Dan Charles appears in the following:
Why growing wind and solar projects can't connect to the grid
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Many green energy projects want to connect to the grid but they're running into a surprising obstacle. (Story aired on All Things Considered on June 15,2023.)
Wind and solar projects are growing, but many can't actually connect to the grid
Thursday, June 15, 2023
Tons of green energy projects, both wind and solar, want to connect to the grid. But they're running into a surprising obstacle.
Some of America's biggest vegetable growers fought for water. Then the water ran out
Thursday, December 15, 2022
For years, powerful farmers in California's Central Valley fought for more water from the state's rivers. Now some are changing course, because there's no more water to be found.
Reformist farmers in California are rethinking water
Tuesday, December 13, 2022
Reformist farmers in California have deposed the leader of the country's biggest irrigation district, who was known for fighting water regulations. Farmers are accepting less water means less farming.
Could this cheaper, more climate-friendly perennial rice transform farming?
Monday, November 07, 2022
A promising, less labor-intensive perennial rice is beginning to take off in China, but whether this success can be replicated in other crops like wheat or corn remains to be seen.
'Water batteries' could store solar and wind power for when it's needed
Friday, October 14, 2022
San Diego has an ambitious plan to store renewable energy, using extra solar power to pump water up a mountain. This old-style "water battery" technology could be set for a revival.
Meet the California farmers awash in Colorado River water, even in a drought
Tuesday, October 04, 2022
A single irrigation district in California, along the Mexican border, takes more water from the Colorado River than all of Arizona and Nevada. It's under pressure to use less.
To fight climate change, and now Russia, too, Zurich turns off natural gas
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Zurich, Switzerland, is shutting down the gas supply to some neighborhoods. Originally aimed at fighting climate change and saving money, it's also a step to cut gas imports from Russia.
How dairy farmers are cashing in on California's push for cleaner fuel
Thursday, February 10, 2022
Big dairy farms are profiting from California's tougher limits on greenhouse emissions. They're getting paid to capture methane from cow manure. But critics say the system subsidizes polluters.
A satellite finds massive methane leaks from gas pipelines
Thursday, February 03, 2022
A satellite has detected massive leaks of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, from natural gas plants and pipelines. Most of these releases are deliberate, resulting from sloppy pipeline repairs.
In 2021, climate ambitions soared and crashed in the U.S. and around the world
Wednesday, December 22, 2021
President Biden's lofty domestic goals were brought down to earth by congressional opposition, notably from one Democratic senator. International efforts to fight planetary warming also fell short.
With the loss of Manchin's vote, Biden's climate change agenda may be doomed
Monday, December 20, 2021
Despite a year of increasing weather disasters, Biden's ambitious climate plans may be doomed in Congress.
Most nations are promising to end deforestation, but skeptics want proof
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
More than a hundred countries just promised to protect and restore forests. Similar pledges in the past have not succeeded, but forest advocates hope that this effort can learn from past mistakes.
Scientists are working to figure out how climate change influences tornadoes
Monday, December 13, 2021
Tornadoes remain among the most unpredictable weather events. Unlike hurricanes, there's little evidence so far that the planet's warming climate is producing more of them, or more severe ones.
Carbon trading gets a green light from the U.N., and Brazil hopes to earn billions
Monday, December 06, 2021
Carbon offsets got a big boost from November's U.N. climate summit. New rules could make it easier for companies to pay for carbon-cutting projects in other countries, rather than doing it themselves.
World leaders commit to ambitious goals at U.N. climate summit
Saturday, November 13, 2021
The U.N. climate summit's landmark decision sets aggressive targets for cutting greenhouse emissions. It also promises more aid for developing countries, but many of those countries wanted more.
Climate negotiations at COP26 center on timeline and aid to developing countries
Saturday, November 13, 2021
Climate negotiations in Glasgow, Scotland, have gone into overtime. Countries are divided over how quickly to cut greenhouse gas emissions and over aid to developing countries.
Negotiators are in the home stretch on the final day of UN climate conference
Friday, November 12, 2021
The final day of COP26, the UN's conference where global leaders and delegates are negotiating crucial and concrete strategies to limit greenhouse gas emissions, is underway in Glasgow, Scotland.
As climate talks come to a close, not all the countries there are on the same page
Friday, November 12, 2021
Negotiations are coming down to the wire at the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland. There's a new draft agreement, but bitter differences remain between rich and poor countries.
Draft agreement at the COP26 climate summit looks to rapidly speed up emissions cuts
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
The draft, circulated at the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, calls for an end to coal power and more rapid cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.