Eurotopics.net

In 2019 Vladimir Putin was still telling people that the causes of climate change were not clear. In the meantime the Kremlin has abandoned its vague stance and has announced plans to make Russia climate-neutral by 2060. Commentators discuss how realistic this is, what led to the change of heart and how serious Moscow is about achieving its goal.

The 26th World Climate Conference began in Glasgow on Sunday, accompanied by high expectations but also much scepticism. Although the danger posed by the climate crisis is now recognised by leaders around the world, according to a new UN report governments are planning to produce twice as much oil, gas and coal by 2030 as the Paris Agreement allows.

The heads of government of the 20 most important industrialised and emerging countries agreed on a common position on a global minimum corporate tax in Rome at the weekend. Although only targets but no concrete measures were agreed on climate protection, some commentators see this as a fundamental step forwards in international diplomacy.

Facebook Inc. is now called Meta. The company will not just operate on social media but also aims to build a "metaverse" - a virtual second world that feels like the real one, only without spatial restrictions, its owner Mark Zuckerberg explained on Thursday. Commentators discuss whether the plan can work and if other motives are behind the rebranding.