We asked Guardian readers around the world to tell us what you think of our climate coverage, and what you’d like to see more of. We received several hundred responses from readers in India, the UK, Japan, the US (everywhere from Maryland to Alaska), Mexico, Istanbul, Spain, Canada, Malaysia, Switzerland, New Zealand and Wales - to mention just a few. Here is a small sample of what we heard.
The rising human population needs to be addressed. There are too many of us; we are living longer, therefore something needs to be done to encourage smaller families, choosing to adopt, or to remain child-free. The exploding population is an ecological emergency.
Tanya, 41, Yorkshire, UK
I was onboard already. But the Polluters series helped focus my attention on what needs addressing first - systemic changes are much more critical right now, but governments and corporations are trying to shift the focus and blame onto consumers. It’s vital we hold them to account.
Pritam, 49, Jaipur, India
I think the Guardian is doing a fantastic job on reporting the climate emergency - you’re really leading the field!
Pamela, 54, Southern Austria
I’d like to read about calls for government investment in research and development of technologies that can help ameliorate the climate crisis and its effects, such as gene editing of plants to resist drought and solar radiation management.
Brittany, 29, Georgia, US
The pollution and lack of resilience of the value chain of electronics, including the choice of most nations to consume more electronics in the year to come.
Elie, 33, Strasbourg, France
I’d like to see more coverage of mass climate migration happening now and in the future, with a focus on solutions to the problem.
Karolina, 23, Copenhagen, Denmark
I hope the Guardian will continue to cover deforestation – especially the Amazon. This needs to be covered enough to continue pressure on Bolsonaro. As you’ve reported, we cannot combat global warming with the ‘carbon bomb’ that is continued Amazon deforestation.
Leah, 36, Canada
Overpopulation is such a key issue. It should be curtailed by women’s emancipation, education and free family planning advice and contraception.
Nile, 58, London, UK
I’d like to see more in depth coverage of global harvest fluctuations, and food security in different regions.
Matthew, 33, Wales
Local councils are still making climate unfriendly development decisions such as ripping up much loved parks to expand airports, for example, or investing in massive roads and car-dependent estates at a time when we should be banking on there being fewer planes and cars. If each branch of local government really cared about their green environment, they’d respect and value established wild spaces. What would it take to properly protect our green estate, so local government acts as guardians rather than vandals?
Bekki, 42, Luton, UK
The elephant in the room is how we can make sweeping changes without provoking economic collapse. I live in Japan where the media is politically controlled and climate change is only rarely mentioned. Even when the subject of single-use plastic finally made the news this summer, the idea of buying less was not highlighted. How can we have an economic system based on growth whilst also stopping or slowing down climate change?
Helen, 49, Japan
The climate crisis needs dealing with right now. And declaring a climate emergency means that the government ought to be making every decision, including Brexit decisions, through the lens of how this affects the climate. I hope they will be held to account.
Mika, 40, Switzerland
Education is key. We need coverage that helps prepare young people for an uncertain future - more focus on employment opportunities for the future outside of those generated by the fossil fuel-oriented market place.
Mel, 80, Costa Rica
Making the link to impacts on human health, both globally and locally, may engage more people. Furthermore, drawing more of a focus on climate solutions and the co-benefits in terms of tackling other public health concerns such as lung disease, obesity, cancer rates, mental health disorders, social isolation etc helps people to see how combating climate change need not be all about negative impacts on their quality of life.
Dr Hayley Pinto, 51, Norfolk, UK
I would like to know more about the issue of land ownership (and land grab) . How the lands are used and who owns them is directly linked to the carbon emission of the land and social equity.
A reader, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The species becoming extinct or facing future extinction. Australia has lost 11,000 bats that were adapted to high temperature which could not survive the heat.
Christopher, 32, Aberdeen, Scotland
I think the Guardian does well in this area. I’d like to read more details of the way the pesticides work … and their very widespread presence in our food chain.
Sue, 79, Munich, Germany
I think the role of human overpopulation in the current climate (and ecological) crisis is often neglected. The means to achieve a reduction in population are simple and humane: empower women and girls; improve access to and acceptance of contraception (inc vasectomy); alleviate poverty; improve education worldwide and help people to understand the obvious link between population and carbon emissions.
Helen, 56, Melbourne, Australia
I think it would be so useful to highlight that the average person can cast their vote for the society they want to live in by opting to only buy from companies that are making an effort, and celebrating companies that make it easy to shop low waste (unpackaged vegetables, bulk bins of grains etc.). I think a lot of people feel overwhelmed by the information being broadcast to them, especially when they have busy lives, so we need to make sustainable lifestyles feel accessible.
Rose, 23, Sheffield, UK
Voters should have an opportunity to assess the carbon footprint of those who are standing for election in the same manner as their financial involvements. It would give voters, particularly the younger ones, an incentive both to vote and to prioritise the issues that concern them. It would identify the individuals and also, when aggregated, the parties, whose behaviour reflects their stated environmental aspirations.
A reader, 77, Dublin, Ireland
I’d like to hear more on climate refugees - the people who are displaced because of the climate crises.
Yusuf, 22, Istanbul, Turkey
I’d love to hear the true story of carbon offsets. There is a whole network of brokers and accreditation actors and others in this market. What makes a good offset and which offsets are ultimately not helpful?
A reader, 35, Nairobi, Kenya
I think reporting on how the climate emergency affects all aspects of Australian society, and capturing the views and perspectives from those parts of society that do not see this as an issue, or at least not one that is more important than their job security or other concerns, would be really important.
A reader, 35, Sydney, Australia
An issue I feel passionately about is the connection between pollution and health. I’m part of a recently-formed group of Irish doctors aiming to bring attention to the climate crisis from our patient’s perspectives. We believe that environmental health is human health. We are the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. We feel that our patients’ underlying pathologies can be worsened by pollution in our cities.
Dr Vincent Wall, 32, Ireland, Irish Doctors for the Environment (www.ide.ie)
I’m interested in the disproportionately damaging effects of short trips by cars, especially SUVs. As someone who does not own a car, it is incomprehensible why so many people automatically take their car for short trips that could easily be done on foot, by bicycle or public transport.
Mark, 58, Hamburg, Germany
I’m interested in knowing more about how the arts can raise awareness and help humans reduce their ecological footprints.
Indran Amirthanayagam, 58, Maryland, US
I want to keep being informed about: how to improve one’s consumption, the best ways to recycle, what to do locally, in your community, interviews with local people who act to make their city greener.
Manon, 27, London, UK
