The United Nations has ruled that governments cannot return people to countries where their lives might be threatened by climate change. In the ruling the UN Human Rights Committee notes that the risk of entire countries being affected by adverse weather conditions exposes citizens to human rights violations. Yvonne Su explains why this ruling could change the game for climate refugees and global climate action.

Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of cowpea, a staple crop and an important source of protein for the nation’s 200 million residents. But up to 90% of the crop is lost to a pest called the cowpea pod borer. As Jose Maria Barrero and TJ Higgins reveal, this is what lies behind Nigeria’s decision to register the first genetically modified cowpea and approve its release to small scale farmers. The move marks an important milestone on a continent where countries are still wary of biotechnology and genetic modification.