Greenhouse gases
Coverage of Greenhouse gases in the Nexus archive.
- Why California’s carbon manure math doesn’t add up
California's climate policy incentivizes dairy farmers to convert methane from cattle manure into natural gas, but research argues the program overestimates emissions reductions and may exacerbate warming. Regulators extended the program beyond 2050 despite concerns, and a new proposal could increase funding for dairies.
- Texas leads nation in proposed power plants for data centers, which would emit large amounts of greenhouse gases
Texas is leading the nation in proposed power plants for data centers, which are projected to emit significant greenhouse gases. A data center site in Milam County is currently under construction.
- Scientists Warn of Summer Heat Spikes as Global Warming Edges Toward 2C
Scientists warn that summer heat spikes could reach 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial levels as global warming approaches 2°C. Fossil fuel burning and human activities are cited as the primary causes of the rapid warming over the past decade. Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations hit a record high in May.
- Zeldin says EPA providing ‘flexibility’ by loosening rules for pollutants used in grocery refrigeration
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that the Trump administration is easing restrictions on super-polluting greenhouse gases used in commercial refrigeration, allowing supermarkets to use hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with global warming potential 1,400 times higher than CO2 until 2032.
- Trump loosens climate limits on refrigerants
President Trump announced his administration is loosening environmental rules that would have restricted the use of super-polluting greenhouse gases in commercial refrigeration. The move officially terminates Biden administration climate regulations on refrigerants. The policy reversal reduces restrictions on climate-damaging substances used in cooling systems.
- Trump to announce looser rules for super-pollutants used in grocery refrigeration, in bid to lower costs
President Trump's administration is loosening EPA regulations on super-polluting greenhouse gases used in commercial refrigeration, giving companies like grocery stores more time to phase out their use. The move aims to reduce costs for businesses, though it represents a setback for environmental protections against potent climate pollutants.
- Trump will ease refrigerant rule in effort to address surging grocery costs
The Trump administration is loosening federal regulations that require grocery stores and air-conditioning companies to reduce greenhouse gases in cooling equipment, citing efforts to address rising grocery costs. This regulatory change represents a shift in environmental policy prioritizing economic concerns over emissions reduction.
- New Gas-Powered Data Centers Could Emit More Greenhouse Gases Than Whole Nations
New gas-powered data centers may emit more greenhouse gases than entire countries like Sweden or Portugal, raising concerns about their environmental impact. The article highlights the growing reliance on natural gas for powering data centers, which could undermine climate goals.
- Next El Niño could be tipping point for a hotter climate
Scientists warn that a strong El Niño in the Pacific Ocean could push global temperatures past the 1.5°C warming threshold within 12-18 months, accelerating irreversible climate impacts. The tropical Pacific is showing signs of intensifying toward a powerful El Niño phase, which interacts with greenhouse gas-driven global heating to amplify extreme weather and climate shifts.
- Scientists just uncovered a 3 million-year climate mystery in Antarctic ice
Scientists discovered a 3 million-year-old climate mystery in Antarctic ice, revealing that Earth's significant cooling, especially in oceans, occurred alongside only modest changes in greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. This suggests other factors, such as ice sheets, ocean circulation, and Earth's reflectivity, played major roles in long-term climate change.