than the previous record. but some environmental groups say the warmer temps are having big impacts on nature, with more reports of fish deaths and changes to flowers, affecting bugs and insects. some other stories now. parklife festival founder sacha lord has formally threatened legal action against the uk government over drug testing at festivals. he says festivals had been doing this for at least ten years until last month, when he was told a licence would be needed for the first time. but the government says the permits have always been required. and thousands have celebrated london pride over the weekend. the uk's biggest lgbtq+ festival displayed colourful scenes as huge crowds joined the brightly coloured parades of floats, performers and dancers. and some good news for tennis fans —

wimbledon is back for another year. men's defending champ novak djokovic secured a win in the first round. he's going for a record 24th grand slam. and time now to leave you with ten seconds of panda cuteness. zin zin has been celebrating her 33rd birthday with a specially made apple cake at her home in a mexico city zoo. she is one of the six longest—lived pandas in the entire world. and you're all caught up now. see ya later! this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, as newsday continues straight after hardtalk.

welcome to hardtalk with me, zeinab badawi. the german government has pledged to put fighting climate change at the heart of its agenda. it has just hosted world leaders to help lay the groundwork for international talks in november. but for many, the two—week—long gathering failed to make sufficient progress on climate finance and the pace of cuts in carbon pollution. my guest isjennifer morgan, germany's american—born envoy for international climate action. until last year, she was leader of the environmental campaign group greenpeace international. how far does she feel her climate change credentials are being compromised in her new role?

jennifer morgan, welcome to hardtalk. thank you. so, there you were in february last year, you stepped down as head of greenpeace international. in march, you became germany's international envoy for international climate action. why did you accept the role? well, when minister baerbock called in this new german government, which has, i would say, the most impressive positions on climate change, domestically and internationally. i thought... i always try and go where i feel i can make the biggest difference, and the opportunity to work for such a government, for such a minister, at this moment of time in climate, i thought i have to give it a go. at greenpeace, we always talk about acts of courage, and i decided i needed tojump and give it a go. i should say, annalena baerbock, the german foreign minister you're referring to, who was also a former co—leader of the green party in germany.

so, that's what attracted you. you said you're working for a broad coalition, for an ambitious global climate policy, so that, "we can make "ground—breaking decisions at the cop28 in dubai." that, of course, is the un's global climate summit. so, what does "ambitious" look like to you? ambitious looks like a phase out of fossil fuels — the end of the fossil fuel era. a clear signal on that. ambitious looks like a global renewable energy target with financing to go with it and efficiency targets to go with it, and a transformational road map to close the gap. we need to keep the global average temperature from rising above a 1.5 degree rise, and so we need a plan. we need an action plan. and that's what we want to achieve, with the finance for developing countries to make that possible. so you say an end to fossil fuel, phasing that out. does it worry you, then, that cop28 is not only being hosted in the uae,

the united arab emirates, but it's chaired by the ceo of the uae national oil company, sultan ahmed al—jaber? let me tell you what teresa anderson, global lead on climate justice at actionaid, has said about that. she says, "this appointment goes beyond putting the fox "in charge of the hen house." were you worried by that appointment? i wasn't worried. i wasn't worried because cop presidents have a history of rising above what they're doing day to day and being cop president. and also because dr sultan has a long history of working on renewables, and because i think, you know, at the end of the day, cop presidents are judged by what they deliver. what are the outcomes that come at the end of these cops? i think that's what we're looking at, it's what we're working for. all right. 0k. let's pick up one of the objectives you've just set out, which is looking at the pace and scale of when the world shifts away from fossil fuels towards more sustainable and renewable economies. what is your view?

