Today we present a special edition of our daily news podcast focusing on next month's crucial United Nations summit on climate change. Many fear that if world leaders fail to reach a deal in Copenhagen, there will be years of wrangling without agreement.
Activist and commentator George Monbiot is pessimistic about Copenhagen's chances of success, even though time is running out both in terms of the science of global warming and in the expiry of the Kyoto pact.
It was hoped that this week's meeting in Beijing of the US and Chinese leaders would fire some momentum into negotiations. But Suzanne Goldenberg, our Washington-based US environment correspondent, says anything Barack Obama promises in Copenhagen will then have to be approved by Congress, which may not be easy.
And in Beijing, Jonathan Watts, our Asia environment correspondent, says that many people in China – even scientists – are sceptical about man-made climate change.
Deniers also have a presence in the UK. It emerged this week that the top 10 Tory bloggers are climate change sceptics. But Greg Clark, the shadow energy secretary, rejects suggestions that they will dent the Conservatives' commitment to the environment.
Sounding a more optimistic note is the former Treasury economist Nicholas Stern, who says there are good reasons to hope for a meaningful agreement next month.
And James Randerson, editor of environmentguardian.co.uk, outlines what a successful outcome at Copenhagen might comprise.
