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Artificial intelligence provides new evidence that rapid decarbonization will not prevent warming beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius. The hottest years of this century are likely to shatter recent records.

The 2024 Environmental Venture Projects and Realizing Environmental Innovation Program grants foster interdisciplinary solutions.

An expert in modeling global climate discusses how new data and new techniques are providing a clearer glimpse of our atmospheric future than ever before.

The new interdisciplinary hub seeks to address the interconnected challenges of health and environmental sustainability.

In rural Africa, where livelihoods are often tied directly to the land, environmental degradation poses a critical threat to both ecosystems and people’s well-being. New research reveals ways to tackle the dual challenges of land degradation and poverty.

A new play combines science and art to raise awareness about overlooked climate impacts and spark conversations to identify solutions.

The institute’s practice of bringing together experts from disparate fields to tackle pressing environmental challenges has redefined the relationship between science, policy, and real-world solutions.

Stanford’s campus has become a living lab for testing innovative fire management techniques, from AI-powered environmental sensors to a firebreak-creating “BurnBot.”

Kabir Peay wants to leverage the relationship between plants and the beneficial fungi that colonize their roots to help ecosystems weather climate change.

The faculty director of Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve reflects on new growth in the area where intentional burning was applied to chaparral earlier this year.

The latest installment in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability’s Dean’s Lecture series welcomed Chief Raoni Metuktire of the Amazon’s Kayapó people to discuss environmental concerns and potential solutions.

When the school was founded in September 2022, it included a commitment to hire as many as 60 new faculty in critical areas of research. This fall, the school welcomed eight new faculty members who research behavioral science, decision-making, oceans, climate science, materials science, and more.

Two committees released reports this summer related to the university’s funding for energy research and education and the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability’s industrial affiliates programs. Conclusions from the university report will be presented at an upcoming campus event.

A new book by ecologists at Stanford and the National Autonomous University of Mexico advocates for earlier detection and mitigation of threats to ward off population extinction.

The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment recently hosted a first-of-its-kind “boot camp” in which congressional staffers got a crash course from experts in climate, forestry, fire science, utilities, insurance, and other wildfire-related topics.

Methane concentrations in Earth’s atmosphere increased at record speed over the past five years. At least two-thirds of annual methane emissions now come from human activities, including fossil fuel use, agriculture, and landfills and other waste.

Through programs offered by the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, undergraduate students from Stanford and institutions across the U.S. worked on projects that tackled pressing environmental challenges and advanced fundamental knowledge about our planet. Here’s an inside look at their experiences.

Researchers at Stanford and Colorado State University used machine learning to determine how much global warming has influenced extreme weather events in the U.S. and elsewhere in recent years. Their approach could change how scientists study and predict the impact of climate change on extreme weather.

The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability will establish new research initiatives under topics including climate, water, energy, food, nature, and cities.

In Brazil, climate and other human-made environmental changes threaten decades-long efforts to fight schistosomiasis, a widespread and debilitating parasitic disease. Now, Stanford and Brazilian researchers have developed models that can predict how the disease risk will shift in response to environmental changes.

Rob Jackson’s new book illustrates clean energy transition challenges and success around the world.

New research underscores the close relationship between dust plumes transported from the Sahara Desert in Africa and rainfall from tropical cyclones along the U.S. Gulf Coast and Florida.

Stanford researchers are working to reveal secrets of a massive, intricate underground fungal network. The resulting knowledge could help scientists engineer fungi-plant interactions to store large amounts of carbon underground and break down toxins, such as plastics and pesticides, among other advances.

Seed grants awarded under the Big Ideas for Oceans program will enable work on high-risk, potentially high-reward projects designed to conserve the ocean and address climate change. 

Citing academic freedom as “an underpinning of good science” and the need for a “robust and diverse” approach to climate solutions, a Stanford committee recommended against prohibiting research funds from fossil fuel companies. But the panel encouraged closer oversight and reviews, which are now underway, of industrial affiliates programs across the university.

Wildfire risk is an ever-present concern in the American West. A legal scholar and wildfire policy expert talks about how a recent Sustainability Accelerator grant helped a multidisciplinary team advance policy change in California.

