Energy & Environment
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Microgrids Require Macro Investment
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The energy landscape is rapidly changing in response to concerns over resilience, climate change, and energy independence. Several cities around the world have pledged to become partially or completely carbon-free over the next couple of decades. But how does a city reach this goal? Municipalities often enter contracts with utilities…
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Expanding Legal Protections for Climate Migrants
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In the past decade, the effects of climate change have resulted in the displacement of over 250 million people worldwide. The International Organization for Migration defines an environmental or climate migrant as a person who moves within their country or abroad “predominantly for reasons of sudden or progressive change in…
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Impact of New Efficiency Standards on Air Conditioning in China
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The rapid increase in global demand for air conditioners has deleterious effects on the fight to stop global warming. In 2017, worldwide ownership of ACs soared by more than 30%, most of which occurred in developing countries. The demand for ACs is likely to continue increasing in the future due…
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The Policy of Delivering Electricity
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Policymakers, spurred by the use of widespread electrification to achieve low carbon economies, have used varying policy approaches to bring about a more digitized, decentralized, and decarbonized grid. Bringing about a cleaner and smarter electrical system can involve increased engagement and participation of customers in the electricity sector, deployment of…
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The Energy Demand Crisis Within the Public Health Crisis
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As COVID-19 spreads around the globe, staying at home has become the easiest and most effective way to save lives. Governments across the world have translated this public health measure into policy by enacting “shelter in place” orders, confining millions to their homes. As a result of these orders, residential…
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Racial Disparities in Access to Public Green Space
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As the COVID-19 pandemic rages around the globe and ravages communities, racial disparities in many aspects of public life in the US have been highlighted. Access to public green spaces, including parks, nature preserves, forests, and community gardens (Wolch et al., 2014) varies across racial and economic lines. Income and…
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A Decarbonized Grid by 2035: Necessary, Dependable, and Affordable
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There is a growing consensus among scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders that society must become more reliant on renewable energy in order to mitigate the effects of climate change. However, the method of and timeline for renewable energy reliance remain unclear and subject to political whims. The plummeting costs of wind…
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Beyond the Rebound Effect: Energy Efficiency Gaps
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The Paris Climate Agreement has renewed a focus on American state and local policies which aim to reconcile economic growth with the declared goal of limiting global warming to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures. Energy efficiency support programs seek to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels through technological improvements…
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Does the Financial Sector Contribute to Increasing Renewable Energy Consumption?
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Carbon dioxide emissions are one of the major causes of climate change. Developing the renewable energy industry is essential to tackling climate change since that decreases reliance on fossil fuels. As the European Union strategizes for smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth, it prioritizes increasing the ratio of renewable energy to…
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State Regulatory Mechanisms for Increasing Renewable Energy Usage
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It is no secret that the United States is a major producer of carbon emissions and that policies to curb the emissions of one of the biggest offenders, electricity generation, have not been successful at significantly reducing carbon emissions. However, the physical and regulatory world of energy generation and distribution…
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Are “Safe” Pesticides Harming Bees?
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Use of neonic pesticides in crops has dramatically increased in the past few decades. But a growing body of research suggests these treatments have a detrimental effect on bee populations. A recent study by Anson Main, Elisabeth Webb, Keith Goyne, and Doreen Mengel, published in Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment, found…