Assessing the U.S. Climate in 2021
Contiguous U.S. ranked fourth warmest during 2021; 20 billion-dollar disasters identified
drought
The Warning Shot the US Is Ignoring: Climate Change Impacts on California Central Valley
Part of a series on Climate Change Impacts in California’s Central Valley By Pablo Ortiz, Bilingual Western States Climate Scientist II for the Climate & Energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. While different places in the United States experience different climate impacts (e.g., more extreme precipitation in eastern … [continued]
Lack Of Access To Fresh Water Is Increasing. Can Hydropanels Help?
Billions of people lack access to fresh water, but there are solutions available.
Forecast: U.S. Hydropower Generation to Decline 14% in 2021 Due to Drought
In our latest Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), we forecast that electricity generation from U.S. hydropower plants will be 14% lower in 2021 than it was in 2020. Extreme and exceptional drought conditions have been affecting much of the western United States, especially California and states in the Pacific Northwest, which are home … [continued]
Climate & Security in the Asia Pacific Region
How Australia’s lack of action is leading to insecurity in the area.
Drought, Flood, Fire: Ways That Cleantech Can Respond
The author of a new book argues that understanding the role of climate change can improve our crisis preparation and powers of prediction. And we can afford to make the necessary changes that transition us to renewables while increasing our efficiency.
Climate-Jacked Monsoon Defeats Trump’s Border Wall
I saw the tweet below last week and I couldn’t help but notice the irony, the deep irony. First, though, let’s roll through a little background. Word from 2016 Trump campaign insiders is that Trump didn’t initially like the “build a wall” campaign proposal and mantra. It was actually created … [continued]
Interactive Drought Maps Show A Frightening Reality We Can Share
There’s an old fable we’ve probably all heard. Supposedly, if you drop a frog in boiling water, the frog will jump out, but if you gradually heat the water in the pot to boiling, the frog will stay in the water and cook to death because it doesn’t notice the … [continued]
Lake Powell Water Levels Fall To Lowest On Record
Lake Powell fell to just 33% capacity Monday, marking the lowest level on record, in large part due to a climate-change driven drought in the region. The reservoir, which is the country’s second largest, is fed by the Colorado River and provides water for more than 40 million people across … [continued]
Extreme Heat Sets Records & Sets Stage For More Fires In U.S. West
Extreme heat continues to bake the American West, breaking temperature records, and exacerbating drought and other wildfire catalysts. Billings, Montana, broke a 61-year-old record with 106°F heat on Monday. Boise, Idaho has hit 95°F for 23 days straight. And Salt Lake City hit 100°F for the 17th time this year … [continued]