During the school's 2024 commencement ceremony, Dean Arun Majumdar told graduates they “can change the world.”

The professor of Earth system science will focus on supporting graduate students and postdoctoral scholars as they prepare for careers in academia.

From bleaching corals to weakening currents, Stanford scientists help readers navigate the effects of warmer oceans.

Severe wildfires can drive chemical changes in soil that affect ecosystem recovery and risks to human health. A new study finds broader surveillance and modeling of these changes could inform strategies for protecting lives, property, and natural resources, and managing wildlife.

A new study of air pollution in U.S. homes reveals how much gas and propane stoves increase people’s exposure to nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant linked to childhood asthma. Even in bedrooms far from kitchens, concentrations frequently exceed health limits while stoves are on and for hours after burners and ovens are turned off.

This year’s Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability photo contest highlights Earth’s beauty, challenges facing people and the planet, and action to advance global sustainability.

The Stanford Forum on the Science of Energy Transition brought together scientific experts, technology innovators, and industry leaders to explore practical pathways to a decarbonized future.

Programs and policies that help households go beyond stocking up on food and medical supplies to invest in longer-term protections could overcome the risk perception gap and support adaptation to rising climate-related threats.

Scholars and community leaders gathered at an environmental justice conference to discuss the importance of community-driven research, intersectional frameworks, and institutional legitimacy.

Sixteen research teams from across Stanford University will explore innovative strategies for gigaton atmospheric greenhouse gas removal – the school’s first ‘Flagship Destination’ research focus.

Researchers have found that one-third of the organic carbon leached from peatland soils into canal waters in Southeast Asia gets broken down and released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

With the support of the U.S. Department of Energy, a Stanford-led consortium of 22 research institutions seeks to help communities balance top priorities for a decarbonized grid.

New research shows the diversity of plant and animal life in 14 tropical reserves in Mesoamerica has plummeted since 1990 as roads and cattle ranches have expanded into protected areas. Large mammals, birds, and reptiles are disappearing, while disease-carrying insects and rodents are on the rise.

Analysis reveals imported earthworm species have colonized large swaths of North America, and represent a largely overlooked threat to native ecosystems. The researchers warn of the need to better understand and manage the invaders in our midst.

Daniel Swain studies extreme floods. And droughts. And wildfires. Then he explains them to the rest of us.

Researchers found almost no agreement among four widely used poverty measurement approaches. The findings suggest that the choice of a measurement approach can lead to very different conclusions about who qualifies for poverty alleviation programs and policies, and how much these efforts achieve.

In a new collaboration, the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and Stanford Graduate School of Business will offer an executive education program designed to help both current and aspiring chief sustainability officers become more effective leaders in their organizations.

Two courses in the SUSTAIN 101 series use nontraditional approaches to teach complex climate data and community-focused sustainable design. 

Stanford study on microbes in extremely salty water suggests life may survive conditions previously thought to be uninhabitable. The research widens the possibilities for where life may be found throughout our solar system and shows how changes in salinity may affect life in aquatic habitats on Earth.

New research from Stanford suggests climate change will disrupt many age-old partnerships between aspen trees and fungi that are essential to healthy forests.

New research from Stanford University shows wildfires can transform a natural element in soils into a cancer-causing and readily airborne metal known as chromium 6.

Declining coal use helped shrink U.S. emissions 3%, according to new estimates from the Global Carbon Project, even as global emissions keep the world on a path to exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming before 2030 and 1.7 degrees soon after.

Stanford ecologist and climate scientist Chris Field looks to the 28th UN Climate Change Conference for a roadmap on what he considers solvable challenges.

The legislation “is important symbolically and internationally,” says Rob Jackson. “Its biggest benefits are to provide longer-term certainty for renewables development and to promote sales of lower-cost electric vehicles. It’s critical the U.S. do something."

David Lobell has been awarded a 2022 Global Health Seed Grant from Stanford’s Center for Innovation in Global Health, along with several faculty members joining the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.

The Stanford geographer and environmental scientist discusses the sand shortage crisis and what it means for the future of the environment. (Source: Stanford News)

In a Stanford study of hospitalizations near the 2018 Camp Fire, a week of heavy smoke exposure was linked to a five percent increased risk of preterm births.

