A small country so far experiencing modest climate impacts, in many respects a leader in climate action — Based on a two-week visit this summer, I can attest there are many reasons to visit Iceland. For starters, the many spectacular waterfalls, glaciers, geysers, the northern lights (visible in darker months), and as recent events have shown, active volcanoes. As the world warms, the country’s cool climate may add…

And we’re only beginning to appreciate all the consequences — Extreme temperatures — highs above 100 and as much as 120 degrees or more — are occurring with increasing intensity, frequency, and duration due to climate change. Cooling off at night is also becoming less possible as average overnight lows in the U.S. hit their highest level in recorded history…

Bad for climate change, but likely much worse to come — The Supreme Court 6–3 decision in West Virginia v. EPA on June 30 (the final day of the 2021–22 Term) has been widely described as a significant blow to Biden Administration efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The rationale central to the Court’s reasoning has also generated considerable consternation about…

Myths, Partial truths, and Some Fresh Perspectives Given the increasing frequency of natural disasters linked to climate change, there is an urgent need to accelerate GHG emission reductions. One source of lessons is the Montreal Protocol, the remarkably successful international agreement to protect the ozone layer.[1] …

Will the Supreme Court Restrict EPA’s Authority to Address Climate Change? In this room — this bureaucratic tedious room — the fate of the whole planet is decided. …

War is never good for the environment, but the implications are even more dangerous this time — Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing death and destruction it has caused are a great human tragedy and history changing. Yet the longer-term implications for climate change may be equally grave. There are multiple climate consequences of the invasion: · The need to reduce dependence on Russian oil and…

The risks are many and complex — and so are the actions we can take to reduce our vulnerability — Climate change is here and it’s only going to get worse. We can slow it down but warming will continue for decades barring a virtually impossible complete shutdown in global use of fossil fuels. The world, therefore, has no choice but to focus much more on adapting to the many…

Can the Energy and Action that Resulted be Rediscovered — Earth Day was first organized 52 years ago following several environmental disasters that energized youthful protests but quickly became a mass movement. The event had a profound influence on my life and career, leading to my decision to focus on environmental issues in law and graduate school and positions with…

The Answer Depends on Five Complicated Questions — As the dangers of climate change become increasingly apparent and documented by scientists, one proposed strategy for avoiding disaster is generating increasing public support: invest heavily in technological innovation. The most prominent advocate for this view is the Microsoft billionaire and philanthropist Bill Gates. In summarizing his book “How to…