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☆ A slew of new conflicts could erupt in 2024, analysts say — while the world is watching Gaza and Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-28 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

- | Afp | Getty ImagesWith the eyes of the world on the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, an unprecedented number of potentially "catastrophic" conflicts are going under the radar, analysts have warned. The U.N. estimated in October that more than 114 million people were displaced by war and conflict worldwide. There is good reason for that — it is currently the most dangerous place in the world to be a civilian." The political turbulence comes amid ongoing armed conflict in eastern DRC and widespread poverty, and precedes further regional elections early next year. If you look at Myanmar, of course you've got this huge population in Bangladesh of displaced Rohingyas, and also displaced within Myanmar itself," she said.

Persons: Abdel Fattah al, Burhan, David Miliband, Miliband, Isabelle Arradon, Rapid Support Forces —, Gen, Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, Khalifa Haftar —, Arradon, Félix Tshisekedi, U.N, Antonio Guterres, you've, We've, It's Organizations: Afp, Getty, Rescue, Crisis, CNBC, Rapid Support Forces, UAE, IOM, UN's, Organization for Migration, Sudanese Armed Forces, Democratic, Government Locations: Red Sea, Port Sudan, Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Libyan, Khartoum, Darfur, METEMA, Ethiopia, Metema, AFP, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of, Congo, DRC, Goma, North Kivu, Kigali, Kinshasa, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Shan, Sagaing, Kayah, Rakhine State, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal

☆ Offshore wind drops out of UK auction on costs, risking climate goals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Nora Buli | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

General view of the Walney Extension offshore wind farm operated by Orsted off the coast of Blackpool, Britain, September 5, 2018. The result was bad news for Britain's 2050 net zero emissions target, which calls for 50 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity by 2030 versus around 14 GW now. In a 2022 auction, offshore wind projects were the main recipient of funding, with 7 gigawatts (GW) awarded, but developers did not even bid in the latest auction, the results of which were published on Friday. The lack of new offshore wind capacity would cost consumers 1 billion pounds a year, it added. Bid prices for renewable energy CfDs are expressed in 2012 money, with inflation meaning actual prices are higher.

Persons: Orsted, Phil Noble, Graham Stuart, Ed Miliband, Sweden's Vattenfall, Nora Buli, Miral Fahmy, Jason Neely Organizations: REUTERS, UK's Department for Energy Security, Turbine, Energy, Britain, Labour Party, Conservatives, Thomson Locations: Walney, Blackpool, Britain, OSLO, Oslo

☆ International bodies push Sudan's two warring military factions to extend a fragile cease-fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Smoke is seen rise from buildings during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum North, Sudan. Governments and international bodies are pushing Sudan's two warring military factions to extend a fragile cease-fire due to end Thursday night, with remaining civilians and foreign nationals being urged to flee. Despite this, many foreign nationals are still in Sudan, while civilians are struggling to access food, water and fuel. David Miliband, president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), said a "rapid surge of humanitarian aid" would be needed to help the 47 million Sudanese remaining in the country. "The parties to the conflict must bring an end to this conflict immediately before the situation further escalates."

☆ UK sets out energy plans, critics bemoan lack of clean tech boost
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A survey vessel sails past wind turbines at the Burbo Bank offshore wind farm near New Brighton, Britain, January 23, 2023. REUTERS/Phil NobleLONDON, March 30 (Reuters) - Britain set out plans to boost energy security and tackle emissions on Thursday, but critics said a lack of new investment and incentives meant it failed to provide any new boost for the country's green energy sector. Energy security minister Grant Shapps said the 1,000 pages of documents published on Thursday were focused on energy security, a major focus since the war in Ukraine. There were also further details on a raft of previously announced schemes such as funding for offshore wind, carbon capture, speeding up planning processes for solar and offshore wind projects, rolling out more electric vehicle charging points and encouraging heat pumps in homes. Environmental campaign group Greenpeace said the government's energy plans were not going far or fast enough to tackle climate change.

MEXICO CITY, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Climate change will accelerate humanitarian crises around the world in 2023, adding to the issues created by armed conflict and economic downturns, according to a study by the NGO International Rescue Committee (IRC). Climate change is among the key factors accelerating humanitarian emergencies, the IRC noted, despite the fact that the 20 countries on its emergency watchlist - like Haiti and Afghanistan - contribute just 2% to global CO2 emissions. "2022 has shown that the role of climate change in accelerating the global humanitarian crisis is undeniable," the report noted. The IRC also flagged to need to more "proactively invest in climate change prevention and mitigation." In addition, the gap between humanitarian needs and its financing has grown to a global deficit of $27 billion as of November 2022.

☆ UK PM Rishi Sunak will now attend COP27, reversing decision to skip
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will attend the COP27 summit in Egypt next week, he said on Wednesday, reversing a much-criticised decision to skip the annual climate gathering in order to work on pressing economic issues at home. There is no energy security without investing in renewables," Sunak wrote on Twitter. The deal was meant to ensure that the world still has a chance to avert the worst impacts of global warming. "The prime minister has been shamed into going to COP27 by the torrent of disbelief that he would fail to turn up," the opposition Labour Party's climate policy spokesperson Ed Miliband said. Britain's COP26 president Alok Sharma, who had criticised Sunak's initial decision to skip the summit in a newspaper interview, said he was "delighted" the prime minister was going to the conference.

☆ BP’s profit more than doubles as calls for windfall taxes grow louder
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The UK-based energy company posted underlying profit of $8.15 billion in the July to September period, compared with $3.3 billion a year ago. BP (BP)’s earnings were boosted by “exceptional” results in its gas trading business, it said in a statement on Tuesday. Also last week, America’s largest oil company, ExxonMobil set a profit record for the second straight quarter, while Chevron (CVX) and French oil company Total (TOT)Energies posted similarly huge increases. The unprecedented set of earnings is fueling renewed calls in Britain and the United States for windfall taxes on energy companies to help households that are struggling to pay rising bills. EU governments, on the other hand, agreed a windfall tax in September that they hope will raise $140 billion.

☆ Shell announces $4 billion share buyback as profits double
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The UK company posted net income of $9.45 billion in the third quarter, more than double the $4.1 billion it recorded a year ago. The result was driven by a strong performance in its oil exploration and production business, Shell said. The additional buybacks will increase total share purchases for the year to $18.5 billion, some 10% of the company’s share capital. It posted a record $11.5 billion profit in the second quarter, when oil prices were above $100 a barrel. “We are delivering robust results at a time of ongoing volatility in global energy markets,” Shell CEO Ben van Beurden said in a statement.

Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is interviewed outside the BBC in London, Britain, October 24, 2021. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File PhotoLIVERPOOL, England, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Britain's Labour Party will unveil on Monday its plans to set up a national wealth fund to invest in green projects which will benefit the public, part of the opposition party's answer to the Conservative government's tax-cutting approach. The so-called mini-budget has opened up a divide between Prime Minister Liz Truss's Conservatives and the Labour Party of Keir Starmer, who wants to use the years before an expected election in 2024 to prove his team is ready for power. "That is a real plan for growth," she will say, taking aim at the "Growth Plan" presented by finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng on Friday, when Labour accused him of prioritising the wealthy over working people struggling with rising prices by turning to the discredited theory of "trickle-down economics". Ed Miliband, Labour's climate policy chief, said Labour's plans would return jobs to Britain.

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