Environment featured Archives

Ted Nordhaus Is Wrong: We Are Exceeding Earth’s Carrying Capacity

August 2, 2018 by Richard Heinberg

In his article, “The Earth’s Carrying Capacity for Human Life is Not Fixed,” Ted Nordhaus, co-founder of the Breakthrough Institute, a California-based energy and environment think tank, seeks to enlist readers in his optimistic vision of the future. It’s a future in which there are many more people on the planet and each enjoys a high standard of living, while environmental impacts are reduced. It’s a cheery vision. If only it were plausible.

We’re in Year 30 of the Current Climate Crisis

August 1, 2018 by Darrin Qualman

In late-June, 1988, Canada hosted the world’s first large-scale climate conference that brought together scientists, experts, policymakers, elected officials, and the media.

A Washington Update on Climate Programs and Policies as the Midterm Elections Draw Near

July 31, 2018 by Joel Stronberg

As Congress leaves for its August recess and prepares for the coming midterm elections, I thought it a good time to update readers on the current goings-on in Capital City and their impact on climate-related programs and policies.

The U.K. is Tropically Hot Right Now. 6 Maps Show Why.

July 30, 2018 by Eric Holthaus

A dangerous heatwave is sweeping across Britain. The temperature reached 95 degrees at London’s Heathrow Airport on Thursday, making it the hottest day so far this year.

Sacrificing the Nation’s Environment in the Name of National Security

July 26, 2018 by Joel Stronberg

Whatever your view of The Donald, his innate understanding of where loopholes in the governance system reside and how to capitalize them to his advantage should not be under-estimated.

The World is Hot, on Fire, and Flooding. Climate Change is Here.

July 25, 2018 by Eric Holthaus

These are striking examples of climate change playing out in its deadliest forms, and they’re making the term “natural disaster” an outdated concept.

Meet the Young Refugee behind Zero Hour’s Climate Platform

July 24, 2018 by Greta Jochem

Majuto is the main author of the Zero Hour platform, the core set of the marchers’ demands. Hundreds of people — many of them young — braved the weather to attend the national march, while others gathered for sister marches all around the country. These Gen-Zers want action on climate change, and they want it now.

Now More than Ever, Scientists Need to Communicate Better. Here’s How.

July 17, 2020July 23, 2018 by Randy Olson

In today’s world of nonstop information, the risk of research remaining obscure is greater than ever. One of the ironies of the computer era is that each innovation for better communication has simply led to more buzz and more difficulty being heard.

Fossil Fuel Industry Spent Nearly $2 billion to Kill U.S. Climate Action, New Study Finds

July 23, 2018July 20, 2018 by Joe Romm

Climate action has been repeatedly drowned by a devastating surge and flood of money from the fossil fuel industry — nearly $2 billion in lobbying since 2000 alone.

Extinction is a Natural Process, But it’s Happening at 1,000 Times the Normal Speed

May 20, 2021July 19, 2018 by Elizabeth Boakes

Extinction is, after all, inevitable in the natural world – some have even called it the “engine of evolution”. So should extinction matter to us?

Integrated Sustainable Community & Ecovillage Design Education

July 18, 2018 by Daniel Christian Wahl

Education for social and ecological literacy will be an important catalyst in the process of creating a culture of sustainability. The challenges of climate change, approaching peak oil, and non-renewable resource depletion are creating the need for an education that empowers citizens through knowledge and skills which enable them to actively participate in the design and creation of sustainable communities and bioregions.

Heat Waves Bother You? Under Trump Climate Policies, Add Another 12°F

July 17, 2018 by Joe Romm

Typical five-day heat waves in the U.S. will be 12°F warmer by mid-century alone, according to the U.S. National Climate Assessment (NCA), which the White House itself reviewed and approved last November.