🗣️ "The decision to defund and withdraw from the UNFCCC does not absolve the US of its legal obligations to prevent climate change and remedy climate harm, as the world’s highest court made clear last year," said CIEL's Rebecca Brown via @euronews.com

The full story 👇
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With #CCS stumbling yet again, it’s clearer than ever that governments should end support for #CCS & grow proven climate solutions like renewables & energy efficiency. Instead of doubling down on costly underperforming tech, we need solutions that actually deliver.

These are not isolated setbacks. Together, they expose that #CCS faces technical, economic & political challenges it likely cannot overcome.

Yet European governments have poured over €17 bn into #CCS subsidies since 2001:
www.realzeroeurope.org/resources/fa...

Meanwhile, BP has abandoned its H2Teesside blue-hydrogen & #CCS plant. BP claimed the project could deliver 20% of the UK’s Hydrogen target by 2030, but backed out this week after the site was reprioritised for a data centre.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Also, in the UK, the bad week for #CCS continues: Storegga, a main backer of the Acorn #CCS project in Aberdeenshire is selling its stake after completing a ‘strategic review’ of its business. This comes months after the UK Gov awarded the project funding

news.stv.tv/north/main-b...

🚨 Big blow for CCS: Gorgon, the world’s largest #CCS project is having its worst year yet, capturing only 1.33 Mt CO₂, a record low.

reneweconomy.com.au/worlds-large...

Gorgon has not reached its promised 80% capture rate in the last 6 years, with falling performance each year.

As we look toward the next negotiation round, one thing is clear: the real energy came from civil society, rights holders, and Member States pushing for ambition despite the obstacles.

Read our full statement: www.ciel.org/news/unea-7-...

Meanwhile, @mmchch.bsky.social highlights a big development on the sidelines: the Africa Group launched a plurilateral dialogue toward a Solar Geoengineering Non-Use Agreement — a strong signal that governments can choose not to pursue risky technologies.

On the #PlasticsTreaty, there was good news: fears of reopening the treaty mandate didn’t materialize. The Ministerial Declaration reaffirmed urgency and solidarity toward completing negotiations.

Still, there were some gains. @giuliacrl.bsky.social points to the chemicals and waste resolution moving forward work on heavy metals, the long-anticipated update to a UNEP/WHO report on endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and the new science-policy panel, which launches in February.

The Assembly also addressed issues relating to UNEP's budget and ongoing strategy.

As CIEL’s @andresdelcas.bsky.social summed up: functional, well-resourced governing bodies are essential — but obstruction slowed progress at nearly every turn.

In the negotiation, Member States tackled issues from chemicals to waste to governance.

As the weeks wore on, many proposals were watered down or withdrawn. Civil society and rights holders faced shrinking access and the removal of language on gender and Indigenous Peoples.