“The political reality is that climate isn’t a top priority for Democrats,” says Earth system science professor Rob Jackson. “I think it means we will zoom past 1.5 C in a couple years and hurdle toward 2 C before we know it.”

New research reveals that, rather than being influenced only by environmental conditions, deep subsurface microbial communities can transform because of geological movements. The findings advance our understanding of subsurface microorganisms, which comprise up to half of all living material on the planet.

Most government policies for mitigating public health risks from wildfire smoke aim to educate citizens to protect themselves by staying indoors, closing windows, and using air filters. Stanford research shows why that approach fails for Americans across all income groups and points to solutions.

When wildfire smoke descends, Californians are told to close windows and run air purifiers. But this advice may not be widely followed, according to a study led by Marshall Burke. And the disparity between wealthy and low-income neighborhoods is significant.

“This...makes sense only as a death knell for coal. Otherwise, it’s baffling. We’re approaching 8 billion tons of carbon dioxide pollution a year from gas use alone, and that can’t continue,” says Rob Jackson in an article that also cites research on methane leaks led by Adam Brandt. 

A new study shows wealthier households are more likely to change their movement patterns in response to wildfires. “More public safety options could include something like clean air centers at libraries or other public buildings,” says co-author Sam Heft-Neal.

“Cement emissions have grown faster than most other carbon sources,” says Stanford Earth system science professor Rob Jackson, adding that the climbing emissions can largely be tied to increased manufacturing in China.

“Our primary focus needs to be on fossil fuel use because that’s where most emissions come from,” says Stanford professor Rob Jackson. “I don’t think cement is on most policymakers’ radar.”

"What we showed was that the limits to the accuracy of the forecast changes based on the basic temperature of the Earth. It's this really nice link between weather and climate," says Aditi Sheshadri in a podcast interview about her research on the limits of accurate weather predictions in warmer climates.

The award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond their role to create a more inclusive, just, and welcoming community at the Stanford School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences.

Stanford Earth’s Excellence in Teaching Award is presented annually to an instructor during the diploma ceremony on commencement weekend. The honoree is selected based on nominations from students, faculty, and alumni.

More than any class before, the 2022 graduates of the School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences are prepared to navigate uncertainties in the pursuit of a life that brings happiness and meaning, according to Dean Stephan Graham.

Since 1900, Earth's average air temperature has increased by 1.1 degrees Celsius. The odds of a record heat event or extreme heat day have doubled or tripled, says Stanford's Noah Diffenbaugh. “These types of conditions are increasing, it’s not just your imagination.”

New analysis shows crop yields could increase by about 25% in China and up to 10% in other parts of the world if emissions of a common air pollutant decreased by about half. 

Analysis of air pollution and crop health via satellite imagery led by Stanford's David Lobell suggests that limiting emissions of nitrogen dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas, could boost crop yields by up to 28 percent.

Environmental scientist Chris Field explains why taking on climate change will require that we continue to reduce emissions and adapt to the effects of increasing temperatures. (Source: Stanford Engineering)

"I’m reminded of the common question, ‘Paper or plastic?’ The right answer is whatever you already have, so long as you reuse it," says Stanford professor Rob Jackson.

A TIME magazine feature covers the harmful health and climate effects of natural gas stoves and possible solutions based on a study led by Rob Jackson's research group.

"We're starting the season in a severe drought heading into the warm part of the year, and we know that the kinds of severe heat waves that have really amplified fire risk in recent years are much more likely now than they were previously in California's history," says Stanford climate scientist Noah Diffenbaugh.

"Farming finfish on an industrial scale is like farming livestock on land on an industrial scale,” says Rosamond L. Naylor, who directs Stanford's Center on Food Security and the Environment. “There are ways to minimize risks, but they are costly, and not everyone is taking the steps they should be taking.”

While gas fireplaces, furnaces, and hot water heaters all burn and leak methane, and are thus a concern from a climate perspective, Stanford's Eric Lebel and Rob Jackson say there's less of a worry than with gas stoves from a health perspective.

