Category: COVID-19

Context-dependent changes in maritime traffic activity during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic 11/25/2023

Context-dependent changes in maritime traffic activity during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic

Payne Institute Earth Observation Group Christopher D. Elvidge and others write about how rapid implementation of human mobility restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically reduced maritime activity in early 2020.  However, maritime activity in 2020 was more complex than previously reported, as activity were industry and area specific.  Passenger vessels were less active in 97% of Mediterranean Sea coastal states, and ceclines in fishing vessel presence were localised and short-lived.  November 25, 2023.

A multinational Delphi consensus to end the COVID-19 public health threat

A multinational Delphi consensus to end the COVID-19 public health threat

Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian co-authored this paper about how despite notable scientific and medical advances, broader political, socioeconomic and behavioural factors continue to undercut the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  In the wake of nearly three years of fragmented global and national responses, it is instructive to note that three of the highest-ranked recommendations call for the adoption of whole-of-society and whole-of-government approaches, while maintaining proven prevention measures using a vaccines-plus approach that employs a range of public health and financial support measures to complement vaccination.  November 3, 2022.  

Pandemic, War, and Global Energy Transitions 8/23/2022

Pandemic, War, and Global Energy Transitions

Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian co-authors this paper about how the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war on Ukraine have impacted the global economy, including the energy sector. The pandemic caused drastic fluctuations in energy demand, oil price shocks, disruptions in energy supply chains, and hampered energy investments, while the war left the world with energy price hikes and energy security challenges. The long-term impacts of these crises on low-carbon energy transitions and mitigation of climate change are still uncertain but are slowly emerging. This paper analyzes the impacts throughout the energy system, including upstream fuel supply, renewable energy investments, demand for energy services, and implications for energy equity, by reviewing recent studies and consulting experts in the field.  August 23, 2022.

Estimating the effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions on US SARS-CoV-2 infections in the first year of the pandemic 6/29/2022

Estimating the effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions on US SARS-CoV-2 infections in the first year of the pandemic

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Mark Deinert writes about how SARS-CoV-2 emerged in late 2019 as a zoonotic infection of humans, and proceeded to cause a worldwide pandemic of historic magnitude. Here, we use a simple epidemiological model and consider the full range of initial estimates from published studies for infection and recovery rates, seasonality, changes in mobility, the effectiveness of masks and the fraction of people wearing them.  June 29, 2022. 

Little growth likely in Colorado, U.S. oil production in 2022, report finds 6/2/2022

Little growth likely in Colorado, U.S. oil production in 2022, report finds

Payne Institute Sustainable Finance Lab Program Manager Brad Handler contributes to this article about how supply issues, and Wall Street demands limit drilling activity despite 1,400 active permits in Colorado.  Oil and gas drilling activity has inched upwards in Colorado since the Russian invasion of Ukraine sent prices soaring earlier this year, but investor demands and supply constraints — not state or federal policy — will likely limit production growth through at least the end of the year, a new Colorado School of Mines analysis concludes.  June 2, 2022.

The Biden Administration Has Taken Some Bold Steps on Energy, But More Remains to be Done 5/12/2022

The Biden Administration Has Taken Some Bold Steps on Energy, But More Remains to be Done

Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian and Duncan Wood write about how President Biden’s recent invocation of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to include five critical minerals is an important symbolic step toward moving to a low-carbon energy and transport system. The minerals mentioned in Biden’s announcement are those that are especially fundamental to modern batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage for power systems that are increasingly reliant on wind and solar power.  May 12, 2022.

Location, Location, Low-Carbon: How Climate is Changing the Holy Trinity of Real Estate 5/6/2022

Location, Location, Low-Carbon: How Climate is Changing the Holy Trinity of Real Estate

Payne Institute Communications Associate Simon Lomax writes about how the cardinal rule for real estate used to be location, location, location, but now he is confident the new trinity that drives value in the real estate sector: location, location, low-carbon.  Location remains critically important, but for a growing number of real estate firms, so is climate change and speeding up the world’s transition to a zero-carbon energy system.  May 6, 2022. 

Can oil companies use their extra money to ease pain at the pump? It’s complicated. 4/12/2022

Can oil companies use their extra money to ease pain at the pump? It’s complicated.

Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian is featured on this podcast about how the cost of gasoline continues to rise across the globe and in the United States due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and continued inflation associated with the global pandemic.  However, lowering the price at the pump isn’t just about big oil making a small amount less.  April 12, 2022.

A New Era of Climate Action Calls for Climate Doctors 2/15/2022

A New Era of Climate Action Calls for Climate Doctors

Stefan Wheat and Payne Institute Fellow Jay Lemery write about how educating this generation of physicians in climate resilience is critical.  Despite years of sobering warnings of this existential threat and the clear human health implications posed by climate change, the medical community has been slow to respond, offering little training in medical schools or early medical career programs on climate-linked illnesses. February 15, 2022.

3 lessons from the energy crisis 12/17/2021

3 lessons from the energy crisis

Payne Institute Researcher Brad Handler and Director Morgan Bazilian write about how understanding the cause of tight supply and high prices is not as simple as blaming Biden, or windmills, or oil and gas producers.  The recent tightening of energy markets and ensuing price spikes are being felt globally. These conditions are driven by a multitude of factors related to fossil fuel demand and supply. Fingers are being pointed at producers, at the transition to clean energy sources, and at government.  December 17, 2021.