As the world’s biggest climate conference nears in Azerbaijan, observers say little should be expected from a host country that has questionable environmental and human rights credentials. But the talks should not be written off as negotiators work on a deal to compensate climate-vulnerable countries. By Hannah Alcoseba Fernandez

From Greek wildfires to African floods, the costs of extreme weather is making insurance unsustainable. By Ian Duff

The idea that we can exceed global warming targets then fix the problem with technology is a dangerous myth, scientists warn. By Robert Watson, James Dyke and Wolfgang Knorr

Carbon capture and storage has been hailed as a potential way to reduce emissions, but it is more likely to increase them by boosting oil and gas extraction. The cheaper and more effective solution is to move to cleaner forms of energy. By Kevin Morrison