Climate Change | Penn Today

This family lost their home in the Texas floods. Like most victims of storm, they didn’t have flood insurance

As of 2018, only 30% of homes in FEMA-classified “special flood hazard areas” had flood insurance, according to an analysis by the Wharton Climate Center.

Climate change is making extreme rain events like Texas’ more common — and more intense

Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences says extreme weather conditions are now being locked in place for longer periods.

A map of precipitation anomalies in Central America.

How to prepare for the impacts of a changing climate

Irina Marinov, associate professor at the Department of Earth and Environmental Science, leads a research community focused on understanding global climate impacts, risks, and vulnerabilities to enable local action.

2 min. read

How we made it: Dual heat domes hit Europe and U.S.

Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences says that dual heat domes are likely to become more common.

Temperatures reach dangerous highs as ‘heat domes’ hit U.S. and Europe

Research by Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences and colleagues found that the amplification of waves in the jet stream had led to a dramatic increase in atmospheric events, driving heatwaves, wildfires, and floods.

Everett Clayton looks at a digital thermometer on a nearby building that reads 116 degrees while walking to his apartment on June 27, 2021 in Vancouver, Washington.

Heat domes and flooding have nearly tripled since the ’50s

New research led by Michael E. Mann links a surge in stalled jet stream events to human-driven climate change, with major implications for future heatwaves, wildfires, and floods.

7 min. read

Heat waves are getting more dangerous with climate change — and we may still be underestimating them

Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences says climate models are likely understating the relationship between climate change and persistent summer weather extremes.

Heat dome blankets large swathe of the U.S.

Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences says that large-scale wave patterns and heat domes are becoming more common each summer due to climate change.

Food waste: Recycling, not discarding, offers huge environmental benefits

Researchers at Penn Vet examine how common food waste recycling methods, including composting, could have a big impact on greenhouse gas emissions and the use of natural resources.

5 min. read

Keeping HUP sustainable

Corporate director of sustainability for the University of Pennsylvania Health System Greg Evans discusses steering Penn Medicine towards a greener future.