Emissions reduction

Policy & regulation

California’s new clean-fuel plan makes old problems worse

CARB approved new rules last week that critics say reward polluting biofuels, shortchange EVs, and could cause gasoline prices to spike.

By Jeff St. John . 13 November 2024

gray, black, and white cars snaking along two sides of an urban freeway. — The 101 freeway in Los Angeles, California (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Politics

Chart: Trump’s win could lead to far more planet-warming emissions

A Trump administration could cause the U.S. to emit an additional 4 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by 2030, blowing past climate targets.

By Dan McCarthy . 8 November 2024
Clean industry

Chart: Heavy industry is the world's biggest decarbonization challenge

The production of oil and gas, cement, steel, and other industrial products is enormously polluting. Decarbonizing these sectors will take a while.

By Dan McCarthy . 25 October 2024
Clean energy

Global emissions may begin declining in 2024, thanks to EVs, clean energy

New research predicts global CO2 emissions will begin to decline this year and halve by 2050. That’s not fast enough to meet climate goals.

By Carrie Klein . 14 October 2024
Clean fleets

The country’s biggest electric school-bus fleet will also feed the grid

San Francisco-based startup Zum wants to turn electric school-bus fleets into grid batteries. This 74-bus depot in Oakland is testing the idea at large scale.

By Jeff St. John . 3 September 2024
Green steel

Chart: Steelmaking is starting to go electric

The majority of newly announced steel capacity in 2023 planned to use lower-emissions electric arc furnaces, but the dirty industry has a way to go to clean up.

By Dan McCarthy, Carrie Klein . 26 July 2024
Food and farms

Meati is turning fungi into climate-friendly steaks. Will diners bite?

The sustainable food startup just raised another $100 million to try and break through a tough market for alternative meats.

By Julian Spector . 27 June 2024
Fossil fuels

Just how bad are gas appliances for your health?

It's not all about the climate. There are loads of reasons to ditch gas stoves and appliances — and health concerns may be at the top of the list.

By Alison F. Takemura . 26 June 2024
Policy & regulation

Missed deadlines pile up as New York’s climate law turns five

New York’s clean energy rollout is not moving fast enough to meet the ambitious emissions-cutting targets the state adopted in 2019.

By Colin Kinniburgh . 26 June 2024
Heat pumps

This NYC high-rise is using heat pumps and waste heat to cut fossil fuels

The cutting-edge, state-backed project at 345 Hudson could be a model for other big buildings sprinting to comply with the city’s building decarbonization law.

By Alison F. Takemura . 19 June 2024
Clean industry

Southern California adopts landmark rule to electrify industrial heat

The effort will slash emissions from more than 1 million boilers and water heaters over the next decade. Advocates hope other regions will follow suit.

By Maria Gallucci . 7 June 2024