SciDev.Net

Improved forecasting and mitigation strategies are essential to limiting the damage caused by tropical cyclones, says Peter J. Webster.

Let's encourage the mood of political cooperation on the big issues during the International Year of Planet Earth, says Nasser Ennih.

Better grassland protection and more targeted funding in rural China are needed to reduce the risk of sandstorms, argues Jiang Gaoming.

The Indian Department of Science and Technology's directive that only the India Meteorological Department can publish annual monsoon forecasts could set a dangerous precedent, says R. Ramachandran.

An editorial in Nature welcomes plans for a globally-integrated system of Earth observation, but warns it must support the basic scientific activity of data collection.

Jan Zalasiewicz warns that closing UNESCO's Earth sciences division will have a severe impact on researchers in developing countries.