Climate Change | Penn Today

‘I can’t even find the right adjective’: Hurricane Milton offers a catastrophic reminder

Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences says that warmer temperatures provide more energy and moisture to serve as fuel for hurricanes, making them bigger and wetter.

Morris Arboretum is building a plant science lab to research and hopefully save native species

A new plant science lab at the Morris Arboretum will unlock the genetic keys to sustain native trees and ferns, with remarks from Cindy Skema.

Control the path and power of hurricanes like Milton? Forget it, scientists say

Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences says that simply discussing ethical guidelines for tinkering with Earth’s atmosphere will make it more likely to occur in the real world, which could have harmful side effects.

New report accuses Citibank of funding fossil fuel projects amounting to environmental racism

Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences says that from an ethical standpoint banks and investment firms should no longer be financing new fossil fuel infrastructure.

Three women sit at tables in front of an audience. A Zoom screen with three additional speakers is behind them.

How is the world working to save biodiversity?

A Sept. 18 panel hosted by the Environmental Innovations Initiative and the Center for Latin American and Latinx Studies discussed local and global initiatives.

John Jackson rests his hands on a table in front of a bookcase.

Q&A

A conversation with Provost John L. Jackson Jr.

In a Q&A with Penn Today, Provost John L. Jackson Jr. reflects on his first year as provost, Penn’s strategic framework In Principle and Practice, and upholding academic independence.

The climate peril we overlook

R. Jisung Park of the School of Policy & Practice argues that we have been so focused on apocalyptic scenarios that we haven’t focused enough on the other consequences of climate change.

A young person pouring water over their head.

As the world warms, how are young people feeling?

Climate scientist Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences and Annenberg School for Communication leads a research community that aims to understand climate anxiety and improve climate communication.

A climate expert’s return to Penn

Jen Wilcox, an expert on direct-air capture, is the inaugural faculty appointment in the Kleinman Center and served for three years as principal deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Fossil Energy in the U.S. Department of Energy. She discusses her time away and her return to Penn.

A sign in a stairwell pointing the way to a cooling center.

As temperatures break records, many are unaware of symptoms of heat-related illnesses

A new survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center finds that more of the U.S. public sees the link between extreme heat and climate change, but not all extreme heat risks are understood by all.

Filters