A series of punishing droughts set the stage for the Syrian civil war in 2011. A drying East Africa fuels ongoing conflicts over natural resources in Somalia and Kenya. Rising seas threaten future refugee crises in Southeast Asia. Melting sea […]

The post A brief introduction to climate change and national security appeared first on Yale Climate Connections.

Many people who are concerned about global warming want their elected officials to enact policies to reduce carbon pollution, but they may not know how to influence lawmakers. So the nonprofit Citizens’ Climate Lobby – or CCL – teaches people […]

The post The nonprofit building an army of volunteer climate lobbyists appeared first on Yale Climate Connections.

When the pilot guides the electric airplane from its hangar, there is only a light whirring of propellers instead of the roar of an engine. And it leaves no exhaust in its wake as it takes off from a small […]

The post A small electric plane demonstrates promise, obstacles of climate-friendly air travel appeared first on Yale Climate Connections.

When Homer Walden and Dru Peters started their Pennsylvania farm, the husband and wife team was on a tight budget. Walden: “We spent all our money on purchasing our farm.” But Walden loves to tinker. Walden: “That’s my specialty … […]

The post To save money, Pennsylvania farmer puts his pigs to work appeared first on Yale Climate Connections.

Perhaps you remember when a drive in the country meant a windshield covered with the remains of many tiny insects. And you may have noticed that this is no longer always (or even usually) the case. Indeed, you can drive […]

The post What is known about the mysterious disappearance of insects appeared first on Yale Climate Connections.

During the 60s, 70s, and even 80s, Americans expressed their frustration with problems not yet solved by asking, “If we can put a man on the moon, why can’t we [fill in the blank]?” In facing the daunting challenge of […]

The post Do we need an Apollo program for climate change? appeared first on Yale Climate Connections.

Paul Torcellini’s Connecticut home may look like a traditional bungalow. But there’s an important difference. Torcellini: “It is a zero-energy house. We produce more energy onsite than we consume in the course of a year.” As an engineer at the […]

The post A surprisingly cost-effective zero-energy house appeared first on Yale Climate Connections.

To provide cooling, most refrigerators and air conditioners use refrigerants called HFCs. When this type of gas escapes to the atmosphere, it traps heat. Grumbles: “It’s a super-polluting greenhouse gas.” More than a thousand times more potent than CO2. Ben […]

The post Not waiting for Trump: States move to regulate HFCs appeared first on Yale Climate Connections.

The sun does not always shine, and the wind does not always blow, so energy storage is key to getting the utility grid to rely more heavily on renewables. But batteries are expensive. So one company is experimenting with storing […]

The post Could we use sand or concrete as batteries? appeared first on Yale Climate Connections.

One day, you see a forecast calling for sun, so you don’t bother to pack an umbrella. But just your luck: Clouds tumble in and suddenly you’re stuck in a rainstorm. Now you’re soaking and looking for someone to blame. […]

The post What’s the difference between weather and climate? appeared first on Yale Climate Connections.