Climate science
What to watch in 2022: critical moments and issues for climate diplomacy
An African Cop, landmark science reports and a long overdue biodiversity summit will shape the response to climate change this year
Drought-hit town hopes Chile’s new leader will take back water from Big Avocado
Leftist Gabriel Boric won a landslide to become Chile’s president and backs reform to improve water rights and access for communities like Petorca
Europe conflicted over push to fast-track mining code for the ocean floor
While some EU states are calling for a moratorium on deep seabed mining, others have interests in exploration – with Germany sending mixed messages
A rush to mine the deep ocean has environmentalists worried
Tiny Nauru is behind a push to fast-track talks on mining rules for the deep seabed, which could see fragile habitats opened to exploitation as early as 2023
UK needs to deliver on climate, not set higher 2030 target, say advisers
The Glasgow pact calls on countries to improve their 2030 plans next year but the Cop26 host’s goal is already in line with 1.5C, the Climate Change Committee says
African nations settled for ‘moral pact’ with US on adaptation finance at Cop26
With the US refusing to budge on the text of the Glasgow agreement, African nations reluctantly accepted a promise of stronger voluntary support
‘Nature-based solutions’ prove divisive at Glasgow climate talks
While advocates want to link the climate and biodiversity agendas, critics say nature should not be commodified and human rights safeguards are needed
Support for vulnerable nations could ‘make or break’ Cop26 talks
As ministers arrive in Glasgow to broker a political deal, a lack of aid for those on the front lines of climate impacts is a sore point
Pioneer of attribution science Geert Jan van Oldenborgh dies, aged 59
The Dutch scientist led research linking climate change to individual extreme weather events in real time and is warmly remembered by his collaborators
Xi Jinping announces biodiversity fund to help developing nations protect nature
The Chinese president called on other donor countries to contribute to the $230 million fund for biodiversity at Kunming talks
Cop26 must urgently get specific on carbon removal in net-zero pathways
The last IPCC report overlooked the technical, financial, and political limitations of carbon removal techniques and risks informing poor policy choices
Conservationists set out ‘nature positive’ vision for global biodiversity deal
The IUCN Congress has come up with a blueprint for a “transformative” deal to protect plants and wildlife, which members hope governments will embrace in Kunming
Conservationists back indigenous peoples’ call to protect 80% of the Amazon by 2025
Members of the IUCN Congress overwhelmingly backed the motion but Brazilian experts warn the verdict will likely be ignored by Bolsonaro’s government
What is Cop26 and why does it matter? Your guide to the Glasgow climate summit
Following a two-year gap, countries are due to meet in the UK for UN climate talks in November. Here’s what is at stake
Conservation summit opens amid debate over role of indigenous people
A group of human rights NGOs has organised a counter-summit, claiming mainstream conservation measures aren’t respecting indigenous peoples’ rights
New York floods show subway systems must be prepared for climate change
After hurricane Ida swamped the city, experts set out how to increase the resilience of public transport infrastructure as flash-flooding events become more frequent
Leaked IPCC draft: Lifestyle change can cut double the emissions of Brazil by 2030
Meat, air con, flying and SUVs are driving emissions up, the latest science shows – and cleaner lifestyle choices can make a difference
Afghanistan at risk of hunger amid drought and Taliban takeover
As the Taliban seizes control of Afghanistan, experts warn severe drought could worsen the humanitarian crisis triggered by an exodus of western forces
The lesson from German floods: prepare for the unimaginable
A month after fatal floods swept through western Germany, survivors are still in shock and experts warn such disasters are becoming more common
Developing nations push to define ‘unacceptably vague’ adaptation goal
South Africa is proposing a quantitative target for boosting resilience to climate impacts globally, but there are technical and political hurdles