The Climate Desk

carbon smokestack

We've Hit the Carbon Level We Were Warned About. Here's What That Means.

A monitor in Hawaii registered 400 parts per million of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere, higher than ever above the "safe" 350 ppm level.

Text by Tim McDonnell and James West; Interactive by Duncan Clark

 | Sun May. 12, 2013 4:42 PM PDT

We Just Passed the Climate's "Grim Milestone"

A monitor in Hawaii registered 400 parts per million of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere. Here's what that means.

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| Fri May. 10, 2013 1:00 PM PDT
hockey stick chart

The Most Controversial Chart in History, Explained

Climate deniers threw all their might at disproving the famous "hockey stick" climate change graph. Here's why they failed.

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| Thu May. 9, 2013 3:00 AM PDT

Finally, Some Not-Terrible Climate News: Greenland Not Melting Any Faster

The last ten years have seen unprecedented ice loss. Don't expect that speedup to continue, a new study says.

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| Mon May. 6, 2013 9:01 AM PDT

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What If We Never Run Out of Oil?

New technology and a little-known energy source suggest that fossil fuels may not be finite. This would be a miracle—and a nightmare.

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| Fri May. 3, 2013 3:00 AM PDT

WATCH: A Conversation With Climate Scientist Michael Mann

The next Climate Desk Live event is up and running. Watch the livestream here.

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| Tue Apr. 30, 2013 10:00 AM PDT

Why Do Conservatives Like to Waste Energy?

Want to sell a Republican a greener light bulb? Don't tell them it's green.

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| Wed Apr. 24, 2013 1:26 PM PDT

Meet Alvin, the Climate-Change-Fighting Puppet

How one performer is taking a deep dive on rising seas.

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| Sat Apr. 27, 2013 3:00 AM PDT

WATCH: The Alarming Science Behind Climate Change’s Increasingly Wild Weather

The latest Climate Desk Live event is up and running. Watch the stream here.

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| Tue Apr. 23, 2013 1:27 PM PDT

VIDEO: What Does the Keystone XL Fight Mean for Environmentalism?

The latest Climate Desk Live asked if pipeline opponents picked the wrong battle—and if that even matters.

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| Wed Apr. 24, 2013 1:55 PM PDT

Charts: The Smart Money Is on Renewable Energy

Investments in solar and green power are on track to blow away fossil fuels by 2030.

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| Mon Apr. 22, 2013 11:44 AM PDT

GOP Goes Hunting For EPA Emails About Turducken

...but misses the big picture of the agency's transparency problems.

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| Fri Apr. 19, 2013 3:00 AM PDT

The First—And Last—Hearing on Keystone XL Environmental Impact

In Nebraska, a colorful cast of characters turn out to oppose the massive oil pipeline project.

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| Thu Apr. 18, 2013 12:03 PM PDT

CHARTS: 'Messy' US Climate Policy is Kinda Working

Even without a plan, new data shows the country making some climate gains.

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| Tue Apr. 16, 2013 3:00 AM PDT

Obama Biofuel Budget Spills Few Details, Still Attacked by House GOP

Obama's second-term climate policies are already mired in party politics.

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| Thu Apr. 11, 2013 3:00 AM PDT

How Margaret Thatcher Made the Conservative Case for Climate Action

Although Thatcher later went cold on the issue, as prime minister she rallied the world behind global action.

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| Mon Apr. 8, 2013 8:53 AM PDT

CHART: How Climate Change and Your Wine Habit Threaten Endangered Pandas

Global warming is shifting wine country straight onto sensitive habitats.

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| Mon Apr. 8, 2013 7:21 AM PDT
Satellite view of algae in Lake Erie

For Cleveland, Climate Change Could Mean Tons of Toxic Green Algae

NASA photos show massive amounts of algae in Lake Erie.

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| Fri Apr. 5, 2013 11:20 AM PDT
Jon Snow

A "Game of Thrones" Winter May Be Coming

Frozen sheep, slowing jet streams, record snowfalls—all signs, climate scientists say, of a stark new reality.

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| Fri Apr. 5, 2013 3:00 AM PDT

Frackers Are Losing $1.5 Billion Yearly to Leaks

Leaky pipes are the "super low-hanging fruit" of climate change.

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| Fri Apr. 5, 2013 3:00 AM PDT