Climate Change

Two’s a Monopoly, Three’s Not Crowded Enough

Our world is ablaze. In a literal sense, some regions actively burn. Metaphorically, others face social and political fires. Susceptible regions experience many forms of concerning weather phenomena including flooding, extreme heat waves and pervasive droughts. Despite the need for urgent action, effective legislation to combat climate change is minimal in the United States. According […]

Atoms for Peace: The New Reality is Embracing Nuclear Energy

Show almost anyone the yellow and black three-pronged nuclear emblem, and you will probably get a negative reaction. The symbol evokes feelings of impending doom, visions of mushroom clouds, and worries of radiation-borne maladies. But ironically, the energy behind it is the only thing that can avert catastrophe: the climate emergency.  Our current culture would […]

Why High-Speed Rail Shouldn’t Be a Priority

High-speed rail (HSR)—intercity passenger transport with trains that reach max speeds of at least 160 mph—has captured the attention and enthusiasm of many young, sustainability-minded people. Its supporters believe that HSR, which the US currently lacks, is a climate-friendly alternative to automotive and air transportation. But they are mistaken. Although HSR is indeed energy-efficient and […]

Episode 18: “Japanese Domestic and International Politics under the new Kishida Administration” with Rintaro Nishimura

Bryan interviews fifth-year Rintaro Nishimura regarding the recent Japanese general and Prime Ministerial elections, discusses the trajectory of several domestic issues under the new administration headed by Fumio Kishida, and the role played by the United States and other partners in international matters, especially within Asia. If you have any questions or comments about NUPR-spectives […]

Episode 17: “Global Health Institutions and the Importance of Leadership” with Carlos Arriaga Serrano

Bryan interviews Ph.D. student Carlos Arriaga Serrano about his most recent piece at NUPR, regarding COVID-19, global health organizations, and the need for good global governance. The conversation expands out to discussions on climate change work, and what the future holds for the role of supranational organizations. Make sure to check out Carlos’ piece for yourself […]

Climate Change in the Pacific Islands: Why the World Needs to Pay Attention

Until recently, climate change has always been a future problem. With most countries addressing climate change at a painfully slow pace, coupled with “gravely insufficient” policies, the recent uptick in support and concern worldwide is positive.  In 2020, 52 percent of US citizens listed global climate change as their top priority, compared to 30 percent […]

The Future of Climate Change International Policy

“We must now agree on a binding review mechanism under international law, so that this century can credibly be called a century of decarbonization.” –German Chancellor Angela Merkel, 2015 Paris Agreement negotiations The time for climate action is long overdue. Humanity must employ universal, cooperative efforts to prevent irreversible damage to our planet. The international […]

The Politicization of Science is Going to Kill Us

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the deadliest outbreaks in the last century, killing over one million people since early January. Nearly fifty million people have contracted the virus globally, and case counts are rising. Over 230,000 people have died in the United States alone. The US is home to less than five percent of […]

Anti-Intellectualism and Partisanship are Killing US Climate Reform

Through patterns of industrialization and globalization, humanity has built planet-altering power. Daily activities as mundane as making coffee in the morning increase our chemical and ecological footprint. Sea levels rise at a startling rate of over an eighth of an inch per year and our oceans have lost two percent of their oxygen in half […]

Green for Green: Big-Money Donations and Climate Policy

Climate change is real. The science is irrefutable. The Earth’s average surface temperature is increasing at an unprecedented rate—almost a full degree Celsius in the past thirty-five years alone. In contrast, when the Earth transitioned out of the last ice age, it took about ten thousand years for temperatures to rise by 4°C. The past […]