In The News

Climate Changes May Eradicate Health Progress

Sandy Dechert June 24, 2015
A warming climate is not good for health. More than 700 died during a heat wave in Pakistan and hundreds more died in India during a previous heat wave. Rising temperatures also heighten risks of bacterial, viral and insect-borne disease; asthma; and respiratory and cardio failure. A commission convened by the medical journal Lancet identified climate change as the biggest global health threat of...

Pope Calls for “Action Now” to Save Planet

Philip Pullella June 18, 2015
Pope Frances, leader of the Catholic Church, is calling for immediate action on climate change and poverty. “In the ‘Laudato Si (Praise Be), On the Care of Our Common Home,’ Francis calls for a change of lifestyle in rich countries steeped in a ‘throwaway’ consumer culture and an end to an ‘obstructionist attitudes’ that sometimes put profit before the common good,” reports Philip Pullella for...

Plants May Run Out of Time to Grow Under Ongoing Climate Change

June 16, 2015
Researchers challenge theories that suggest plants in northern latitudes could thrive in a warming climate. “The prevailing assumption ignores the fact that plants in the north will remain limited by solar radiation, curbing positive effects of warming and additional CO2 availability,” notes University of Hawaiʻi News, reporting on research led by Professor Camilo Mora. “In addition, that same...

Over the Barrel: Must Be Greener

Vikram S. Mehta June 4, 2015
Countries must end the many contradictions between energy policies and goals to reduce emissions and destruction of the environment and industries that rely on clean water and air. Vikram S. Mehta, chairman of Brookings India, writes specifically about India for the Indian Express, but his recommendations apply to all nations: reduce reliance on coal, shift from subsidizing carbon-based fuels to...

Climate Change and the New Tech Revolution

Barrie Pittock June 3, 2015
International reports on scientific research into climate change focus on the many dangers including rising sea levels, extreme storms, and challenges for agriculture and other industries. Barrie Pittock, a climate scientist, urges that the research community and media could reframe the debate to win support of investors, the business community and the general public by also reporting on “...

Nepal Earthquake: Prelude to Bigger Disaster?

Alark Saxena June 2, 2015
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on April 25, killing 8,800, injuring thousands more and leaving many homeless. The quake and series of aftershocks also left property damage and devastated communities. International relief agencies rushed to the scene, but researchers warn that such disasters are inevitable for the entire Hindu Kush Himalayan region with the continuous sinking of the...

Yet Another Antarctic Ice Mass Is Becoming Destabilized, Scientists Report

Chris Mooney May 25, 2015
Researchers in US and Europe are reporting evidence of accelerated melting and destabilization of Antarctic ice shelves. “Using satellite based and gravity measurements, the research team found that ‘a major portion of the region has, since 2009, destabilized’ and accounts for ‘a major fraction of Antarctica’s contribution to rising sea level,’” reports Chris Mooney for the Washington Post about...