Dan Charles, NPR

Dan Charles

NPR

Washington, DC, United States

Contact Dan

Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.

Start free trial

Recent:
  • Unknown
Past:
  • NPR
  • knkx public radio
  • WBUR
  • KTOO

Past articles by Dan:

NPR

Could this cheaper, more climate-friendly perennial rice transform farming?

A promising, less labor-intensive perennial rice is beginning to take off in China, but whether this success can be replicated in other crops like wheat or corn remains to be seen. → Read More

NPR

'Water batteries' could store solar and wind power for when it's needed

San Diego has an ambitious plan to store renewable energy, using extra solar power to pump water up a mountain. This old-style "water battery" technology could be set for a revival. → Read More

NPR

Meet the California farmers awash in Colorado River water, even in a drought

A single irrigation district in California, along the Mexican border, takes more water from the Colorado River than all of Arizona and Nevada. It's under pressure to use less. → Read More

NPR

The miracle apple (Classic)

Today on the show, how we got from mealy, nasty apples to apples that taste delicious. The story starts with a breeder who discovered a miracle apple. But discovering that apple wasn't enough. → Read More

NPR

A Climate Time Capsule, Part 2: The Start of the International Climate Change Fight

In 1992, diplomats and scientists at the United Nations negotiated the first-ever treaty intended to tackle the climate change. This brought the issue to the forefront and led to a series of conferences that have occurred almost every year for the next 30 years. Short Wave host Emily Kwong talks to freelance climate reporter, Dan Charles about how those at the conference wrote a clear and… → Read More

NPR

Climate reporter Dan Charles talks about the start of the UN's climate change fight.

In 1992, diplomats and scientists at the United Nations negotiated the first-ever treaty intended to tackle the scientific phenomenon now known as climate change. This brought the issue to the forefront and led to a series of conferences that would occur almost every year for the next 30 years. Short Wave host Emily Kwong talks to freelance climate reporter, Dan Charles, about how those at the… → Read More

NPR

To fight climate change, and now Russia, too, Zurich turns off natural gas

Zurich, Switzerland, is shutting down the gas supply to some neighborhoods. Originally aimed at fighting climate change and saving money, it's also a step to cut gas imports from Russia. → Read More

NPR

How dairy farmers are cashing in on California's push for cleaner fuel

Big dairy farms are profiting from California's tougher limits on greenhouse emissions. They're getting paid to capture methane from cow manure. But critics say the system subsidizes polluters. → Read More

NPR

A satellite finds massive methane leaks from gas pipelines

A satellite has detected massive leaks of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, from natural gas plants and pipelines. Most of these releases are deliberate, resulting from sloppy pipeline repairs. → Read More

NPR

A Clean Energy Future: How Hawaii Is Sparking The Push

Sixty percent of electricity in the U.S. comes from fossil fuels, like natural gas and coal. Today on the show, guest host Dan Charles talks with reporter Julia Simon about how Hawaii is fighting climate change by throwing out what's been standard for many decades and encouraging the state's power company to make clean electricity. For more of Julia's reporting, check out "Biden's climate agenda… → Read More

NPR

The Debate About Pablo Escobar's Hippos

Pablo Escobar had a private zoo at his estate in Colombia, with zebras, giraffes, flamingoes - and four hippopotamuses. After Escobar was killed in 1993, most of the animals were relocated except for the so-called "cocaine hippos." Authorities thought they would did but they did not and now, about a hundred roam near the estate. Conservationists are trying to control their population because… → Read More

NPR

The Electric Car Race! Vroom, Vroom!

Electric cars can help reduce greenhouse gases and companies are taking note — racing to become the next Tesla. Today on the show, guest host Dan Charles talks with business reporter Camila Domonoske about how serious the country is about this big switch from gas to electric cars. Plus, what could get drivers to ditch the gas guzzlers?For more of Camila's reporting on electric cars, check out… → Read More

NPR

In 2021, climate ambitions soared and crashed in the U.S. and around the world

President Biden's lofty domestic goals were brought down to earth by congressional opposition, notably from one Democratic senator. International efforts to fight planetary warming also fell short. → Read More

NPR

Most nations are promising to end deforestation, but skeptics want proof

More than a hundred countries just promised to protect and restore forests. Similar pledges in the past have not succeeded, but forest advocates hope that this effort can learn from past mistakes. → Read More

NPR

Carbon trading gets a green light from the U.N., and Brazil hopes to earn billions

Carbon offsets got a big boost from November's U.N. climate summit. New rules could make it easier for companies to pay for carbon-cutting projects in other countries, rather than doing it themselves. → Read More

NPR

Can climate talk turn into climate action?

In the first week of COP26, the UN climate conference, world leaders took to the podium to talk about what their countries are going to do to fight climate change. They made big pledges, but protestors in the streets call their promises "greenwashing" and are calling for more action. Joining the show from Glasgow, Scotland, NPR science correspondent, Dan Charles, talks about how the conference… → Read More

NPR

Latest climate pledges could limit global temperature rise, a new report says

The International Energy Agency says that if nations honor their latest pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, global temperatures could be held to 1.8 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. → Read More

NPR

They call it 'climate injustice.' Here's how Sufia Khatun of Bangladesh is fighting it

Cyclones come more often and the sea is rising, says this activist. Livelihoods and lives are threatened. Here's what she'd like to tell the nations gathered in Glasgow for the COP26 climate summit. → Read More

NPR

From a place of privilege, she speaks the truth about climate to power

Maria Laura Rojas admits that climate change has not had an impact on her own life. But with empathy and determination, she'll speak out for the most vulnerable at the COP26 summit. → Read More

NPR

The countries left behind in climate negotiations

NPR climate correspondents Lauren Sommer and Dan Charles join the show before the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland (COP26) starts on Sunday. Diplomats, business executives, climate experts, and activists from all around the world will gather to discuss the question: Is the world on track to avoid the worst effects of climate change?Lauren and Dan introduce us to two climate… → Read More