Australia will take a formal pledge to cut emissions to net-zero by 2050 to the UN climate conference in Glasgow, after the Nationals signed on to the policy at the weekend.

It’s hardly world-beating. Countries taking part in the conference are being urged to commit to drastic measures to cut emissions by half over the next decade, in an effort to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.

The UK has committed to reducing emissions by 68 per cent of 1990 levels by 2030, while the United States has committed to a 52 per cent reduction on 2005 levels by 2030.

Australia’s targets of a 26-28 per cent reduction by 2030 have not changed.

Today on Please Explain, environment reporter Miki Perkins joins Bianca Hall to discuss a new project by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald showing the effects of climate change – from increased bushfires to Arctic heatwaves – that are with us already.