IoES in the News

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Park Williams for LA Times—The American West’s last quarter-century ranks as the driest in 1,200 years, research shows

UCLA climate scientist Park Williams discusses the enduring severity of the megadrought in the American West for the Los Angeles Times, highlighting that even after two wet winters, the last…

Carcasses lie on dried mud on the shore of Lake Mead in 2022

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Daniel Swain for New York Times—Park Fire in Northern California Spreads to 360,000 Acres

UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain spoke with the New York Times about the prolonged nature of the Park fire in Northern California. Swain noted the fire’s rapid growth, with officials…

A firefighter working along Highway 32 in Butte County, Calif., on Saturday.Credit...Daniel Dreifuss for The New York Times

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Daniel Swain for The Associated Press—Fires in the West are becoming ever bigger, consuming. Why and what can be done?

UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain spoke with The Associated Press about how decades of fire suppression and climate change have led to increasingly severe wildfires in the western U.S. and…

A firefighter sprays water on the Park Fire burning near Forest Ranch, Calif., Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

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Daniel Swain for The Sacramento Bee—Did the Park Fire create a fire tornado? ‘Strong evidence’ California blaze did, expert says

UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain discusses the Park Fire for The Sacramento Bee, highlighting footage of what appears to be a fire tornado. Swain noted that radar imagery provides strong…

Daniel Swain for The Sacramento Bee—Did the Park Fire create a fire tornado? ‘Strong evidence’ California blaze did, expert says

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Daniel Swain for PBS — After Earth’s hottest day recorded on Sunday, Monday breaks new record

UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain discusses the global average temperature reached a new record high on Monday, surpassing the previous day’s record for PBS News. This marks the second consecutive…

Iranian mechanic works during the heat surge in Tehran

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Daniel Swain for LA Times — ‘Long-duration’ heat wave again cooking California, raising health and wildfire concerns

UCLA climate expert Daniel Swain discusses with the Los Angeles Times about how California is experiencing another prolonged heat wave, with triple-digit temperatures expected across much of the inland areas.…

A giant thermometer in Baker, California reads 112 degrees on Friday

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Daniel Swain for SFist — Fresh Heatwave on the Way, Maybe Not as Hot as Last One

UCLA climate expert Daniel Swain spoke with SFist about a new heatwave developing that is expected to bring triple-digit temperatures to inland areas like Sacramento and the Central Valley. “It…

Daniel Swain for SFist — Fresh Heatwave on the Way, Maybe Not as Hot as Last One

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Edith de Guzman for Grist — The surprisingly simple way cities could save people from extreme heat 

Urban heat islands, exacerbated by concrete and asphalt, pose significant health risks in cities. UCLA researcher Edith de Guzman discusses the urban heat island effect for Grist, highlighting the potential…

Jean-Francois Cardella / Construction Photography / Avalon

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Daniel Swain for New York Times — Word of the Day: parched

UCLA climate expert Daniel Swain discusses the impending fire season for the New York Times, highlighting increased fire activity due to abundant vegetation from recent rainy winters. “I think we’re…

Daniel Swain for New York Times — Word of the Day: parched

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Alex Hall for TIME— Why Beryl’s ‘Unprecedented’ Timing is a Signal of Climate Change’s Impact on Extreme Weather

UCLA climate scientist Alex Hall discusses Hurricane Beryl for TIME, sharing how climate change is increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events. He explains that while extreme weather existed before…

Bay Garden Oistins, Barbados after Hurricane Beryln caused widespread damage to the town.

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Cara Horowitz for LA Times — Column: It’s time for the Dodgers to stop taking Big Oil money

UCLA climate expert Cara Horowitz spoke with the LA Times’ Boiling Point columnist for a column calling on the Dodgers to stop taking Big Oil money. Horowitz highlighted how António Guterres, secretary…

The 76 logo sits above the left field scoreboard at Dodger Stadium.

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Daniel Swain for New York Times — In Southern California, a Wildfire That May Foreshadow a Hazardous Summer

The Post Fire in Los Angeles County burns over 15,000 acres, raising alarm for dangerous fire season in the West. Experts warn of overgrown vegetation after wet winters. “This is…

Wildfire Burns Across Southern California, firefighters try to mitigate wildfire

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California voted to ban new diesel trucks at ports. Why did L.A. and Long Beach just add 1,000 more?

UCLA environmental law professor and former acting administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Ann Carlson spoke with LA Times about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s delay in granting…

California is waiting for the EPA approve a rule that would hasten the electrification of cargo trucks at seaports. Meanwhile, diesel-powered big rigs continue to be granted access to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, seen here.

