Before the Storm
A Vulnerable Community Braces for the Impacts of Sea Level Rise
Experts warn that the flooding exacerbated by climate change will disproportionately impact low-lying, low-income communities. In the Wilmington, Delaware neighborhood of Southbridge, residents are determined to build up their flood defenses and to stand their ground.
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Breaking Records
How the World Passed a Carbon Threshold and Why It Matters
Last year marked the first time in several million years that atmospheric concentrations of CO2 passed 400 parts per million. By looking at what Earth’s climate was like in previous eras of high CO2 levels, scientists are getting a sobering picture of where we are headed.
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Editors' Note
A Brand New Look for Yale Environment 360
E360 debuts a website redesign that will enhance the ways we bring our environmental reporting and commentary to you.
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Politics
Canada’s Trudeau is Under Fire For His Record on Green Issues
After 10 years of a fossil-fuel friendly Conservative government, many Canadians welcomed the election of Justin Trudeau as prime minister. But Trudeau’s decisions to approve two oil pipelines and a major gas facility have left some questioning just how green the new leader really is.
opinion
Climate
With the Rise of Trump, Is It Game Over for the Climate Fight?
Donald Trump’s ascension to the presidency is a stunning blow to hopes for avoiding the worst impacts of global warming. But a broad-based, grassroots movement committed to cutting emissions and promoting clean energy must continue and intensify – the stakes are simply too high to give up.
E360 Digest
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Scotland Takes Steps to Meet Half of All Its Energy Needs from Renewables by 2030
In a new national energy plan, Scotland is cutting its reliance on North Sea oil and is aiming to use renewable energy to power 50 percent of its electricity, transportation, and heating sectors by 2030. More about Scotland Takes Steps to Meet Half of All Its Energy Needs from Renewables by 2030 →
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Ireland to Become First Nation to Fully Divest From Fossil Fuels
Irish lawmakers voted this week to drop coal, oil, and gas stocks from the nation’s $9 billion Strategic Investment Fund — making Ireland likely to become the first country in the world to fully divest its assets from fossil fuels. The measure, known as the Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill, passed 90 to 53 and is expected to become law in the next few months after review by the finance committee. More about Ireland to Become First Nation to Fully Divest From Fossil Fuels →
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Electronic Waste Has Grown 63 Percent in Asian Countries Since 2010
The amount of e-waste that Asian countries are tossing into landfills has increased 63 percent over the last five years, according to a recent report by the United Nations and the Japanese Ministry of the Environment. China’s e-waste, for example, more than doubled between 2010 and 2015, averaging 22 pounds per person. More about Electronic Waste Has Grown 63 Percent in Asian Countries Since 2010 →
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interview
William K. Reilly, a Republican and one-time head of the EPA, is dismayed that a climate change skeptic has been named to lead his former agency. But in a Yale e360 interview, he insists environmental progress can be made despite resistance from the Trump administration.
Wildlife
As Asian Luxury Market Grows, A Surge in Tiger Killings in India
Poachers killed more tigers in the forests of India in 2016 than any year in the last 15. The spike is linked to demand for tiger parts in China, where the endangered animal’s bones and skins are regarded as exotic luxury items.
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Analysis
How Far Can Technology Go to Stave Off Climate Change?
With carbon dioxide emissions continuing to rise, an increasing number of experts believe major technological breakthroughs — such as CO2 air capture — will be necessary to slow global warming. But without the societal will to decarbonize, even the best technologies won’t be enough.
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Science
A New Way of Understanding What Makes a River Healthy
A recent outbreak of a deadly fish parasite on the Yellowstone River may have seemed unremarkable. But a new wave of research shows the episode was likely linked to the cumulative impact of human activities that essentially weakened the Yellowstone’s "immune system."
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Agriculture
On the Slopes of Kilimanjaro, a Shift in Climate Hits Coffee Harvest
Rising temperatures and changing precipitation are taking a toll on coffee farms worldwide, including the plantations around Mount Kilimanjaro. If the world hopes to sustain its two billion cup-a-day habit, scientists say, new climate-resilient species of coffee must be developed.
The Warming Arctic
A look at how rising temperatures are altering the top of the world — and how the impacts could affect the entire planet.