The Carbon Footprint of Artificial Intelligence
Looking for ways to cut the release of greenhouse gases attributable to AI use, at a time that usage is very likely to grow.
The Carbon Footprint of Artificial Intelligence Read MoreGenerally covering broad topics involving Earth’s changing climate.
Looking for ways to cut the release of greenhouse gases attributable to AI use, at a time that usage is very likely to grow.
The Carbon Footprint of Artificial Intelligence Read MoreThe Catholic Church is one of the world’s largest landowners. Using public data and GIS, Molly Burhans is trying to make it a better steward.
The Catholic cartographer who wants to help the church fight climate change Read MoreOcean creatures soak up huge amounts of humanity’s carbon mess. Should we value them like financial assets?
The Trillion-Dollar Auction to Save the World Read MoreBut what about the overall environmental impacts of this growing infrastructure and the huge number of short-lived devices connected to it, or the indirect impacts on other sectors?
Let Us Not Put All Our Eggs in One Basket Read MoreIn California’s ‘zombie’ forests, conifers have become mismatched to a warming climate.
Mapping California’s ‘Zombie’ Forests Read MoreWe will most likely never do better than a best guess at computing’s carbon footprint, but given uncertainties it would be safer and more responsible to act on the assumption that higher estimates could be closer to the truth—especially since the pace of warming has exceeded our expectations at every point. But in big-picture terms, the difference between 1.8% and 3.9% does not fundamentally change our mission: computing’s emissions must be reduced urgently and drastically. How are we going to achieve this?
Our House Is On Fire: The Climate Emergency and Computing’s Responsibility Read MoreThe “urban heat island effect” creates extra-hot temperatures that kill. But cities can prescribe powerful treatments, like green spaces and reflective roofs.
Extreme Heat Is a Disease for Cities. Treat It That Way Read MoreDigging deep into a humble lake in Canada, scientists found a spot on Earth like no other — and a record that could redefine our history of the planet
Hidden beneath the surface Read MoreTropical storms are increasingly likely to batter the US as oceans warm—and will continue to wreak havoc so long as climate change remains unaddressed.
Hurricane Ian Is a Warning From the Future Read MoreClimate change and human activity are destroying the layers of fungi, lichen, and bacteria that protect deserts from erosion.
The Desert’s Fragile Skin Can’t Take Much More Heat Read MoreLess pavement and more green spaces help absorb water instead of funneling it all away—a win-win for people and urban ecosystems.
If You Don’t Already Live in a Sponge City, You Will Soon Read MoreScorching temperatures in the Golden State are a test case for a more flexible energy grid.
California’s Heat Wave Is a Big Moment for Batteries Read MoreThe Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management has a new name, new leaders, and a new mandate to meet Joe Biden’s climate goals.
The US agency in charge of developing fossil fuels has a new job: cleaning them up Read MoreUnearthing streams breathes life back into local communities.
A River Runs Through It Read MoreAs financial pressures on climate risk and reputation grow, computing industry executives have made new commitments to reduce carbon emissions and impact.
Good, Better, Best: How Sustainable Should Computing Be? Read MoreOne Chinese landscape designer has pioneered a new approach—working with water instead of trying to bend it to our will.
The architect making friends with flooding Read MoreOn a barren lava plateau in Iceland, a new facility is sucking in air and stashing the carbon dioxide in rock. The next step: Build 10,000 more.
The Quest to Trap Carbon in Stone—and Beat Climate Change Read MoreRemoving the greenhouse gas from the air will likely be necessary, along with radical emissions cuts, to keep temperatures from rising 2˚C.
UN climate report: Carbon removal is now “essential” Read MoreYou’ve probably heard of permafrost, the frozen carbon-rich land. But it’s also thawing under the sea, burping up planet-warming gases.
Underwater Permafrost Is a Big, Gassy Wild Card for the Climate Read MoreSo far, the efforts to observe the currents directly show they’re weirder and more unpredictable than expected.
The Atlantic’s vital currents could collapse. Scientists are racing to understand the dangers. Read More