Global Warming

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Clouds associated with a tropical disturbance bubbled up over the Gulf Coast on Wednesday, July 10, 2019. Credit: NOAA

How Climate Risks Get Compounded: Louisiana Grapples With Heavy Rain, Tropical Storm Barry, and Swollen Mississippi

, Policy Director and Lead Economist, Climate & Energy

July 12, 2019 1:03 PM EDT

Heavy recent rains, along with the looming threats from tropical storm Barry, are putting New Orleans and other Louisiana communities at risk of major, life-threatening flooding.

Images from earlier this week show city streets turned into rivers as close to 9 inches of rain fell in three hours. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is predicting that tropical storm Barry could come ashore on Saturday as a Category 1 hurricane. Meanwhile, the Mississippi is flowing very high due to heavy rains in the Midwest and South Central US earlier this year. Additional rain and storm surge from Barry mean that flooding is forecast to be extensive, and warnings have been raised that some levees in Louisiana could be overtopped or come close to that.

This chain of compound climate-related risks highlights the kinds of unprecedented threats climate change is forcing on people. Read more >

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NOAA
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How Alaska’s Recent Heat Wave May Worsen Climate Warming

, Kendall Science Fellow

July 11, 2019 12:17 PM EDT

Over the holiday weekend, three cities in Alaska experienced record heat with temperatures in Anchorage reaching 90°F. In a city where local July temperatures averaged 61°F in 2018, this extreme heat illustrates the dramatic effects of climate change in northern regions of the world. These record-breaking temperatures, however, could further intensify climate warming by priming Alaskan landscapes to release carbon and heat-trapping gases in two major ways. Read more >

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Image: C-SPAN

Censoring a Senior Analyst at the State Department for Telling the Truth is a Damned Shame

, director, Center for Science & Democracy

July 10, 2019 5:35 PM EDT

Think of it. You are an accomplished scientist in academia and decide to serve your country by going into public service. You do your job, advising the State Department, the Administration and Congress on critical security risks like climate change, based on a huge amount of well-established evidence. But then the White House censors your testimony to the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, apparently on the theory that if it doesn’t get in the Congressional Record the risks will dissipate. What do you do? Read more >

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Photo: stgermh/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Maine Hits Clean Energy Grand Slam

, director of energy research, Clean Energy

July 9, 2019 12:03 PM EDT

As a baseball fan, I’m looking forward to watching the best players in the world compete for bragging rights in the 90th Major League Baseball All-Star game tonight. As a Maine resident for the past 11 years, I’m even more thrilled to see Maine regain its all-star status as a clean energy leader. Read more >

Photo: stgermh/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
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Can Trees, Oceans and Giant Carbon Sucking Machines Save Us from Climate Catastrophe?

, Director, Climate & Energy

July 8, 2019 9:37 AM EDT

It may well be that both types of approaches are needed to grapple with the climate crisis that is upon us. Read more >

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