News

A new study reveals significant gaps in many north Americans’ knowledge about climate change. But the vast majority want to know much more, and 75 per cent want to see climate change taught in schools according to new research from the Yale Forum on Climate Change Communication. We’ve picked five of the most interesting graphs from the research. View the…

Florida’s Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise Attracts Congressional Attention As communities across the United States continue to fall victim to drought, coastal flooding, and other impacts of extreme weather and climate change, leaders at the local and federal levels are beginning to take action. Local elected officials are signing pledges to create more climate-resilient communities—such…

Kiss those cool summer nights watching baseball games between the Cotuit Kettleers and Hyannis Harbor Hawks goodbye. Also say goodbye to parts of Sandy Neck and a vast chunk of the Great Marsh on the north side of Barnstable and say hello to more rain in the winter and drier summers: Think drought and more…

THERE’S A DARK JOKE in the city planning community that refers to an exhibit at the Boston Public Library. Near the Boylston Street entrance, a floor map titled “Boston Over Time” shows how the city has grown since 1630. Much of that growth, including the Seaport District, the Back Bay, and the land the airport is…

As heat-trapping gases from the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities continue to accumulate in the atmosphere, average annual temperatures in New Hampshire will likely rise by 3 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit and extreme precipitation events will likely double by mid-century, according to two University of New Hampshire reports released today. The reports,…

The latest United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report makes some key points about global adaptation: “The experts did find a bright spot, however. Since the group issued its report in 2007, it has found growing evidence that governments and businesses around the world are starting extensive plans to adapt to climate disruptions, even as…

The latest United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report makes some key points about global adaptation: “The experts did find a bright spot, however. Since the group issued its report in 2007, it has found growing evidence that governments and businesses around the world are starting extensive plans to adapt to climate disruptions, even as…

Oil refineries and drilling platforms in the U.S. are vulnerable to sea level rise and greater storm surge. Fuel pipelines, barges, railways and storage tanks are vulnerable to melting permafrost and severe weather. Warming seas and water shortages put nuclear and other electric power plants at risk. Power lines can be blown away by hurricanes and other extreme weather. In…

Major hurricanes like Sandy (New Jersey in 2012) and Ivan (Eastern Caribbean in 2004) and Typhoon Haiyan (the Philippines 2013) make global headlines as they hit coastal communities, appropriately drawing attention to the human, financial, and community losses. While some smaller communities may not make global headlines, their risk from even minor storms is real. Our…

The skyline of Copenhagen, Denmark.[/caption] Because cities hold a growing portion of the world’s population, they are an increasingly important locus of planning for climate change. JoAnn Carmin, an associate professor in MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning, has surveyed urban leaders worldwide on the subject. Now, in a new report commissioned by the Organization…