The Breakthrough Institute

The Ecomodernist is a monthly column on TWN provided by the Breakthrough Institute, a global research center based in Oakland, California, that identifies and promotes technological solutions to environmental and human development challenges.

Authors published under this byline include:

Adam Stein is a senior nuclear energy analyst. Follow him on Twitter at @_A_Stein_.

Alex Smith is a food and agriculture analyst. You can follow him on Twitter @alexjmssmith.

Alex Trembath is the deputy director and is the lead or coauthor of several Breakthrough publications, including Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud, Beyond Boom and Bust and Our High-Energy Planet. Follow Alex on Twitter @atrembath.

Caroline Grunewald is a government affairs manager in the food and agriculture program. You can follow her on Twitter @caro_grunewald.

Daniel Blaustein-Rejto is the director of the food and agriculture program. You can follow him on Twitter @danrejto.

Dr. Emma Kovak is a senior food & agriculture analyst.

Rani Franovich is senior policy advisor for nuclear energy innovation. Franovich is a former regulator at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Follow her on Twitter @RFMeraxes.

Saloni Shah is a food and agriculture analyst. You can follow her on Twitter @SaloniShah101.

Vijaya Ramachandran is director for energy and development. You can follow her on Twitter @vijramachandran.

Zeke Hausfather is the director of climate & energy, a contributing author of the recent AR6 IPCC report, and the lead or coauthor of several Breakthrough publications, including Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud, among others. Follow Zeke on Twitter @hausfath.

Recent Work

September 10, 2021
by The Breakthrough Institute
We've Made Progress on Climate – but it's Time to Accelerate

A decade ago the world seemed on track for a dark climate future. Global emissions were increasing at a rate... Read More

A decade ago the world seemed on track for a dark climate future. Global emissions were increasing at a rate of 3% per year, China was building a new coal plant every three days, and the idea that global emissions could double or even triple by... Read More

Rural Broadband Funding in Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Paves Way for Widespread Precision Agriculture, but Comes Up Short

For weeks, I’ve been keeping my eye on one specific provision in the bipartisan infrastructure bill with enormous potential to... Read More

For weeks, I’ve been keeping my eye on one specific provision in the bipartisan infrastructure bill with enormous potential to lift communities out of poverty, address inequities, and, critically, transform our nation’s agricultural system: rural broadband. While much of the current discussion around rural broadband centers... Read More

At the Doorstep of a Nuclear Energy Revival — Are We Ready?

The next several years may determine whether nuclear energy has a future in the United States and, in turn, how... Read More

The next several years may determine whether nuclear energy has a future in the United States and, in turn, how successful we will be in reducing our national climate emissions. There is a broad and growing expert consensus that taking the path of least resistance in... Read More

Fossil Fuel Investments in Africa are Necessary for Economic Growth and Climate Resiliency

The Biden Administration has made climate change one of its core policy priorities. Understanding the global nature of the problem,... Read More

The Biden Administration has made climate change one of its core policy priorities. Understanding the global nature of the problem, as well as U.S. leadership in technology exports and international markets, the reality of the crisis demands that we confront global warming emissions both abroad and... Read More

Food Technology Is Infrastructure

President Biden’s new infrastructure proposal makes bold investments to key sectors of the economy, while also racing the country forward... Read More

President Biden’s new infrastructure proposal makes bold investments to key sectors of the economy, while also racing the country forward toward a more sustainable and equitable future. The new package is not just about fixing roads, highways, and bridges, but also supports caregivers, invests in clean... Read More

Solving Agriculture’s Climate Footprint

According to a popular proverb, the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time... Read More

According to a popular proverb, the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.  Like planting a tree, governments should have funded large-scale research and development 20 years ago to better address the food system’s sustainability challenges. They... Read More

Our Ecomodernist Politics

For all their pitched battles, climate activists and climate deniers seem to agree on a fundamental premise: the incompatibility of... Read More

For all their pitched battles, climate activists and climate deniers seem to agree on a fundamental premise: the incompatibility of climate action and economic growth. “Growth now comes with enormous levels of risk. Indeed, it risks ending the game of being human,” wrote climate advocate and... Read More

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