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North Atlantic right whales used to turn up large numbers off Maine's coast, but now, adapting to climate changes, they are being spotted further north in Gulf of St. Lawrence.

(Image credit: Murray Carpenter for NPR)

Many farmers are defying efforts by regulators to strictly limit the use of dicamba, a popular weedkiller that's prone to drifting into neighboring fields.

(Image credit: Dan Charles/NPR)

Iron Ox, based in California, aims to improve labor shortages and pressure to produce crops by using AI and heavy machinery

America’s first autonomous robot farm launched last week, in the hopes that artificial intelligence (AI) can remake an industry facing a serious labor shortage and pressure to produce more crops.

Claiming an ability to “grow 30 times more produce than traditional farms” on the strength of AI software, year-round, soilless hydroponic processes, and moving plants as they grow to efficiently use space, the San Carlos, California-based company Iron Ox aims to address some of the agricultural industry’s biggest challenges.

Coastguard expresses shock after decades-old piece of debris ends up on UK beach

A plastic washing-up bottle that is at least 47 years old has been found washed up on a beach in the UK with its lettering and messaging still clear, prompting warnings about the enduring problem of plastic waste.

The item, found by a coastguard warden at a beach in Somerset, “still looks almost new”, said the organisation. “We were staggered yesterday by how much debris has washed up on the beach,” wrote the Burnham Coastguard on Facebook. “It’s shocking how long … rubbish can survive and ultimately harm nature.”

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Andrew Jones of the nonprofit Climate Interactive about why he thinks people should fight to reverse the climate change trend, despite recent bleak projections.

The United Nations' scientific panel released a report that paints a dire picture of the world in 2040. NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with one of the co-authors, Professor William Solecki.

Deputy PM Michael McCormack says policy will not change based on ‘some sort of report’

The Australian government has rejected the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report’s call to phase out coal power by 2050, claiming renewable energy cannot replace baseload coal power.

The deputy prime minister, Michael McCormack, said Australia should “absolutely” continue to use and exploit its coal reserves, despite the IPCC’s dire warnings the world has just 12 years to avoid climate change catastrophe.

Even half degree of extra warming will affect hundreds of millions of people, decimate corals and intensify heat extremes, report shows

• Full report: We have 12 years to limit climate change catastrophe, warns UN

World leaders have been told they have moral obligation to ramp up their action on the climate crisis in the wake of a new UN report that shows even half a degree of extra warming will affect hundreds of millions of people, decimate corals and intensify heat extremes.

But the muted response by Britain, Australia and other governments highlights the immense political challenges facing adoption of pathways to the relatively safe limit of 1.5C above pre-industrial temperatures outlined on Monday by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a new report. Noel King talks to Kristie Ebi, a co-author of the report, about what it says about the consequences of climate change.

UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says coal-fired electricity must end by 2050 if we are to limit global warming rises to 1.5C

• Full report: We have 12 years to limit climate change catastrophe, warns UN
  
• Overwhelmed by climate change? Here’s what you can do

12.14pm BST

Summary:

That is it from the liveblog. For all the news and reaction to the IPCC report please follow our coverage here.

11.31am BST

Julie Hirigoyen, chief executive at UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), said:

This report from the IPCC is a wake-up call for governments and businesses across the globe. One of the goals of the international 2015 COP21 climate deal was to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, recognising that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change. This latest IPCC report points to the urgency and scale of action required to achieve this, which should be keenly reviewed by every single boardroom. There is no doubt that business leaders need to make bold decisions today to transition to a low/no-carbon economy that can sustain future generations.

The construction and property industry in the UK is an economic juggernaut, and our buildings account for approximately 30% of carbon emissions. It is also the industry with the most cost-effective means of reducing carbon emissions so it will be a vital catalyst for change in the wider economy. At UKGBC we know that built environment businesses can, and must, lead the charge against climate change. Our Advancing Net Zero programme is a collaborative initiative to drive the transition to a net zero carbon built environment by 2050 – which would be commensurate with the 1.5°C limit. Only by all working together to effect change at speed and at scale will we stand any chance of rising to the challenge outlined today.

The UN’s climate change report shows every fraction of a degree matters but world governments now have the chance to deliver a safer future

The new 1.5C report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is a sophisticated intelligence briefing on the fate of our planet. Its message is relevant to every human being on Earth.

Based on more than 6,000 scientific studies, the report was compiled by more than 80 of the world’s top climate scientists from nearly 40 countries, and calibrates 40,000 peer-review comments. It is a robust and outstanding example of international cooperation, and an extraordinary source of shared intelligence.

If we’re already doomed to disastrous climate change, then there’s no reason to cut carbon pollution, argues the Trump administration

Several years ago, I wrote about the five stages of climate denial:

In 2013 @dana1981 wrote about the 5 stages of #climatechange denial.

Stage 1: Deny the Problem Exists
Stage 2: Deny We're the Cause
Stage 3: Deny It's a Problem
Stage 4: Deny We can Solve It
Stage 5: It's too Late

Look where the Trump Administration is.https://t.co/FRQGZ8gQ4r

A scientific panel, convened by the U.N., lays out a challenging path to keep the global climate from warming more than 1.5 degrees Celsius — the red line for dangerous consequences.

(Image credit: Cllaudio Reyes/AFP/Getty Images)

Noel King talks to Jim Skea, co-chair of the U.N.-led Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, that called for urgent action to get climate change under control and warned of dire consequences.

Queensland government move branded ‘another special deal’ for Carmichael mine

The Queensland government has quietly granted the Adani mining company a year-long extension to pay $18.5m for a water extraction licence, citing Carmichael coalmine “project timetable delays”.

The extension was branded “another special deal” by environmental groups, who said the government had consistently defended granting water access to Adani in the middle of a drought by stating the company would be made to abide by strict conditions.

Distinct difference in amount of coral that would remain under two climate change scenarios

• IPCC climate change report calls for urgent action to phase out fossil fuels - live

Limiting global warming to 1.5C rather than 2C would likely be the difference between the survival of some Great Barrier Reef coral and its complete decline, according to the latest United Nations assessment of climate change science.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change special report on the impact of global warming of 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, released in South Korea on Monday, found coral reefs were likely to decline between 70% and 90% if the temperature increased to that level. If global warming reaches 2C, more than 99% of coral reefs were projected to decline.

The world heating up by even 1.5C would have a brutal impact on future generations

The authoritative new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change sets the world a clear target: we must reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to net zero by the middle of this century to have a reasonable chance of limiting global warming to 1.5C.

Every government should read this report and recognise the clear choice we now have.

IEA head says growth in renewables needs to be paired with coal plant closures

Carbon emissions from the energy sector are on track to grow for the second year running, in a major blow to hopes the world might have turned the corner on tackling climate change.

Preliminary analysis by the world’s energy watchdog shows the industry’s emissions have continued to rise in 2018, suggesting that an increase last year was not a one-off.

Five reports and an agreement: the IPCC has been raising the climate alarm for 30 years

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is set up by the UN and the World Meteorological Organisation, bringing together the world’s leading climate scientists to assess knowledge of climate change and provide scientific advice to policymakers.