what is your clear objective? have you got a date? i think the intergovernmental panel on climate change, the world's scientific body, has different dates for sectors. germany, for example, the date for coal phase out is 2030. that's what we're working towards in germany, is to phase that out. it's a bit later in developing countries, emerging economies, like 2040. i think fossilfuels, you're looking at moving into 2040, 2050, but it's pretty clear we already have too much fossil fuel infrastructure. the scientists have told us we can't build new fossil fuel infrastructure, so we really need a course correction right now. that's why we have to build up the renewables component while we're phasing down fossil fuels step by step. you say the scientists tell us that we shouldn't build new fossil fuel infrastructure. so are you, then, of the firm view that countries in africa, for instance, that have discovered oil and gas shouldn't be given any investment? because i tell you why — tanzania's energy minister, january makamba, said in february

this year, "for a move away "from hypocrisy by wealthy nations refusing to finance gas projects." is he right or is he wrong? well, you know what, i guess what we're trying to make happen is an alternative way forward for tanzania. how do we actually invest? and that's what we're doing in renewable energy, that brings energy access, that doesn't lock countries into potential long—term assets that become stranded assets so that they have to phase out the gas. but i think it's on us, developed countries, to actually provide those types of support and actually the offer, the opportunity, so that countries don't have to make that choice, because if you look... but they have to make that choice. he said the key word is "hypocrisy". he's talking about the double standards. sure. you've mentioned how you are phasing out coal in germany, but currently it accounts for 32% of germany's energy. you have more coal plants in europe than anybody else. you generated the most

coal—fired emissions in 2022. is it defensible, then, that you're saying, "we're "continuing with our dirty ways but you, in tanzania or wherever "else in africa, should try and do what we ourselves cannot achieve"? no, of course not, but that's not what's happening in germany. germany is doing this. germany is making the decisions to phase out coal by 2030. but you're still using it. we're still using it. but by 2030... law — this is law. we're looking, we're aiming... we have policies in place to phase out coal in germany. we have policies in place. we've passed the largest renewable energy package in our history to phase up renewables to 80% by 2030. we have an energy efficiency law. we have all of these. so, we're in this. we're in the thick of it. but you're not on track in germany. and i know that you are in charge of germany's international climate action area, but what happens in germany affects your international reputation...

absolutely. ..and your credibility. when you have the german economy minister and vice—chancellor robert habeck saying, "we're not on track, "it has to be said quite clearly." the figures show that germany is not actually meeting its own targets. "in order to meet climate targets up to 2030, we have to cut "emissions by 6% each year. "since 2010, we have not even achieved an average 2% drop "per year," says dirk messner, president of the german environment agency, the uba. which is why in the last 15 months this government has done more than happened in the previous 16 years. so, since this government has come on board... we're not there yet. we have gaps. way off track. that's why we have a climate law. we're at 40% reduction already. we're aiming to 65%. we see that the coal that we had to bring on for the war, which was a big topic, rightfully so, because we phased out russian fossil fuels in less than a year. 55% of our imports

were from russia — gas. so, we had to bring a bit of coal, although we're phasing down. that has now been replaced by renewable energy. we're meeting our targets, actually, earlier. well, it doesn't look like you are. on the whole... yeah, sorry. go on. but on the whole, we have more to do. but i think the thing to understand is that we are doing this. we are having the societal debates. but not very successfully. you're setting the targets, but not necessarily meeting them. when we're looking at the global south and the global north, because, you know, you sit at the table with these two groups, germany's part of the global north. mm—hm. so, you know, people won'tjust look at germany separately. if they look at what's happening in the uk, for instance, they'll paint you all with the same brush. the uk climate watchdog, the climate change committee, has said, and its chair is the former environment minister in the uk, john gummer, now lord deben, he has criticised the british government for approving new deep coal mines,

the first in 30 years, plans for a new major oilfield off the coast of scotland. he says, "how can we ask countries in africa not to develop oil? "how can we ask other nations not to expand their fossil fuel "production if we start doing it ourselves?" i mean, first of all, i think it's important to know that countries differentiate. so, countries want to work with germany right now. 66% of our electricity in may was generated by renewable energy. we did an mou last week with china where we agreed to accelerate our implementation. i know you said that about germany, but my point was that you are part of the global north. of course. people put you, france, the uk... not necessarily, no. you are part of the global north. of course. but what i find is that there is a difference and people recognise it. climate is a bridge, actually, to be doing cooperation with countries which might be difficult on other topics. so, the agreement we did last week with china,

