This piece was authored by Paulina Vazquez Robles, an 2023 summer communications intern with Energy Innovation The U.S. has some of the world’s best offshore wind resources, but we’ve barely begun to tap into them– to date, only seven offshore…

Energy Innovation partners with the independent nonprofit Aspen Global Change Institute (AGCI) to provide climate and energy research updates. The research synopsis below comes from AGCI James C. Arnott. A full list of AGCI’s updates is available online at https://www.agci.org/resources?type=research-reviews. The…

Climate change-induced warmer temperatures are causing many plants in temperate climates to exhibit spring behavior. This change in the timing of plant development produces ripple effects that impact health, culture, livelihoods, and food security. New research is increasing our understanding of plant phenology and allowing for informed decision-making and adaptation strategies.

As the impacts of climate change intensify, experts predict fundamental shifts in mountain hydrologic cycles, with consequences for snow-reliant people and ecosystems. California can serve as a case study to help connect the dots between rising temperatures and regional atmospheric patterns.

The food system accounts for 35 percent of global emissions, but new research shows how consumers and producers can act to reduce food system impacts on the climate and move toward a net-zero system.

As the Colorado River Compact is renegotiated, scientists are critically examining historical research on the river’s flow to ensure decision-makers across the western United States and Mexico have the information they need to prepare for a future where drought is the norm.

In order to stay safe and healthy during wildfire smoke events, communities need to understand the health impacts of exposure, know the interventions they can take to mitigate risks, have access to accurate air quality data, and most importantly, have access to clean indoor air. Recent research underscores opportunities to improve smoke readiness across these dimensions.

Wildfires are increasing in intensity, frequency, and size, decimating ecosystems and devastating communities. As worries about the impacts of wildfires grow, researchers are ramping up efforts to understand wildfires’ water quality repercussions. Studies conducted following the Marshall and Camp fires will help lay the groundwork for future water resiliency efforts and community preparedness.

Studies show climate events can have catastrophic consequences for human health including the spread of disease vectors and contaminated food or drinking water supplies, but new research is identifying ways to reduce the risks.

How quickly we reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions critically depends on how fast we learn in the process. New research uses learning curves to explain staggering declines in costs of key climate technologies like solar photovoltaics and batteries, grounding hopes that we can get where we need to go—as long as we don’t delay getting started.