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.

The Horn of Africa drought exposes the continuing gap between our ability to predict disaster and to take effective humanitarian action.

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.

Politicians won't act to conserve biodiversity unless they have strong evidence that it is an effective strategy for combating global poverty.

Indian biotechnologists need to engage GM critics with openness and honesty to win public support.

Communicating why biodiversity loss matters for people is essential for reversing it.

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

The fight against biopiracy must embrace both legitimate science and social justice if biodiversity itself is not to suffer.

Effective adaptation strategies will require reliable scientific data both on the nature of climate change and on its potential impact.

A combination of factors appears to be pushing the risk-benefit balance back into nuclear's favour as an energy option for developing countries. SciDev.Net readers are invited to comment.

Last week's report of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment provides a timely reminder of the plight facing the global environment. But its scare tactics could alienate those whose support is needed to reverse current trends.