In The News

Learning to Speak Climate

Thomas L. Friedman August 7, 2008
The effects of climate change are slow and pernicious, suggests Thomas Friedman in his New York Times column. Too many anticipate massive disasters on the scale of Hurricane Katrina, striking New Orleans in 2005 with broken dams and flooding. But instead, notices of climate change already arrive steadily by post, warns Danish geologist Minik Thorleif Rosing, in the form of higher bills for water...

7-Square-Mile Ice Sheet Breaks Loose in Canada

August 1, 2008
A seven mile long Canadian ice sheet has broken off an ice shelf in the Arctic, which is the largest piece shed by one of Canada's ice shelves since the Ayles shelf broke loose in 2005 from the coast of Ellesmere. Ice shelves, formed by snow and freezing water, are large platforms of thick, ancient sea ice that float on the ocean's surface. Research suggests that the current Arctic...

Parallel Universe

Nayan Chanda July 22, 2008
At the Tallberg Forum in late June, it became apparent that politicians and scientists are often on different wavelengths. Scientists accept with much certainty that the Arctic ice sheet is melting and that temperatures are rising. Others worry about the increasing amounts of fossil fuels being emitted into the atmosphere. Scientists recognize that the current situation will lead to droughts,...

Time to Cut the Knot

July 9, 2008
Ideally, the US would possess its own energy sources, thus ensuring energy independence and stability. Unfortunately, a dependence on fossil fuels leads to drilling around pristine beaches and using technologies that exacerbate global warming. During a presidential- election year, politicians are less willing to take a firm stance on environmental protection – and pursue any short-term measures...

No Ice at the North Pole

Steve Connor July 2, 2008
Researchers suggest that the North Pole could completely lose its ice this summer for the first time in human history. The rate of melting has increased in recent years and a greater proportion of the ice is from a single season, reports Steve Connor for the Independent. “The polar regions are experiencing the most dramatic increase in average temperatures due to global warming and scientists...

Globalization Is Good

Peter Mandelson June 11, 2008
The US has been a major driver behind globalization of trade, and either Barack Obama or John McCain will preside over the next phase. Peter Mandelson, EU trade commissioner lays out the challenges for the next US president and offers advice: The global economy is no longer based on a powerful center, inequality within a society matters as much as inequality between countries, and trade...

Climate Change After Kyoto – A Blueprint for a Realistic Approach

Peter J. Wilcoxen May 28, 2008
Leaders of developed nations have long attempted to push the US into action on climate change – and public support has been building in the US itself for such action. As a result, the candidates competing for US president are in agreement that climate change is a problem and that the US government should take action. One obstacle, though, to strong, quick action is the reliance of US citizens on...