The metaphor of war has come to permeate the way we talk about the COVID-19 pandemic. It began with a justifiably heroic view of our medical personnel, underequipped and undersupplied on the front … more

Nineteen years ago, in the months following 9/11, many publications devoted space and ink to predictions about how the attacks would change us. A few prominent commenters foresaw “the end of … more

I have a lot of conversations about climate change, sometimes with scientists, educators or local officials but more often with engaged citizens who are just trying to figure out how we can invest … more

By now, most New Yorkers are aware that a ban on single-use plastic bags will go into effect on Sunday, March 1. While there has been some criticism of the bill’s numerous exemptions, … more

As one of its last and perhaps most irrational deregulatory actions of 2019, the U.S. Department of Energy announced last month that it would not proceed with implementation of efficiency standards … more

From the hilltop of Thanksgiving we toboggan through the wintry finale of the year—Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s. It’s an exhilarating journey for some, but for others it can … more

Every autumn, we button up the house in preparation for winter, trading out screens for storm-door inserts, checking for new drafts and leaky weather stripping and giving the woodstove its annual … more

Last year, an eight-year-old girl made headlines in Mexico for inventing a simple solar device to heat water. Her name is Xóchitl Guadalupe Cruz Lopez and she lives in Chiapas, the southern … more

Thirty million people live in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta and the surrounding metropolitan area. Their city has served for decades as a financial and diplomatic hub of Southeast Asia as well as … more

It’s shaping up to be the hottest summer ever, according to the World Meteorological Organization, which released data last week showing that June and July 2019 set new heat records. The … more

My Fourth of July included dinner with a gathering of 10 friends, some of long acquaintance and some new to each other. As we settled around the table, one guest asked our hostess whether political … more

In “Juliana versus United States,” 21 young people sued the federal government, alleging that their constitutional rights of life, liberty and property are being violated by the … more