From a landmark German court ruling opening the door to corporate climate accountability to China’s clean energy growth driving a fall in emissions, May brought plenty of positive changes. Let’s dive into this month’s positive climate stories!

The German courts may have dismissed a case brought in 2015 by Peruvian farmer, Saúl Luciano Lliuya, against energy giant, RWE, but this is still a win for climate law. Read our blog for a summary of the RWE climate case.

With so much happening day to day, Strategy Day is a rare opportunity to step back, reflect as a team, and think together about the future we’re building at OG.

In February, our Legal Officer, Dominika Leitane, represented Opportunity Green at the United Nations Office at Geneva during the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’ periodic review of the UK. In this blog, she explains why OG took part, how the UN review process works and what the landmark outcome means for housing, the climate crisis and human rights.  

The IMO’s recently approved Net-Zero Framework has been hailed by some as a historical step forward. But behind the headlines lies a framework that falls short of delivering the just and equitable transition we need for the shipping industry.

From holding polluters to account through groundbreaking science, to clean energy milestones and stronger laws against greenwashing, plenty of progress has been made across sectors and borders. Even the oceans are offering some surprisingly good news, as offshore wind farms reveal unexpected benefits for marine life. Here's your round-up of April’s most encouraging climate stories.

Pollution from the shipping industry takes many forms: CO2 released from engines, plumes of black particulates billowing from exhausts, and wastewater poured overboard from scrubbers. Nitrogen, however, often slips under the radar. But what is shipping’s nitrogen pollution problem, and how can the International Maritime Organization and governments take action?

While headlines swirl with political tensions and economic uncertainty, March quietly delivered real progress on climate. Emissions hit record lows, cities reclaimed streets for people, and tens of thousands demanded true sustainability in EU finance. Let’s dive into this month’s positive climate news.

With International Maritime Organization (IMO) negotiations entering their final days, here’s some essential readings to get up to speed with latest development, and what’s at stake for the shipping industry and climate.

What’s it like being a Project Assistant at Opportunity Green? Aqila Indra joined us one year ago and looks back on the last 12 months and reflects on how she has grown and developed in her role during this time.

Since joining Opportunity Green a year ago as a Legal Manager, Kirsty has been key in the legal team’s work in the shipping sector and in kickstarting OG’s engagement in decarbonising steel production. Here she reflects on her first year in the role.

Amid the climate challenges, February has brought a series of encouraging developments. From new job opportunities in green industries to groundbreaking legal rulings, these stories remind us that positive change is underway. Let’s dive into this month’s positive climate news.

At OG, we know that change doesn’t happen in isolation – it’s driven by collective action. Behind every movement for change, there are organisations working tirelessly to make a difference. This World NGO Day, our team is shining a light on the NGOs that inspire us. Join us in celebrating their work and amplifying their voices!

Since joining Opportunity Green a year ago as a Legal Officer, Dominika has played a key role in the legal team’s groundbreaking work in the buildings sector. As she embarks on new challenges within the team’s shipping work, she reflects on her first year in the role.

As the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights gathered last week in Geneva to review the UK’s track record on key human rights, we argued that the UK’s housing crisis is a climate and human rights issue. Urgent government action is needed to uphold human rights and reduce inequality.

At the upcoming International Maritime Organization negotiations, Member States must account for all of the shipping sector’s emissions in any emissions reduction measures agreed.

Countries have been granted an additional seven months to submit their climate plans under the Paris Agreement. We set out key takeaways from our recent webinar with Cornerstones Barristers which discussed a glaring gap in current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): international aviation and shipping emissions.

Between the devastating fires in California and Trump withdrawing (again) from the Paris Climate Agreement, climate news have been quite bleak this month. But OG is here to bring you some positive stories and shine a light on the progress being made!

As part of our ongoing commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, Opportunity Green has joined the RACE Report initiative, the UK’s largest analysis of the racial diversity of the environmental charity and funder sector. During UK’s Race Equality Week, we look at the findings, reflect on actions we have taken so far at Opportunity Green, and what more we can do based on our results.

Last week, the government announced that it is backing the expansion of Heathrow airport in a bid to drive economic growth in the UK. According to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, this will deliver economic growth and any climate concerns will be remedied by sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Not so, says our CEO Aoife O’Leary.