Latest news with #KateMarvel
Washington Post
6 hours ago
- Climate
- Washington Post
How to cope with grief and find wonder as Earth's climate changes
Over the next two weeks, extreme levels of humidity are forecast to hit about 40 states. Across the country, around 170 million people will experience temperatures above 90 degrees. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post) Kate Marvel watches the world end all the time. She's a physicist who works with climate models, so it's her job to run experiments in computer simulations, watching sea levels rise and temperatures climb. But climate change isn't happening just in models. It's happening here, and now – and Marvel has some feelings about it. In her new book Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet, Marvel explores the many emotions she has been feeling surrounding climate change – grief, fear and anger, of course, but also hope, wonder and love. In today's Post Reports, she explains how we can all feel a little more empowered and motivated to change the world. Today's show was edited by Ariel Plotnick and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.
Washington Post
8 hours ago
- Science
- Washington Post
How to feel about climate change? A scientist reflects on anger, hope and love.
Kate Marvel is a climate scientist. She spends her days working with climate models, watching temperatures climb, glaciers melt and seas rise — and she has some feelings about it. Marvel's new book is called 'Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet,' and it's organized around emotions. There is anger, grief and fear, of course — but there is also wonder, surprise, hope and love.
Fast Company
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Fast Company
How to watch: Scientists are hosting a 100-hour livestream to protest Trump cuts
The Trump administration has decimated climate science across the country, from the mass layoffs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to the shuttering of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Now, scientists are defending their work, and its value to the country, by speaking directly to Americans through a 100-hour livestream full of presentations on everything from air quality to extreme heat to weather stations. Beginning Wednesday, May 28 at 1 p.m. ET, the Weather and Climate Livestream will span five days, ending on Sunday, June 1 at 5:30 p.m. ET. It will feature climate scientists and meteorologists who will talk about their work and the impact of research cuts, and take audience questions. The event kicks off with Kate Marvel, a climate scientist who was formerly an associate researcher at GISS, who will be live streaming the last hours of the GISS lab. That 43,000-square-foot space near Columbia University has been crucial to climate science, but is closing because the Trump administration terminated its lease. The livestream will also include a panel discussion with terminated NOAA employees—in March, the Trump administration laid off more than 1,000 people—and another with the former directors of the National Weather Service, as well as 'primetime' talks from experts on topics like floods, drought, and hurricanes. Prominent climate scientist Daniel Swain —who often hosts his own virtual 'office hours' on climate news, heat waves, and wildfires—will be participating with an 'Ask Me Anything' session, open to audience questions, on Saturday, May 31 at 9:30 p.m. ET. The 100-hour Weather and Climate Livestream is available on YouTube at It's billed as a non-partisan event, organized in part by members of the Union of Concerned Scientists. To the participants, it's also an opportunity to try to save America's weather forecasts; the event website includes a link for Americans to contact their representatives and urge them to restore weather and climate funding. Trump's funding cuts Scientists, and everyday Americans are already feeling the cuts from the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE): The National Weather Service, for example, is already flying fewer weather balloons, which hampered forecasters' ability to get accurate and timely data to the public about recent hail storms and tornadoes. NWS field offices are short staffed and scrambling to have regular coverage. Hurricane season is also approaching, and is expected to be above-average, with 13 to 19 named storms. Trump's cuts would eliminate climate models that provide accurate forecasting, as well as FEMA services that would help Americans recover from climate disasters. The administration's cuts would also close multiple research institutions and labs, all six of NOAA's regional climate centers, and end $70 million in grants to research universities. That means thousands of scientists will lose their funding, which translates to less storm forecasting, no more climate monitoring for farmers, and coastal communities without information on things like tides and flood risk. 'For generations, the U.S. government has invested in the science that helps us do so, building one of the greatest meteorology and climate science communities in the world,' the Weather and Climate Livestream website reads. 'In recent months, this community has been thwarted in our mission of serving the public due to substantial cuts and firings.' But it's not too late to stop those cuts, the livestream organizers note. Already, the Trump administration has walked back some cuts in the face of public pressure—like by reopening shuttered weather data centers. The 100-hour livestream is a way to 'help keep this pressure building,' the site reads.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Major insurer drops thousands of homeowners across high-risk region: 'There is no financial incentive'
If you've noticed your home insurance premiums going up or even your provider pulling out altogether, you're not alone. Home insurance rates are going up across the U.S., and in some places, people are losing coverage altogether. One of the biggest reasons? Natural disasters worsened by increasing temperatures. A new market research report by the business company found that extreme weather is now one of the factors that drives the growth of the homeowner's insurance market. In other words, insurance companies are charging more, offering less, or just leaving risky areas altogether — all because of the effects of increasing temperatures. Relatedly, NASA scientist Dr. Kate Marvel recently said on the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast that insurance companies taking this seriously is what finally convinced her father that climate change is real. "The fact that every insurance company has climate scientists on staff, and insurance companies are all pricing in climate risks," she said. "There is no financial incentive for them to do that if it wasn't real." You've probably heard about this happening in California, where a lot of big insurers stopped offering new coverage because of wildfire risk. However, the trend is spreading around, and, for example, Florida and Louisiana were especially affected by it after the hurricanes hit. This new data confirms that what we're seeing isn't a one-off: this looks like the new normal. Dirty energy is heating up our planet, which makes storms more intense, wildfires more frequent, and flooding more destructive. That kind of damage creates massive payouts for insurers, and many of them just don't want to take the risk anymore. Here's the big issue: This insurance crisis isn't just about money. It's about safety and stability. Without access to affordable insurance, people are stuck living in homes that could be destroyed by the next storm or fire. The Inflation Reduction Act is already helping homeowners make their houses more disaster-resilient and energy efficient by including different new items like fire-resistant roofs to solar panels, and weatherized windows. These upgrades can lower your insurance risk and shrink your energy bills at the same time. Some businesses and community organizations are also coming up with smart ideas. Q Cabin Kits builds prefab homes that can handle wildfires and storms. In New Orleans, Sustain the Nine is helping neighbors recover from hurricanes and build stronger, greener homes. Do you think your city has good air quality? Definitely Somewhat Depends on the time of year Not at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. What is the best thing you can do about the growing home insurance crisis? Help cool the planet. When you use less dirty energy, you help slow the extreme weather that's putting homes at risk. Try switching from gas to electric at home, using clean energy if it's available, and cutting back on energy use where you can. Remember that you don't have to change everything about your life: every small switch helps. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
