In The News

Deforestation: The Hidden Cause of Global Warming

Daniel Howden May 19, 2008
Deforestation accounts for about 25 percent of carbon emissions that contribute to global warming. Reducing slash-and-burn techniques in the world’s rainforests could substantially slow climate change, suggests Daniel Howden for the Independent, in explaining a report from the Global Canopy Programme, an alliance of 29 scientific institutions in 19 countries. “No new technology is needed, says...

Polar Bear to Be Designated As Threatened Species

Ian Talley May 15, 2008
The Bush administration has shown little fervor for environmental protection, and only recently acknowledges that climate change has imperiled earth’s ecosystems. By designating the polar bear as a “threatened" species, President George Bush also acknowledges that thinning sea ice poses a threat to the bears’ long-term prospects for survival. Though polar bears are not yet listed as “...

McCain's Gift to the Green Movement

Eric Pooley May 14, 2008
With US presidential candidates in agreement on the need for action on climate change, debate has been limited on the topic, thus disappointing environmentalists. The Republican candidate, John McCain, has had to distance himself from the policies of a fellow Republican – President George Bush. Climate change is one area, with McCain opposing his party’s stance since 2000. With presumptive...

Food for Thought

Nayan Chanda May 8, 2008
While trying to save the environment, businesses try new public relation campaigns, which may end up hurting the world’s poor. The British supermarket giant Tesco has resorted to putting labels on imported foods that indicate foreign origin and warn consumers that the product contributes to global warming. The company also adopted a "carbon labeling" system which shows the amount of...

The Threat of Global Food Shortages – Part I

C. Peter Timmer May 5, 2008
Climate change, reduced availability of land for agriculture, growing populations in the poorest parts of the world, increased demand from a growing middle class in China and India, rising fuel costs and development of biofuels are among the reasons cited for food shortages and high prices. This two-part YaleGlobal series explores the phenomenon that has been anticipated by global experts in...

Climate Change and Tourism’s Winners and Losers

Eric Heymann May 2, 2008
Tourism is a major source of revenue and employment, particularly for the developing nations of the world. Historic monuments, sandy beaches, snow-covered mountains and tropical vegetation attract millions of tourists from rich countries seeking novelty and adventure while bringing in precious revenue. Well, all that may be changing. A major challenge awaiting the growing industry is climate...

The IPCC: The Science Is In on Climate Change

April 21, 2008
Rajendra K. Pachauri, director-general of the Energy Research Institute, was elected chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2002. For that work, he was co-awarded the 2007 Nobel Prize for Peace. In this interview with Nayan Chanda, Pachauri explains the IPCC’s purpose of collecting and disseminating science. Climate change affects countries in many different ways, and...