SciDev.Net

The Samoan earthquake highlights worrying shortcomings in Pacific early warning systems, says Richard Hamblyn.

Establishing an effective science–policy interface is key to combating biodiversity loss, say Harold Mooney and Georgina Mace.

Governments need to regain control over their agriculture to combat climate change, says commodities specialist Peter Baker.

Action on climate change is key to ensuring sustainable development in Nepal, say activists Gagan Thapa and Kashish Das Shresth.

To get the best for and from Africa, REDD negotiators must hear African viewpoints, says head of the African Forest Forum, Godwin Kowero.

Without knowing REDD's true costs we can't analyse the benefits, says the ASB Partnership for the Tropical Forest Margins' Peter A. Minang.

We should heed researchers' findings that ceasing deforestation in the Amazon could boost its climate change resilience, says Andrew Mitchell.

Sustainably developing drylands means balancing local knowledge, science and conflicting demands, says Elena María Abraham.

Water shortages do not, and will not, cause wars — cooperation is the dominant response to shared water resources, says Wendy Barnaby.

Are China's environmental projects as successful as is claimed, asks an editorial in Nature.

Biodiversity negotiations will greatly impact academics, and scientists must speak up before it is too late, warn Sikina Jinnah and Stefan Jungcurt.

China's press must better report on climate change, following recent misunderstandings about a 'breathing tax', says Li Taige.

Home to most of the Himalayas, Nepal must be at the heart of any regional climate change initiative, says Murari Sharma.

A meeting of African scientists and ministers on the environment's impact on health is welcome, if long overdue, says an editorial in The Lancet.

The common image of China as a big carbon polluter belies the clean energy miracle currently underway in the country, says Wu Changhua.

G8 leaders must encourage cooperation in biotechnology to address Africa's food shortages, writes Calestous Juma.

Luigi Boitani argues that a change in the classification of protected areas is needed to help preservation efforts.

Sustainable governance in the Gulf of Mexico calls for joint action by Cuba, Mexico and the United States, argues Jorge Brenner.

The UN is inhibiting innovation through over-regulation of new biotechnologies, argues Henry I. Miller.

China needs to change its model of economic development if it wants to curb environmental damage, say Jianguo Liu and Jared Diamond.