Emissions
Carbon Offsets Alone Won’t Make Flying Climate-Friendly
Carbon dioxide emissions aren’t the only way aviation warms the planet. Exhaust contains a host of polluting particles, from soot to nitrogen oxides.
By Gregory Barber
Crypto Is Straining the Power Grid. Congress Wants to Rein It In
Senator Elizabeth Warren and others are recommending regulations for crypto-mining operations as carbon emissions and consumer electricity bills soar in the US.
By Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica
Escooter Rentals Aren’t as Green as You Think
Dubious design and inefficient operations are just some of the reasons why shared scooters’ eco-credentials are thin.
By William Ralston
EV Charging Costs Penalize Urban Drivers
While suburban drivers can comfortably charge at home, those in low-income areas face higher prices—if they can find a station that works.
By Nicole Kobie
The Black Carbon Cost of Rocket Launches
Researchers say that the rising number of space launches around the world will warm parts of the atmosphere and thin the ozone layer.
By Ramin Skibba
The US Can Halve Its Emissions by 2030—if It Wants To
The economics are clear: Renewables are cheap enough for the country to rapidly decarbonize. Less evident is the political will to pull it off.
By Matt Simon
Australia Has Finally Woken Up to Climate Change
The newly elected government has promised stricter emissions limits and more renewables in the wake of fires, droughts, and floods.
By Bianca Nogrady
‘Thinkwashing’ Keeps People From Taking Action in Times of Crisis
When it comes to issues like climate change, too many let the perfect become the enemy of the good, while the world burns.
By Eleanor Cummins
This Is Where Dirty Old Cars Go to Die
The electric vehicle revolution is gathering speed—but what happens to all those polluting cars already on the road?
By Chris Stokel-Walker
The Pandemic Gave Scientists a New Way to Spy on Emissions
Researchers have struggled to quantify in real time how much carbon dioxide humans spout. Lockdowns presented a unique opportunity to get a clearer picture.
By Matt Simon
The Surprising Climate Cost of the Humblest Battery Material
Graphite is made in blazing-hot furnaces powered by dirty energy. Until recently, there has been no good tally of the carbon emissions.
By Gregory Barber
Some (Kinda) Good Climate News: 2 Degrees Is Doable
Humans could keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius, new research shows, but only if countries actually stick to their pledges.
By Matt Simon
Technology Can Fix the Climate Mess—but Not Without Help
Another damning IPCC report insists that to reduce emissions, humanity will need more political willpower and help from nature's carbon-sequestering powers.
By Matt Simon
Companies May Soon Have to Reveal a Hidden Risk: Carbon Emissions
Big businesses set splashy climate targets but don’t always reveal their data. The Securities and Exchange Commission wants to change that—to protect investors.
By Gregory Barber
It’s a Perfect Time for EVs. It’s a Terrible Time for EVs
Gas prices are up, commutes are back, and Russian oil is under sanction. Too bad the electric vehicle industry isn’t ready to seize the moment.
By Aarian Marshall and Matt Simon
Air Pollution May Keep Insects From Stopping to Smell the Flowers
Researchers ran an outdoor experiment to see if diesel exhaust and ozone would interfere with pollinators’ search for floral scents.
By Jennifer Clare Ball
Energy Firms Are Going ‘Green’ by Offloading Dirty Coal Plants
In the EU, phasing out emissions often means paying someone to take over polluting plants—and keep them running.
By Yannic Rack
It Might Be Time to Take Methane Removal Seriously
An alarming spike in the second-most-damaging greenhouse gas is giving wind to a once fringe idea: Take it out of the air.
By Gregory Barber
Thousands of Planes Are Flying Empty and No One Can Stop Them
A pre-pandemic policy on airport usage is pressuring airlines to keep "ghost flights" in the air. The climate impact is massive.
By Chris Stokel-Walker
Europe Is in the Middle of a Messy Nuclear Slowdown
Germany has almost finished phasing out nuclear plants, and aging infrastructure is leading neighbors down the same path. But will green energy goals suffer?
By Matt Reynolds
The US Refuses to Fall in Love With Electric Cars
As China and Europe lead the race to make electric vehicles mainstream, America lags behind. This is a problem.
By Chris Stokel-Walker
To Fight Climate Change, First You Need to Measure It
Scientists at the UK’s National Physical Laboratory are using monitoring equipment to track our impact on the planet more accurately than ever before.
By Rachael Pells
When It Comes to Buses, Will Hydrogen or Electric Win?
Clean transport needs clean vehicles. New power developments are crucial for a mass transit revolution, and each has pros and cons.
By Jocelyn Timperley
Climate Change May Make Hurricanes Hit Sooner and Last Longer
A new study modeling storm behavior under a warmer climate finds Boston and Norfolk will face higher risk from floods as they crawl along the East Coast.
By Eric Niiler