Energy & Environment
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The National Flood Insurance Program is Unsustainable and Regressive
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In the ten days between September and October 2024, two catastrophic hurricanes, Helene and Milton, battered the southeastern United States. Insurance claim payouts related to Hurricane Helene are projected to total between six and seven billion dollars. Claims stemming from Hurricane Milton are estimated to increase by 30–50%. As of…
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The Country of Perpetual Potential: Indonesia’s Barriers in Renewable Energy Transition
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Indonesia, with a renewable energy potential of 3,692 GW, is among the most resource-rich countries in the world for sustainable energy development. However, between 2020 and 2023, renewable energy usage increased only from 2% to 3%. This accounted for approximately 14.5% of the nation’s electricity generation, which falls short of…
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Impact of Disproportionate Air Pollution and Heat Exposure on Pregnancy
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Climate change, environmental pollution and ecological degradation have been linked to undeniable and debilitating consequences on human health outcomes. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths every year between 2030 and 2050. This assessment includes direct mortalities as well as…
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Are We Ignoring a Crucial Clean Energy Tool?
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Joe Rogers is an MBA candidate at the University of Chicago. There is bi-partisan support surrounding the United States’ transition to a 100% clean electricity grid by 2035. Carbon-free electricity is an important component of the United States’ broader carbon abatement strategy, and our rapid deployment of renewable energy is…
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Study Shows Coral Deaths Continue to Rise
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A newly published international report confirms global warming has damaged coral reefs throughout the world’s oceans. The Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2020 published by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), stated, the world has lost about 14% of its coral reefs since 2009. This report, the…
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Decarbonize Housing: Centering Equity While Phasing Out Natural Gas
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As federal climate action falters, America’s mayors have a new plan to stop global warming: ban the use of natural gas in homes. While roughly 58% of American households use gas-powered stoves or heaters, research suggests that doing so is bad for our health and the environment. In use, gas stoves release nitrogen oxide, a…
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Do Carbon Offsets Work in Reducing Overall Emissions? Numbers Say No.
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The Clean Development Mechanism is central to the global movement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. According to the United Nations, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) allows countries with emission-reduction or emission-limitation commitments under the Kyoto Protocol to implement an emission-reduction project in developing countries. Through these projects, high-income countries earn…
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China is Working on Green Recovery Through New Infrastructure Policies
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China’s Central Economic Working Conference raised the New Infrastructure concept in 2018, including 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), industrial internet and Internet of Things (IoT). In April 2020, to cope with the negative socio-economic impact brought about by the pandemic, the National Development and Reform Commission released a revised categorization of…
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As Russo-American Tensions Rise, Nuclear Policy Must Stay Grounded
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As Russia encroaches on Ukraine’s sovereignty, it bears remembering: the United States currently has over a thousand nuclear weapons currently deployed, hundreds of which can be launched in five minutes of the President deciding to initiate a strike. Russia is similarly armed. And yet since the fall of the USSR,…
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A Quick-Reference Guide to Climate Change Terminology
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In November the United Nations held the 26th global climate summit, the Glasgow Climate Change Conference, or COP26. Delegates from almost 200 countries discussed items ranging from membership in the UNFCCC and compliance with the Paris Agreement to Green Finance. If you have difficulty keeping the terminology straight, check out…
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Put a Socket in It: Getting EV Charging into Multi-Unit Buildings
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Combatting climate change is an all-hands-on-deck emergency. To fully eradicate emissions by 2050 – the path that scientists agree will keep warming below 1.5ºC and mitigate the worst warming-induced catastrophes – the world needs to electrify practically everything and power the grid with carbon-free electricity. It’s an enormous task, and…