Media and climate change: Why we need a total overhaul

We examine the alarming UN climate report and the state of climate reporting today. Plus, exporting Orban's media model.

Climate change: Do we need a total media overhaul?

Only a small proportion of news consumers will have heard about the report released earlier this month by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the IPCC. Not because the report was dull or inconsequential but because the global media is still proving unable - or unwilling - to grapple adequately with the story of our warming planet.

With scientists agreed that the world has just 12 years left to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, coverage of the IPCC report was a flash in the pan - an initial wave of headlines receding as quickly as they emerged.

Iran's Water Crisis

We investigate the race to save Iran's water, before water scarcity dries out entire cities and displaces millions.

It is hard to imagine life without access to sufficient quantities of fresh water, but in some parts of the world, particularly the Middle East, that is becoming more than a theoretically disturbing possibility, as climate change, mass migration, environmental degradation, drought and political instability - among other issues - make the use and management of diminishing water resources an increasing challenge.

It's a particular concern in Iran, where a number of problems - not least the stifling effect of years of international sanctions - mean water depletion is now receiving some serious attention.

Climate change: Coping with extremes

We travel to southern Kenya and Myanmar to see how locals are coping with extreme weather conditions.

Navigating drought in Kenya

In drought-stricken Kenya life for all residents, and particularly the herding community, has been nothing less than devastating. Erratic weather patterns and the increasing effects of climate change have led to a lack of vegetation and water resources jeopardising the survival of livestock and the pastoralist way of life.

The Rollback: Trump's Toxic War

A look at the Trump administration's regulations cull and the consequences for health, safety and the environment.

Since US President Donald Trump entered the White House, there is one achievement he can't be denied.

He has made good on a campaign promise to repeal hundreds of "job-killing" federal rules, often following recommendations from powerful industries.

"My administration is putting an end to the war on coal … and clean coal, really clean coal. With today's executive action, I'm taking historic steps to lift the restrictions on American energy, to reverse government intrusion and to cancel job-killing regulations," Trump said.

Climate change: Is the media failing us?

Why journalists fail to adequately report on climate change. Plus, the perils of covering the environment in Indonesia.

This year, once again, extreme weather events - hurricanes, floods, wildfires - have provided the news media with the opportunity to address a planet-sized elephant in the room: climate change.

But once the storm has passed, the media too moves on. The latest round of global climate talks is happening right now in Germany but the media attention has been sparse.

What's behind world's recent extreme weather events?

The past few weeks have seen catastrophic weather events around the world. Is climate change to blame?

From heavy monsoon rains and floods in India, Nepal and Bangladesh to a landslide in Sierra Leone that killed 1,000 people, the past few weeks have seen catastrophic weather events around the world.

And last week, Hurricane Harvey dumped almost a year's worth of rainfall in the US city of Houston, destroying homes and causing billions of dollars in damage.

Now, for the first time in seven years, the Atlantic basin is facing three hurricanes at the same time.

Hurricane Irma has already caused widespread devastation across the Caribbean. The US state of Florida is poised for a direct hit.

Behind the headlines: Was the climate deal a success?

We look at the coverage of the COP21 climate change summit; plus, the fatal shooting of a black teen by US police.

After years of fruitless negotiations, world leaders finally reached an agreement to combat climate change, agreeing to cap greenhouse gases in an effort to slow down global warming.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, or COP21, set a target of limiting carbon emissions and keep average temperature increases below 2 degrees Celsius.

The deal, which brought the climate change issue back to top the news agenda, was hailed as a success by the mainstream media and self-congratulatory political leaders - who made it sound like a major milestone.

However, climate scientists and activists have since said the agreement has little cause for cheer, falling well short of what is needed to forestall a climate change catastrophe.

Indonesia: Where There's Smoke

We track down companies accused of being behind Indonesia's deadly fires that have caused a global environmental crisis.



As world leaders meet in Paris to discuss a new climate change agreement, Indonesia has unleashed an emissions catastrophe on a global scale.

Toxic haze from fires swept across Southeast Asia, resulting in 21 deaths and the release of more greenhouse gases each day than in the United States. Four-hundred pulpwood and palm oil companies are under investigation by the Indonesian government.