by Fran Goldstein COP31 — The 2026 UN Climate Summit The annual UN climate negotiations shape global strategy on emissions, finance, energy transition and adaptation. After disappointing progress on phasing out fossil fuels last year at COP30 in Belém, pressure is mounting for clearer plans and real follow-through. Turkey will host COP31 in November in […]
Top climate stories to watch in 2026 Read More »
Neil Auwarter Thirty years after the first global climate summit in Berlin, and 10 years after the historic Paris Agreement at COP21, nations gathered in November in Belem, Brazil for COP30. The port city sits near the mouth of the Amazon River and is a gateway to the great rainforest that serves as one of
Mixed grades for COP30 Belem climate conclave – China emerges as leader in U.S. absence Read More »
by Padmini Das January has a magical energy. Calendars reset. Gym memberships spike. People return to work glowing with the optimism of extended leave. While “New Year’s resolutions” often come with a side of guilt and a short shelf life, climate resolutions can be refreshingly different, practical, hopeful and even fun. So, in 2026, let’s
New year, real impact: Here are some climate resolutions we can actually keep Read More »
Local Climate Actions Data centers, warehouses that contain ranks of computer servers and internet connection junctions, are the backbone of the internet and an essential part of modern infrastructure. The rush by big tech firms to develop and monetize artificial intelligence (AI) is leading to an outsized demand for new data centers. AI tools like
The data center boom Read More »
by Neil Auwarter On frozen pond: the Carnegie Mellon study As detailed in this issue’s companion article, Climate change in black and white: The power of binary framing, recent work in cognitive science suggests people are more impacted by climate information framed binarily — this or that — than by incremental data. The example used
Using binary climate data to jolt the boiling frog — examples beyond the frozen lake Read More »
by Padmini Das In the age of data overload, the biggest challenge in climate communication isn’t the lack of information, it’s getting people to feel it. A new study published in Nature Human Behaviour offers a striking insight into why some climate messages hit home while others fade into the background. The study, led by
Climate change in black and white: The power of binary framing Read More »
Climate action is thriving at state and local levels, despite federal roadblocks. We’ve added three new local initiatives to our Toolbox – explore the full articles and information sources by clicking on the summary titles below. Congestion pricing reduces city traffic, emissions and pollution Traffic jams aren’t just annoying — they cost the U.S. economy
New Toolbox actions Read More »
by Padmini Das Let’s be real: we’ve all opened a delivery box the size of a small refrigerator only to find… a single tube of lip balm. Some of us have clicked “buy now” on three separate orders during one caffeine-fueled morning, because that yoga mat, a reusable lint roller, and the 12-pack of turmeric
How to be a climate-friendly online shopper Read More »
by Fran Goldstein Given recent events — from accelerating climate disasters to government cutbacks — many people are experiencing profound anxiety and despair about the future. Yet emerging research and expert advice point to ways we can process these emotions, find meaning and take action without becoming overwhelmed. For instance, researchers at the University of
Some tips for coping with climate anxiety Read More »
by Neil Auwarter As the Trump administration implements its “burn, baby, burn” agenda by gutting federal regulation of fossil fuel emissions, dozens of states and cities are pursuing climate action using a new tactic: lawsuits in state courts seeking to hold oil and gas companies accountable for their role in climate change. Key allegations and