where we were working together to accelerate implementation on climate, is an example of that. but of course, if you want to be credible and work internationally, you need to have a credible law. you need to respond when commissions come in and say, "you're off track," and put new laws on the table or else you won't be credible internationally and you won't be able to forge the types of partnerships that we're working on right now with a range of different countries. all right. you've talked about how every country has got to see it, you know, as it does. i want to put to you what president macky sall of senegal said when he became chair of the african union. in senegal, there are major gas discoveries. and he said last year, "putting an end to the financing "of gas will deeply affect and threaten our efforts "for social development. "while remaining committed to the fight against "climate change, it is legitimate that our countries demand a fair "and equitable energy transition." mm—hm. so should there be an energy transition for developing countries, such as senegal, to use gas for a transitional period? and if so, how long should

that period be, in your view? well, i think with senegal, actually, last week we agreed a just energy transition partnership with senegal, where senegal has agreed to put in place 40% renewable energy by 2030, and developed countries have come in with a package of $2.5 billion to support it. every country, of course, can take its pathway, of course. i think the question that i have and that i'm confronted with often by other leaders in africa is, "why are you asking us to provide "you with fossil fuels when what we actually want to do "is have a different development pathway that's about decentralised "renewable energy and scaling it up? "why is it that so little amount of funding is going "to renewables in africa?" that is a problem because then itjust perpetuates the same model of an extractivist development model where fossil fuels come to the north and we use them and continue to do what we're doing. certainly. so, instead, we are

working on partnerships. we've just done one with colombia where we say, "ok, on eye level, "what are you looking for? "what kind of local value creation can we have in your country? "what kind ofjob training?" we're doing this with kenya, with president ruto, in order to provide those jobs, get the renewables moving, so you can become an expert in green hydrogen. yeah. and they want a clean future... they do. ..but they're saying, in the meantime, "we cannot "industrialise our countries without using the fossil fuels "that we have discovered." i want to put to you this point, same point, by an international energy agency report last year. it said that africa's industrialisation, it says, relies in part on expanding its natural gas use. and even if it were to expand all the gas resources that have been discovered to date, it would only result in 0.5% increase in global carbon emissions.

a lot of people might say that seems a small price to pay. but i think the question is, "what's the longer—term development " pathway for these countries? " so, another example, namibia — we're working with them... could you just answer that question, though? cos, really, if it's such a small incremental increase and yet it will provide all the jobs and all the development that developing countries need, it seems quite a small incremental increase, especially given that sub—saharan africa only accounts for 0.5% of global carbon emissions. an extra 0.5% is not very much. no, it's not very much and countries have the right to decide how they're going to develop. i think the question is, if you're looking at the moment we're in right now, where the climate crisis is here and now, 36 million people in eastern africa with drought, over a three—year drought, and you're looking at having to halve global emissions, africa needs to develop and we need to have an alternative development

model to what we've had thus far. so if we can, and this is an if, but this is what we're trying to make happen through different partnerships, provide different models, where africa doesn't have to go through the same fossil fuel trap that we went through. but instead, through investments, can build its renewable energy for its own energy access, which is far better than having... but that investment is not there, is it? it's starting to happen. it's not there, is it? not yet. not by a long, long chalk. no, and that's why we need to change the international financial system. yes, but i mean, are you notjust heckling a steam—roller? 1a years ago, the rich world pledged to pay $100 billion a year by 2020 for the green climate fund. it's mobilised only a 10th of that. it's not enough, obviously, it's a drop in the ocean. the imf, the international monetary fund, estimates that now we need trillions of dollars a year for climate protection and adaptation.

africa alone needs three trillion within the next seven years. climate finance is at the centre of it all. yeah. germany is one of the largest donors to the green climate fund. germany is the largest donor to the adaptation fund. we think, after going through the analysis, that the 100 billion will finally be met this year. that's what we need to have verified. it's peanuts, isn't it? which is peanuts. we need the trillions, which is why we're working on things like debt forgiveness. we're working on things like climate swaps. like reforming the world bank so that the money moves. we have to get... countries can't get investment in renewable energy, so we have to bring down those risks so that there can be investment. all of that is what we're working on. it's going to take such a long time. in the meantime, you've got people in the developing world, 800 million globally, who don't have access to energy and power. that's why we're. .. sitting down, candlelight, doing their homework. women choking to death cos they haven't got clean cooking fuel.

