A variety of narratives have been put forth to explain coal’s decline. None has been more politically charged than the "war on coal."
Climate Denialism, Florida, and the Future of Climate Politics
Rafe Pomerance, an early campaigner for climate action and the subject of Nathaniel Rich’s book Losing Earth, discusses the increasingly pivotal role of climate change in U.S. electoral politics.
How the Democratic-Republican Climate Rift Became Political Reality
A pioneer in the field of environmental sociology discusses how views on climate have become an essential element of party ideology, and what it means for the 2020 election.
Breaking America’s Nuclear Waste Impasse
NRC Chairman Allison Macfarlane discusses four decades of failed efforts to find a permanent disposal solution for America’s civilian nuclear waste and new thinking, based on successful disposal efforts in the military and overseas, that could lead to a workable solution.
Does Attribution Science Give Climate Litigators a Smoking Gun?
Climate attribution science allows connections to be made between extreme weather events and a warming climate. The science is also being used to trace climate change to the activities of specific industries and companies, potentially generating evidence to fuel climate litigation.
Three Pathways to Uphold America’s Paris Commitment
Can consumers take the lead in reducing U.S. carbon emissions in the absence of strong federal climate policy? New research takes a look at three aggressive pathways for the U.S. to meet the Paris goals.
Why Coal Persists
Global demand for coal is projected to persist over the next 20 years, with dire implications for climate. Why has coal use endured, and what might be done to limit its use?
What’s the FERC, And How Is It Shaping Our Energy Future? (Part 2)
Former FERC Commissioner Colette Honorable discusses the agency’s challenging relationship with the states over clean energy subsidies and their potential impact on the nation’s electricity markets.
What’s the FERC, and How is it Shaping Our Energy Future? (Part 1)
Former FERC commissioner Colette Honorable discusses the government agency that finds itself at the center of many of today’s most critical energy debates.
A Hard Look at Negative Emissions
Much faith is being put in the ability of negative emissions technologies to slow the pace of climate change. Glen Peters of Norway’s Center for International Climate Research looks at the potential of negative emissions strategies, and the steep challenges to implementing them.