All Environment
FocusWhen the floods surged, a focus on readiness helped VermontBack in 2011, Tropical Storm Irene gave flooded Vermont a wake-up call. Efforts since then to build resiliency – alongside a humanitarian spirit – are helping this week.
Points of ProgressIsland hopping: LGBTQ+ rights in the Caribbean, climate funds in IndonesiaProgress roundup: More Caribbean nations decriminalize same-sex relations. And Indigenous Indonesians have new funds to take climate control into their own hands.
First LookWhy large-scale global flooding could become new normalMany countries are experiencing deadly flooding this week and climate scientists say this is par for the course in a warming world. Climate pollutants, mainly carbon dioxide and methane, are holding more heat in the atmosphere.
First LookHeatwave inequality? Cities should protect vulnerable, experts say.Many cities have long had plans about how to deal with intense heat waves – systems to alert their citizens and connect them with resources. But amid record-setting heat globally, some experts say more needs to be done.
Cover StoryPlastics have shaped nearly every aspect of society. Now what?The wonder material of the 1950s has become so ubiquitous that communities are finding it hard to live without it.
Points of ProgressFairy circles and electricity from air: Inclusive and innovative scienceProgress roundup: In Australia, a research collaboration incorporated Indigenous expertise. In the U.S., engineers found a secret to harvesting energy from air – nanopores.
First LookEarth’s daily temperature reached a record high for two days. Why?After the planet set a record-high average temperature on Tuesday, Earth’s average temperature remained the same on Wednesday. With heat waves from Peru to Canada, climate experts caution against an ever-warming world.
Could battery boom change South’s views of green energy?Alabama could be the buckle of a new manufacturing “battery belt” across the South. The economic activity is putting green energy in a new light.
Proposed power plant emission cuts: Can US keep the lights on?A debate over how fast to transition to clean energy is gaining urgency, as a proposed EPA emissions rule stirs concerns about electric grid reliability.
Cover StoryExtinct or elusive? Why birders aren’t giving up on the ivorybill.Experts say the ivory-billed woodpecker is probably extinct. Others think they’re wrong – and that the natural world still holds some surprises.
First LookSmoky haze: Air quality warnings persist as Canada's fires continueCanada’s wildfires have yet to be contained, and cities across the United States are seeing hazy skies as a result. Experts say Americans from the Midwest to the Southeast should remain prudent in poor air quality conditions.
In Thailand, conservation drive and Indigenous traditions collideResidents of Thailand’s Ban Sop Lan village are pushing back against efforts to expand the boundaries of a nearby national park.
First LookWhat’s a heat dome? Here’s why Texas heat is expected to spread.Scorching temperatures from a heat dome are taxing the Texas power grid, threatening to bring record highs to the state before expanding to other parts of the United States. Experts say more than 46 million Americans are under heat alerts.
Points of ProgressFor children in east Africa, the dignity of hairstyles and better healthProgress roundup: Rastafarians end hair discrimination in Malawi, and an opponent of female genital mutilation wins the Templeton Prize in Somaliland.
First Look3M to pay $10.3B for leaking 'forever chemicals' into water systemsChemical manufacturer 3M has agreed to pay $10.3 billion to settle lawsuits over the contamination of many public drinking water systems with harmful compounds. Known as “forever chemicals,” PFAS don’t degrade and have been linked to health problems.
First LookMonstrous mustard? California chefs, artists target invasive species.California is blooming with wild mustard this year. The invasive species smothers native plants and serves as tinder for wildfires in a state already ravaged by blazes. In response, artists are using the plant as dye and chefs are cooking with it.
First LookWho should fund clean energy? IEA calls on rich nations.The International Energy Agency said that affluent nations must regain trust by financing clean energy in developing countries. In poorer nations, the implementation of net-zero goals faces significant financial hurdles.
Why this Indian village has fought a steel plant for 18 yearsA village’s enduring resistance against a massive steelworks project highlights gaps in India’s environmental protections and human rights.
First LookCould this generation end climate change? Youth take fights to court.A United Nations resolution declared the right to a healthy environment a human right in July 2022. Now, youth in India and Indonesia are suing their governments, reflecting a global trend of climate litigation based on human rights violations.
First LookAmid soaring energy demand, Vietnam eyes transition to renewablesVietnam has released a long-awaited energy plan that aims to transition the country to renewables while meeting soaring demand. However, continued reliance on fossil fuels, experts warn, could make it hard for the country to meet its ambitious goals.
