Research
Biofuels can take decades to pay off carbon debt – study
NEWS: Researchers have mapped the length of time before energy crops have a positive impact on emissions in different parts of the world
California braces itself for worsening wildfire seasons
NEWS: Years of drought and higher temperatures mean the chance of devastating wildfires in the southwest US is higher than ever
Scientists warn of “runaway” West Antarctic ice melt
NEWS: Satellite data is used to measure the extent and pattern of increased ice loss that threatens to be a “runaway problem”
Leading scientists accused of offering false hope on climate
NEWS: German researcher says climate advisors should admit 2C goal is out of sight, but his critics say long term targets are useful for governments
Fossil fuels just pushed CO2 levels to a 3 million-year high
NEWS: Global concentrations of greenhouse gases surpass “significant milestone”, US climate science agency says
England set for record increase in heatwaves, say scientists
NEWS: Research using records dating back to 1659 indicates at least a 13-fold rise in the likelihood of human-influenced climate change
Artificial trees and nanotechnology: climate saviours?
NEWS: US scientists are making progress on radical methods to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and neutralise emissions
Earth’s oceans have economic value of $24 trillion, says WWF
NEWS: Green campaign group warns valuable natural resource is threatened by pollution, overfishing and climate change
Ocean acidification triggered mass extinctions 252 million years ago
NEWS: The biggest extinction ever known on Earth resulted from oceans turned acid by CO2, the main gas driving human-caused climate change today
Polar bears hit by twin threats of pollution and climate change
NEWS: Plastic waste, toxic pollutants and climate adding pressures on polar bears in Arctic say researchers
Permafrost ‘carbon bomb’ unlikely but melt danger rising
NEWS: Arctic’s frozen soil holds billions of tonnes of organic carbon – and global warming could speed its escape
Twitter failing to bridge gap between climate activists and sceptics
NEWS: Opposing groups as far apart as ever says new research based on tweeting habits of those in climate change arena
Canadian glaciers could start to disappear by 2040 – scientists
NEWS: Climate change could cause many glaciers in western Canada to start to disappear by mid century, affecting people and places that depend on their water
East Asia pollution seeps into the heart of Borneo’s rainforest
NEWS: Air quality in Borneo’s rainforests is being affected by pollution from human activities in China
Chile faces “critical situation” as floods and droughts batter country
NEWS: Citizens describe environmental catastrophe as rains batter the north while the south suffers drought and wildfires
Tougher climate pledges ‘could save millions of lives’
NEWS: Goals to clean up energy production and transport will also cut air pollution and save countries billions in fossil fuel imports, say scientists
Shrinking Antarctic ice shelf raises sea level concerns
NEWS: Evidence of rapid reduction of West Antarctica’s shelf ice could have serious implications for global sea levels in a warming world
Scientists develop extreme beans to withstand intense heat
NEWS: Researchers say new varieties of a tropical crop essential to people’s survival in Africa and Latin America
Satellite data indicates sea levels rising faster than expected
NEWS: Scientists analysing satellite data warn that rises in sea level are increasing threats to coastal cities and food security
Media coverage of UN climate science reports: why it matters
ANALYSIS: Is climate change an uncertain science, ideological struggle or opportunity? The way it is framed in the media affects public perception