In the northern hemisphere, this summer has been a record one, with unprecedented temperatures being measured in the Arctic.

Pam Pearson, founder and director of the International Climate Cryosphere Initiative, spoke about how warming temperatures are impacting the icy regions of our planet.

The Wadden Sea lies to the north-west of Germany’s coastline and it’s there that the World Wildlife Fund is demanding measures to combat the effects of rising sea levels. Over centuries, people there have claimed land from the water and built long lines of dikes to protect it. But far from the shores of the mainland, are other, more natural defenses, which now need some protecting of their own.

The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change or IPCC has published its first special report on the impacts of a warming world on the Earth's oceans and the icy regions of the planet. Climatologist Hans-Otto Pörtner is co-chair of the IPCC working group on impacts, adaptation and vulnerability.

As the world struggles to adapt to a rapidly warming climate and find ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Danish economist and environmentalist Inger Andersen took over the helm at UNEP, the United Nations Environment Programme, based in Nairobi, in June of this year. She talks about the challenges and opportunities facing mankind.

Alaska is warming more than twice as fast as the global average. The once chilly US state has had a record-breaking summer. In western Alaska, residents saw dead salmon in the river and berries ripening way too early. And the Arctic Sea ice is diminishing steadily. We look at out how the warming climate is affecting people up north.

Some young animals get more than half a chance, although they find themselves stranded on beaches around the world, separated from their moms. Every year, orphaned seals or sea otters end up on their own — injured, weak and scared. Experts help them recover in captivity. But how do you make sure they can return to the wild and don't become reliant on their helpers?

Edward Davey is the author of a book entitled "Given Half a Chance — Ten Ways to Save the World." He says there are plenty of reasons for "qualified optimism," even against the background of unprecedented climate events. Are his ten ways to "save the world" realistic or utopian?

In Lebanon, most waste plastic ends up where it doesn't belong: in rivers, on the beach, on the streets, in the forest. George Bitar was frustrated with the situation — so he invented an app: just a few clicks and someone will come by to pick up and dispose of the plastic garbage.

Plastic waste is one of the main obstacles to be tackled in the struggle to save the planet. In the UK some supermarkets are trying to reduce the pile by offering a selection of their products without any plastic packaging. So how much plastic does result from an average food-shop — and how easy is it to do without it?

To unpack the ecological implications of what fires in the Amazon mean for countries in South America, and for the world, DW spoke with Quentin Lejeune, a climate scientist with the organization Climate Analytics.