinson has said that although there is a lot of momentum and energy at the COP30 climate negotiations in Belém, a good final decision has not yet been reached.

Climate Change • 20 Nov

Attendees walk in front of the main entrance to the COP30 UN Climate Change Conference in Belem

Draft COP30 agreement a 'mixed bag' - EU climate chief

EU climate chief Wopke Hoekstra has ruled out revisiting financial pledges or being "lured into a phony conversation about trade" after a draft agreement was released at the UN COP30 summit.

Cop30 • 18 Nov

Tina Stege (C), Climate Envoy for the Marshall Islands, delivers a press conference on the fossil fuel phase-out alongside representatives from more than a dozen countries during the COP30 UN Climate Change Conference in Belem

Ireland wants 'road map to end fossil fuel use'

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O'Brien, who is leading the Irish delegation at COP30 in Belem Brazil this week, has said Ireland wants to see the phasing out of fossil fuels included in whatever text agreement comes about at COP30 over the coming days.

World • 18 Nov

Pope Leo XVI greets the faithful in St Peter's Square before celebrating a mass on the occasion of the Jubilee of the poor

Pope decries lack of political will on climate change

Pope Leo XIV has "concrete actions" on climate change and complained that some leaders lacked the will to act, as he addressed religious dignitaries on the sidelines of the COP30 summit.

World • 17 Nov

Minister for Climate Darragh O'Brien speaking to RTÉ News in Brazil

Maximum rooftop solar panels grant to remain at €1,800

The Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy has confirmed that the maximum grant for rooftop solar panels for homes will remain at €1,800 next year.

Climate • 17 Nov

A woman is flanked by a COP30 sign and a drone shot of the Amazon River

Watch: Irish climate scientist's COP30 video diary

Talks at the COP30 climate summit have entered their final week, with world leaders concentrating efforts on delivering a deal that reaffirms the 2015 Paris Agreement, while laying out clear plans for future climate action.

Climate Change • 17 Nov

Thousands of people take part in the so-called "Great People's March" in the sidelines of the COP30 UN Climate Change Conference in Belem

COP30 focus about to switch to high-stakes diplomacy

The focus of COP30 is about to shift from technical drafting of proposed agreements and declarations to tricky high-stakes diplomacy and decision-making, writes George Lee.

Analysis and Comment • 16 Nov

A young woman and young man stand outside the COP30 venue in Belem, Brazil

Watch: Meet Ireland's climate youth delegates at COP30

Climate Change • 11 Nov

Aerial view of deforested area for on Marajó Island, Amazon Region, northern Brazil.

Coordination on climate efforts essential, COP30 to hear

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell has said the two-week long COP30 climate negotiations that begin in Belém must send a clear signal that nations are fully on board for climate co-operation.

Climate Change • 10 Nov

Signage during the COP30 Leaders Summit in Brazil

Watch: Day 2 of COP30 leaders summit in Belém

RTÉ News Environment Correspondent George Lee reports on the second day of the COP30 leaders summit in Belém, Brazil.

Climate • 07 Nov

This view shows the COP30 logotype at Docks Station in Belem, Para state, Brazil

Earth can not sustain intensive fossil fuel use - Lula

Earth can no longer sustain a development model based on intensive use of fossil fuels responsible for planet-harming emissions, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told a climate summit today.

Climate Change • 07 Nov

Image shows a close-up of water going down the drain in a sink

Watch: Hopes of keeping 1.5C drain away ahead of COP30

Ahead of COP30, the UN has said the world will fail to meet its main climate change target of limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

Climate Change • 07 Nov

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva delivers a speech during COP30

UN: 'Virtually impossible' to achieve 1.5C climate target

This year is on track to be the second or third warmest globally as an "unprecedented streak" of high temperatures continues, UN scientists have warned.

Climate Change • 06 Nov

Lots of smoking chimneys in a dark environment

US and China were once united on climate, no longer

A little more than ten years ago, the US and China's joint commitment to combat climate change paved the way for the Paris Agreement. Now the US has turned its back on climate policy while China forges ahead with renewables. Will the world have to choose between the petrostate and the electrostate?

Analysis and Comment • 06 Nov

BELEM, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 3: Central building and access of plenary rooms is seen ahead the COP30 Brazil Amazonia 2025 on November 3, 2025 in Belem, Brazil. (Photo by Wagner Meier/Getty Images)

Watch: Brazil prepares to host 'forest' COP

World leaders are meeting in Belém in Brazil in advance of the biggest climate summit of the year - COP30.

Climate Change • 06 Nov

'We have to go further', Taoiseach tells COP30

There needs to be more leaders "ready to tell it as it is", Taoiseach Micheál Martin told the heads of state and royalty gathered for the UN Climate Change Conference, COP30, in Brazil.

Climate Change • 06 Nov

Image is an animation showing a seesaw with industry on one side and a forest on the other

Watch: What is a climate tipping point?

The annual United Nations climate change conference, COP30, starts this week in Belém, Brazil.

Climate Change • 05 Nov

Partial view of one of the entrances at the City Park of the COP30,

Hopes COP30 can build on slow climate target progress

Ten years ago, almost every country in the world agreed to sign the Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty, committing all nations to make every effort to limit the rise in global warming to 1.5C.

Analysis and Comment • 05 Nov

Cop30

UN slams 'meagre results' and 'fatal inaction' at COP30

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions couldn't be more urgent

Compromise deal at COP30 sidesteps fossil fuels

COP30 negotiations at difficult stage, says minister

'Unstoppable momentum' toward renewables, says Robinson

Draft COP30 agreement a 'mixed bag' - EU climate chief

Ireland wants 'road map to end fossil fuel use'

Pope decries lack of political will on climate change

Maximum rooftop solar panels grant to remain at €1,800

Watch: Irish climate scientist's COP30 video diary

COP30 focus about to switch to high-stakes diplomacy

Watch: Meet Ireland's climate youth delegates at COP30

Coordination on climate efforts essential, COP30 to hear

Watch: Day 2 of COP30 leaders summit in Belém

Earth can not sustain intensive fossil fuel use - Lula

Watch: Hopes of keeping 1.5C drain away ahead of COP30

UN: 'Virtually impossible' to achieve 1.5C climate target

US and China were once united on climate, no longer

Watch: Brazil prepares to host 'forest' COP

'We have to go further', Taoiseach tells COP30

Watch: What is a climate tipping point?

Hopes COP30 can build on slow climate target progress

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