In The News

Volkswagen Agrees to Plead Guilty in Diesel-Emissions Scandal

Tom Schoenberg, Christoph Rauwald and David McLaughlin January 16, 2017
Volkswagen has agreed to plead guilty to charges brought by the US Justice Department over its emissions conspiracy. VW admits relying on so-called “defeat device with algorithms that misrepresented emissions during testing. More than 11 million cars worldwide contained these devices, which allowed engines to cheat on carbon emissions tests. This conclusion to the 16-month investigation also...

China Is the De Facto Leader of Globalization

Nathan Gardels January 13, 2017
China is preparing to take a leading role on the world stage as the US president-elect dismisses worries about climate change and the benefits of globalization. The rhetoric about an “America first” policy suggests that the United States could reverse US stances on global trade and climate change. Europe is in disarray, too. Some world leaders are avoiding the World Economic Forum in Davos this...

Ignoring Climate Change Just Got More Expensive

Eric Roston December 28, 2016
The costs of climate change – maintaining and insuring infrastructure, industry preparation, property damages and losses – are climbing. William Nordhaus of Yale University has updated his model for studying the effects of climate change on the global economy in an “era of minimal climate policies.” In short, the world is not doing enough to stem or prepare for climate change. “Even after...

Korea Unveils Road Map to Curb Carbon Emissions

Shin Hyon-hee December 6, 2016
South Korea has released a detailed action plan to reduce carbon emissions and “boost incentives for renewable energy and cleaner power plant projects,” reports Shin Hyon-hee for the Investor. “It intends to raise the share of renewable sources in its portfolio to 7 percent from the existing 6 percent by 2020.” The country anticipates global discussions on international mechanisms including...

How Important Is NASA's Earth Science Program That Trump Wants to Abolish?

Brenda Ekwurzel December 5, 2016
US President-elect Donald Trump campaigned to reduce debt and the size of US government and also dismissed concerns about climate change. Analysts anticipate he will eliminate NASA climate programs including the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment satellite, GRACE, and funding for university earth science research. Such programs are multi-functional and ultimately apply science for the...

US Fossil Fuel Projects Around the World

Sonali Prasad, Jason Burke, Michael Slezak and Oliver Milman December 2, 2016
The United States claims to lead on climate change yet fossil fuels make up the bulk of the country’s energy consumption. The country also supports fossil-fuel use around the globe: “Through the US Export-Import Bank, Barack Obama’s administration has spent nearly $34bn supporting 70 fossil fuel projects around the world, work by Columbia Journalism School’s Energy and Environment Reporting...

The Problem with Abandoning the Paris Agreement

Robinson Meyer November 30, 2016
If the United States unilaterally withdraws from the Paris climate agreement, the nation can expect immediate diplomatic consequences. Foreign policy experts warn that such a move could create an opening for China to take leadership on climate-related issues and perhaps even profit from development of alternative energies. Observers cannot anticipate the Trump administration’s foreign policy, but...