In 2019, Krystal Vasquez stared out an airplane window at a wildfire burning in central Idaho. A PhD student in atmospheric chemistry, she was part of a team studying the composition of wildfire smoke. “I was really struck at how massive the fire looked from the sky,” she says. Growing up in California, Vasquez was […]
Posted inAudio
Many cities want to plant trees. Why are some residents reluctant?
To help limit climate change, the city of Pittsburgh intends to plant 100,000 new trees by 2030. The effort will focus on bringing more shade to low-income neighborhoods that lack green space. But some residents are hesitant about new trees because of past problems. Jamil Bey is CEO of the UrbanKind Institute, a consulting firm […]
Posted inEye on the Storm
Elsa to plaster the U.S. East Coast with torrential rain
Tenacious Tropical Storm Elsa, retaining its identity as it traversed the Southeast U.S. on Thursday, was on track to hug the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast coastlines as it accelerates into Friday, dropping torrential rains along much of the Interstate 95 corridor. The New York City metroplex, in particular, faced the potential for very heavy rain from […]
Posted inJobs & Economy
A conversation with the BlueGreen Alliance’s Jason Walsh
Efforts to slow carbon pollution and limit global warming have the potential to drive job creation in renewable energy, green building, electric vehicle manufacturing, and more. But in communities that have long depended on jobs in the fossil fuel industry, many fear that the transition will lead to job losses and declining local revenue. Jason […]
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Electric cars vs. gasoline cars: Which is better for climate change?
Electric vehicles can be an effective way to reduce pollution from transportation and limit global warming. But in most parts of the U.S., the electricity used to charge EVs is still dominated by fossil fuels. “The total emissions from electric vehicles do depend on where the electricity comes from,” says David Reichmuth of the Union […]
Posted inEye on the Storm
Elsa makes landfall on northern Florida’s Gulf Coast with 65 mph winds
Tropical Storm Elsa made landfall at 11 a.m. Wednesday on Florida’s northern Gulf Coast, about 65 miles north-northwest of Cedar Key. At landfall, Elsa, with 65 mph winds and a central pressure of 999 mb, was headed north at 14 mph. An unofficial weather station at Horseshoe Beach, Florida, measured a sustained wind of 62 […]
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Superior National Forest could provide refuge to wildlife as the climate warms
In northeastern Minnesota, moose, lynx, and wolves roam the vast wilderness of Superior National Forest. Bass and trout splash in lakes and streams. It’s a large region with rich and diverse habitats that provide homes for many plants and animals. So it’s an important resource – especially as the climate warms and species’ geographic ranges […]
Posted inThis Is Not Cool
Analysts dissect historic Pacific Northwest ‘heat dome’
“In a climate-changed world, the things that once seemed impossible are not just possible, they are probable.” Those words come from on-air weather and climate change expert Jeff Berardelli wrapping up a piece for CBSN. Berardelli had told the CBS cable network anchor that the temperature in the Pacific Northwest has increased 3 to 4o […]
Posted inEye on the Storm
Elsa lashes the Florida Keys with heavy rain, tropical storm-force winds
Tropical storm warnings, storm surge warnings, and hurricane watches are up for much of Florida’s western coast as Tropical Storm Elsa heads for an expected landfall Wednesday morning in the state’s Big Bend area. At 11 a.m. EDT Tuesday, Elsa was located 65 miles west-northwest of Key West, headed north-northwest at 10 mph with top […]
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How invasive plants could take advantage of climate change
Driving down the highway, it’s common to see stretches of roadside overgrown with weeds. Once they get a foothold, invasive species such as purple loosestrife, kudzu, and Japanese barberry can crowd out native plants and take over. Daniel Montesinos is with the Australian Tropical Herbarium at James Cook University. He says invasive plants tend to […]
Posted inEye on the Storm
Tropical Storm Elsa hits Cuba, heads toward west coast of Florida
Tropical Storm Elsa, headed northwest at 14 mph with top winds of 65 mph, was about to make landfall in central Cuba, the National Hurricane Center said in its 11 a.m. EDT Monday advisory. Satellite imagery on Monday afternoon revealed that Elsa remained disorganized, but had a large area of heavy thunderstorms bringing heavy rains to […]
Posted inOn the Road
A Georgia clam farmer reflects on coastal changes
In coastal Georgia, Local Motives duo Nate Murray and Cody Pfister met a local clam farmer who’s committed to sustainability. Charlie Phillips started running a shrimp boat when he was a teenager. Now he owns Sapelo Sea Farms. Throughout his career, Phillips has seen sea levels rising and marine species shifting their habitats north. Find […]