Climate crisis

A new wave of startups is tackling a huge emissions source: wildfires

The growing field of “firetech” is reinventing the age-old practice of prescribed burns and devising other novel methods of preventing and suppressing fires.

By Eric Wesoff . 10 November 2023

A raging orange and red wildfire engulfs a forested hill. Power lines slash diagonally across the image — The Alisal fire north of Santa Barbara County, California in October 2021 (Xinhua/Getty Images)

Climate crisis

US carbon emissions rose in 2022. Can clean energy get them on track?

Historic investments in renewable energy will help the U.S. get closer to halving emissions by 2030, but there's a lot more work to do, a new report warns.

By Jeff St. John . 10 January 2023
Opinion

To get rid of coal power, we need smarter coal finance

Cutting off coal funding too soon could make climate change even worse. Finance institutions now have better strategies to choose from to bridge the gap.

By Alex Murray, Shravan Bhat . 6 January 2023
Climate crisis

States have a huge role to play in enacting the Inflation Reduction Act

Congress finally took action on climate change in 2022, but the federal government can't implement IRA on its own. States will be vital actors in putting the act's incentives to work.

By Jeff St. John . 27 December 2022
Guest essay

COP27: Progress on some solutions, but where’s action on the big issue?

In waning hours of U.N. climate conference, there’s optimism about new initiatives, but much frustration over lack of “loss-and-damage” funds for developing nations.

By Laurie Stone . 18 November 2022
Guest essay

COP27: 'Brazil is back!' Lula aims to protect the Amazon

Nature took center stage at the U.N. climate conference as Brazil's president-elect reengaged in climate talks, Paris accord leaders called for a "Nature Agreement," and nature-based solutions got a bump.

By Laurie Stone . 16 November 2022
Guest essay

COP27: 8 billion people means 8 billion reasons to tackle climate crisis

At the U.N. climate conference, projects are helping Africa get minigrids, helping the Caribbean switch to clean energy and helping Indonesia ditch coal.

By Laurie Stone . 15 November 2022
Guest essay

COP27: Global fossil-fuel emissions are rising — and so are the stakes

Week two of the U.N. climate conference kicks off with a focus on curbing methane, greening shipping with hydrogen, and wondering where all the women are.

By Laurie Stone . 14 November 2022
Politics

How Democratic state wins in the midterms could rev up climate progress

States are already doing the most to shrink electricity-sector emissions. These new Democratic wins and “trifectas” could push even bolder policies forward.

By Jeff St. John . 11 November 2022
Climate crisis

Chart: These rich countries are falling far short on their climate pledges

New analysis pegs U.S., Canada and U.K. among the worst laggards on climate finance pledges. Will COP27 help even things out?

By Maria Virginia Olano . 11 November 2022
Podcast

The Ike Dike could protect Houston from the next big hurricane

The $31B coastal barrier could be the largest civil-engineering project in U.S. history. But will it be enough?

Play

By 34 min . 9 November 2022