Sustainability
Energy Secretary Talks Climate Challenge
A brief portion of the December 9 conversation during the climate talks in France between Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz and Scientific American ’s David Biello ...
Stories by David Biello
Sustainability
World's First Global Deal to Combat Climate Change Adopted in Paris
The Paris pact represents the first worldwide effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in next decade
Sustainability
Accelerated Innovation Is the Ultimate Solution to Climate Change
U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz tells Scientific American how to achieve massive deployment of clean-energy technology
Sustainability
90-Nation Coalition Aims for Ambitious Climate Change Deal
Among its goals, the coalition of countries, including the U.S., wants an agreement that the world must aim as soon as possible to hold global warming to 1.5-degree Celsius and work toward a long-term low-carbon future ...
Sustainability
Blocking the Sun Is No Plan B for Global Warming
Planet-wide geoengineering schemes might work—or backfire. Either way, there is no getting around the need to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere
Sustainability
Paris Climate Talks Headed toward Global Deal, but Is It Enough?
Unprecedented commitments to cut carbon emissions may still fall short
Sustainability
The Most Important Number in Climate Change
Just how sensitive is Earth's climate to increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide?
Tech
Why Fusion Researchers Are Going Small
After decades of slow progress and massive investment, some fusion power researchers are changing tactics
Sustainability
The Clean-Energy Revolution Gathers Speed
Less polluting energy sources are proliferating in the U.S. If other nations join in, the results could have global impact
Biology
Why Cats Taste No Sweets
An old gene mutation is at fault
Sustainability
Record Levels of CO2 Herald the Future of Climate Change
Global warming has become a 1-degree Celsius reality, making progress at climate talks in Paris even more imperative
Sustainability
Why Keystone XL Is Dead
Once seeking a fast approval, TransCanada wants to pause the pipeline’s review
Sustainability
The World Really Could Go Nuclear
Nothing but fear and capital stand in the way of a nuclear-powered future
Sustainability
Melting Antarctica Could Drown Coasts Much Sooner Than You Thought
Antarctica will suffer a major meltdown if we continue to burn fossil fuels at the present pace
Sustainability
Obama Has Done More for Clean Energy Than You Think
The Great Recession enabled bold steps to seed a clean-energy revolution
Sustainability
Can Geoengineering Save the World's Ice?
Adding aerosols to the atmosphere to reflect more sunlight might slow the loss of glaciers but not stop it
Sustainability
How Far Does Obama's Clean Power Plan Go in Slowing Climate Change?
The U.S. energy transition will continue under the new plan, but it needs to move even faster
Sustainability
Fact or Fiction?: Natural Gas Will Reduce Global Warming Pollution
Has burning natural gas instead of coal helped the U.S. economy decarbonize? It's complicated
Sustainability
How to Build a Better Ocean Sensor Far from the Sea
Montana–based Sunburst Sensors will help scientists monitor rise in ocean acidity more widely and precisely
Sustainability
Fossil Fuels Must Be Phased Out to Avoid Drowned Coastlines
New research suggests rising oceans could swamp the world’s coasts by the end of the century—sooner than previously anticipated
