global warming

Rescuers carry a boat into the subway in Zhengzhou, China, in July after flash floods trapped passengers underground.

Science

NYC's Subway Flooding Isn't A Fluke. It's The Reality For Cities In A Warming World

5:10pm September 02, 2021

by Rebecca Hersher

Underground trains are incredibly susceptible to flooding from climate-driven extreme rain and sea level rise. Cities around the world are racing to adapt their transit systems.

A woman surveys damage Monday from Hurricane Ida in a neighborhood in Kenner, La. The storm was fueled by abnormally warm water in the Gulf of Mexico.

Science

How Climate Change Is Fueling Hurricanes Like Ida

5:23pm August 30, 2021

by Rebecca Hersher

Hurricane Ida rapidly gained strength right before it hit Louisiana this weekend. Abnormally hot water in the Gulf of Mexico acted as fuel for the storm.

Debris could be seen piled up in Waverly, Tenn., on Sunday after heavy weekend rains caused deadly flash flooding. Climate change is driving more torrential rain around the world.

Science

The Floods In Tennessee Aren't Freak Accidents. They're A New Reality

2:43pm August 23, 2021

by Rebecca Hersher

At least 21 people died in floods in Tennessee over the weekend. Such dangerous flash flooding is a hallmark of climate change.

People evacuate from a wildfire north of Athens, Greece, on Friday. A climate-driven heat wave helped create conditions for the fire to burn out of control. Scientists warn that humans are running out of time to curb greenhouse gas emissions and avoid cat

A Major Report Warns Climate Change Is Accelerating And Humans Must Cut Emissions Now

10:15am August 09, 2021

by Rebecca Hersher

The U.N. has released the most comprehensive global climate science report ever. It is unequivocal: Humans must stop burning fossil fuels or suffer catastrophic impacts.

A wind farm in Wyoming generates electricity for a region that used to be more dependent on coal-fired power plants. A new study finds that millions of lives could be saved this century by rapidly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Science

Cutting Carbon Pollution Quickly Would Save About 74 Million Lives, Study Finds

10:16am July 29, 2021

by Rebecca Hersher

Cutting carbon emissions to zero in the next 30 years would save about 74 million lives this century, a new analysis estimates.

Volunteers fight a wildfire in northeastern Siberia on July 17th. Heat waves in the Russian Arctic and boreal forests have fueled intense, widespread blazes that can damage trees and release enormous amounts of stored carbon dioxide from forests and perma

Science

Climate Scientists Meet As Floods, Fires, Droughts And Heat Waves Batter Countries

6:53am July 26, 2021

by Rebecca Hersher

Hundreds of scientists are meeting to finalize a landmark climate report. It's meant to guide the next decade of international climate policy, but it's unclear if politicians will act on it.

Firefighters battle a brush fire last week in Santa Barbara, Calif. Climate-driven droughts make large, destructive fires more likely around the world. Scientists warn that humans are on track to cause catastrophic global warming this century.

Science

Earth Is Barreling Toward 1.5 Degrees Celsius Of Warming, Scientists Warn

9:50pm May 26, 2021

by Rebecca Hersher

Scientists say humans must keep global temperatures from increasing more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. The World Meteorological Organization warns that number is looming.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to the media about the cruise industry during a press conference at PortMiami in April. DeSantis faces criticism for failing to do all he could on Florida's biggest environmental threat: climate change.

Ron DeSantis Pushes Coastal 'Resilience' While Doing Little To Tackle Climate Change

4:29pm May 05, 2021

The Florida governor has made the environment a priority, dedicating millions to water quality and coastal infrastructure. But critics say he ignores the biggest threat: carbon emissions.

Refrigerators on sale in 2018 in Pennsylvania. The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to phase out the use of cooling chemicals that are powerful greenhouse gases.

Science

EPA Moves To Cut A Group Of Powerful Greenhouse Gases

1:08pm May 03, 2021

by Rebecca Hersher

The EPA plans to phase out hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, which are used in refrigerators and air conditioners. When HFCs are released into the atmosphere, they are extremely good at trapping heat.

Tia Tate is a computational biologist currently working in a postdoctoral position at a federal agency in North Carolina.

Science

Why Having Diverse Government Scientists Is Key To Dealing With Climate Change

4:38pm April 30, 2021

by Rebecca Hersher

Climate and health policies rely on scientific expertise. But the federal science workforce has been shaped by decades of political interference, underfunding and race and gender bias.