News

The Bill Lane Center for the American West at Stanford University is pleased to announce the appointment of Zephyr Frank as its new director. A professor of history and environmental social sciences at Stanford, Frank will transition into his role at the Lane Center on September 1, 2025.

Dozens of faculty members at Stanford are working to transform the way the world grows, distributes, and consumes food, with research and scholarship spanning topics including sustainable food systems, food security, health equity, culture, and diet.

At a recent conference co-hosted by the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, researchers discussed climate issues in politics, international agreements, carbon taxes, and renewable energy subsidies.

Tiny fragments of plastic that fail to break down have pervaded our water, food, ecosystems, and the human body. Experts explain impacts on our long-term health and what can be done to address the problem on a broader scale.

Stanford researchers find resistance to climate action has become a global movement that strengthens after governments implement climate-related policies. 

Bård Harstad discusses the United States' withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and the effectiveness of international climate treaties.

New research shows small-scale fisheries contribute 40% of the global catch and contribute to the livelihoods of nearly 500 million people worldwide. Experts discuss how small-scale fisheries connect to environmental and human health, gender equity, and more.

Expanding Indigenous stewardship of public lands and understanding how one of the American West’s most drought-resilient forests will respond to climate change are among the goals of a collaborative project involving university researchers, tribal nations, and government agencies.

Xavier Basurto explores how small-scale fisheries and other communities come to value the future and their environment ahead of short-term personal gain.

Researchers shared how human behavior, trust, and tailored communication can boost public support for climate action and adaptation strategies during a conference hosted by the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.

A study of guaranteed income to low-income households in the Southern California city of Compton finds that direct cash payments with no strings attached can lower household spending, with the extra money likely used to pay down debt. 

Debbie Sivas discusses California's fire crisis and examines how climate change and urban development are making residents more susceptible to the dangers of fires.

Negotiators met last week for a U.N. climate change conference marked by severe disagreement over how much wealthy nations owe developing nations to help decrease emissions and build climate resilience. Stanford experts discuss the conference’s outcome, how a potential Trump administration withdrawal from global climate talks might affect the U.S., and more.

Scholars and government leaders including California Attorney General Rob Bonta discussed the future of climate action and clean energy during a conference focused on democracy and sustainability.

Research suggests image search engines reinforce climate preconceptions. Better image search is key to inspiring climate action.

The interdisciplinary PhD program brings together social sciences to focus on the world’s evolving economic, political, and environmental demands. Students will be trained to understand and envision pathways to a more sustainable future.

A new study shows that electric vehicle tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act reduced pollution and boosted U.S. automakers, but largely benefited buyers who would have purchased EVs without subsidies.

New research shows E.V. tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act have decreased climate pollution and boosted American car manufacturers – at relatively high cost to taxpayers. The policy could have been more beneficial if it provided larger tax credits to cleaner, more efficient vehicles.

U.S. tropical cyclones, including hurricanes, indirectly cause thousands of deaths for nearly 15 years after a storm. Understanding why could help minimize future deaths from hazards fueled by climate change.

Solomon Hsiang combines data science, natural science, and social science to answer key policy questions about climate change and other fundamentally global problems.

Hélène Benveniste investigates how climate change is reshaping global migration patterns, what the future holds, and how countries can work together for solutions.

Madalina Vlasceanu studies the cognitive, behavioral, and societal barriers to addressing climate change – and how to overcome them. 

The inaugural Stanford Sustainability Summit, S3, convened global climate innovators to forge new connections.

Residents of the wildfire-choked San Joaquin Valley desperately want something done about their air quality – but they want researchers to approach the work in a new way.