right. and you're going to wait for the world to put the money in when they've demonstrated in the last 1a years that they've only put a fraction in of what they've pledged. well, we're not waiting. we're not. but there's no money. i mean, it's not coming, is it? there is money. it is coming. you can look at, for example, this last year, we worked with other countries to work with indonesia, that decided that they were going to peak their coal seven years earlier. they were going to double their renewable energy target and therefore we put a package on the table for them to be able to do that and have the confidence to do that. we've done a similar thing with vietnam, where g7 countries... it's a new model, because it's clear we have to change things. it's clear it's not moving fast enough and that's a big priority of germany because we've been leading on climate finance. but we also, next year... how much have you put in? you've put a couple of billion into this new climate fund?

so we have a commitment to have a 6 billion commitment by 2025 overall. we've just upped our commitment... that is a drop in the ocean, i keep on saying it to you. when the imf says that we need trillions of dollars for climate protection and adaptation. yes. you know, germany alone isn't going to be able to help... no. ..the global south. and, you know, people say, notjust africa, they say, "oh, "when you need to find the trillions, "whether it's for the ukraine war, "which understandably is an awful tragedy, "or when you need to put strong floors in your economies to combat "the economic impact of covid, you come up with the trillions. "and yet when it comes to us for adaptation..." — because mitigation, of course, isn't so relevant for so many countries in the global south — "..it�*s not there." and when you look at private sector money, most of it goes into the global north and china. i'm with you and this is what we're working to change.

we did a report last year with canada to look at this 100 billion — and what are the main problems? private sector mobilisation is not happening. so, that's why there was a summit last week. we'll see if the matching starts to happen more. access to finance is a key issue. we're working to make it more possible for small island states and countries to get access faster from the green climate fund. the multilateral development banks were set up decades ago — not fit for purpose. germany and the us is leading a reform. that's up for next year. debt reduction — that when a climate disaster hits, that countries don't have to pay. germany set up, with the vulnerable twenty last year, the global shield, which is about supporting countries that are hit by climate disasters so that they can get responses. it's not enough. but that's what we're working towards. it's not even...it�*s tiny. it is. it's notjust me saying this. what about technology transfer? because that's another thing that the global north could do for the global south.

and, you know, i tell you what, andreas goldthau, university of erfurt in germany, says that most patents for low carbon technologies are held in the global north. he says there'll be little change in global inequality if the countries of the global south simply buy solar panels. "fair technology transfer is above all about sharing "knowledge and technologies," but we don't see an awful lot of that. you've got a lot of specialised knowledge in germany on hydrogen power, but it's like, "we'll sell you the solar panels, "but we don't necessarily want you to learn how to make them "yourself because we want our companies to sell them to you "cos it's in our interests." i think that's what we're working on. yes, it's true. i mean, german industry, i have to say, they are moving. one reason why germany is moving on the zero carbon transition is because we want to be a shaper, not a taker, on the international climate and energy side of things. and so when we work with other countries, we work on a range of different things. the patents is a tough issue. i'm not going to shy away from it.

what we do work on is, like in china and our agreement with china, you know, they just want to know, "how do you manage to get so much renewables in your grid?" yep. and they don't have that technical knowledge. that is also what they want. all right. 0k. but as i said, there's a bit of inequality there. how, though, jennifer morgan, can you hope to win the arguments at the international level when you're losing them nationally? i'lljust give you one example. polls show that germans are becoming more and more sceptical about climate change policies. if you look at the spectacular win that the right of centre party, the afd, had in sonneberg in eastern germany in the past few days, where robert sesselmann wins 53% of the vote, campaigning against wind turbines, for the use of diesel and gas. and he gets that overwhelming support. the polls all show that people are really becoming lukewarm about the kind of policies you're advocating on the international stage.

