Science

Is climate change hitting the world’s coral reef epicenter?

Joanne Wilson surveying coral reefs in Raja Ampat Cross-posted from Cool Green Science. You’ve probably heard about coral bleaching — the mass die-off of coral reefs because of warming sea temperatures, a dynamic that can be attributed at least indirectly to climate change. It’s a problem of growing concern to the hundreds of millions of people […]

Robert Lalasz Science

Occupy COP 17: Portraits from the movement

The Occupy movement grips people from all over the world. At COP 17 in Durban, South Africa, it appeared in the form of general assemblies held outside the sanctioned conference to discuss alternative solutions for the Earth’s collapsing systems. We spent some time speaking with participants to learn why they occupied Durban, and what motivates […]

Project Survival Media Science

As Durban deadline draws near, big carbon emitters should cut a deal

It's not clear when we'll get another chance to put all the world's major carbon emitters on the road to a common effort.

Andrew Light Science

Top eight climate disasters during the Durban climate talks

Cross-posted from ThinkProgress Green. During the two weeks of the international climate negotiations in Durban, South Africa, millions of people have been affected by extreme weather disasters. Our poisoned climate is fueling more extreme and dangerous weather, as the super-heated atmosphere brings heavier rains, harder droughts, and fiercer storms. These eight climate disasters that took […]

Brad Johnson Science

It’s panda-countin’ time!

Get out your panda-counting equipment, because it's panda census time! China's government is organizing the first panda census in a decade, sending out teams of wildlife biologists over hill and under dale in search of the elusive critters. And it's not as fun as it sounds. Pandas are really rare in the wild — the […]

Jess Zimmerman Science

Possibly the greatest use of an infographic ever

“Need to prove something you already believe? Statistics are easy: All you need are two graphs and a leading question,” reads possibly the greatest infographic ever, created by Vali Chandrasekaran for Businessweek. Do yourself a favor, strap on your skeptic helmet and click through for the full experience.

Christopher Mims Science

Critical List: EPA releases draft fracking report; Gingrich’s new climate change book

The EPA released a draft of its fracking report and found chemical contamination in a gas field well. The draft summary says that "EPA is concerned about the movement of contaminants within the aquifer and the safety of drinking water wells over time." The U.S. got a little warm and fuzzy about a climate roadmap […]

Sarah Laskow Science

The brutal logic of climate change mitigation

In my last post, I discussed a new peer-reviewed paper by climate scientists Kevin Anderson and Alice Bows. It paints a grim picture: The commonly accepted threshold of climate “safety,” 2 degrees C [3.6 degrees F] temperature rise over pre-industrial levels, is now properly considered extremely dangerous; even 2 degrees C is drifting out of […]

David Roberts Science

Durban dispatch: U.S. takes ‘recourse to nonsense’

It’s just a guidepost, guys. No need to panic.Photo: US Mission GenevaCross-posted from ThinkProgress Green. China limits commitments This week, China’s top climate envoy said that the nation would be open to signing a formal treaty limiting emissions after 2020 — but laid down conditions for doing so that are unlikely ever to be met. […]