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
