5 years ago today, the world vowed to fight climate change

Five years ago today, countries around the world reached an ambitious agreement to slow global warming. They knew it wouldn’t be easy, but it was becoming increasingly clear that the climate their economies and food supplies were built on was changing. The planet had seen deadly heat waves and droughts, devastating wildfires and rising sea levels that threatened major cities. Scientists had been showing for decades how greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, industries and other human activities can drive climate changes.

Some of the biggest contributors to climate change are now vowing to cut their greenhouse gas emissions to near zero by midcentury. But what are they actually doing to meet those goals? Morgan Bazilian and Dolf Gielen, who have worked on international climate issues and energy policy for years, explored how well countries’ actions are matching their promises.

This week we also liked articles about the Mexican Virgin of Guadalupe shrine, how the University of California, San Francisco will distribute its first doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and the balance between mask mandates and individual rights.