1. News in brief: Top environment and climate change stories to read this week
Germany has announced plans to invest nearly €4 billion ($4.4 billion) in 'natural climate protection'. The country's economy and climate ministry also presented a package of measures on 6 April aimed at speeding the expansion of renewable energy.

The European Union is set to raise €6 billion ($6.6 billion) from the sale of a new, 20-year green bond. What are green bonds? Read more here.

The European Commission has also proposed tougher rules to cut down on pollution. Factories and mines would face tougher limits to secure permits in a move that could also affect livestock farms.

The UK is set to launch a publicly-owned system operator, that would take over some of the responsibilities of the National Grid, to help the country meet its net-zero emissions climate targets.

The World Health Organization has said that 99% of the world's population breathes air that exceeds its air quality limits. People in low- and middle-income countries are most exposed to pollution, the WHO said.

Global levels of methane rose to a record high last year, according to new data from NOAA.

Global, monthly mean levels of methane (CH4)
This graph shows globally-averaged, monthly mean atmospheric methane abundance determined from marine surface sites since 1983. Values for the last year are preliminary.
Image: NOAA
Canada will offer a substantial incentives to companies that invest in carbon-capture technologies and will set aside as much as C$3.8 billion ($3 billion) over eight years to accelerate critical mineral exploration, extraction and processing as it seeks to cut carbon emissions.

Norway will resume its licensing process for onshore wind power developments after a three-year hiatus, limiting it to municipalities that are willing to accommodate the giant turbines, the country's energy minister said on 8 April.