government Archives - State of the Planet

“Urgency. Gravity. Hope.” World’s Top Climate Report Highlights Dire Need for Climate Action

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s assessment report issues catastrophic warning if immediate climate action is not taken by governments across the globe.

by |March 23, 2023

Data Visualization: World Happiness Trends

Could the number of women in a nation’s government have an impact on its happiness? Can air quality effect the mood of a population? Do trains make people happier? Explore World Happiness Report data and trends that might also contribute to a country’s overall well-being.

Stepping Back From the Hatred in the Air

The two alternative universes of red and blue America have far more in common than they seem to know. It is time to focus our attention beyond these differences and focus on the far greater areas of agreement.

by |January 22, 2019

Anti-Government Ideology and the Federal Government Shutdown

Building infrastructure, providing emergency services, maintaining social safety nets, and ensuring public safety require an open and capable government.

by |January 7, 2019

The New House of Representatives Must Compel EPA to Enforce our Environmental Laws

We are at the end of two years witnessing the awful spectacle of an Environmental Protection Agency and Interior Department more interested in exploiting natural resources than protecting them. But starting today, the unified control of the national government by President Donald Trump and his enablers has ended.

by |January 2, 2019

Trump’s Dirty Power Plan

It’s bad when America’s national government does little to advance renewable energy; it is far worse when they aggressively promote the most polluting fossil fuels they can find. The good news is that many states, cities, and institutions are moving in the other direction.

by |August 20, 2018

Our Democracy Needs Science Now More Than Ever

In a world filled with fake news and “alternative facts,” science is an integral part of an effective democracy that is based on truth and reality.

by |July 13, 2018
panel discussion including steve cohen and richard moss

Translating Science into Action

How can science be used and transferred effectively by decision-makers? How can we manage scientific uncertainty? These are some of the questions tackled on Monday at the event, ‘Speaking Science to Power.’

by |April 6, 2018

The Value of Public Service

In a world where we are constantly interacting and competing, we also need to nurture and generate the value of cooperation and compassion. This is a value I call public service.

by |January 3, 2018

Houston’s Post-Harvey Toxic Mess

If we are to maintain the way of life we enjoy while maintaining a safe and healthy environment, we need to require more careful management of toxic substances.

by |September 11, 2017