Why We Need Carbon Removal In 2015, the Paris Accords were agreed to by 196 countries, who together committed to ensuring that global warming remains below 2°C – ideally 1.5°C – above pre-industrial levels. To meet these goals, global carbon-equivalent...
The Public Purpose
The Graduate Journal of American University's School of Public Affairs
Climate Change
The Importance of the Ogallala Aquifer
The water level of the Ogallala Aquifer has been decreasing for decades. As access to freshwater sources dwindles for farmers and communities, less water will be accessible for crops, drinking, and living. Despite state level objections to federal legislative...
The Fed Can Do More to Combat Climate Change
While Jerome Powell and the Federal Reserve ponder continued interest rate hikes to combat inflation, another central bank is making news for fighting a different enemy - climate change. The European Central Bank (ECB) conducted its first climate stress test this past...
Puerto Rico: Where Reggaeton Highlights Weak Energy Security
The devastation caused by more frequent, stronger natural disasters illustrates the challenges to managing the restoration and modernization of energy infrastructure, particularly in Puerto Rico. Thousands of Puerto Ricans were left without power following the...
Community Beliefs and the Climate
The occurrence of climate change has empirically documented effects across the DC metro area: higher temperatures than average, increased occurrences of heatstroke, and greater variability in weather conditions. These events also do not exist in isolation. The...
Agencies Need to do More to Prevent Microplastic Consumption
As of 2019, the average person — depending on their diet — consumes about five grams or a credit card’s worth of plastic a week. Consuming any amount of plastic is unsafe. Yet, both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection...
Three Holistic Policies for Tackling Environmental Degradation
Policymakers should focus on policies that tackle many sustainability issues, including water sustainability, environmental degradation, and climate change.
The World Needs a Global Protocol for Climate Refugees
Climate refugees remain virtually invisible in the international community, with no recognition or legal definition for those displaced by natural causes.
Climate Change and Its Impact on Gulf Coast Housing Markets
As climate migration begins, the housing market has started to feel its repercussions, leading to the displacement of residents across the Gulf Coast.