With Joe Biden's election bringing ambitious promises of climate action in the United States, and new net-zero emissions goals from Asian heavyweights China, South Korea and Japan, there's a growing sense the global policy tide may finally be turning towards curbing global warming.

On the ground, there's plenty happening too. In India, a 14-year-old schoolgirl has come up a solar-powered iron to replace the charcoal-filled traditional equipment used by legions of street vendors - devices that drive both deforestation and pollution. 

"Today, solar energy is inevitable", particularly in sunny nations like India, Vinisha Umashankar told our reporter Manipadma Jena.

In Britain, meanwhile, insurers are coming up with new ideas to deal with fast-rising flood risks in a country where few of those in harm's way realise the threat. And in Kenya, villagers are finding ways to better protect springs and forests, to shore up their local water supplies.

In Canada, a social enterprise is helping Inuit communities combat a growing global problem - winter drownings - as planetary heating brings warmer winters and thinner ice.

And in U.S. cities, planners are pushing for "tree equity" in a bid to ensure cooling trees are planted first in deprived areas and those most at risk of heatwaves and other threats.

But many barriers - particularly financial ones - still stand in the way of fast, effective action on climate threats.

A lack of investment, worsened by this year's pandemic, is delaying efforts to get clean energy to many of the world's poor who still lack electric power and cook with dirty fuels.

And if you're wondering why few net-zero emissions commitments are coming out of Africa, there's good reason - emissions remain low there and the funding needed to keep them that way, as the continent develops, is largely absent.

It's time to act much more swiftly to deal with those problems and others, youth activists from 142 countries urged at Mock COP26 talks being held this week and next as a replacement for the year-delayed U.N. climate summit.

"This event is a scream from young people around the world," participants said in an opening statement. "We want change. We want an inhabitable world, as do the future generations. The time to... put our plans into practice is now."

See you next week! 

Laurie

Indian teen's solar iron smooths a pressing problem: forest loss
Charcoal-filled traditional irons cause air pollution and tree cutting in India - but a 14-year-old's solar innovation could help

As drownings rise, communities in icy regions adapt to dangers of warming
Global warming is making ice conditions less stable, bringing a need for better safety among ice-dependent people like Canada's Inuit

Angry at sluggish climate action, young negotiators 'scream' for change
Youth-led "Mock COP26" aims to keep pressure on for action with U.N. climate talks delayed a year

Under-investment threatens to delay clean energy for poor 'by decades'
Lack of funding means goal to provide electricity and clean cooking to all by 2030 is out of reach, with fossil-fuel projects on the rise and COVID-19 crisis hitting off-grid sector

Insurers float fast flood protection, as Britain fails to confront risk
Climate change and housing demand is putting more properties at risk - but smart insurance and policy changes could help

Megaprojects flagged as Trojan horse to develop remaining rainforests
With goals to halt and end deforestation far off track, researchers warn of threat from plans to build infrastructure and mines in tropical forest regions

Africa shrugs off net-zero emissions push without finance to follow
With already low emissions - and little international investment to pursue clean growth or carbon storage - many African countries do not see net zero as a priority

Brazilians, more than others, say climate change is 'catastrophic risk'
At odds with President Jair Bolsonaro, 93% of people surveyed in Brazil, where fires have damaged Amazon rainforest, say they are worried about climate threats

Solar energy on track to power London rail link by 2022
Social enterprise aims to power some commuter trains with solar energy, with government backing, as Britain aims for net-zero emissions

UK stimulus for green jobs should also curb inequality, analysts say
Using COVID-19 recovery cash to create climate-smart jobs could help Britain move towards its net-zero goals - and more fairness