carbon emissions

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), human activities have significantly impacted the planet. As global greenhouse gas emissions (mainly carbon dioxide) have continued to increase, so too have global temperatures – with severe ecological consequences. Between 2011 and 2020, global surface temperatures rose by an estimated 1.07 °C…

Enlarge / Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber defied expectations to deliver a document that explicitly calls for limits on fossil fuel use. On Wednesday, the UN's COP28 meeting wrapped up with a major success: Despite a bruising fight with OPEC nations, the closing agreement included a call for a transition away from fossil fuels. There's still…

Enlarge / Saudi Arabia's presence at COP28 has reportedly been used to limit progress on fossil fuel cutbacks. Oil-producing countries are apparently succeeding in their attempts to eliminate language from an international climate agreement that calls for countries to phase out the use of fossil fuels. Draft forms of the agreement had included text that…

Enlarge / The facility seen in this architect's rendering will not be built. Nuclear power provides energy that is largely free of carbon emissions and can play a significant role in helping deal with climate change. But in most industrialized countries, the construction of nuclear plants tends to grossly exceed their budgeted cost and run…

Enlarge / Natural gas plants like these may find themselves burning hydrogen over the next 20 years. Today, the Biden administration formally announced its planned rules for limiting carbon emissions from the electrical grid. The rules will largely take effect in the 2030s and apply to gas- and coal-fired generating plants. Should the new plan…

Enlarge / The next generation of reactors may be small and modular and use different coolants. "The race against climate change is both a marathon and a sprint," declares a new report from the US National Academies of Science. While we need to start decarbonizing immediately with the tech we have now—the sprint—the process will…

Enlarge / A German nuclear power plant, which is currently partially closed. In 2011, in the wake of the Fukushima disaster, Germany decided to shut down all of its nuclear power. The process was supposed to have ended last year, but it has been extended in response to energy uncertainties caused by the war in…

Seattle teenager Akash Shendure runs Climate Jets, a website that tracks emissions of private jets. He keeps tabs on more than 150 of the wealthiest individuals and families, the New York Times reported.  Shendure uses a data base created by Jack Sweeney, who famously tracked Elon Musk's jet.  Loading Something is loading. Thanks for signing…

Toyota plans to convert older cars into eco-friendly models by updating parts, the AP reported.  CEO Akio Toyoda announced the effort at an industry event in Tokyo on Friday, per the AP.  Toyota has been reluctant to produce EVs due to high costs and concerns about lack of demand. Loading Something is loading. Thanks for…

Currently, the major oil companies appear to have settled on an awkward compromise with the reality of climate change: They generally acknowledge that their product is helping drive it but plan to continue to produce as much of that product as they can. But that reflects a major change for these companies, which up until…