Geographical

Official magazine of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

Marco Magrini

Born in Florence, Italy, Marco claims to be a descendant of Giovanni Villani, a chronicler of medieval times. He has been writing on newspapers since the age of 20, mostly about science and technology, with a focus on energy and (un)sustainability. He has been covering the United Nations conferences on climate change since COP11 in Montreal, in 2006. His semi-serious book ’The Brain: A User's Manual' (published by Short Books) has been translated into ten languages and it is probably the most intelligent thing he has ever produced in life. Apart from authoring Geographical’s monthly ClimateWatch column, of course.

Will emissions ever fall?

Will emissions ever fall?

Jan 7, 2026
Technology is pushing us towards peak emissions faster than politics ever could. But what follows may be a years-long stagnation, not the swift decline the climate needs
Antarctica ice melting

What is possible for our climate future?

Dec 2, 2025

When Delhi’s smog lifted during lockdown, residents saw the Himalaya for the first time in decades. That fleeting clarity offered…

Prince William at COP30

Why COP30 Fell Short of the Collective Effort the World Needs

Nov 23, 2025
Explore COP30 and the call for collective action to implement climate commitments for a sustainable future.
Can COP30 pivot from decades of pledges to climate action?

Can COP30 pivot from decades of pledges to climate action?

Nov 10, 2025
Brazil's President has called this meeting the 'implementation COP,' but Marco Magrini argues success depends on closing the finance gap
China solar power

China’s green revolution reshapes global power

Nov 3, 2025
While the US retreats from climate leadership, China is investing billions in renewables and expanding its influence abroad
Earth from space

Why is our planet so important?

Aug 19, 2025
If the Earth is the sole outpost of awareness in the cosmos, our stewardship isn’t optional – it’s essential
The rush for rare earth elements

The rush for rare earth elements

Jun 3, 2025
Rare earths are the world’s most in-demand elements. Marco Magrini reports on the battle for their future — and ours
What did we do to tackle the climate crisis in the first quarter of the 21st century?

What did we do to tackle the climate crisis in the first quarter of the 21st century?

Dec 31, 2024
On the climate front, Marco Magrini says we know what we have to do, but time is running out for us to get it done
Sun setting behind the electric power lines running from Dungeness power station on the Kent coast south east England UK

The switch to electricity

Dec 10, 2024
Geographical's climate columnist Marco Magrini on the complexities of ushering in a new age of power generation
Is COP29 at a dead end?

Is COP29 at a dead end?

Nov 11, 2024
Geographical's climate columnist Marco Magrini fears that COP29 has nowhere to go as the planet continues to warm
Flood in southern Brazil leaves the city of Igrejinha flooded and residents are rescued

Will climate change cause more mass migrations?

Sep 18, 2024
A rapidly warming planet – and worsening climate change – means tens of millions will be on the move in mass migrations, warns Marco Magrini
Wildfire clouds over a farm house in the Yosemite Valley, California

The new abnormal: adapting to climate change

Aug 28, 2024
Marco Magrini considers how we have become accustomed to climate change, with droughts, heatwaves & floods increasing globally.
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