Before and After: See how our planet has been devastated by climate change
Words by ITV News Science Producer Philip Sime
From raging wildfires to ferocious floods, this week’s gathering of world leaders in Glasgow comes at the end of a year in which the impact of our changing climate has been more evident than ever before.
More gradual but no less striking, however, are some of the changes which have taken place over the decades.
To see these changes, you have to take a longer view.
To mark the beginning of COP26, ITV News has commissioned a series of satellite images from around the world that shows how three precious natural resources have changed over 40 years, a time period during which the scientific basis for climate change has become increasingly clear.
The COP27 climate conference - what you need to know
What is COP27? When and where will it be?
What is COP27? When and where will it be?
Each year, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meets at what is called the Conference of the Parties (abbreviated as COP) to discuss the world's progress on climate change and how to tackle it.
COP27 is the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties summit which will be held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt from November 6-18.
Who is going?
Who is going?
Leaders of the 197 countries that signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - a treaty that came into force in 1994 - are invited to the summit.
These are some of the world leaders that will be attending COP27:
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is attending the conference, after initially saying he wouldn't as he was too busy focusing on the economy within his first weeks in office.
US President Joe Biden and his experienced climate envoy, John Kerry, will appear at the talks.
France President Emmanuel Macron will also be among the heads of state from around the world staying in Egypt.
King Charles III will not be attending COP27, despite being a staunch advocate for the environment. The decision was made jointly by Buckingham Palace and former prime minister Liz Truss.
Elsewhere, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will not attend the talks just as they decided to do for COP26.
What is it hoping to achieve?
What is it hoping to achieve?
1. Ensure full implementation of the Paris Agreement and putting negotiations into concrete actions - included within this is the target of limiting global warming to well below 2C.
2. Cementing progress on the critical workstreams of mitigation, adaptation, finance and loss and damage, while stepping up finance notably to tackle the impacts of climate change.
3. Enhancing the delivery of the principles of transparency and accountability throughout the UN Climate Change process.
The disappearing lake
Lake Urmia in Iran was once the second-largest saltwater lake in the Middle East.
It is what’s known as a closed basin lake, which means that water flows into it but it does not flow out. The only way the water leaves is through evaporation.
The turquoise waters of the lake support a variety of wildlife, including pelicans, egrets, ducks, and flamingos.
But it’s disappearing.
A study found that the area of Lake Urmia has decreased by around 88% over recent decades.
This reduction in water flow has been put down to both climate change and development.
See below how much Lake Urmia has retreated between 1997 and 2021.
The retreating glacier
Columbia Glacier in Alaska descends from the Chugach Mountains to Prince William Sound.
It was relatively stable until around 1980, when it started to shrink.
Since then, Columbia Glacier is said to have retreated more than 12 miles and lost around half of its thickness, contributing to sea-level rise.
A recent study found that between 2000 and 2019, glaciers around the world – with the exception of those in Greenland and Antarctica – lost an average of 267 gigatons of ice per year.
See how much Columbia Glacier has retreated between 1997 and 2021.
The disappearing forests
Brazil’s forests are both bursting with life and a vital weapon in our fight against climate change.
They perform the crucial task of absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
But they’re being cut down.
The destruction of Brazil’s Amazon Rainforest hit its highest level for 10 years this summer, despite growing concern about the future of this precious resource.
Viewed from space, the loss of vast swathes of forest cover for economic development is clear to see.
See below to witness how much forest has been lost between 1975 and 2021.