Climate Change

Fellow Story

Ramanathan on bringing climate solutions down to Earth

Two weeks ago, Pope Francis said: "if we destroy Creation, in the end it will destroy us." Following a Vatican summit on sustainability convened by one of us that discussed the dangers of climate change and global warming, the Pope's stern warning asked all of us to be better stewards of nature. But many people wonder what they can do to join the fight against global warming beyond buying a Prius and installing solar panels in their homes.
January 14, 2015
Fellow Story

Morello-Frosch on how the EPA clean power rule could help communities of color

The EPA's proposed Clean Power Plan drew praise from environmental advocates who have long hoped that Washington would finally take action to limit greenhouse gas emissions and address the threat of climate change. Criticism, perhaps predictably, came from a combination of climate change deniers, coal-reliant communities worried about potential job loss, and business interests bemoaning possible higher energy costs.
January 14, 2015
Fellow Story

Lund co-authors opinion piece on shale revolution

Will the U.S. shale boom turn out to be a bust? The recent decline in oil prices has left some questioning whether it can be sustained.
January 7, 2015
Fellow Story

Jones says impact of U.S.-China climate pact limited

Don’t expect the landmark U.S.-China climate change agreement to nudge the world’s rising thermostat downward much on its own, scientists say. While they hail it as a start, experts who study heat-trapping carbon dioxide don’t see the deal, announced Wednesday in Beijing, making significant progress without other countries joining in. ...
January 7, 2015
Fellow Story

Fulweiler publishes paper on effects on CO2 after silica uptake in trees

Does Elevated CO2 Alter Silica Uptake in Trees?
December 23, 2014
Leadership Grant Grant

Supporting Wetlands Managers - Year Two

This grant will support a second year of Brenda Zollitsch's work as Policy Analyst at the Association of State Wetland Managers (ASWM). Last year, ASWM was awarded a $30,000 Switzer Leadership Grant to create this new position for Brenda...
December 23, 2014
Fellow Story

Law Confronts the Intertwined Threats of Climate Change and Species Extinction

Paying attention to the twinned threats of climate change and species extinction requires ingenuity, cash, and nimble legal mechanisms. Two novel solutions—REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) and Biodiversity Offsetting—comprise potentially win-win solutions.
December 21, 2014
Fellow Story

Eldering welcomes first global CO2 maps from OCO-2 satellite

Nasa's Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO-2) has returned its first global maps of the greenhouse gas CO2. The satellite was sent up in July to help pinpoint the key locations on the Earth's surface where carbon dioxide is being emitted and absorbed. This should help scientists better understand how human activities are influencing the climate. The new maps contain only a few weeks of data in October and November, but demonstrate the promise of the mission.
December 19, 2014
Leadership Grant Grant

Leading the San Diego Climate Science Alliance

Dr. Amber Pairis was hired by the California Landscape Conservation Cooperative (CA LCC) to develop and lead the San Diego Climate Science Alliance. The CA LCC is a collaborative of regional networks organized under the U.S. Fish & Wildlife...
December 19, 2014
Fellow Story

Arizona can reach emissions targets according to Lemoine and others

Through greater reliance on renewable power and energy efficiency measures already required under the state’s progressive energy laws, Arizona can achieve mandatory emissions reduction targets more easily and cheaply than federal guidelines anticipate, according to a group of University of Arizona researchers. The group’s comments are in response to the Clean Power Plan, an EPA proposal to reduce the country’s use of coal-dominated electric power to curb climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions. ...
December 17, 2014