As climate activists worldwide focus on COP 30 unfolding in Belém, Brazil, another city is hosting political debates and votes that will determine the pace of emissions reductions in a region that not long ago promised to become the first climate-neutral continent - Europe. The European Parliament, Source: Unsplash More specifically, under its Green New Deal, the European Union (27 Member States) set out to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Achieving this requires careful pla

by Klara Butz, Finance Campaigner at The Climate Reality Project Europe & Urgewald COP 30 starts today. Government delegations, civil society organizations, Indigenous leaders, and many others have traveled to northern Brazil to tackle the climate crisis together. This year’s conference carries heavy expectations. Negotiators must finally agree on indicators for the Global Goal on Adaptation so countries can track real progress. They must also adopt and advance the Baku to Be

According to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) report around 70% of global CO2 emissions come from urban areas. Cities are where people live, work, and move - and where decisions about transport, energy, housing, and waste have a direct impact on the planet. This makes cities not just part of the problem, but a powerful part of the solution. Acting locally offers something that national or international processes often lack: proximity and agency. R

Under the text, you can find a glossary of the most important terms relevant to COP 30 and the climate negotiations process. A critical turning point The world enters COP 30 at a moment of utmost urgency: recent datasets show that the global mean temperature is now approximately 1.3 °C to 1.4 °C above late-19th-century pre-industrial levels . In 2024, for the first time on record, the annual mean temperature passed the 1.5 °C threshold , based on at least six international

Activism nowadays can seem hopeless. Frustrating. Tiring. But being in a community reminds us that there is strength in connection. Real change begins when we come together to learn, dream, and act. From 6 to 17 October, more than 70 participants from across Europe and beyond brought their experience, curiosity, commitment, and passion for justice to the training. Each one of them transformed the virtual space into a true collective journey: one of learning, reflection, and h

A new global campaign spotlights on one of the key injustices of our time: the richest 1% of people emit as much carbon pollution as the poorest 5 billion combined. This is not only a crisis of inequality - it’s a crisis of survival. Around the world, communities that contribute least to the climate emergency are bearing the greatest costs, while a small elite continues to live in ways that push our planet closer to collapse. To alarm communities worldwide about this issue, m

As Europe swelters through another summer of extreme heatwaves, the European Commission has finally announced its climate target for 2040. But does it meet the urgency of the moment? You may have seen headlines today about the EU’s “2040 climate target.” And if you felt like it sounded distant, technical, and disconnected from your daily life - you're not alone. But here’s the thing: this decision affects every one of us , from the cost of energy and food to the air we breath

Author: Klara Butz, Finance Campaigner In the climate space, COP is often seen as the most important UNFCCC meeting of the year. But it’s not the only one that matters. Every June, country delegations from around the world meet in Bonn, Germany - the home of the UNFCCC - for the annual intersessional negotiations. These meetings may not make headlines, but they play a key role in shaping what happens at COP. What Really Happens in Bonn? The Bonn sessions are meant to prepar

Author: Jessica Besch, Program and Engagement Manager at The Climate Reality Project Europe We are only 6 months away from the UN Climate Change Conference taking place in Bélem, Brazil . A lot of attention and hope is put into this global forum, however, the process has since failed to deliver real plans to hold warming below 1.5 degrees. The reason? The massive influence of fossil fuel companies and wealthy petrostates over the COP negotiations. Over 1700 lobbyists attended

Author: Klara Butz, Finance Campaigner at The Climate Reality Project Europe Spring is coming to an end, and so is the season of shareholder meetings. These annual general meetings (AGMs) are like corporate birthday parties: companies host their own events, applaud themselves for the profits they’ve made, and get cheered on by shareholders eager for dividends. But as you might know, campaigners like me love to crash these fossil-fueled champagne parties. We bring reality back

With the vibrant energy of the 2025 Climate Reality Leadership Corps Training in Paris still living in us a few weeks after, we look back with immense pride at that transformative weekend. Over 800 climate advocates from across Europe and beyond gathered in Paris to honor the 10th anniversary of the historic Paris Agreement - and to forge the next chapter in our fight for a livable future. Group photo with Al Gore and the over 800 participants of the Climate Reality Leadershi

Last year, Climate Reality’s network in Europe saw incredible growth, with the Rome Training bringing nearly 1,000 new Climate Reality Leaders into the movement. This year, the momentum continues with the Paris Training, further expanding our reach and strengthening local climate leadership. As we work toward our goal of reaching 100,000 Climate Reality Leaders by 2030, we need a structure that allows more Leaders to engage, take ownership, and drive impact in their communiti

The fight against the UK’s largest undeveloped oil field, Rosebank, has reached a pivotal moment: the Scottish Court has ruled that its approval by the previous UK government , was unlawful. This landmark decision is not just a legal victory—it’s a significant step in the fight for a sustainable future, setting a powerful precedent for ending new oil and gas developments. 📸 Edinburgh Rally, day one of the three-day court case, 12 Nov 2024, with the #StopRosebank coalition. W

Polish version below | Wersja w języku polskim znajduje się niżej. Katowice, once the heart of Poland’s coal industry, has officially joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA), becoming part of a global network of cities and regions committed to phasing out coal. This historic step marks a significant milestone in the city’s energy transition and its commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future. The decision was shaped by years of work on just transition policies, wit

Katowice’s decision to join the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA) is a monumental step for the Silesia region , marking a shift from its coal-dependent past to a sustainable future. This achievement stems not only from local government initiatives but also from years of dedicated work by Climate Reality Leaders, with Patryk Białas' (Volunteer Coordinator for Poland) leadership, who have tirelessly advocated for a just energy transition. Their efforts have included consultin

Author: Klara Butz, Finance Campaigner at the Climate Reality Project Europe & Urgewald In preparation for Trump's inauguration, major US banks have decided to leave the Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA). The NZBA is a voluntary initiative launched by the UN in 2021 with over 130 international member banks. From now on, the alliance will have to continue without the US banks JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Citi, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs. Since the launch