THE outcome of the UN Climate Summit in Glasgow (COP26) has been criticised by commentators as unambitious, with some calling it a “monumental failure”. Even the summit’s host, Prime Minister Boris Johnson admitted the deal was “tinged with disappointment.” This is hardly surprising: historically, most climate promises have fared badly.

THE media gives outsized attention to plane crashes but simply reporting lots of stories of plane crashes does not provide a good insight into transport safety. You need statistics to realise that planes are much safer than cars.

DESPITE intense climate worries, electorates have been unwilling to spend the trillions needed to cut emissions dramatically. That is why climate campaigners have increasingly pursued a new strategy: forcing climate policy through courts. Across the world, the UN now counts at least 1,550 such climate cases in 38 countries, often filed by young people invoking a fear for their future. Unfortunately, such cases undermine democracy, harm the poor and sidetrack us from smarter ways to fix the clima