i think the polls show, or what my conversations show, is that there are different views in a democracy. what i see is, there's a huge amount of concern in our youth. there's a huge amount of concern across the population. and the other piece that i see that's happening quite a lot, and i think that's not a story that's told very often, are the companies that are the startups that are moving because of the policy frameworks that are happening. so, whether it's the startup that's now installing heat pumps and solar panels in houses... which you have very few in germany — heat pumps. well, half of the new buildings last year were installed with heat pumps. it's a big thing for the electorate. a lot of them are saying, "my pump works perfectly fine. "i don't want a new heat pump." that's one of the other factors. that's why we're having a conversation. i mean, that's what it means to be in government — you do have to make compromises. but what happened on that one? well, yes, we heard back.

ok, we need to be thinking of everything. so, now, the heat pump, or the heating of buildings discussion, what we're looking at is, how do we have climate resilient, low carbon housing? what are the support mechanisms for low income? what are the incentives for those that move fast? but you've got a long way to go. even the greens environment minister says that, "we need "to explain more and better." absolutely. finally, jennifer morgan, you've made the shift from being an activist into politics as germany's special envoy in international climate action. you said, "this position gives me a set of tools. "myjob now is not to demand action from others, but to act "and achieve results. " how would the activist rate the you as a kind of politician? i think the activist would rate the politician... i'm still an activist. ..as working hard, making it happen, having to make compromises along the way, but making a difference where germany is respected, is moving forward, and it's the core of our economic policy and that's the way it needs to be.

and you don't think that activists in climate are perhaps losing the edge a bit? we've seen criticisms against the kind of shock tactics that organisations likejust stop oil are doing and actually alienating ordinary people. i mean, of course, you know, we have laws in society and laws need to be followed. but the thing that keeps me up at night is to think about the level of desperation of youth who move in that direction, the level of their fear of what their future looks like. i think often the climate crisis that is happening now, you know, you open up the new york times, the front page is all about it, let alone what's happening in developing countries. and that's why we are moving now. and it's not easy, it's hard, but it is bringing benefits. i think that's why we have 30 partnerships with developing countries around the world who want to work with germany. jennifer morgan, germany's envoy on international climate action, thank you very much indeed for coming on hardtalk. thank you.

hello there. weather conditions are remaining on the unsettled side for the time of year, all thanks to low pressure. we could see some pretty wet weather across the south and the south—east of the country through tuesday. probably the best of the sunshine a bit further northwards. but even here, for much of the rest of the country away from the south, there'll be plenty of showers around, too. now we've got two weather fronts around. this one's a weakening one in the north. this one is a developing one. and this is going to bring some wet weather to southern britain through this morning. and the rain will pep up, become heavier, in fact, as we head through the morning

across the south and the south—east, maybe some thundery bursts in there. this weather fronts across scotland and northern ireland will be weakening as it moves southwards, and on either side, it'll be sunshine and showers. these sorts of temperatures are below par for the time of year, but depending on how much sunshine we get in the south does depend on the temperatures. at the moment, it looks like it could be quite wet. temperatures around the mid—teens for the south—east. so we could see some significant disruptions to play at wimbledon with this rain, which will tend to last through the afternoon, perhaps into the evening, turning heavier as it develops into an area of low pressure. it doesn't look like the low countries will bear the brunt of that. elsewhere, it's clear spells and a few showers to start wednesday. so there's that area of low pressure heading towards denmark, deepening as it does so. for us, we're in between weather systems on wednesday, so not a bad day, i think. there will be plenty of sunshine from the word go, but then showers could develop anywhere. most of them will be across scotland and northern ireland, closer to this area of low pressure,

and some of them could be heavy, maybe thundery for western scotland. temperature—wise, maybe a degree or so up because the winds will be lighter and maybe some more sunshine around, so up to 21 degrees. and then for thursday, this area of low pressure starts to push towards the west of the country. higher pressure begins to build towards the near continent. so i think thursday, not a bad—looking day. we start to switch our winds up from the south. that will be drawing up some warm airfrom france and iberia. so, with more sunshine around, winds coming up from the south, we could see higher temperatures, 22 or 23 degrees there. this is the pressure set—up for the end of the week, friday and the weekend. a deep low out to the west. this weather front will bring some thundery rain to the west of the country. but for england and wales, we'll be drawing up a southerly wind. so it could be quite warm on friday, with some sunshine in the south, but with low pressure nearby, there will always been an increasing threat of showers and thunderstorms.