Climate Change Series

'Worthless' forest carbon offsets risk exacerbating climate change

Aug 25, 2023 08:00 am UTC| Nature

In early 2023, the Guardian published an article suggesting that more than 90% of rainforest carbon offsets are worthless. These credits are essentially a promise to protect forests and can be bought as a way to offset...

Looking for a US 'climate haven' away from disaster risks? Good luck finding one

Aug 24, 2023 07:13 am UTC| Nature

Southeast Michigan seemed like the perfect climate haven. My family has owned my home since the 60s. … Even when my dad was a kid and lived there, no floods, no floods, no floods, no floods. Until [2021], one...

Climate Change Series

Greenhouse gases are changing air flow over the Pacific Ocean – raising Australia's risks of extreme weather

Aug 24, 2023 07:09 am UTC| Nature

After a rare three-year La Niña event brought heavy rain and flooding to eastern Australia in 2020-22, were now bracing for the heat and drought of El Niño at the opposite end of the spectrum. But while...

Why beaver-like dams can protect communities from flooding – new research

Aug 22, 2023 04:26 am UTC| Nature

Low cost, human-made river barriers, similar to those built by beavers, can protect communities at risk of flooding. Our new research has found that such natural barriers intentionally increase water levels upstream to...

Climate Change Series

What harm could one coal mine do? Plenty, producing 1.7 Hiroshima bombs of heat

Aug 22, 2023 04:25 am UTC| Nature

This year, the Australian government rejected Clive Palmers coal mine proposal but approved three others. Over 100 more fossil fuel projects are in the decision pipeline. Why are we still approving coal projects when...

Climate Change Series

To predict future sea level rise, we need accurate maps of the world's most remote fjords

Aug 22, 2023 04:19 am UTC| Nature

Understanding how glaciers interact with the ocean is akin to piecing together a colossal jigsaw puzzle. And on various icebreaker expeditions to some of the most remote fjords in northern Greenland, colleagues and I have...

Climate Change Series

A billion people in Africa are at a climate risk blind spot

Aug 22, 2023 04:19 am UTC| Nature

Disasters related to the weather or climate are becoming more common. Since 1970, there has been a five-fold increase in the number of weather-related disasters, causing economic damages that have surged a staggering 70...