All Environment
- 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 continue
Canada’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 collide
Residents 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 health
Progress 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 systems
Chemical 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 years
A 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 renewables
Vietnam 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.
- Lithium mining boom in Argentina sparks hope – and sacrifice
Lithium is in high demand as the world moves toward green energy to meet climate targets. But the benefits of lithium are still up for debate in local mining communities.
- Do children have a right to a healthy climate? Montana case is a test.
A lawsuit in Montana marks the first time that young people in the U.S. have gotten a chance in court to demand the right to a stable climate – part of a larger global effort by children to demand government action.
- Points of ProgressGreek beaches and Moroccan holidays: Two signals of acceptance
Progress roundup: In Greece, wheelchair users have an easier way to enjoy the ocean. And in Morocco, a holiday recognizes the Berbers, 40% of the population.
- The ExplainerWhere there’s fire, there’s smoke: Public safety lesson for Eastern US
The severity of Canadian wildfire smoke has startled the United States and may prompt Eastern communities to draw safety lessons from the fire-prone West.
- First LookSouthern farmers search for new strategies against warmer winters
With climate change driving warmer winters, farmers across the southern United States find new and creative ways to ensure their fields yield enough crops. This includes employing new agricultural techniques and growing crops once rare in the region.
- First LookCanadian wildfires are clouding US skies. Here's what to know.
Lingering smoke from Canadian wildfires is causing hazy conditions over the northeastern United States. Officials are cautioning against outdoor activity until the air clears.
- In stronghold of Guinea-Bissau, endangered vultures soar again
In rare good conservation news from the African continent, Guinea-Bissau’s hooded vulture population is slowly recovering.
- Points of ProgressBoosting jobs: From coding camps to streamlining for startups
Progress roundup: From Argentina to Benin, governments and industry boost employment with free education and by smoothing the path to entrepreneurship. And, we highlight a discovery for the future of electricity