Matt McGrath

Things move slowly at COP gatherings.

It took 28 of these annual meetings before fossil fuels were explicitly named as the main cause of climate change.

Two years ago in Dubai at COP28, all countries agreed that they would transition away from coal, oil and gas in energy systems.

Now here in Brazil, President Lula says the world should go further and develop a roadmap.

with tangible steps to speed up the move away from fossil energy.

The idea has wide support among rich and poor nations alike, but China, India and Arab countries are firmly opposed.

A compromise might see agreement on a path to a roadmap, two years down the line.

With a week to go, the mood among countries is unusually positive, with many ascribing that to the absence of the US and President Trump.

Scientists drill into the Gorner glacier in Switzerland, one of the biggest ice masses in the Alps. But it's decreased in length by almost two miles since the middle of the 19th century. In common with glaciers all over the world, that loss has increased rapidly as temperatures have risen in recent decades, mostly from humanity's ongoing use of fossil fuels.

Scientists drill into the Gorner glacier in Switzerland, one of the biggest ice masses in the Alps. But it's decreased in length by almost two miles since the middle of the 19th century. In common with glaciers all over the world, that loss has increased rapidly as temperatures have risen in recent decades, mostly from humanity's ongoing use of fossil fuels.

Over the past 23 years, mountain glaciers outside the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have lost around 5% of their volume, with 273 billion tonnes of ice melting every year on average. To put that in perspective, one year's glacier ice loss is the same as 30 years of water consumption by the entire world's population.

Over the past 23 years, mountain glaciers outside the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have lost around 5% of their volume, with 273 billion tonnes of ice melting every year on average. To put that in perspective, one year's glacier ice loss is the same as 30 years of water consumption by the entire world's population.

These melting waters are ultimately running into the oceans and are boosting sea levels across the globe. While the picture painted by this comprehensive new study is bleak, its lead author, Professor Michael Zemp from the University of Zurich, says curbing carbon emissions is more critical than ever for glaciers.

These melting waters are ultimately running into the oceans and are boosting sea levels across the globe. While the picture painted by this comprehensive new study is bleak, its lead author, Professor Michael Zemp from the University of Zurich, says curbing carbon emissions is more critical than ever for glaciers.

Another important aspect of glacier loss is the impact on fresh water. From the Andes to the Himalayas, the loss of glacier ice threatens future drinking water supplies for hundreds of millions of people.

Another important aspect of glacier loss is the impact on fresh water. From the Andes to the Himalayas, the loss of glacier ice threatens future drinking water supplies for hundreds of millions of people.

Los Angeles and Southern California over the last two decades has been essentially a drought that's lasted for that period of time. And it has been influenced by climate change, drier, warmer weather, less rainfall.

Los Angeles and Southern California over the last two decades has been essentially a drought that's lasted for that period of time. And it has been influenced by climate change, drier, warmer weather, less rainfall.

But then over the last two years, they've had a lot of rain in two essentially wet seasons, which has seen a lot of growth of the type of things that burn, shrubs, trees, that sort of vegetation. But then since last summer, it's been very dry. They had a hot summer and they've had a very dry autumn and winter. In fact, they've had less than

But then over the last two years, they've had a lot of rain in two essentially wet seasons, which has seen a lot of growth of the type of things that burn, shrubs, trees, that sort of vegetation. But then since last summer, it's been very dry. They had a hot summer and they've had a very dry autumn and winter. In fact, they've had less than