When countries began going into lockdown last winter and spring, clearer skies from reduced traffic and industry were hailed as a rare bright spot during a difficult time. But a study published in Geophysical Research Letters in December 2020 shows that those blue skies had an unexpected side effect: They made the Earth slightly warmer. […]
By Tara Lohan 2020 was so bad that even disasters outdid themselves. Last year the United States alone experienced at least 16 weather and climate disasters with losses topping $1 billion each. That’s more than twice the long-term average. What’s worse: Expensive disasters are on the rise. 2020 was the sixth year in a row […]
By Peter Giger The speed and scale of the response to COVID-19 by governments, businesses and individuals seems to provide hope that we can react to the climate change crisis in a similarly decisive manner – but history tells us that humans do not react to slow-moving and distant threats. Our evolution has selected the […]
Nearly 1.6 million people in the southern part of Madagascar have faced food insecurity since 2016, experiencing one drought after another, the United Nations World Food Program reported. A study published Monday found billions more could face food insecurity as Earth’s tropical rain belt shifts in response to climate change, causing increased drought stress and […]
By Suresh Dhaniyala and Byron Erath A fast-spreading variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has been found in at least 10 states, and people are wondering: How do I protect myself now? We saw what the new variant, known as B.1.1.7, can do as it spread quickly through southeastern England in December, causing case […]
By Alisha Moopen As the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic gains strength in many parts of the world, it is evident that the old normal has slipped, and a new sense of normalcy is setting in. This has been evident with the arrival of the work-from-home, study-from-home and socialize-from-home model, whenever possible. But while […]
Taking business trips – or even just commuting to work – can produce a lot of carbon pollution. But for a long time, many people resisted the alternative of remote work and virtual meetings. Elise Keith is the founder of Lucid Meetings, an online meeting management and consulting company. “People enjoy coming and being together […]
By Natalie Marchant The Great American Rail-Trail will be almost 6,000km when complete, and will serve 50 million people within 80km of the route. Trails have proved invaluable for recreation and transport during lockdown. Cycling and safe routes are vital for cities planning their post-pandemic recovery. Stretching almost 6,000km and crossing 12 states, the Great […]
By Julia Conley Bloomberg‘s year-end report on the wealth of the world’s billionaires shows that the richest 500 people on the planet added $1.8 trillion to their combined wealth in 2020, accumulating a total net worth of $7.6 trillion. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index recorded its largest annual gain in the list’s history last year, with […]