What it will take to tackle climate change, with Christiana Figueres
Was Cop26 a success, and is the 1.5°C limit above preindustrial temperatures still an achievable target?
Climate change
The vast majority of scientists agree that human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels that release greenhouse gases, are now the main driving force behind climate change, which is raising global temperatures and affecting weather patterns. Here you can find the New Statesman’s expert coverage on climate change as well as our analysis on activism, climate justice and the overall crisis.
Protests, pledges and alpacas: 2021’s environmental year in review
The progress of the natural world often evades easy categorisation, but this year contained some notable moments.
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The flood of Covid headlines are drowning out red alert climate warnings
As Covid hogs attention, worrying news about melting glaciers is ignored, with potentially devastating consequences.
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The emotional journey of Alok Sharma: how climate action got personal for the Cop26 president
The former business secretary promises the UK will continue to deliver a “full-fat” Cop presidency, while defending Boris Johnson’s climate…
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The double-edged sword of catastrophe climate reporting
The media has recently adopted more urgent language to discuss climate change. Yet, stronger words have had little impact on…
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“We grow meat from cells, they are just not connected to a cow”: Didier Toubia on the future of farming
Reducing the environmental impact of meat is becoming big business. The CEO of Aleph Farms explains why he is betting…
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“The polluter must pay”: why rich countries could be sued for destroying the climate
Poorer nations that suffer the effects of extreme weather are looking to seek financial climate justice via the courts.
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Why company pensions are a new climate battleground
Cop26 proved the concept of net zero is now mainstream. But firms are slow to decarbonise their pension schemes.
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Was Donald Trump’s ‘war on coal’ real, or just the market at work?
To make sense of a destabilising planet we must look to the ideas of Antonio Gramsci.
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Why a commitment to justice is not an optional extra in tackling the climate crisis
If rich countries and elites do not recognise and compensate for their historic emissions, their poorer counterparts may justifiably refuse…
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Why smog, not Covid-19, could push Delhi back into lockdown
The Indian city, which is the world’s most polluted capital, is facing even more dangerous levels of air pollution.
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Leader: A failure of climate justice
The West’s broken promises to developing countries have hindered global action on climate change.
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Why we need Greta Thunberg more than ever
There is still too much misinformation and greenwash surrounding claims of climate action.
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Cop26 diary: Glasgow talks, storm warnings and gallons of tea
Our guest diarist reflects on exhaustion and the path ahead.
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Robert Del Naja: why we need a Massive Attack on climate misinformation
Artists are joining with campaigners to demand an end to greenwashing.
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Is a “green state” the answer to the climate crisis?
Why a Good State is not enough to compensate for Bad Capitalists: a response to Adam Tooze and Andreas Malm.
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Politicians must tell the truth: we all need to use less energy for the climate
How much energy leaders used in travelling to and from Cop26 is more than an issue of simple political hypocrisy.
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In an age of “blah, blah, blah”, what should climate activism look like?
In calling for wide-reaching climate justice, protesters risk fuelling division – but their inclusiveness is inspirational.
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For sinking Pacific islands, $100bn by 2023 will be too little, too late
The promised amount of climate finance from developed countries is a drop in the ocean compared with the scale of…
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Why the world is still on course for climate catastrophe
Temperature modelling based solely on policies shows the world is set to warm by 2.7°C.
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