A major report released this week by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, involving scientists from around the world, gauges the world’s progress so far at stopping climate change. The sobering assessment presents a definitive assessment of how well the world is doing in finding solutions to rising temperatures.

Leading academics who contributed expertise to the report unpack key aspects of its findings, and what they mean for the world.

The report also points to innovations that have the potential to transform the world for a safer future. This includes four powerful trends in transportation that could greatly reduce the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions – three of them involving human choices and behaviour.

Ukrainians continue to flee to neighbouring countries as Russia’s deadly war pushes into its second month. The number of refugees, mostly women and children, now surpasses 4 million. This new refugee population feeds into an ever-growing number of people who are displaced from their homes worldwide because of conflict and climate disasters.

As is the case for tens of millions of refugees, returning to the place once known as home may become increasingly challenging for Ukrainians as time passes, writes post-conflict migration scholar Sandra Joireman.

Caroline Southey

Founding Editor

IPCC finds the world has its best chance yet to slash emissions – if it seizes the opportunity

Thomas Wiedmann, UNSW Sydney; Arunima Malik, University of Sydney; Glen Peters, Center for International Climate and Environment Research - Oslo; Jacqueline Peel, The University of Melbourne; Xuemei Bai, Australian National University

Humanity is off track to keeping global warming to 1.5℃. But if we pull out all stops, we’ve still got a chance.

Revolutionary changes in transportation, from electric vehicles to ride sharing, could slow global warming – if they’re done right, IPCC says

Alan Jenn, University of California, Davis

A new international report on climate change finds rapid changes could cut emissions from transportation by 80% to 90%. Three behavior change trends could bring big improvements.

Any plans to dim the Sun and cool the Earth must be led by those most affected by climate change

Elil Hoole, University of Cambridge; Shaun Fitzgerald, University of Cambridge

Solar geoengineering could temporarily address the worst impacts of global warming.

Ukrainian refugees might not return home, even long after the war eventually ends

Sandra Joireman, University of Richmond

Even once the war in Ukraine ends, the millions of people who fled from their homes might not be quick to return. The faster the war ends, the more likely it is they will go back.

How Ukraine has defended itself against cyberattacks – lessons for the US

Robert Peacock, Florida International University

Russian hackers have been attacking Ukraine for years, but with help from US government agencies, businesses and universities, Ukraine’s cyber defenses have grown stronger.

Putin is staking his political future on victory in Ukraine – and has little incentive to make peace

Monica Duffy Toft, Tufts University

Sanctions take time to bite, and Putin has time on his side.

Har Gobind Khorana: The chemist who cracked DNA’s code and made the first artificial gene was born into poverty 100 years ago in an Indian village

Sahotra Sarkar, The University of Texas at Austin College of Liberal Arts

Khorana rose from humble beginnings in India to decipher the genetic code. But his enormous contribution to science has been largely overlooked.

What South Africa has learnt about COVID and what the next steps could be

Veronica Ueckermann, University of Pretoria

South Africa is still likely to experience periods of increased cases, smaller-scale outbreaks and even the development of new variants.

What is palliative care? How is it different from hospice?

Yael Schenker, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences

Palliative care, often misunderstood, is not synonymous with hospice care.

Hungary: election triumph for Viktor Orbán is a warning to progressive parties seeking a marriage of convenience with the far right

Felipe G. Santos, City, University of London; Dan Mercea, City, University of London

A united opposition may be a winning strategy in some elections, but not for the United for Hungary coalition.

2022 Grammys: what Fela Kuti has to do with West Africa’s growing pop fame

Sanya Osha, University of Cape Town

Of a record nine nominees, seven are from West Africa. The global rise of Afrobeats music owes its soul to Nigeria’s iconic star Fela Kuti.

Ketanji Brown Jackson and the color blind society of Martin Luther King Jr.

Bev-Freda Jackson, American University School of Public Affairs

President Joe Biden’s nominee for the US Supreme Court withstood four days of hearings and stands ready to become the first Black woman to serve on the nation’s highest court.

Elon Musk just made Twitter a much more interesting company – here’s why

Hamza Mudassir, Cambridge Judge Business School

Investors are happy, pushing the share price up since the announcement. What about users?

Amazon, Starbucks and the sparking of a new American union movement

John Logan, San Francisco State University

Successful union drives at two of America’s biggest companies were led by committed individuals, rather than established unions.

How multinationals avoid taxes in Africa and what should change

Jia Liu, University of Portsmouth; Olatunde Julius Otusanya, University of Lagos

African countries, rich in resources, easily fall prey to aggressive tax planning and tax evasion facilitated by offshore companies.