Climate Change

Cities Across the World Are Sinking Because of Groundwater Depletion. But the Process Can Be…

Many cities around the world are sinking because too much water is extracted from the groundwater reservoirs beneath them. This sinking makes these coastal cities more exposed to rising seas as the climate warms. But as our new research shows, this process can work in reverse; when groundwater is replenished, … [continued]

The Economics Of Climate Free Riding Have Changed

For much of the climate-policy era, national self-interest and climate action could plausibly point in different directions. A country could let others spend more on emissions reductions while continuing to use familiar coal, oil and gas infrastructure at home. When the low-carbon alternatives were expensive, limited or immature, that could … [continued]

Verdox Captured CO₂ From An Aluminum Smelter. Commercial Scale Is A Much Bigger System.

Verdox has completed a useful industrial demonstration at Hydro’s Sunndal aluminum smelter in Norway. During a two-month test, its electrochemical process captured carbon dioxide from exhaust containing only about 1% CO₂ and operated in the presence of contaminants found in real smelter gas. Hydro’s investment and continued work with Verdox … [continued]

Europe Needs Electric Freight Corridors, Not Just Electric Ships

Electric ships attract attention because the vessel is the visible technology. Put a large battery into an inland cargo vessel, replace the diesel propulsion system with electric motors, and the decarbonization story appears straightforward. Inland shipping looks particularly promising because many vessels travel repeatable routes between known terminals, where large … [continued]

Farming’s Nitrogen Future Will Be Built From Several Technologies, Not One

Modern farming depends heavily on nitrogen fertilizer because crops need nitrogen to build proteins, chlorophyll and ultimately yield, yet most major crops cannot directly use the nitrogen gas that makes up most of the atmosphere. Farmers have to buy nitrogen in forms plants can use, generally through ammonia, urea and … [continued]

If Modern Agriculture Were a Person, It Would Be a Sociopath: Can Regenerative Farming Save…

Naming the problem: A sociopathic agricultural system There is a great paradox in modern agriculture. The agro-industrial sector is feeding people while harming society and starving the planet. In 1962, one farmer fed 25.8 persons; today, it is 155.[1] But according to the UN, global agrifood systems incur roughly $12 … [continued]

Bus Electrification Turns Governance Into Infrastructure

Britain’s bus reforms are usually discussed as a privatization story. Outside London, the 1980s reforms deregulated local bus markets and gave commercial operators far more freedom over routes and timetables. London kept public control of the passenger network while private companies competed to operate specified services. Edinburgh, Dublin and more … [continued]