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"Here, we look at two cities where, against the odds, efforts to promote sustainable living are emerging. The first is Iqaluit, a remote indigenous community in the Canadian Arctic that is entirely reliant on imported diesel for power yet at the same time is seeing climate patterns impact its traditional ways of life. The second is Johannesburg in South Africa, where efforts to promote alternatives to private car ownership are slowly bearing fruit. "

"Global soft drinks manufacturers are dependent on the emulsifier but with a lack of transparency over supply chains, sustainable gum arabic is hard to find" If youlike COCA COLA / PEPSI you should read this

What were the defining issues of this year in development? Land grabs dominated headlines as investors bought up swaths of Africa, Britain controversially decided to stop sending aid to India and the Rio+20 conference on sustainability caused widespread frustration. Click on the pictures to explore the issues and revisit this year's major topics

"Survey suggests effective management means levels are increasing - but stocks won't be sustainable for at least a year"

Thanks largely to vehicle emissions, Mexico City was once the world's most polluted urban centre. But over the past decade, a focus on sustainable alternative transport has persuaded a growing number of citizens to leave their cars at home. A heavily subsidised underground network caters for 22m journeys daily, and conditions on the city's overcrowded roads have improved, with the metro bus system and the introduction of public bicycles contributing significantly to reduced pollution levels

"As the UK's only carton recycling factory opens, Tim Smedley takes a tour and asks if it's the beginning of the end for shipping waste to China"

"In June 2012, "Welcome to the Anthropocene"-a film about the state of the planet-opened the UN's Rio+20 summit on sustainable development. The summit was the largest UN meeting to date. 3mins 38 worth watching A 3-minute journey through the last 250 years of our history, from the start of the Industrial Revolution to the Rio+20 Summit. The film charts the growth of humanity into a global force on an equivalent scale to major geological processes. "

"The west has in recent years undergone a prolonged and painful financial crisis. In contrast, much of Africa has experienced relatively more rapid economic growth. While there are questions about the environmental impact, sustainability and quality of Africa's growth, what accounts for these different economic trajectories? Part of the explanation lies in the growth of the Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) economies. These are largely responsible for higher African economic growth through increased demand for primary commodities and investment in mining, infrastructure and other sectors. They are also changing the nature of globalisation."

"A bad reputation can be hard to shake off and takes concerted efforts over the long-term - just ask Nike, Nestlé and Asia Pulp and Paper"

"You wash with it, you brush with it, you toast it, it's in 50% of what you buy - but what's the real story of palm oil? Use the interactive below to trace the journey of palm oil from the rainforest through to your kitchen cupboard"

"We are heading fast in the wrong direction despite the world gearing up to approve new sustainable development goals and a new climate accord"

"Number of proposed goals reduced from 19 to 16 as UN working group merges target areas ahead of 2015 deadline"

Sales of ethical goods and services have increased despite the recession, growing to more than £47bn last year. Since the onset of the economic downturn five years ago, the value of ethical markets from Fairtrade products and green energy to free-range and sustainable food has grown from £35.5bn to £47.2bn, according to a report produced by the Co-operative Bank.