No plans to tighten Myanmar sanctions: Australia
The Australian government has no plans to follow the US and tighten sanctions against Myanmar (Burma) despite the withdrawal of Australian independent Woodside Petroleum last month from Myanmar over the worsening political situation in the country. On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the military coup, Washington imposed sanctions on members of the country's military elite, as well as freezing their assets and imposing travel bans. Australia is following the response of the Association of southeast nations (Asean), which Myanmar is a member, and this grouping of southeast Asian nations have pursued a strategy of dialogue. "Australia strongly supports Asean's leadership and efforts of the special envoy of the Asean chair on Myanmar. We urge the military to honour its commitment to implement Asean's five-point consensus," Australian foreign minister Marise Payne said in a statement. Australia's autonomous sanctions regime already includes a longstanding arms embargo against Myanmar, as well as targeted sanctions against five individuals with direct responsibility for atrocities in Rakhine state, where the Myanmar military embarked on a crackdown on the Muslim Rohingya minority. Australia continues to keep its sanctions regime under active consideration, and further sanctions have not been ruled out, Payne said. Australia strongly supports Asean's leadership and efforts of the special envoy of the Asean chair on Myanmar, Erywan Yusof, the minister said. Australia urges the Myanmar military to honour its commitment to implement Asean's five-point consensus, which includes the cessation of violence in Myanmar and that constructive dialogue between all parties in Myanmar start to seek a peaceful solution.
India targets net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, says Modi
India’s economy will become carbon neutral by the year 2070, the country’s prime minster has announced at the COP26 climate crisis summit in Glasgow. The target date is two decades beyond what scientists say is needed to avert catastrophic climate impacts. India is the last of the world’s major carbon polluters to announce a net-zero target, with China saying it would reach that goal in 2060, and the United States and the European Union aiming for 2050.
COP26: What climate summit means for one woman in Bangladesh
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
Why China's climate policy matters to us all
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
Deliver on promises, developing world tells rich at climate talks
A crucial U.N. conference heard calls on its first day for the world's major economies to keep their promises of financial help to address the climate crisis, while big polluters India and Brazil made new commitments to cut emissions. World leaders, environmental experts and activists all pleaded for decisive action to halt the global warming which threatens the future of the planet at the start of the two-week COP26 summit in the Scottish city of Glasgow on Monday. The task facing negotiators was made even more daunting by the failure of the Group of 20 major industrial nations to agree ambitious new commitments at the weekend.