A new intergovernmental panel would not be the best way of tackling the multifaceted challenges of sustainable development.

Yet more failure to make much progress on climate change in Durban means that developing countries must exert stronger political pressure.

Next year's Rio+20 meeting must put science-based innovation at the heart of the development agenda. But the real battle will be political.

The Fukushima accident raised questions that must be addressed by developing countries considering nuclear energy.

The world still needs nuclear power — but it must be safer and more transparent.

The modest achievements of last week's climate talks in Mexico must not create a false sense of complacency.

Last month's Nagoya summit on biodiversity reached some important agreements. The challenge is to ensure that they are fully implemented.

Policymakers need better information about the regional impact of climate change on water supplies, and on ways of adapting to it.

Poor communications, not science, caused the IPCC's 'Climategate' debacle. Despite this, it must keep the doors open between journalists and researchers.

The political climate is ripe for a new push to eliminate nuclear weapons; scientists can boost its chance of success.

Technical obstacles to efficient solar energy are shrinking, but economics and politics still challenge its widespread adoption by the poor.

Tackling recent controversies about climate change data requires a robust partnership between the natural and social sciences.

There were many regrets after the climate conference but it did reveal the new political setting within which climate change must be fought.

The hacked emails of climate researchers offer an opportunity to show how science is really done — instead of a rearguard defence of scientific 'objectivity'.

Clean technology to meet poor communities' needs must lie at the heart of any sustainable strategy to combat climate change.

Climate change's complex links with insect-borne disease need solid research — not alarmism that distracts from other crucial factors.

The climate change debate offers a way to integrate forest management into development policy, but strategies must be informed by good science.

This week's G20 summit in London must ensure that any solution to the global financial crisis also commits to sustainable economic growth.

Science can help developing countries facing commodity-price and climate turmoil: the biggest challenge is how to ensure it does.

More efforts are needed to hold the leaders of the G8 nations to commitments made at their annual summit meetings.