In brief | 7 February '25

Climate Home: UN gives countries more time to submit “quality” climate plans for 2035

The head of the UN climate change body has urged countries to submit new “first-rate” climate targets by September, after only a handful of countries published updated plans to cut emissions ahead of a February deadline.

Climate Action Tracker: The climate is warming and sea levels rising way faster than governments are acting

Only six of the countries the Climate Action Tracker analyses have submitted their new 2035 climate targets in time for the Paris Agreement's 10 February 2025 deadline, and only one — the UK — is proposing actions at home that are 1.5°C-aligned.

FT: Brussels to exempt most EU companies from carbon border tax

More than 80 percent to be exempted by reforms aimed at cutting red tape and boosting productivity.

The Guardian: Keir Starmer unveils plan for large nuclear expansion across England and Wales

Prime minister vows to ‘push past nimbyism’ and calls on tech firms to help build small modular reactors to power AI datacentres.

State of Green: Agreement reached for a Danish hydrogen backbone to Germany by 2030

Political parties in Denmark have agreed to provide state support to establish a hydrogen pipeline connecting the country to Germany.

Notes from Poland: Poland launches EU-funded subsidies for buying electric cars

Poland has launched a new programme providing subsidies to people buying or leasing electric vehicles. The scheme offers up to 40,000 zloty (roughly €9,500) per vehicle, with the money coming from EU funds.