In our 250th edition, we ask just how well the fight against climate change is really going

In this week’s newsletter: We began writing Down to Earth in 2021, but the global political, economic and environmental landscape has changed drastically in the past five years

• https://www.theguardian.com/global/2022/sep/20/sign-up-for-the-down-to-earth-newsletter-our-free-environmental-email">Don’t get Down to Earth delivered to your inbox?

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The https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/15/ratchets-phase-downs-and-a-fragile-agreement-how-cop26-played-out">Cop26 UN climate summit in Glasgow in 2021 represented a high-water mark in climate diplomacy, and in hope for global unity. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/11/what-is-cop26-and-why-does-it-matter-the-complete-guide">Two weeks in Scotland that year resulted in https://www.theguardian.com/global/ng-interactive/2022/nov/10/climate-carnage-whose-job-is-it-to-save-the-planet-documentary">all countries affirming they would strive to limit global heating to 1.5C, with most setting net zero goals and national plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions, halt deforestation, protect nature and boost renewable energy.

It wasn’t perfect: the plans would still result in about 2.8C of heating, though they agreed to work on strengthening them, and a commitment to phase out coal was https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/14/alok-sharma-deeply-frustrated-by-india-and-china-over-coal">weakened at the last minute to a phase down instead.

But the direction of travel was clear: the whole world agreed on how to fight the climate crisis.

The https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/13/paris-climate-deal-cop-diplomacy-developing-united-nations">Paris agreement of 2015 bound countries to keep temperatures “well below” 2C above preindustrial levels, with 1.5C as an aspiration, but at Glasgow the 1.5C limit – in line with scientific advice, which warns of dire consequences beyond that threshold – was adopted as the clear goal.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/27/its-getting-hotter-and-its-not-stopping-dealing-with-the-heat-in-five-of-europes-capitals">‘It’s getting hotter and it’s not stopping’: dealing with the heat in five of Europe’s capitals

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/26/high-temperatures-millions-workers-impacted-by-heat-india-asia">‘My head spins with the heat’: India’s gig workers battle exhaustion amid soaring temperatures

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/26/climate-crisis-accelerating-antibiotic-resistance-across-world-salmonella-study">Climate crisis is accelerating antibiotic resistance across world, study says