Matt Simon

Russia’s invasion is reversing years of environmental progress. But the world can help Ukraine reconstruct its damaged landscape and energy systems.

Meticulous turf is environmentally terrible. Yet grass does have one charm: It “sweats,” helping cool the local area.

Spraying aerosols and sucking carbon out of the air would bring down temperatures, yes. But the unintended consequences of geoengineering could be enormous.

The “urban heat island effect” creates extra-hot temperatures that kill. But cities can prescribe powerful treatments, like green spaces and reflective roofs.