System change is our only way out of the climate and biodiversity crises
Global warming and biodiversity loss stem from the same economic, social and political systems that prioritise profits and reward exploitation
Nature
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Giving nature breathing room builds climate resilience
Farming communities in El Salvador are reaping the benefits of working with nature by planting trees, harvesting rainwater and other ecological practices
“It’s shameful”: Amazon Indigenous people call for oil drilling ban at COP30
Indigenous leaders representing dozens of Amazon ethnicities have signed a declaration calling for a COP30 roadmap to phase out fossil fuels
ExxonMobil helps Amazon nation Guyana build ‘petrostate’, while people stay poor
Guyana’s rapid ascent to major oil producer has come at a steep price: rising inequality, weakened environmental regulations and unchecked gas flaring
New global fund for forests is a bold experiment in conservation finance
If successfully implemented, the sovereign-backed investment fund – championed by Brazil – could generate far more money for tropical forests than traditional donor models
Why accusations of Brazilian hypocrisy on climate are ill-judged
COP30 host Brazil has been criticised for its continued interest in oil production – but with development needs high, it can’t be expected to forgo its biggest commodity overnight
The Amazon rainforest emerges as the new global oil frontier
Half a century of oil drilling has left the world’s largest rainforest scarred by deforestation and pollution. Now it is bracing for a new wave of fossil fuel extraction
UNESCO: Vital fate of oceans on Rio+20 agenda
Wendy Watson-Wright, head of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission has called for acidification to be considered at this years RIO+20 Earth Summit conference.
Scientists make underwater biofuel breakthrough
New discovery means ethanol can be produced from seaweed, sparing food crops.
RTCC photo of the week #1
This week’s Rio Conventions Calendar photo features Antarctica’s Emperor Penguins
New Keystone XL route planned following Obama rejection
TransCanada says it remains committed to Keystone XL as Republicans round on President over jobs.
Climate Change: What is it and why does it matter?
Can’t access Wikipedia? Need to know all there is to know about climate change? Not a problem. Here’s our definitive guide.
Change your font size and save a forest
The Minus One project aims to encourage people to print less and save paper by reducing their font size by one.
Sceptics queue up for UN climate film
A climate sceptic website has offered $500 to anyone who can ‘debunk’ a UN film on glacier melt in the Himalayas, as US State Department holds special viewing.
UK launches Arctic environment inquiry
British government to investigate consequences of Arctic commercialisation on same day Norwegian firm Statoil announces major oil discovery in Barents Sea.
Maldives President: Australia should prepare for climate refugees
The President of the Maldives has urged the Australian government to brace itself for a wave of climate refugees as his country’s residents look for a new home.
Stephen Hawking: climate disaster within 1000 years
Climate change is one of a greatest threats posed to the future of human-kind and the world, according to Cambridge cosmologist Stephen Hawking.
2011 disasters make it costliest year on record
2011 was one of the costliest years on record in terms of natural catastrophe, 90% of which were weather related.
Comment: Time to get sceptical about climate change message?
Darren Hughes, head of public affairs at the Rothamsted Research Institute, explores how smarter communications could prompt more effective climate action.
Comment: Why 2012 is a landmark year for climate change
2012 is the UN Year of Sustainable Energy. The Year of the Dragon. The year Nostradamus predicts the world will end, again. But could it also prove to be a crunch year for climate change action?
Apocalypse 2011: The year of climate alarms
2011 was a year of stark warnings from the scientific community, but lessons will be learnt going forward? RTCC took a look at the major findings from the past year.
2011: A year of climate disasters
2011 was a year of records when it came to weather events, from drought in Africa to tornadoes in the US and flooding in Asia. RTCC takes a look at a year when the weather ruled the headlines.
Curt Stager: Decisions on climate now will last for 100,000 years
US scientist and author Curt Stager speaks to RTCC about future ice ages, the winner and losers of climate change and the Age of Humans.
Is climate change the real ticking time bomb in North Korea?
Already crippled by food and energy shortages, Kim Jong-un will also inherit increasing pressure from climate change on the country’s food supply.
Mixed results as REDD+ moves forward from Durban
With mixed results seen at COP17 regarding the REDD+ scheme, how do countries such as Tanzania who have already implemented pilot projects move forward?
NASA: Climate change to create huge ecosystem stress
Plant communities covering almost half of the Earth’s land surface could be fundamentally affected by climate change according to new research from NASA.
Durban Platform leaves world on pathway to 4 degrees
COP17 kept the UN climate negotiations alive, but has it achieved anything for the environment? Tierney Smith takes a closer look.
COP17: Late deal saves UN climate talks
The UN climate talks in Durban have been hailed an ‘historic success’ after agreement was reached on Sunday morning.
COP17: How the deal was reached
COP17 climate summit ends in success after adopting EU-sponsored roadmap towards legally-binding global emission targets.
Day 11 – Breaking news from COP17
Breaking news, tweets, interviews, webcasts and gossip from the COP17 climate talks in Durban.
Day 10 – Breaking news from COP17
Breaking news, tweets, interviews, webcasts and gossip from the COP17 climate talks in Durban.