Climate change technology: is shading the earth too risky?

If the world is getting too hot, why not give it some shade? Solar geoengineering could halt global warming, but there are risks to this controversial technology.

This should end in disaster.

Cash from trash: could it clean up the world?

The world is facing a growing waste problem, with 2bn tonnes produced last year alone. Is it possible to clean up this mess by turning trash into cash?

 

War in Ukraine: is a peace deal possible? | The Economist

 

As negotiations between Russia and Ukraine continue, our experts discuss what conditions might encourage both sides to lay down their weapons—and how likely a peace deal really is.

War in Ukraine: whose side is China on? | The Economist

 

China won’t endorse Russia’s war in Ukraine, but it also won’t condemn it. Whose side is China really on?

War in Ukraine: are sanctions working? | The Economist

 

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has prompted an unprecedented response from the West: economic warfare. Our experts, Patrick Foulis and Matthew Valencia, weigh in on whether sanctions will be enough to stop further aggression from Russia.

Disputed Borders: Russia v Ukraine | The Economist

 Vladimir Putin has already annexed Crimea and plunged Donbas into war. Now, he has amassed 100,000 troops at the Ukrainian border. Why can’t Russia leave Ukraine alone?

Dead zones: how chemical pollution is suffocating the sea

 

Parts of the ocean are being starved of oxygen by chemical pollution from land. These so-called “dead zones” not only decimate marine life, but are contributing to climate change.

What will China do in 2022?

China’s Xi Jinping seems likely to have his third term in office ratified by the Communist Party Congress in 2022. What could that mean for China, and for the rest of the world?

Can science help poor kids earn more?

 

How vegan burgers can help save the planet

 

When people cook steak, they’re also cooking the planet. As meat consumption continues to rise, what role can meat alternatives play in a more sustainable food system?

How to manage a megacity | The Economist

 

By 2050, 6 billion people could be living in cities. How should the challenges caused by rapid urbanization be handled in the world ahead?

Russia: how Putin is silencing his opponents | The Economist

 

In Russia, repression is on the rise as Vladimir Putin seeks to crush any form of dissent. From eliminating the opposition—including his main rival, Alexei Navalny—to controlling the courts and purging Russia of free speech, Putin is deploying a wider range of tactics than ever to tighten his grip on power.

See what three degrees of global warming looks like | The Economist

If global temperatures rise three degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the results would be catastrophic. It’s an entirely plausible scenario, and this film shows you what it would look like.

What’s the future of food? | The Economist

 

Over one-third of greenhouse-gas emissions come from food production. For a greener future, this urgently needs to change.

Is higher inflation cause for concern? | The Economist

 

Inflation rates have been rising all over the world, surprising many economists. While the rich world is paying higher prices for durable goods such as cars, in emerging markets soaring food prices are a greater worry.

How do carbon markets work? | The Economist

 

In theory putting a price on carbon emissions should incentivise businesses to stop polluting. So why have carbon markets failed to achieve their goal of reducing global emissions?

Is America in decline? | The Economist

 

America is reeling from a failed war in Afghanistan, political polarisation and increasing social division. Could the superpower be in decline?

From 9/11 to covid-19: can New York recover? | The Economist

 

As New Yorkers commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11, they are also contemplating how to recover from covid-19. After 9/11, New York came back stronger—so what lessons can the city's leaders learn from that success to help the city bounce back today?

Covid-19: how tech will transform your kids' education | The Economist

 

The pandemic not only disrupted education—it also thrust technology onto a sector which historically has been slow to adopt it. Will classrooms ever be the same again?

Hydrogen: fuel of the future?

 

It’s been hailed as fuel of the future. Hydrogen is clean, flexible and energy efficient. But in practice there are huge hurdles to overcome before widespread adoption can be achieved.