From the innovations and ethical dilemmas of synthetic biology to the options for appropriate international adaptation to climate change: Frontiers 2018/19 explores the emerging environmental issues facing the planet. Will the cutting edge of genetic splicing techniques lead to a huge boon for human and environmental health, provided regulation can successfully control the risk of unintended ecological consequences? Will we act in time to prevent the further degradation of climate-critical permafrost peatlands and avert reaching the threshold of a potential runaway global greenhouse effect? Can we avoid the pitfalls of maladaptation to overarching climate change and move forward with wisdom to mitigate the worst effects – for all, not the few? UN Environment experts will address these and other emerging issues with the launch of Frontiers 2018/19, its latest report on the most novel environmental challenges facing the planet. The UNEP Frontier series links new science to outcome-oriented policies in relation to the health of the environment and its sustainability. The 2018/19 edition continues the tradition of highly referenced texts accompanied by illustrative infographics and featuring the interactivity of links to videos on related research and information.