Climate Talks

Ten years ago at the historic UN climate conference in Paris, the world agreed to cap global warming in our joint battle against climate change. France has done its bit, but all countries must uphold the commitments made in 2015.

This edition discusses the outcome of the COP30 climate talks, how India faced a disaster a day, and new research red flagging biofuels.

The UN's COP30 ended with grand rhetoric but no meaningful climate gains, exposing a deep rift between rich-world ambitions and the development priorities of emerging economies. As today’s net-zero efforts seem unable to bend the emission curve, the world should bet on new technologies instead.

UN climate talks gave the world little to cheer, but focusing on its failure distracts us from the real problem—the weak will to act displayed by leaders of the world’s most powerful countries. Thankfully, ordinary citizens are doing their bit.

The UN climate summit in Brazil was a let down, proving that summitry cannot move at the speed that the climate crisis needs. Business must not wait for grand global consensus. Instead, companies must act to secure supply chains, acquire resilience and keep carbon emissions down.

The UN climate summit in Brazil got almost nowhere, even as we’re set to blow past 1.5°C of global warming this decade. It’s a classic ‘tragedy of the commons’—which is also why carbon markets may hold the key to climate action.

As climate action stalls and extreme heat accelerates, a once-fringe idea is attracting billions and powerful backers: blocking the sun. Tech billionaires, startups and rogue actors may soon attempt to cool the planet—long before the world agrees on its risks. Should we be terrified?

The push for rapid decarbonization is meant to curb climate risk, but a closer look at the transition reveals an unsettling dynamic: by adding complexity faster than countries can acquire the capacity to manage it, today’s climate action plans may actually be making the world even more fragile.

A week in, the United Nations' annual climate change conference has seen the launch of two funds: one to protect tropical forests, and one for climate adaptation and health. But the real challenge – securing financing from rich countries – lies ahead.

At the COP30 summit in Brazil, India has an opportunity to prove that a developing nation can champion climate adaptation not as a burden of climate injustice but as an investment in shared prosperity. Measurable action is needed for the vulnerable millions not just in India, but across the planet.