MORE than a third of the 47,677 species of plant and animal surveyed this year by the International Union for Conservation of Nature were found to be at risk. The IUCN’s latest “Red List” includes 17,291 species in some degree of danger. This is an increase from 2008, although since more species are examined each [...]

THE SENATE Environment and Public Works Committee began its markup of a massive climate change bill on Tuesday — without its Republican members. The Republicans have some reasonable concerns about the legislation. But their boycott isn’t helpful. By custom, such meetings don’t proceed without at least two members of the minority party present. But Sen. [...]

It’s being billed as the meeting that will determine the future of humanity. Come early December, we will be inundated with news from the Copenhagen summit. Can it really save us from climate catastrophe? Catherine Brahic and Fred Pearce for New Scientist sift through the mass of science and policy to pick out the key [...]

DO COMMERCIAL pressures have a negative impact on science? This debate has been raging for so long that it usually raises little more than a shrug of indifference. That is no longer a defensible response. A new report from our organisation, Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR), exposes problems so serious that we can no longer [...]

As the world prepares for historic climate change negotiations in Copenhagen, The Elders, a group of eminent global leaders brought together by Nelson Mandela, have issued an urgent message to world leaders: take part in the talks and deliver a fair, ambitious, binding and effective deal. The Elders asked thirteen of their grandchildren to join [...]