I rang in 2021 a little differently than past years, going to Crested Butte, the mountain town in Colorado where I was inspired to study the mountains and began doing research in 1993. Though I know many people there, I didn’t make plans to see friends. But late in the day on December 31, 2020, a neighbor invited my husband and I to a bonfire in the back alley. A few other neighbors would join to socialize safely outside and welcome the new year. I expect I’m not alone this year to find myself part of conversations with new neighbors.

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by Ben Santer, Climate Scientist and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur fellow

The Mahnmal

In 2013, a decision was reached to switch the water supply for the town of Flint in Michigan. Until April 25, 2014, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department provided Flint residents with drinking water from Lake Huron. After that date, Flint’s drinking water was taken directly from the Flint River.

Federally required corrosion controls were not implemented following this switchover. Corrosive river water leached lead and iron from aging pipes, contaminating Flint’s water supply.

In 2015, testing by the EPA and Virginia Tech found elevated levels of…

The UN General Assembly must request an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice

By Caleb Pollard, President of the Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change

The world has marked five years since the Paris Agreement, which was meant to mark a turning point for dealing with the existential crisis of climate change. But the lack of action from developed countries has meant that we are still on track for a rapidly warming earth.

Over the last decade, our world has seen greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise and shatter records. Despite promises to come together to save the…

This year’s catastrophic Western wildfires made headlines across the country. With rains returning to much of the region, we invited four experts to talk with us about the intersection of fire and western watersheds in the age of climate change.

The panel discussed wildfire impacts on water ranging from drinking water safety to stream health and flood risks, while also digging into steps water and forest managers can take to prepare for future fires.

The quotes below have been edited for length and clarity. Here are links to the video recording and audio recording of the briefing.

Kevin Bladon, Associate Professor of Forest Hydrology and Watershed Science at Oregon State University.

On the impact…

Caribbean islands are often the first to be hit by hurricanes before they reach the continental US. Living with severe storms is built into the culture, but as hurricanes become stronger, more intense, and dump more water, Caribbean people are now forced to rethink how they prepare for and recover from hurricanes.

These panelists have a candid conversation on how climate change is supercharging hurricanes, changing Caribbean island communities and culture. Panelists discuss issues including climate migration, generational trauma, and survivor’s guilt. Watch the full conversation here.

Marjahn Finlayson

On how changes in humidity help supercharge hurricanes:

“We’re seeing more changes in…

By Dr. Susan Pacheco

Most people might be surprised to learn that the leading cause of deaths from Hurricane Laura was not drowning, or fallen trees, but something much more preventable: carbon monoxide poisoning.

Tragically, eight people died from the unsafe operation of gas generators when the power went out, including four members of one family. Casualties from Hurricane Delta were also energy-related, one from a generator fire and one from a natural gas leak. It is a sad and stark reminder of how extreme weather overwhelms our power system, sometimes with deadly consequences.

Extreme weather events, which are becoming…

Pediatricians from all 50 states sound the alarm on the risks of climate change on children’s health and urge people to vote. It is the first time pediatricians from across the U.S. have come together to encourage voter registration.

As pediatricians from every state across America, we urge you to vote for leaders up and down the ballot who will take bold, decisive action on climate change to protect the health and future of our children.

Climate change lives in the bodies of children. In our hospitals and clinics, we see this every day. When wildfire smoke obscures the horizon…

A conversation with Marshall Burke, Emma De La Rosa, Bill Tripp & Katharine Mach

This year’s extreme wildfire season continues to devastate communities and spread harmful smoke across the West, from northern California where seasonal winds stoked the deadly and destructive Glass and Zogg fires, to Colorado, where the Cameron Peak fire has grown to the state’s third largest on record.

In August, we heard from Dr. Lisa Patel, a pediatrician who said the smoke from wildfires was overwhelming the air filtration system in the hospital’s NICU. …