Climate Change & Energy

Why do people leave? Environmental change motivates human migration

It is widely accepted that environmental change can influence human migration, but often these effects are most understood at the local scale, leaving the global picture obscure. A recent study uses spatial tools and global data to draw a clearer picture of what environmental conditions motivate human migration at the global scale.

Friday, February 19, 2016

Enni Kallio

Moths, bats, and climate change: How changing weather could threaten migration

Weather can change the day-to-day life of agricultural pests, like the corn earworm moth. But how do weather systems affect large groups of migrating moths and the migrating bats that prey on them? And how might shifts to those systems caused by climate change impact agriculture?

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Nicole Wooten

Linking climate impacts and public health: Just what the doctor ordered

Climate change poses a significant threat to both the environment and public health providing the opportunity to maximize co-benefits through mitigation and adaptation planning.

Friday, February 12, 2016

Samantha Hudson

Disappearing glaciers pose downstream threat in Pacific Northwest

Glaciers are melting at high rates worldwide due to changes in global temperature. New research shows that in Canada most glaciers present in inland areas will disappear by 2100, creating water supply challenges throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Monday, February 1, 2016

Laura Hammett

What does sea level rise have to do with an inland spring?

While disappearing beaches and coastal flooding are the most commonly considered impacts of sea level rise, a recent study shows that the impacts will extend to inland springs.

Monday, January 18, 2016

Aaron Willis

Updating the 'planetary boundaries': A science-based approach to sustainable development

In a recent paper, scientists refined the proposed concept of Earth Systems global thresholds, revising the nine defined Planetary Boundaries

Monday, December 21, 2015

Luciana Maia Villalba

Energy innovation and emissions reduction strategies overlook the poor

There is a distinct lack of innovation in energy technologies despite the need to curb emissions. Worse yet is the bigger void of innovation geared towards expanding energy access to the world's poor. A team of experts analyzed the reasons for this gap and outlined potential solutions.

Friday, December 18, 2015

Christina Stone

Editor's Choice Winner

When it comes to offsetting pollution, wind power outperforms solar

New research suggests there are significant differences in the pollution offset by an additional unit of wind power versus solar power. The evidence suggests environmental policy subsidizing renewable energy instead of addressing emissions directly is inefficient and unnecessarily costly.

Monday, December 14, 2015

Zachary Turk

Does climate change really have negative impacts on agricultural production?

Economic research certainly back up the notion that climate change is reducing agricultural production in parts of the world. But what if we take into account farmers' adaptation strategies?

Monday, December 7, 2015

Lun Ou

Editor's Choice Finalist

Illustrating the co-benefits of climate action can encourage collective action

While the scientific community is in overwhelming agreement about climate change, public and political action on climate change face powerful ideological obstacles. A recent study shows that identifying the co-benefits of addressing climate change impacts can motivate pro-environmental behavior.

Monday, November 30, 2015