A new certificate program provides a framework for Stanford Earth graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to learn new skills, gain practical experience, and produce portfolio pieces that will broaden their professional preparedness. The program will be carried into the new school focused on climate and sustainability.

“People in countries like the U.S. are starting to ask what all this extra stuff filling our lives gets us. The answer appears to be very little, perhaps nothing," says Rob Jackson on excessive energy use levels around the world. 

Analysis of data from 140 countries suggests many rich countries could use less energy per capita without compromising health, happiness or prosperity. Countries struggling with energy poverty may be able to maximize well-being with less energy than previously thought.

Human well-being is strongly tethered to energy access, but a new Stanford-led study finds high-consuming countries could scale back consumption without sacrificing health and happiness.

How much energy does it take to have a good and healthy life? A new study led by Earth system science professor Rob Jackson has found that the answer is far less than the average American is using.

Billions of people could be lifted out of poverty without boosting global energy consumption, according to a new Stanford study that has deep implications for climate change.

The grant supports early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization. 

Stephan Graham, Noah Diffenbaugh, Sally Benson and Anjana Richards served as panelists at a recent Deliberative Polling event to discuss proposals for the new school focused on climate and sustainability. 

Surveys of people exposed to wildfires and hurricanes show that negative experiences with these events are associated with elevated perceived risk for specific climate hazards and self-reported adaptation behaviors, as well as increased support for interventions. The findings could help shape public communications and policy.

New analysis by Rob Jackson and PhD student Sam Abernethy emphasizes that a reduction in global methane emissions is critical to meeting short-term climate targets. 

Nicole Ardoin and Mark Horowitz discuss exciting new programs and courses within the new school, which will focus on climate and sustainability. 

Stanford scholars Krishna Rao, Alexandra Konings and Noah Diffenbaugh used satellite data to track vegetation dryness patterns over time and identify wildfire vulnerabilities in the West. 

By focusing on the climate impact of methane over a 100-year timeframe, international climate negotiators have underestimated the importance of this short-lived greenhouse gas for achieving Paris climate agreement goals, a new Stanford University study finds.

Rapidly growing communities in the American West’s forests and shrublands are nestled in zones where local soil and plant traits amplify the effect of climate change on wildfire hazards and lead to bigger burns.

Field has won one of the world’s foremost prizes for his contributions to estimation of global biospheric productivity and climate change science.

Natural gas stoves release methane – a potent greenhouse gas – and other pollutants through leaks and incomplete combustion. Stanford researchers estimate that methane leaking from stoves inside U.S. homes has the same climate impact as about 500,000 gasoline-powered cars and the stoves can expose people to respiratory disease-triggering pollutants. VIDEO

“It seems that colder climates are just inherently more predictable than warmer ones,” says Aditi Sheshadri, lead author of a study that suggests warming can impact the accuracy of weather forecasts in the future.

The award recognizes research by a mid-career scientist who has made an extraordinary contribution to agriculture or to the understanding of the biology of a species fundamentally important to agriculture or food production.

The fourth annual Stanford Earth Photo Contest drew images of a dramatic sunset, a menacing shark, an intriguing frog, and a perennial favorite – the Milky Way. The winners were selected among 101 submissions. 

Stanford atmospheric scientist Morgan O'Neill comments on methodologies that researchers at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography are using to study cyclone formations on Jupiter. 

Rob Jackson, Stanford professor and chair of the Global Carbon Project, comments on the future consequences if Democrats are not able to pass the Build Back Better Act to invest in clean energy.

Noah Diffenbaugh comments on the sudden wet trend in the California drought: “deficits have been so pronounced through so much of the state that it will take more than one normal year to overcome, and we don’t know how this year will ultimately play out. That said, it’s a very encouraging start."

Aditi Shedshadri, Noah Diffenbaugh, Newsha Ajami and other California scientists share research-based insights about climate, water and more.

Governments all over the world have failed to invest in green economic recovery 18 months after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Earth scientist Rob Jackson shares his insights on keeping global temperatures from rising in the future.

Rob Jackson discusses the health risks of natural gas usage inside homes, fueling the California-driven movement to shift kitchens from gas to electric stoves, with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas pollution nationwide.

