Conflicts of interest in climate change science
(jessicaweinkle.substack.com)
A new pre-print. It's time for professional norms to step it up
A new pre-print. It's time for professional norms to step it up
Droughts are getting worse. Is fog-farming a fix?
(grist.org)
The city of Alto Hospicio, in Chile’s Atacama Desert, is one of the driest places on Earth. And yet its population of 140,000 continues to balloon, putting mounting pressure on nearby aquifers that haven’t been recharged by rain in 10,000 years. But Alto Hospicio, like so many other coastal cities, is rich in an untapped water resource: fog.
The city of Alto Hospicio, in Chile’s Atacama Desert, is one of the driest places on Earth. And yet its population of 140,000 continues to balloon, putting mounting pressure on nearby aquifers that haven’t been recharged by rain in 10,000 years. But Alto Hospicio, like so many other coastal cities, is rich in an untapped water resource: fog.
Compact eVinci nuclear reactor can power 4,500 homes for 8 years without water
(thebrighterside.news)
Saskatchewan is set to make history with a revolutionary energy project: a compact nuclear reactor capable of running for eight years without water.
Saskatchewan is set to make history with a revolutionary energy project: a compact nuclear reactor capable of running for eight years without water.
Heat pump sales in Europe fall 23% to pre-Ukraine war levels
(theguardian.com)
Heat pump sales fell 23% in Europe last year, industry data shows, reverting to the level they were at before the war in Ukraine and slowing the shift away from gas-burning boilers.
Heat pump sales fell 23% in Europe last year, industry data shows, reverting to the level they were at before the war in Ukraine and slowing the shift away from gas-burning boilers.
Japan backs nuclear power in climate plan criticized as insufficient
(japantimes.co.jp)
The government approved separate plans Tuesday to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% in the fiscal year from April 2035 — and by 73% in fiscal 2040 — compared with 2013 levels, and have renewables and nuclear power generate half and 20% of the country’s electricity, respectively, by 2040.
The government approved separate plans Tuesday to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% in the fiscal year from April 2035 — and by 73% in fiscal 2040 — compared with 2013 levels, and have renewables and nuclear power generate half and 20% of the country’s electricity, respectively, by 2040.
Record January heat: La Niña may be losing its ability to check global warming
(theconversation.com)
January 2025 was the hottest on record – a whole 1.7°C above pre-industrial levels. If many climate-watchers expected the world to cool slightly this year thanks to the natural “La Niña” phenomena, the climate itself didn’t seem to get the memo. In fact, January 2025’s record heat highlights how human-driven ocean warming is increasingly overwhelming these natural climate patterns.
January 2025 was the hottest on record – a whole 1.7°C above pre-industrial levels. If many climate-watchers expected the world to cool slightly this year thanks to the natural “La Niña” phenomena, the climate itself didn’t seem to get the memo. In fact, January 2025’s record heat highlights how human-driven ocean warming is increasingly overwhelming these natural climate patterns.
Bill Gates Is Playing Both Sides of the Climate Crisis
(jacobin.com)
Bill Gates presents himself as a climate champion, but his trust has actually increased its fossil fuel investments since his divestment pledge. It's just the latest example of the billionaire appointing himself to solve problems he helps perpetuate.
Bill Gates presents himself as a climate champion, but his trust has actually increased its fossil fuel investments since his divestment pledge. It's just the latest example of the billionaire appointing himself to solve problems he helps perpetuate.
Antarctic Sea Ice Levels Five Standard Deviations Below the Mean (2023)
(abc.net.au)
This winter has confirmed what scientists had feared — the sea ice around Antarctica is in sharp decline, with experts now concerned it may not recover.
This winter has confirmed what scientists had feared — the sea ice around Antarctica is in sharp decline, with experts now concerned it may not recover.
World's Sea-ice falls to record low
(bbc.com)
The world's frozen oceans, which help to keep the planet cool, currently have less ice than ever previously recorded, satellite data shows.
The world's frozen oceans, which help to keep the planet cool, currently have less ice than ever previously recorded, satellite data shows.
California homeowners to fund half of high-risk insurer's $1B 'bailout'
(calmatters.org)
After saying it would run out of funds by March, California’s last-resort fire insurance provider will impose a special charge of $1 billion on insurance companies — which will in turn pass the costs along to homeowners — the first such move in more than three decades.
After saying it would run out of funds by March, California’s last-resort fire insurance provider will impose a special charge of $1 billion on insurance companies — which will in turn pass the costs along to homeowners — the first such move in more than three decades.
Carbon capture more costly than switching to renewables, researchers find
(techxplore.com)
For most countries around the world, sourcing energy entirely from wind, solar, geothermal, and hydropower by 2050 would reduce their energy needs and costs, improve air quality, and help slow climate change, according to a study in Environmental Science & Technology.
For most countries around the world, sourcing energy entirely from wind, solar, geothermal, and hydropower by 2050 would reduce their energy needs and costs, improve air quality, and help slow climate change, according to a study in Environmental Science & Technology.
Twelve months at 1.5 °C signals earlier than expected breach of Paris Agreement
(nature.com)
June 2024 was the twelfth month in a row with global mean surface temperatures at least 1.5 °C above pre-industrial conditions, but it is not clear if this implies a failure to meet the Paris Agreement goal of limiting long-term warming below this threshold.
June 2024 was the twelfth month in a row with global mean surface temperatures at least 1.5 °C above pre-industrial conditions, but it is not clear if this implies a failure to meet the Paris Agreement goal of limiting long-term warming below this threshold.
