A few years ago, Louisville, Kentucky found out it's the fastest warming city in the United States. This will have devastating health consequences for the city's 250,000 denizens. Now city officials are fighting back in what may the largest urban climate change mitigation effort in the country.
Deutschland
This summer, I will be heading to Germany as part of the Arthur F. Burns fellowship. I will be based at Die Taz, a subscriber-supported daily newspaper in Berlin. Over the next couple months, I will report on the Energiewende, Germany's energy transition toward renewables.
Die Tageszeitung's offices in Berlin
The Stones Roll North
Temperature and hydration are two important variables in the formation of painful kidney stones. Researchers found that the rates of stone formation are rising in some areas and the "stone belt" is shifting northward as temperatures rise.
The Climate Is Driving You Crazy
It turns out that changes in weather patterns can influence your mental health. Some reports earlier this year showed farmers are especially vulnerable. Now some advocates are arguing that mental health impacts should be included in climate impact calculations.
The Great Wall of Louisiana
New Orleans now has a massive, billion-dollar seawall designed to protect the city from once-in-a-century storms. But the bayou is eroding and sea levels are rising, so the wall may engender a false a sense of security among locals.
The cheapest way to close the energy gap
Using energy more efficiently might be the most cost-effective way of complying with proposed greenhouse gas restrictions for power plants under the Clean Air Act.
Death rides the wind
In West Africa, meningitis rises and falls with a seasonal wind called the Harmattan. Responding to the infection requires tracking hot spots and deploying vaccines. With climate models, researchers are hoping to forecast infections and respond more effectively.