Helping to show the public the effects of global warming, Noah Diffenbaugh and other attribution scientists link climate change to the nuanced impacts of extreme weather events in affected communities.

A Stanford University study shows chaos reigns earlier in midlatitude weather models as temperatures rise. The result? Climate change could be shifting the limits of weather predictability and pushing reliable 10-day forecasts out of reach.

New research shows that physics measurements of just a small portion of reef can be used to assess the health of an entire reef system. The findings may help scientists grasp how these important ecosystems will respond to a changing climate.

Associate professor of Earth system science Marshall Burke comments on the climate impacts of having children, stating that more people doesn’t necessarily mean a warmer Earth.

Hydrologist Steven Gorelick addresses how his work on freshwater accessibility in Jordan can be applied to other Middle Eastern countries like Syria, which is also amidst a water crisis. 

As climate conditions change, tree species are shifting their ranges. Wildfire is accelerating this process, likely by reducing competition from established species – a finding that raises questions about how to manage land in an era of shifting ecosystems.

In an op-ed, Rob Jackson, Sam Abernethy and coauthors write that after months of social distancing and stay-at-home orders, economies are reopening, and carbon dioxide levels are rising.

Stanford experts discuss strengths and weaknesses of major pledges at the UN climate summit that target methane emissions and deforestation.

An investigation of 196 countries by the Washington Post found that emissions are underreported by billions of tons. Stanford Earth scientist Rob Jackson explains why.

Much of the debate around climate change and climate policy centers on the price tag of doing something. But the costs of inaction, in terms of overall livelihoods and economic well being, are far greater, explains Stanford environmental economist Marshall Burke. (Source: Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health)

“If we don’t know the state of emissions today, we don’t know whether we’re cutting emissions meaningfully and substantially,” said Rob Jackson. “The atmosphere ultimately is the truth. The atmosphere is what we care about.”

The Paris climate agreement set a goal of limiting warming to “2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.” In a way, both thresholds are "somewhat arbitrary,” said Stanford's Rob Jackson. “Every tenth of a degree matters!”

Marshall Burke, Noah Diffenbaugh and Gabrielle Wong-Parodi are interviewed in a segment about a unique partnership in California that uses behavioral science and cultural awareness in climate studies to help communities cope with extreme weather.

"I wasn't surprised to see a rebound," said Stanford Earth's Rob Jackson. "I was surprised to see emissions bounce back like a rubber band." 

New estimates from the Global Carbon Project, chaired by Stanford Earth professor Rob Jackson, vividly illustrate the global challenge posed by decades of delayed climate policy and investment.

Rob Jackson, a Stanford professor of Earth system science, discusses new estimates of global carbon emissions. One surprising finding is that emissions came roaring back, not trickling as they did after the 2008 recession.

“Treading water for global fossil carbon emissions like we’re doing now is closer to drowning when it comes to climate change,” said Rob Jackson.

Carbon dioxide emissions are on track to rise in every country and region in the world this year compared with 2020. “We thought global coal use had peaked in 2014, but we’re perilously close to that value again this year,” said Rob Jackson.

"We might have seen emissions snap back this year in any case, since it’s tough to completely change the global energy system in a single year, but we could have set ourselves up much better for future years," said Rob Jackson, professor of Earth system science.

International negotiators will meet in Scotland this Sunday for the latest UN Climate Change Conference. Stanford experts in a range of fields discuss their hopes for the talks as well as major themes likely to influence negotiations, keys to success and more.

Research led by Stanford Earth's Morgan O'Neill shows supercell storm tops may act like mountains that obstruct winds, transforming their flow into violent turbulence that mixes near-surface air with the stratosphere above.

Policy interventions to stop deforestation are most effective when enacted in a certain order, according to a new study. (Source: Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment)

“The rate of change has been so dramatic. If I was the California tourism industry, I’d be really worried," said Stanford environmental economist Marshall Burke. What’s even more disruptive than fire, he said, is its erratic sidekick: smoke.

A 14-year analysis of air quality data across California led by Stanford Earth's David Gonzalez and Marshall Burke revealed residents who live within 2.5 miles of oil and gas wells are exposed to elevated levels of toxic gases.