英国知名科学杂志《自然》20日在线发表文章，展望了2020年可能会对科学界产生重大影响的事件，其中包括对气候变化的关注。

The science events to watch for in 2020

Climate homework due

In August, the United Nations Environment Programme will release a major report on the scientific and technical aspects of geoengineering — approaches that could be used to fight climate change. These include pulling carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and blocking sunlight. Also in 2020, the International Seabed Authority is due to issue long-awaited regulations that will enable mining of the bottom of the sea. Scientists worry that not enough is known about how the practice could damage marine ecosystems, with potentially disastrous impacts on already stressed environments.

But the big event on climate will come in November, when the COP26 climate conference — a moment of truth for the Paris agreement — kicks off in Glasgow, UK. Under the 2015 accord, countries must come forward with updated targets for reducing their greenhouse-gas emissions to help limit global warming to no more than 2 °C. But most countries have been slow to act on their promises. And the future of the treaty itself hangs in the balance: the United States is expected to formally drop out that month.

US election climax

The White House and the US Congress are up for grabs in November, and the outcome could have big implications for science, in particular the climate. A second term in office would allow President Donald Trump to continue unravelling his predecessor’s climate policies — and all but ensure the United States’ formal exit from the Paris agreement a day after the election. Democrats could stymie those efforts by winning the White House or gaining a majority in both houses of Congress. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats are being contested.

Nature原文链接：https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03910-9