There are several manmade sources of the carbon pollution that’s warming our climate, from deforestation to animal agriculture. But let’s clear up one thing right away: Dirty Energy, the pollution from fossil fuels, is the single the biggest contributor to climate change. And the biggest Dirty Energy source is coal.
What’s the biggest dirty energy source of all?
Of Johannesburg, Britney Spears and climate change
I was in Johannesburg, South Africa last week for a climate change meeting. Even though the meeting was about global solutions to carbon pollution, I couldn’t help wondering what local changes were in store for Johannesburg as a result of climate change.
In this extreme heat, it’s harder to get from place to place
The recent heat wave reminded us that extreme weather can wreak havoc on public transportation and make it extremely hard — and sometimes impossible — to get from place to place.
U.S. storms and heatwaves: a reminder that nature is powerful and we’re no match
As severe weather events start taking a higher toll in the coming decades due to climate change, do you think we should bet on coping well, or should we face the sobering reality and do what we can to prevent and reduce carbon pollution so we don’t make matters worse to begin with?
Who were the real leaders in Rio?
A few days ago, the United Nations Earth Summit 2012 concluded in Rio, 20 years after the first summit in 1992. The UN officially billed this conference as the one that would deliver to us a clear road map to the future we want. Now that the conference has wrapped up, the consensus seems to be that political leaders from around the world failed to move nations in the right direction. But that’s not the whole story.
Why are there bigger wildfires in the American West?
Both NASA and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have predicted that wildfires are likely to be more frequent and widespread because of climate change. That happens for two reasons: Higher temperatures, and also a drier climate.
Thousands of deaths expected across America due to increasing heat this century
This year, Americans have experienced the warmest spring on record , and as we enter summer we’re continuing to see record-high temperatures all across the country.
Oyster-lovers beware … this delicacy could become a rarity
As an ardent foodie, I was concerned to see the results of a new study last week. The study warns that oyster production may decline due to rising carbon dioxide levels. Researchers found that higher levels of carbon dioxide in ocean water made the water more acidic and reduced the ability of oyster larvae to develop shells. This impaired the ability of oysters to grow at a normal pace, and led to a decline in yield.
Unprecedented March 2012 breaks over 7500 high temperature records across the U.S.
Does your local TV meteorologist ever mention climate change? Would you like him or her to try to explain connections between weather patterns and larger climate trends? Write a comment below to let us know or send a message to your local TV meteorologist.
What does it feel like to lose your home, your community and your entire nation?
What does it feel like when you realize the place you call home may disappear forever? The people of the Central Pacific island nation of Kiribati can answer that question.