Online Articles

The Thwaites Glacier comprises one third of the mass that has been lost from the Amundsen Sea Embayment.

The Thwaites Glacier, Rising Sea Levels, and the Future of Coastal Cities

March 19, 2019 by Sylvie Yudin Climate change International Oceans State and Local Sustainability

Scientists have recently discovered that the Thwaites Glacier, a key component of the West Antarctic glacial system, is melting faster than expected. Since many of the world’s population and financial centers are located along coastlines, the situation unfolding at the Thwaites Glacier is particularly alarming. How drastically are melting glaciers impacting sea levels, and how will governments respond to these shifts?

Several world leaders meet at the UN in Paris. Some have their hands linked and raised above their heads. Two others are clapping.

The Difficulties of Enforcing Global Environmental Law

February 1, 2019 by Taylor Kilduff Climate change International

This post seeks to understand what caused the results of a recent United Nations (UN) report on the international environmental rule of law and outline the international community’s difficulties in implementing and enforcing environmental regulations. Both the domestic politics of individual states and the inherent nature of the international community contribute to the inability of international organizations like the UN to enforce environmental standards on a global scale.

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve: An Underappreciated National Security Asset

November 5, 2018 by Alex D. Pappas Energy Fossil Fuels International

Proposals to reform an emergency storage repository for crude oil known as the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (“SPR”) abound as President Trump and lawmakers react to changing oil market dynamics. As the policy goals and technical utilization of the SPR are evaluated, policymakers could benefit from additional assessment of the costs and benefits of SPR modifications that could imperil an essential national security asset.

Protestors march in downtown San Francisco ahead of the Global Climate Action Summit.

The Global Climate Action Summit: What happened, who protested, and why?

September 23, 2018 by Lauren Phillips Climate change International

The 2018 Global Climate Action Summit brought thousands of people to San Francisco last week to announce commitments to fighting climate change. Outside the summit, however, protestors demanded that leaders set more ambitious goals. What happened inside and outside the summit, and did it represent a meaningful step to fighting climate change?

By Lauren Phillips, Online Managing Editor