Tag Archives: greenhouse gas

Earth Day 2021

Earth Day is in two days. It’s a big day. Among other distinctions, it is both my wife’s birthday and that of this blog (this is now 9 years!). From a climate change perspective, this year’s celebration is special because … Continue reading

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Extreme Weather & the Energy Transition

All over the world, people are getting tired of the lockdowns and frozen economies, and yet the virus is still on the rise in many places. As countries and states reopen, carbon emissions are resurging. Here is what that means … Continue reading

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Negative Energy Pricing

Last week, I outlined some markers of how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the global energy transition and how that ties in with climate change in the long run. For instance, the global decrease in GDP and the resulting drop … Continue reading

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Phased Reopening and Lessons to Learn

Figure 1 – Dana Summers’ cartoon on phased opening Roughly two months ago, my campus completely shifted to remote learning and teaching and I started lockdown. I have made a corresponding shift here, covering the COVID-19 viral pandemic that now … Continue reading

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Weaponizing Climate Change Ranking

Since I started this blog, I have habitually ranked countries with regards to their climate change indicators. These include changes in carbon emissions, energy use, forms of sustainable energy, and various ratios such as energy intensity (energy divided by GDP) … Continue reading

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Happy Holidays!

Happy New Year! The end of the year brings Christmas (December 25th) and Hanukkah (December 22nd-30th), two traditional holidays, and Kwanzaa (December 26th – January 1st), which began in 1966. All three include giving presents. Children all over the world … Continue reading

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Pay Now or Pay Later: The Economic Costs of Climate Change

As an old guy who still teaches students and does scientific research, I have to be up-to-date on the science that relates to what I do. To study and teach climate change, I have to be current not only with … Continue reading

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Is California Unlivable?

A few weeks ago, I read an eye-opening op-ed in the NYT: “It’s the end of California as we know it” – By Farhad Manjoo But lately my affinity for my home state has soured. Maybe it’s the smoke and the … Continue reading

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Extreme Heat: Big Cities, 2050

We are entering new levels of extreme heat. June 2019 was the warmest June ever recorded. The Weather Channel summarized it: At a Glance Four separate analyses, including from NOAA and NASA, found Earth’s warmest June on record was in … Continue reading

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Buildings: Emissions

In urban environments, buildings are major contributors to climate change. In fact, according to the NYC Greenhouse Gas Inventory of 2016, they are responsible for two-thirds of New York City’s annual emissions. I have been looking at mitigation efforts of … Continue reading

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