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Wetlands or housing? Climate change pressures shoreline development plans.

Dec 22, 2023
In California, a fight is brewing over whether to build middle-class homes or restore wetlands that could mitigate flood risk. 
The city of Newark, California, could move to restore wetlands instead of building hundreds of houses. The development could ease the housing shortage, but the land could mitigate flooding as the seas rise.
Courtesy Derell Licht

Georgia program offers solar panels to lower-income households

Dec 19, 2023
A Georgia program is seeking to alleviate the financial burden of solar installation to promote green energy.
Solar installer Nicole Lee takes a photo of a house she says is “solar-ready” thanks to its sturdy roof and up-to-date electrical system.
Emily Jones/WABE

Climate change effects likely to include long-term inflation

Nov 14, 2023
The fifth National Climate Assessment says climate change will continue to nudge household spending higher in many categories — including health, food and home repair.
In June, smoke from Canadian wildfires drifted over New York City and obscured the Manhattan skyline. Increased air pollution could lead to higher health care costs.
Leonardo Munoz/AFP via Getty Images

We can charge phones wirelessly. What about electric vehicles?

Oct 30, 2023
Boosters of the technology say it could reduce the size — and cost — of EV batteries.
While current EVs require charging stations, proponents of wireless charging say the technology could reduce the size — and cost — of EV batteries.
Matt Cardy/Getty Images

As weather gets less predictable, hydropower dams look to new forecasting techniques

Oct 24, 2023
"Forecast-informed reservoir operations" may help planners deal more effectively with flood or drought conditions.
Dams were built during a much different climate regime from the conditions we're experiencing and expecting. Operators of the facilities are seeking ways to adapt.
Lars Hagberg/AFP via Getty Images

The Biden administration is investing in hydrogen hubs, but roadblocks remain

Oct 24, 2023
The promise of hydrogen fuel is that it could cut emissions in industries that have proven difficult to decarbonize. It’s a lot of pressure for an industry that’s barely off the ground.
Inflation is pushing the costs of infrastructure, like production plants, to support the hydrogen fuel economy. Above, a hydrogen production plant in Germany.
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

More than 130 major companies press world leaders to phase out fossil fuels by 2035

Oct 24, 2023
Companies including Ikea, Nestle, Unilever and Volvo are saying that they're already grappling with the costs of the climate crisis.
Unilever is among the companies that signed on  to a recent letter ahead of COP28 urging world leaders to cut fossil fuel use.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

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Rising temperatures threaten the Mediterranean's tourism industry

Oct 12, 2023
Temperatures are increasing in the Mediterranean 20% faster than the global average. That's likely to have an impact on tourism.
A man cools off at a fountain in Xàtiva, in eastern Spain, during a heatwave on Aug. 10.
Jose Jordan/AFP via Getty Images

Climate change put a dent in Levi's sales. It's likely to do the same for other products.

Oct 6, 2023
Because nobody's thinking about wearing denim when it's 110 degrees outside.
Warming temperatures have contributed to soft sales for denim, according to Levi Strauss CEO Chip Bergh.
Getty Images

Clean energy investment may have bought a chance to avoid climate catastrophe

Sep 26, 2023
But the world must rapidly expand spending on renewables, and cut spending on fossil fuels, to make it happen.
The world will need to dramatically boost its investment in renewable energy to stave off irreversible effects of warming, according to the International Energy Agency.
Thierry Monasse/Getty Images