Noaa imposes limits on scientists, sparking concerns over global forecasts
(theguardian.com)
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) has placed onerous new restrictions on its scientists that people within the agency say could hamper the quality and availability of the world’s weather forecasts, among other key services.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) has placed onerous new restrictions on its scientists that people within the agency say could hamper the quality and availability of the world’s weather forecasts, among other key services.
Interactive tool shows what projects lawmakers announced in your neighborhood
(grist.org)
By the time President Donald Trump retook office, lawmakers had announced nearly $700 billion in funding for infrastructure- and climate-related projects under two bills passed during Joe Biden’s administration — the Inflation Reduction Act and the bipartisan infrastructure law.
By the time President Donald Trump retook office, lawmakers had announced nearly $700 billion in funding for infrastructure- and climate-related projects under two bills passed during Joe Biden’s administration — the Inflation Reduction Act and the bipartisan infrastructure law.
Our world faces 'unprecedented' spike in electricity demand
(theregister.com)
The world is going to need a lot of new electricity generation in the next three years to keep up with an "unprecedented" spike in demand, says the International Energy Agency (IEA) – and it's going to be a tough goal to meet.
The world is going to need a lot of new electricity generation in the next three years to keep up with an "unprecedented" spike in demand, says the International Energy Agency (IEA) – and it's going to be a tough goal to meet.
Why Tech Companies Are Joining the GOP-Oil Alliance
(newrepublic.com)
Tech billionaires’ days moonlighting as climate activists are behind them.
Tech billionaires’ days moonlighting as climate activists are behind them.
After Trump killed a report on nature, researchers push ahead with release
(arstechnica.com)
The first-ever National Nature Assessment—which was based on significant public feedback and strove to reveal how nature loss influences climate change and impacts humanity—may still see the light of day after the Trump administration abruptly ended the ambitious project.
The first-ever National Nature Assessment—which was based on significant public feedback and strove to reveal how nature loss influences climate change and impacts humanity—may still see the light of day after the Trump administration abruptly ended the ambitious project.
Scientists Revive 46,000-Year-Old Organism from Permafrost
(plos.org)
Organisms from diverse taxonomic groups can survive extreme environmental conditions, such as the complete absence of water or oxygen, high temperature, freezing, or extreme salinity.
Organisms from diverse taxonomic groups can survive extreme environmental conditions, such as the complete absence of water or oxygen, high temperature, freezing, or extreme salinity.
Dataviz: Wildfires and Climate Change
(nasa.gov)
Earth's warming climate is amplifying wildland fire activity, particularly in northern and temperate forests.
Earth's warming climate is amplifying wildland fire activity, particularly in northern and temperate forests.
The Greenland Ice Sheet is fracturing faster than expected
(nature.com)
Three-dimensional maps of glacier surfaces across Greenland reveal that cracks are growing rapidly where land ice meets the sea — and climate change is to blame.
Three-dimensional maps of glacier surfaces across Greenland reveal that cracks are growing rapidly where land ice meets the sea — and climate change is to blame.
Increased crevassing across accelerating Greenland Ice Sheet margins
(nature.com)
Surface crevassing on the Greenland Ice Sheet is a large source of uncertainty in processes controlling mass loss due to a lack of comprehensive observations of their location and evolution through time.
Surface crevassing on the Greenland Ice Sheet is a large source of uncertainty in processes controlling mass loss due to a lack of comprehensive observations of their location and evolution through time.
It's 'Virtually Certain' the World Has Breached 1.5C
(bloomberg.com)
The world may have already missed its chance to limit global warming to 1.5C, according to two new studies in Nature Climate Change.
The world may have already missed its chance to limit global warming to 1.5C, according to two new studies in Nature Climate Change.
Reflect Orbital: Sunlight after dark using a constellation of spatial reflectors
(reflectorbital.com)
Reflect Orbital is selling sunlight using a constellation of in-space reflectors.
Reflect Orbital is selling sunlight using a constellation of in-space reflectors.
Ocean temperatures are rising much faster than scientists expected
(popularmechanics.com)
Another scientific study is raising alarms about the rate at which the world’s oceans are warming.
Another scientific study is raising alarms about the rate at which the world’s oceans are warming.
Mission Accomplished? Heat pump adoption has a long way to go
(heatpumped.org)
A few weeks ago, my feed exploded in celebration – not only have heat pumps maintained their sales lead over gas furnaces, but the gap has continued to grow year-on-year.
A few weeks ago, my feed exploded in celebration – not only have heat pumps maintained their sales lead over gas furnaces, but the gap has continued to grow year-on-year.
January smashes heat record, surprising scientists
(phys.org)
Last month was the hottest January on record, blitzing the previous high and stunning climate scientists who expected cooler La Niña conditions to finally start quelling a long-running heat streak.
Last month was the hottest January on record, blitzing the previous high and stunning climate scientists who expected cooler La Niña conditions to finally start quelling a long-running heat streak.
Sea level in Honolulu (1905-2025) has been 1.56mm per year
(noaa.gov)
The relative sea level trend is #trendmmyr millimeters/year with a 95% confidenceinterval of +/- #sterrmmy mm/yr based on monthly mean sea level data from #startyear to #endyear which is equivalent to a change of feet in 100 years.
The relative sea level trend is #trendmmyr millimeters/year with a 95% confidenceinterval of +/- #sterrmmy mm/yr based on monthly mean sea level data from #startyear to #endyear which is equivalent to a change of feet in 100 years.
Ghe oil industry and growing political divides turned climate change partisan
(theconversation.com)
After four years of U.S. progress on efforts to deal with climate change under Joe Biden, Donald Trump’s return to the White House is swiftly swinging the pendulum in the opposite direction.
After four years of U.S. progress on efforts to deal with climate change under Joe Biden, Donald Trump’s return to the White House is swiftly swinging the pendulum in the opposite direction.