Climate Change and Climate Action

Extreme heat: What can be done to stop this “silent killer”?

By Kathy Baughman McLeod

While extreme heat is one of the planet’s clearest signals of global warming—last year was the world’s second hottest since 1880—it remains an invisible threat: a “silent killer” lurking in relatively clear view.

What world post COVID-19?: A conversation with Dr. Joe Mascaro

By Peter Engelke, Anca Agachi

Dr. Joe Mascaro, director of education and research at Planet, discusses the effects of the pandemic on the environment, and its implications for energy transitions and earth sciences research.

What world post COVID-19?: A conversation with Mr. Greg Lindsay

By Peter Engelke, Anca Agachi

Greg Lindsay, director of applied research at NewCities, outlines the implications of the pandemic for the future of cities and shares suggestions for how communities could emerge from this crisis stronger than before.

Evaluating House Democrats’ new climate change report

By Global Energy Center

Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, an economic downturn, and a renewed movement for racial justice, the report sets out a vision to reach net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 with recommendations on issues from infrastructure to incentivizing new technologies and creating jobs in the clean energy sector. The report also addresses pollution and environmental justice, the nexus between climate and public health, and conservation.

South Florida Officials, Resilience Experts Deploy First-Ever Mobile Resilience Pod for Rising Seas, Increased Temperatures and Pandemic Relief Efforts

Launch comes with major commitment to provide pods to communities around the nation and the globe, and five additional pods in Miami-Dade County communities MIAMI, FL – JUNE 27, 2020 – Today, the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, with Miami-Dade County and City of Miami leaders, deployed the first-of-its-kind Community Resilience Pod. The pod—which will play […]

Automaker electric vehicle plans ‘progressing at a rapid pace’ despite pandemic, economic downturn

By Julia Pyper

The global electric vehicle (EV) market is going through a rough patch amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The pandemic led to economy-wide lockdowns and supply chain disruptions across the automotive industry. Coupled with a historic decline in oil prices that brought down gasoline prices, these factors are likely to put a significant dent in EV sales in the near term. But automakers are not turning away from the EV market despite recent setbacks. To signal their intent, several major auto industry executives have taken steps to underscore their commitment to vehicle electrification coming out of the pandemic slump.

Facing twin crises of COVID-19 and climate change, refugees will suffer the most

By Larry Luxner

Since its emergence barely half a year ago, COVID-19 has infected more than 8.5 million people globally, and has killed at least 452,000. The pandemic—along with climate change—leaves the planet facing “perhaps its worst humanitarian crisis since World War II.”

The storm still comes: Invest now, while we still can

By Kathy Baughman McLeod

While we don’t know the nature of the next crisis we’ll face, we know it’s inevitable—much like climate change, a crisis whose own potential devastation is virtually incalculable, and against whose ominous backdrop future public health crises will unquestionably unfold. Among its many lessons, COVID-19 has taught us that in preparation for an uncertain future, we must devise ways to create a healthier, more inclusive and resilient future for all.

Hurricane season, COVID-19 pose twin threats to vulnerable Caribbean islands

By Larry Luxner

This year, the Caribbean must not only prepare for devastating storms, but also confront COVID-19, stretching scarce financial resources even thinner.