Articles

Ebola Epidemic Could Tear Societies Apart

September 18, 2014

World leaders finally seem to be waking up to the gravity of the Ebola threat. Like the rest of us, they’ve been distracted by the Islamic State’s rampage in Syria and Iraq, the Ukrainian crisis, and even the mini-drama of the Scottish independence referendum.

Fix the link where science and policy meet

June 23, 2014
Thomas Homer-Dixon, Heather Douglas and Lucie Edwards

with Heather Douglas and Lucie Edwards | The connection between science and public policy within the federal government is broken, and the consequences for Canada are becoming disastrous. We propose four ways to fix this problem.

What’s Behind These Fracturing Countries? Stalled Economies

April 11, 2014

Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine and Venezuela. At first glance, it would seem hard to find four more different countries. But if you’ve followed international events over the last year, you’ve probably noticed that these countries share a striking similarity.

See Past the Fracking Hype

December 20, 2013

For years, NASA has produced a composite photograph of North America at night. Recently something strange has appeared in this image. Another patch of light—larger than Chicago’s—now glows in a sparsely populated region just south of the Canada-US border near Saskatchewan.

EIA Bakken Shale Oil Production Statistics

December 3, 2013

In a recent optimistic analysis, the US Energy Information Administration says drillers are learning how to put holes in the ground faster and release more oil from each hole; rig productivity in the Bakken field has quadrupled since 2007. But a close look at the data suggests that the EIA exaggerates the trend.

Climate Uncertainty Shouldn’t Mean Inaction

October 7, 2013
Thomas Homer-Dixon and Andrew Weaver

with Andrew Weaver | Folks who question the reality or seriousness of climate change are making a lot of noise about how the planet’s warming has slowed down or even stopped.

No Trains, No Keystone XL?

July 11, 2013

On hearing of the catastrophe in Lac-Mégantic, our first thoughts were with the city’s residents who had lost loved ones, friends, homes, and businesses. The accident was one of those jaw-dropping events that we all have trouble fully comprehending.

Oil Sands Debate

June 3, 2013
Thomas Homer-Dixon and Konrad Yakabuski

Read the face-off between global governance expert Thomas Homer-Dixon and Globe columnist Konrad Yakabuski

The Tar Sands Disaster

April 1, 2013

If President Obama blocks the Keystone XL pipeline once and for all, he’ll do Canada a favor.

Ice, Please – Climate on the Rocks

September 17, 2012

Any day now, the expanse of sea ice in the Arctic will reach its lowest extent for the year. The round-the-clock summer days have gone, and the weather is turning sharply colder as the sun sinks below the horizon for longer periods each day.