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We hear you.

You ask us all kinds of questions about the deepest challenge of our time. You’re asking us about science. You ask us what policy tools have worked to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. You ask us about your daily dilemmas.

You often ask us what you can do.

That’s why we invited you to share your thoughts a few weeks ago, and then we shared questions by area of ​​expertise among a few of the Team Climate reporters. There were too many to answer, and too many to list them in a newsletter. Here is a selection.

Which countries, if any, have a chance to fulfill their Paris agreement commitments? – Michael Svetly, Philadelphia

According to this Climate Action MonitorA research group that analyzes climate goals and policies, very few. in front United Nations talks in Glasgow Last year, the organization found that the largest emitters of carbon dioxide, including the United States and China, fell short of their commitment to stabilize global warming around 1.5 degrees Celsius, or 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit.

A few do better than most, including Costa Rica and the United Kingdom. Only one country was on track to deliver on its promises: The Gambia, a small West African country that supports the use of renewable energy. – Lisa Friedman

What does the data look like for greenhouse gas emissions over the past 200 years if volcanic activity is subtracted? – Haley Rowlands, Boston

Volcanic activity produces between 130 million and 440 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. United States Geological Survey. Human activity is about 35 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year – this is about 80 times the high-end estimate for volcanic activity and 270 times the lower-end estimate. And this is carbon dioxide. Human activities also emit other greenhouse gases such as methane in much larger quantities than volcanoes.

There is also no evidence that volcanic activity has increased in the last 200 years. Although more documented eruptions, researchers in the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program found He said this is not attributable to an actual trend but rather to “increases in observing eruptions in populations living near volcanoes and advances in communication technologies to report these eruptions.”

Altogether, volcanic activity accounts for less than 1 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, and that’s not enough to meaningfully contribute to the increase we’ve seen over the past 200 years. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, established in 2013 (see page 56 of the report) that the climatic effects of volcanic activity are “insignificant” on a century scale. – Maggie Astor

How can we believe climate modeling when extreme events are much worse than predicted? — Kevin, Herndon, Va.

Climate scientists have long said that global warming is causing the intensity and frequency of many types of extreme weather to increase. And that’s exactly what it is. But global climate models are not really designed to simulate extreme events in individual regions. For example, the factors that shape individual heat waves are very local. Large-scale computer models cannot yet fully handle this level of detail.

However, there are events that sometimes seem so anomalous that it causes scientists to wonder whether they reflect something entirely new and unpredictable, a gap in our understanding of climate. Some researchers 2021 Pacific Northwest heatwave and trying to figure out if they need to reevaluate some of their assumptions.

The latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, AprilHe concluded that our time is not running out to slow global warming, but that it ends only if nations and societies make major changes immediately. This is a great if. – Raymond Zhong

Here are all the answers to check out.

We also struggled common climate questions about food and dietHow to choose durable clothinga written climate guide for kids and explained why Plastic recycling has become very confusing.

We hope our answers will deepen your understanding of the climate crisis. Please keep asking questions.

Important news from The Times

In the photos: Behind many of America’s most beloved parks, Frederick Law Olmsted was born on April 26, 200 years ago. astonishment in his creations.

At the White House: Hundreds of people gathered in Washington on Saturday to pressure President Biden to enact the climate law. Not doing this, they said, could be cost your votes.

‘Sorrow and despair’: A climate activist has died after setting himself on fire at Earth Day protest. Supreme Court.

To stay behind: Investors concerned about climate change are pressing Warren Buffett to do more to reduce emissions from his holding’s businesses. he is does not have.

Fire season is already: Wildfires have burned 150,000 acres in three states. At least one person died.

reality check: In this interview, Vaclav Smil argues that activists and policy makers need more realistic targets to tackle the climate crisis. New York Times Magazine.

from outside The Times

• The global food system is based on very few fruit and vegetable varieties. This makes it more vulnerable to climate degradation, The Guardian reported.

• The war in Ukraine has fueled a global energy crisis, making coal demand stronger than ever before. according to Bloomberg.

• Twitter bans ads promoting climate change denial, CNN reported.

• There may be fewer North Atlantic right whales left than the people who worked to save them. Washington post tells the story of creatures.

• Older forests contain more carbon, cleaner water and a greater diversity of life than younger forests. National Geographic explains why ancient forests are important.

• The Sunnyside landfill has been a health hazard to a Black community for decades. Now, the Houston Chronicle reported, it will be the largest urban solar farm in the country.

Before you go: Aquatic life in watercolors

Homosassa, a small town on Florida’s West Coast, and its rich aquatic life inspired artist Winslow Homer to paint some of his brightest pieces. Its “pleasant climate,” as he once described it to his brother, made it the perfect refuge from Maine’s cold winters. In Florida, Homer would watercolor the dense forests and black basses jumping out of the water in the Homosassa River. The technique made these works very different from oil paintings. Homer is the best known.

Thank you for reading. We’ll be back on Friday.

Manuela Andreoni, Jesse Pesta, and Sarah Graham contributed to Climate Forward.

Contact us climateforward@nytimes.com. We read every message and reply to many!