That massive climate bill is still on everyone’s minds over 400 days after it passed in the US. James Temple sat down with environmental policy expert Leah Stokes to talk about this and other key ideas in climate policy. Watch the session here.
We debuted our list of 15 Climate Tech Companies to watch in 2023 on stage. In a special session, MIT Technology Review editor in chief Mat Honan and I spun through all the companies in just six minutes. In case you missed that bit of fun, you can dive into the full list here, and read more about why we decided to put this project together and how we picked the companies here.
Keeping up with climate
Oysters could help efforts to restore coastal ecosystems and boost local economies at the same time. This is a great deep dive into the science and politics of the humble oyster. (MIT Technology Review)
A new project will use hydrogen produced using renewable electricity in a power plant. It’s probably not the best use for the fuel, according to energy experts. (Canary Media)
The UN climate meeting is coming up in December in Dubai. Leading the talks is the head of the UAE’s national oil company—a controversial pick, to put it lightly. (The Guardian)
Researchers are racing to map out vast underground fungal networks. The findings could help them understand biodiversity and learn how natural ecosystems can trap and store carbon. (Washington Post)
Nobody can keep up with how fast Tesla is slashing prices. The automaker has sold over 60% of all fully electric vehicles in the US, and legacy automakers like GM and Volkswagen are struggling to keep pace. (Bloomberg)
Just checking in on climate progress: things aren’t moving fast enough. The UN panel on climate change released a special report five years ago laying out the path to keeping warming at less than 1.5 °C (2.7 °F) over preindustrial levels. We’re not on track. (The Messenger)
Climate change is breaking the insurance industry. Disasters mean sky-high damage costs, which push rates higher. (Grist)
AI could soon use as much electricity as some countries. A new study estimates that by 2027, servers used for AI could use up to 134 terawatt-hours of electricity annually—in the same ballpark as Argentina and Sweden. (New York Times)