Dear reader,

It’s the last day of 2024, a year of extraordinary drama. Our journalists are gearing up for what could be an equally challenging 2025, with a second Trump presidency likely to reshape global politics

At the bottom of this email are just a handful of the major stories we tackled in 2024. All of them were powered by the financial support of our readers – and the independence that our unique funding model gives us.

If you are able to support us in 2025 we can continue our mission to produce fact-based, powerful journalism based on the public interest – not the whims of a rich owner.

You can support world-changing journalism in 2025 with a one-off payment from just €1. Or please consider making a monthly contribution. No matter the amount it makes an enormous difference.

Thank you for reading. Happy New Year’s Eve (or New Year, depending on where you’re reading this)!

Will Dean
Supporters’ editor
The Guardian

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Climate scientists on the future of the planet
We asked 380 of the world’s top climate scientists how they felt about the future. The results were stark: with the vast majority saying they were extremely worried about the future of the planet. Readers and many other climate scientists responded passionately to the project – and we also provided suggestions of the most effective ways to mitigate one’s climate impact.

War in the Middle East
Events in Gaza have continued to be deeply traumatic. Our Palestinian reporters within Gaza have helped us to show the world the extent of the devastation, while our reporters in Jerusalem, Beirut and beyond have exposed the human impact of war on ordinary people in Lebanon, the West Bank and across Israel. Key Guardian investigations from across the year included revealing that Israel’s spy chief had “threatened” the ICC’s chief prosecutor over its war crimes inquiry and looking at how Israel has used artificial intelligence to select bombing targets in Gaza.

Carer's allowance scandal
In the UK we exposed a scandal that saw tens of thousands of unpaid carers racking up thousands of pounds of debt after unwittingly falling foul of benefit rules. Six months after our investigation the new Labour government announced a review to overhaul the system.

UK election exclusives
Ahead of the election we revealed that the Conservatives’ top donor – Frank Hester – had made a series of racist comments. We also revealed that several Tories, including members of then prime minister Rishi Sunak’s inner circle had made bets on the date of the election.

Serial child abuser priest convicted
Our years-long investigation into child abuse in the Catholic church in New Orleans led to the conviction and automatic life sentence this month of a retired priest for kidnapping and child rape.

Rich countries powering a fossil fuel surge
A Guardian investigation obtained data showing that, in spite of their public climate commitments, wealthy nations forged ahead with unprecedented new oil and gas exploration in 2024. That revelation, part of a groundbreaking series of global stories, led to a powerful moment of impact: UN secretary-general António Guterres used our data in a speech to call out wealthy countries for their “addiction” to fossil fuels.

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