Future

January 1, 2021

The science stories likely to make headlines in 2021

Science News Staff

PATRICK T. FALLON/BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES

Climate Narratives, Climate Change, COVID-19, Future, Scientists, uncertainty

As biomedical scientists continue to battle the deadly pandemic this year to help the world return to normalcy, researchers across the disciplines still aim to hit big milestones or launch new projects despite the challenges brought by COVID-19. European scientists will also have to contend with the aftermath of Brexit. Many U.S. scientists, in contrast, have a more hopeful political outlook, with some likely to play an invigorated role in tackling another global crisis, climate change, after President-elect Joe Biden, who has vowed to make it a top priority, is sworn in this month. In this article, Science’s news staff forecasts areas of research and policy we expect to make headlines this year, from protecting the high seas’ biodiversity to probing how ancient humans interacted.

December 10, 2020

How Climate Change Is Ushering in a New Pandemic Era

Jeff Goodell

Illustration by Jason Holley for Rolling Stone

Climate Change, COVID-19, Ecological Impacts, Future, Health Impacts, risk factor

Covid-19 likely emerged from the wilds near southern China, then found residence in horseshoe bats before making the jump to humans. The virus, as of this writing, has infected 63 million people and caused 1.5 million deaths around the world. The global economic impact of the pandemic was estimated at $8 trillion to $16 trillion in July 2020 — it may be $16 trillion in the U.S. alone by the fourth quarter of 2021 (assuming vaccines are effective at controlling it by then). The amount of human suffering this tiny microbe has caused is incalculable: lost loved ones, vanished jobs, broken families, and lingering sickness from a virus that will eventually retreat but will never disappear.

November 30, 2020

In-depth Q&A: Does the world need hydrogen to solve climate change?

Simon Evans and Josh Gabbatiss

Voestalpine AG

Climate Change, Energy, Future

In this in-depth Q&A – which includes a range of infographics, maps and interactive charts, as well as the views of dozens of experts – Carbon Brief examines the big questions around the “hydrogen economy” and looks at the extent to which it could help the world avoid dangerous climate change.

November 25, 2020

Young people taking climate change lawsuit to Federal Court of Appeal

The Canadian Press

Climate Action, Equity, Future, Litigation

A group of 15 young people will try again to have the courts force Ottawa to develop a climate recovery plan after it was denied by the Federal Court.

November 25, 2020

Opinion: Climate change is the leading cause of global poverty

Erin Burke

Climate Change, Disaster, Ecological Impacts, Economic Impacts, Food Security, Future, Health Impacts, Poverty

According to the World Bank, the number of people in poverty will climb from 68 million to 132 million by 2030 because of climate change. The existence of global poverty is common knowledge, but many of us remain unaware of the leading cause. Climate change is the culprit of the devastating droughts and natural disasters that have created lasting effects on poverty levels worldwide. The consequences of climate change include food shortages, water shortages, loss of shelter, and a loss of livelihood, each of which are defining factors of poverty.

November 20, 2020

NASA has a mind-blowing plan to map rising sea levels from space

Susan Karlin

NASA/JPL-Caltech

Climate Change, Future, Scientists, Sea-level Rise, Technology

The Sentinel-6 will see details that previous sea level missions couldn’t. Existing satellites can track large phenomena stretching thousands of miles, such as the Gulf Stream and weather patterns like El Niño and La Niña. But smaller sea-level fluctuations near coastlines exceed their abilities. Sentinel-6’s higher resolution measurements will enable researchers to see finer, more complicated ocean features, especially near shorelines. It will also offer faster data turnarounds—collecting, processing, and releasing data within three hours, down from months and years. The data can be used to more quickly and accurately predict, map, and 3D model coastline changes; weather, such as hurricane intensity; ocean current fluctuations, which dissipate climate energy; and ocean topography and circulation, as movement of heat, salt, pollution, and nutrients impacts marine ecosystems.

November 18, 2020

How boards can set the course for a stronger future

Maria Vivian C. Ruiz

Insead

Governance, COVID-19, Future, Green New Deal

As society continues to evolve towards a post-pandemic world and the economy adjusts to the new normal, organizations are presented with the opportunity to set the tone for how they adapt their operations and positively impact society. The current situation allows boards an expanded role in steering their organizations along this journey.

November 11, 2020

Climate heroes: the countries pioneering a green future

Jonathan Watts

Sergio Pérez/Reuters

Climate Action, Climate Narratives, Energy Transition, Future

From Spain to South Korea, there are several global success stories in the drive to become carbon neutral.

November 10, 2020

High temperatures threaten the survival of insects

Lund University

ISTOCK.COM/ANTAGAIN

Climate Change, Ecological Impacts, Future

Insects have difficulties handling the higher temperatures brought on by climate change, and might risk overheating. The ability to reproduce is also strongly affected by rising temperatures, even in northern areas of the world, according to a new study from Lund University in Sweden.

November 4, 2020

How businesses can build resilience to climate impacts and protect the vulnerable throughout value chains

Samantha Harris and Léa Farnier

MIT Sloan Management Review

Climate Change, Community, Economic Impacts, Equity, Future, Impacts, Resilience, Scenarios, Value-chains

Companies have a key role to play in building societal resilience to crises, including the current pandemic and climate impacts, across their value chains. Some priority actions businesses can take to build resilience include conducting supply chain risk assessments; understanding future scenarios; and understanding how the people in business and vital communities are affected.

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