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June 24, 2008
Whatever the result of November’s election, most observers expect the next US president to be more science-friendly than George W. Bush. Both Barack Obama and John McCain are expected to repeal Bush’s curbs on stem-cell research and step up the fight against climate change. Of course, the two men differ on some details of science-related issues. The most important test of the candidates is not a...

In Spain, Water Is a New Battleground

Elisabeth Rosenthal June 6, 2008
The southern region of Spain looks lush and green, with farms and golf courses, but that could be temporary as the country runs short of fresh water. “Swaths of southeast Spain are steadily turning into desert, a process spurred on by global warming and poorly planned development,” writes Elisabeth Rosenthal for the New York Times. Regional success and a building boom have put pressure on water...

To Cope With Oil Shock, Emulate Japan

Dilip Hiro June 3, 2008
The world has become too dependent on oil for security and comfort. Conflicts leading to disruptions in oil supply were behind past price shocks, but the most recent shock has been largely spurred by tightening supply and rising demand from emerging economies, explains historian and journalist Dilip Hiro. Plenty of buyers, armed with cash, eye diminishing natural resources. With no short-term...

Grand Designs Should Look to the Future

Chandran Nair May 28, 2008
Governments can spend today’s wealth on today’s luxuries or invest to ensure the comforts of tomorrow. The United Arab Emirates, rich with oil wealth, continues to invest in novel construction, including a sail-shaped hotel, an underwater hotel and a ski resort – all with the help of foreign designers and architects. But with fast-paced economic growth and per-capita carbon dioxide emissions...

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...

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 “...