Climate Change

Natalya Gallo, 29, PhD candidate, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

In 2008, it was folly to imagine India creating new technological solutions to address the climate crisis. For decades India had called itself a victim of climate change and thus incapable of acting to reduce emissions; what’s more, 400 million Indians had no access to electricity at all. Ten years later, all of that has changed, and now India is a leader in renewable energy deployment while the United States is retreating from its commitments on climate. The story of how India transformed its energy technology outlook—and its relationship with the United States—to address climate change shows what may be possible in the future, writes Fellow Kartikeya Singh.

Amid a cascade of political problems this fall, there could be a happy moment for Donald Trump. A trade case that will soon land on the president’s desk could give him an opportunity to boost American manufacturing and slam an Obama administration policy at the same time — while potentially winning praise from environmentalists for helping cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Costs for solar manufacturers are climbing, and it could affect the broader industry. One of the main components of solar panels, polysilicon, is seeing its prices jump dramatically. Prices are up 35 percent over four months, affecting manufacturing leader China and the profits of its companies. Dustin Mulvaney is an associate professor of environmental studies at San Jose State University. Listen to the radio interview

Low-income households typically spend higher percentages of their incomes on energy costs and thus stand to benefit most from utility bill savings due to solar power generated on their homes.

As coastal Floridians face rising seas, they may repeat the past — 2,000 years past. The current forecasts are for the Atlantic and Gulf to wash over Florida’s shores more rapidly, and with far more people enjoying ocean views from their homes, than during earlier periods of sea level rise. Still, ancient Floridians had to change their lives because of sea level rise — they moved inland, but not much. Predictions on the modern displacement forced by sea level rise vary from a trickle to a full-on exodus. Other experts say it’s far too early to tell.

When people look back at Donald Trump's first year as president, they're likely to be perplexed by his actions on climate change.

A team from Data-Driven Yale, an F&ES-based project working at the intersection of data science and policy, was awarded the UN Data for Climate Action Challenge’s inaugural prize for linking climate change to sustainable development goals.