International

"Pope Francis told world leaders on Friday that in order to address poverty, hunger, war and inequality, they must first tackle climate change."

"Volkswagen AG's upmarket Audi brand says 2.1 million of its vehicles are among those with the engines affected by the emissions-rigging scandal."

"SEATTLE – In a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a bipartisan group of five U.S. governors Tuesday signed an accord with six Chinese governors to promote clean energy technology and economic development."

"Russia has rebuffed calls for a more ambitious plan to cut its carbon dioxide emissions after environmentalists branded its current pledge inadequate and backward-looking."

"Arch Coal, the nation's No. 2 coal miner, said Thursday it has extended a deadline on private offers to swap debt until Oct. 26."

"The fossil fuel divestment movement skyrocketed in the past year as hundreds of institutions and thousands of individuals committed to selling their oil, natural gas and coal holdings, according to a new report."

"Martin Winterkorn resigned as chief executive of Volkswagen on Wednesday, taking responsibility for an emissions cheating scandal that has gravely damaged the carmaker’s reputation."

"Syria's civil war has prompted the first withdrawal of seeds from a 'doomsday' vault built in an Arctic mountainside to safeguard global food supplies, officials said on Monday."

"A season of goal-setting begins this month as the United Nations launches a new 15-year plan to fight grinding world poverty, improve health and education and quell climate change."

"Rich western countries and the world’s leading developing nations are spending up to $200bn (£130bn) a year subsidising fossil fuels, according to a report from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development."