Latest Editorial articles
Editorial articles RSS feed“Mini-IPCC” report focuses on North America
Jan 7, 2009
US Climate Change Science Program releases report on abrupt climate change.
Sour future for the oceans?
Dec 3, 2008 2 comments
Call for carbon-dioxide levels to be brought down to 350 ppm to prevent ocean acidification and huge economic losses.
Predicting the climate future
Oct 27, 2008
Forum for the Future suggests five likely scenarios for the world in 2050.
Moving times for wildlife
Oct 15, 2008
Climate change is already causing disruptions in species ranges but tropical species have fewer options than those at mid-latitudes.
Climate adaptation takes the stage
Oct 1, 2008
Physical and social scientists must work together to make and employ the predictions needed to inform policymaking for climate adaptation and mitigation.
Monitoring the melting of the Arctic
Sep 10, 2008 3 comments
Liz Kalaugher joins a research ship in the Canadian Arctic to find out how microwave imaging can reveal where and how fast the ice is melting.
Climate talks continue in Ghana
Aug 27, 2008
Deforestation and sectoral approach prove key areas for discussion.
Renewable energy: price and policy are key
Jul 29, 2008 1 comment
Sustainable energy resources are plentiful but exploiting them at large scales is more of a challenge, heard delegates at the WREN conference.
Going sour: protecting the oceans
Jul 16, 2008
Including ocean acidification worries in carbon regulation would probably lower emissions targets, say researchers.
Renewable energy investment takes off
Jul 2, 2008 1 comment
In 2007 $148 bn was invested in clean energy and energy efficiency, says the latest report for the UN Environment Programme.
Latest Talking Point articles
Talking Point articles RSS feedSnow: a reliable indicator for global warming in the future?
May 18, 2012 1 comment
There's much to discover about the relationship between snow and global climate, according to H-W Jacobi
40 yr phase-out for conventional coal? If only!
May 3, 2012
Robert Socolow looks at the transition from coal to low-carbon electricity.
Sea-level rise: towards understanding local vulnerability
Apr 26, 2012
Projections of global sea-level rise into the future have become more pessimistic over the past five years or so. A global rise by more than one metre by the year 2100 is now widely accepted as a serious possibility if greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated.
Biodiversity and global health – hubris, humility and the unknown
Apr 19, 2012
Is the best argument for protecting biodiversity its cultural and spiritual value, its usefulness to mankind, or the health of the whole ecosystem, including its human inhabitants? Carolyn Stephens looks at the issues.
Coral reefs – are they tough enough?
Apr 12, 2012
The world's corals are under increasing threat, says Adina Paytan, but new research is set to revolutionize understanding of how they're likely to fare in the future
Planet – and scientists – under pressure?
Apr 4, 2012
Planet Under Pressure conference calls for UN sustainable development council in build-up to Rio+20
Bridging the social-natural sciences divide
Mar 29, 2012 1 comment
Gemma Carr explains some of the pitfalls for researchers from different disciplines looking to work together
Geoengineering: no need for dedicated research
Mar 8, 2012 1 comment
Ken Caldeira recommends study of geoengineering alongside existing programmes, and no research on implementation techniques
How do we ditch fossil fuels?
Feb 17, 2012
An interview with Dan Kammen about making the transition to cleaner energy technologies
The future of food
Feb 10, 2012
By 2050 there will be another 2.5 billion people on the planet. How to feed them? Science's answer: a diet of algae, insects and meat grown in a lab (from the Guardian)