Climate science
‘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
Following the science means slashing emissions 7% per year – starting now
Governments and businesses have set laudable net zero targets, but few have committed to the annual CO2 cuts this decade the planet needs
IPCC report a ‘call to arms’ for climate science in courts, legal experts say
Youth, climate disaster victims and vulnerable countries could use the latest UN science report as evidence to sue polluters for damages or remedial action
IPCC report prompts calls to tackle methane emissions at Cop26
Only 13 countries have methane emission targets in their climate plans, despite evidence of the gas’s potent role in global heating
Five takeaways from the IPCC’s 2021 climate science report
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has published its first update on the physical science of climate change since 2013. Here are the key messages
Science is on time; action is late – Climate Weekly
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Timeline: How the science linking climate change to extreme weather took off
Attribution science, which quantifies the influence of human activity on specific heatwaves, droughts and floods, has developed rapidly in the past decade