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Project Phoenix Now Accepting Volunteers!

Help researchers at UCLA and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County protect West Coast birds by recording your daily bird observations

ProjectPhoenix_Icon_Brown

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William Boyd Explores Forever Chemicals and the Failures of Environmental Regulations in New Paper for Legal Planet

UCLA environmental law professor William Boyd wrote about widespread contamination by PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” and the failures of environmental regulation at Legal Planet and the Law & Political Economy Blog.…

Major industrial area with sunset in the background

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Daniel Blumstein and Thomas Smith for Public Square—Is the Wilderness Act Still Protecting Nature?

In a new essay for Public Square, UCLA professors Daniel Blumstein and Thomas Smith discuss the implications of the Wilderness Act of 1964 on effective land management and climate research. They…

Daniel Blumstein and Thomas Smith for Public Square—Is the Wilderness Act Still Protecting Nature?

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Deepak Rajagopal for WalletHub—Greenest States (2024)

WalletHub compared America’s 50 states to identify the most environmentally friendly ones, ranking them based on three categories: environmental quality, eco-friendly behaviors and climate-change contributions. California took the top spot,…

Deepak Rajagopal for WalletHub—Greenest States (2024)

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Jon Christensen for Dodger Blue — Los Angeles Parks Alliance Files Lawsuit Over Dodger Stadium Gondola Project

UCLA professor Jon Christensen discusses the Dodger Stadium gondola project lawsuit for Dodger Blue, sharing how LAPA challenges the project’s environmental impact and community implications. LAPA’s lawsuit under CEQA aims…

A rendering of a proposed Dodger Stadium gondola project that would aim to ferry up to 5,000 passengers an hour from Union Station in downtown L.A. to the stadium.(LA Aerial Rapid Transit)

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UCLA Decarbonization Study Paves the Way for a Greener Campus

UCLA is leading the charge in combating climate change with its yearlong decarbonization study, showcasing its commitment to sustainability. This proactive initiative aims to reduce or eliminate carbon emissions, aligning…

UCLA Decarbonization Study Paves the Way for a Greener Campus

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Daniel Swain for SFist — One Last Storm to Come Before Rainy Season Officially Ends Sunday

UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain discusses California’s rainy season for SFist, sharing how the ‘above average’ snowpack in the Northern Sierra is notable due to the region’s shifting weather patterns.…

Daniel Swain for SFist — One Last Storm to Come Before Rainy Season Officially Ends Sunday

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Daniel Swain for Los Angeles Times — More rain hits L.A., California this weekend, while the Sierra again braces for heavy snow

UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain discusses California’s upcoming weather for LA Times, sharing how the state is bracing for more rain and heavy snow. Swain notes that a large low-pressure…

Skiers ride a chair lift on a blustery day at Mammoth Mountain on March 14 in Mammoth Lakes. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Edith de Guzman for LAist—How You Can Help Refill LA’s Aquifers By Capturing Stormwater At Home

UCLA water equity and adaptation policy cooperative extension specialist Edith De Guzman discusses the impacts of extreme weather events on vulnerable communities in Los Angeles for LAist, sharing how water…

When one swale fills up, pipes pull the water to another on this property. If the system is overwhelmed it sends the water out to the storm drains. (Shawn Maestretti / Studio Petrichor)

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Elsa Ordway for Down to Earth — ‘The Congo more climate-resilient than Amazonia? Jury is still out’

Elsa Ordway, co-director of the Congo Basin Institute and Center for Tropical Research, recently collaborated with global experts in Cameroon to strategize a 10-year study on tropical forest ecology. The project,…

Photograph of the Yaoundé workshop shared by Elsa Ordway

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Elsa Ordway and Virginia Zaunbrecher — NASA-funded study brings together researchers from across the world to unravel mysteries of tropical forests 

UCLA Center for Tropical Research and Congo Basin Institute Co-Director Elsa Ordway and Congo Basin Institute Managing Director Virginia Zaunbrecher discuss a NASA-funded project aimed at supporting the research and…

tropical forrests istock

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Daniel Swain for LA Times—Scientists warn that a crucial ocean current could collapse, altering global weather

UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain discusses the potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation for LA Times, sharing how it could lead to “hugely chaotic changes in global weather…

Chunks of ice break off from the Greenland ice sheet in 2017, creating a swarm of icebergs in a fjord.(David Goldman / Associated Press)