Climate Change

By Laurence Hawker, University of Bristol; Dann Mitchell, University of Bristol; and Natalie Lord, University of Bristol | – Super cyclones, known as hurricanes or typhoons in different parts of the world, are among the most destructive weather events on our planet. Although wind speeds within these storms can reach 270 km/h, the largest loss […]

Climate Crisis

The window of opportunity to address increasing Climate-Driven drought is vanishing

The Conversation

By Margot Hurlbert, University of Regina | – Chile, Argentina and the American West are in the midst of a decade-long, megadrought — the driest conditions those regions have seen in a century. And many areas in Western Canada and the United States are experiencing extreme drought — a once in 20-year event. Drought makes […]

Climate Crisis

Wind and Solar generate Fully 20% of US Electricity in April for First time as Renewables Jump to 26.5%

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The United States generates 6.5% of its electricity from dams, producing hydroelectricity, mainly in the West. Up until about a decade ago, that was the major renewable source of electricity in the country. In 2021, the total proportion of renewables in the US energy mix was 20%, i.e. 13.5% came […]

Climate Crisis

What Remains of the U.S. Green New Deal?

John Feffer

By John Feffer | – In November 2018, the Green New Deal became a rallying cry for climate activists when members of the Sunrise Movement occupied House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office and adopted the slogan as their unifying message. A few months later, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who had joined the young activists in Pelosi’s […]

Climate Crisis

Climate Change triggering global Collapse in Insect numbers: Stressed Farmland shows 63% Decline

The Conversation

By Tim Newbold, UCL and Charlie Outhwaite, UCL | – Insects are critical to the future of our planet. They help to keep pest species under control and break down dead material to release nutrients into the soil. Flying insects are also key pollinators of many major food crops, including fruits, spices and – importantly […]

Climate Crisis

Phasing out Oil can offer a better Life for Many

The Conversation

By Jack Marley | – The EU could ban crude oil imports from Russia within six months if a new round of sanctions is approved. Excluding a handful of countries, refined Russian oil products like petrol and diesel could cease to flow into the EU by the end of 2022. The EU currently relies on […]

Climate Crisis

How treaties protecting fossil fuel investors could jeopardize global efforts to save the climate – and cost countries billions

The Conversation

By Rachel Thrasher, Boston University; Blake Alexander Simmons, Colorado State University; and Kyla Tienhaara, Queen’s University, Ontario | – Fossil fuel companies have access to an obscure legal tool that could jeopardize worldwide efforts to protect the climate, and they’re starting to use it. The result could cost countries that press ahead with those efforts […]

Climate Crisis

Climate Emergency: Dangerously Early Southwest Wildfire Season Encroaches on iconic Towns and Nature

The Conversation

By Molly Hunter, University of Arizona | – New Mexico and Arizona are facing a dangerously early fire season. It has left neighborhoods in ashes and is having such devastating effects that the governor of New Mexico on May 3, 2022, urged President Joe Biden to issue a disaster declaration. Over 600 fires had broken […]

Agriculture

Climate Emergency: Extreme Heat devastates Male Honeybees and threatens Fertilization of Crops

The Conversation

By Alison McAfee, University of British Columbia | – Temperatures soared above 42 C for days in Western Canada in June 2021, with Lytton, B.C., registering 49.6 C, the hottest temperature ever recorded in Canada. Wildfires scorched the province, sparking a 56-day state of emergency and nearly 600 additional sudden deaths compared to the same […]