We are in the final days of our year-end appeal, which is raising vital funds to support our journalism next year. If you are able to make a gift, we would be truly grateful. Thank you.

Dear reader,

Here on our US climate team, I’ve learned there’s a sign that tells us a story is worth pursuing: when there is an issue we’re all vexed about; one we feel is not getting enough attention.

We had one of those conversations early this year. Climate justice reporter Nina Lakhani described the anger she felt about officials from wealthy countries like the US crowing about their leadership around tackling the climate crisis – even as data showed their nations’ fossil fuel emissions continuing to break records.

We decided to investigate, and in late July, were able to publish a worldwide exclusive: despite their climate pledges, wealthy western countries are leading an unprecedented surge in global oil and gas production. That revelation – part of a groundbreaking series of stories – led to a powerful moment of impact: the UN secretary general, António Guterres, used our data to call out wealthy countries for their “addiction” to fossil fuels in a speech in New York.

We could not do this work – investigating deep-pocketed fossil fuel companies to keep the climate emergency in its rightful place at the top of the news agenda – without reader support. We are extremely grateful to have readers who share our concern about the frightening pace of human-made climate breakdown, and who step up to fund our efforts.

If you are able to support the Guardian’s journalism today as part of the final push of our year-end appeal, we will put your resources to good use on behalf of our planet in 2025.

Of course, we could not talk about our work next year without mentioning the result of last month’s election.

Climate stories were central in our election output, and our flagship pre-election reporting series, The Stakes, opened with an essay by environmentalist Bill McKibben laying out why a Trump win would be so perilous for the climate. Throughout the campaign, our team published many pieces delving into and articulating those stakes.

As we reflect on how to cover the next four years, I know an important part of our strategy will be working on connecting the growing everyday economic impact of climate crisis for people who will not benefit – as Jonathan Watts puts it – from the politics of the doomsday day bunker, not least the migrant workers who feed America. Our team will tirelessly report on Trump’s anti-climate agenda, to spotlight the vested interests and bad-faith industry and political dynamics pushing us towards the worst outcomes of the climate crisis.

But as Mariame Kaba says, hope is a discipline, and we will also continue to spotlight states, cities, organizations, communities, individuals and ideas that show there is a far better way.

Yes, there is plenty to be vexed about, but we are driven here just as much by hope – and we hope you will continue to support our journalists’ work as we cover this vital issue.