Why taxing cow burps isn’t the best climate solution

New Zealand is considering a plan to tax methane from cows. But while cows and cars both emit greenhouse gases, they don’t have the same impact over time.

Kevin Trenberth, Affiliated Faculty in Climate Science, University of Auckland • conversation
Feb. 9, 2023 ~8 min

New Zealand wants to tax cow burps – here's why that's not the best climate solution

New Zealand is considering a plan to tax methane from cows. But while cows and cars both emit greenhouse gases, they don’t have the same impact over time.

Kevin Trenberth, Affiliated Faculty in Climate Science, University of Auckland • conversation
Feb. 9, 2023 ~8 min


Chess players perform worse when air quality is poor – and other high-skilled workers could be affected too

Air pollution causes chess players to make more errors – this may have implications for high-skilled professionals.

Francis Pope, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Birmingham • conversation
Feb. 8, 2023 ~7 min

The ocean twilight zone could store vast amounts of carbon captured from the atmosphere – but first we need an internet of deep ocean sensors to track the effects

The ocean twilight zone could store vast amounts of carbon captured from the atmosphere, but first we need a 4D monitoring system to ensure ramping up carbon storage does no harm.

Peter de Menocal, Director, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution • conversation
Feb. 1, 2023 ~12 min

The ocean twilight zone could store vast amounts of carbon captured from the atmosphere – but first we need to build a 4D system to track what's going on down there

An ocean scientist describes plans for an ‘internet of the ocean,’ with sensors and autonomous vehicles that can explore the deep sea and monitor its vital signs.

Peter de Menocal, Director, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution • conversation
Feb. 1, 2023 ~12 min

Ending Amazon deforestation: 4 essential reads about the future of the world's largest rainforest

Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva says he will end land clearance in Brazil’s Amazon region. But powerful forces profit from rainforest destruction.

Jennifer Weeks, Senior Environment + Energy Editor, The Conversation • conversation
Nov. 18, 2022 ~9 min

Climate change: carbon offsetting isn't working – here's how to fix it

Carbon offsetting is often met with scepticism, but a new report suggests that if correctly designed it can be an important part of the net zero transition.

Piers Forster, Professor of Physical Climate Change; Director of the Priestley International Centre for Climate, University of Leeds • conversation
Nov. 7, 2022 ~8 min

Using the ocean to fight climate change raises serious environmental justice and technical questions

From planting mangroves to dumping minerals in the ocean, there are lots of ideas for ocean carbon dioxide removal – and even more questions.

Terre Satterfield, Professor of Culture, Risk and the Environment, University of British Columbia • conversation
Oct. 24, 2022 ~10 min


Direct air capture: how advanced is technology to suck up carbon dioxide – and could it slow climate change?

The cost of deploying a direct air capture unit must fall while the cost of emitting CO₂ rises.

Dawid Hanak, Associate Professor in Energy and Process Engineering, Cranfield University • conversation
Sept. 21, 2022 ~9 min

Why are some people mosquito magnets and others unbothered? A medical entomologist points to metabolism, body odor and mindset

Mosquitoes can track down potential hosts using the CO2 released by humans’ metabolic processes, a medical entomologist explains.

Jonathan Day, Emeritus Professor of Medical Entomology, University of Florida • conversation
Sept. 9, 2022 ~7 min

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