Scientists say storms like those that battered Houston could become more intense as the planet warms, though pinning down trends is still challenging.

© David J. Phillip/Associated Press

The invisible downside to our online lives is the data stored at giant energy-guzzling datacentres

It’s been called “the largest coal-powered machine on Earth” – and most of us use it countless times a day.

The internet and its associated digital industry are estimated to produce about the same emissions annually as aviation. But we barely think about pollution while snapping 16 duplicate photos of our pets, which are immediately uploaded to the cloud.

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© Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

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© Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

Fossil-fuel dependent country hopes to provide bridge between wealthy global north and poor south at November gathering

Oil is inescapable in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. The smell of it greets the visitor on arrival and from the shores of the Caspian Sea on which the city is built the tankers are eternally visible. Flares from refineries near the centre light up the night sky, and you do not have to travel far to see fields of “nodding donkeys”, small piston pump oil wells about 6 metres (20ft) tall, that look almost festive in their bright red and green livery.

It will be an interesting setting for the gathering of the 29th UN climate conference of the parties, which will take place at the Olympic Stadium in November.

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© Photograph: Grigory Dukor/Reuters

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© Photograph: Grigory Dukor/Reuters

Scientists in the United States are reporting “unprecedented patterns” of surface warming, an ominous sign for coral.

© Jorge Silva/Reuters

Hundreds of climate experts expect global temperatures to rise to at least 2.5C (4.5F) above preindustrial levels by 2100. Damian Carrington reports

When the Guardian’s environment editor, Damian Carrington, decided to survey the world’s top climate scientists, he had no idea how many of them would want to participate.

“I was astonished by the flood of responses that came back,” he tells Hannah Moore.

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© Illustration: Tamara Uribe/Guardian Design

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© Illustration: Tamara Uribe/Guardian Design

Scientists used tree rings to compare last year’s extreme heat with temperatures over the past two millenniums.

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Officials said the decision would lower bills and encourage people to use cars and appliances that did not use fossil fuels, but some experts said it would discourage energy efficiency.

© Jim Wilson/The New York Times

Asbestos, “forever” chemicals, E.V.s and endangered species. Here’s what 10 new rules cover, and why the administration has been churning them out.

© Tom Brenner for The New York Times

Beijing’s dominance raises economic and security concerns, and tensions will be high as top climate diplomats meet this week.

© Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Gas-burning ranges, a significant contributor to indoor pollution, can produce and spread particularly high levels of some pollutants in smaller spaces.

© Calla Kessler for The New York Times

The low water levels that choked cargo traffic were more closely tied to the natural climate cycle than to human-caused warming, a team of scientists has concluded.

© Nathalia Angarita for The New York Times

The Biden administration is tightening efficiency rules for water heaters, stoves and other appliances, and conservative politicians are dialing up their criticisms.

© Beth Hall for The New York Times

Around the world, grass-roots organizers and Indigenous communities are taking proposed coal, oil and gas projects to court — and winning.

© Rogan Ward/Reuters

The administration issued a major climate regulation aimed at virtually eliminating carbon emissions from coal, the dirtiest of the fossil fuels and a driver of global warming.

© Chris Carlson/Associated Press

The Biden administration has expressed growing alarm that efforts to fight climate change could falter unless the electric grids are quickly expanded.

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Paris is becoming a city of bikes. Across China, people are snapping up $5,000 electric cars. On Earth Day, a look at a few bright spots for emission reductions.

© Ludovic Marin, Nicolas Garcia and Jade Gao/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Despite significant progress, Scotland was falling short on cutting vehicle emissions, switching to heat pumps and even restoring peatland, the government said.

© Jeff J. Mitchell/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

An international team of researchers found that heavy rains were intensifying in the region, though they couldn’t say for sure how much climate change was responsible.

© Giuseppe Cacace/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Mr. Gore spoke at a climate leadership conference hosted by his nonprofit organization.

© Calla Kessler for The New York Times

From airlines to pork sellers, corporate brands face legal and regulatory challenges for misleading the public with lofty climate claims.

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For the first time since 1920, the government has raised the rates that companies pay. The fossil fuel industry says it will hurt the economy.

© Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

The country, along with India, is still building power stations that run on coal. Elsewhere, retirements of older plants have slowed.

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There have been record temperatures every day for more than a year. Scientists are investigating what’s behind the extraordinary measurements.