All Environment
FocusCalifornia battles a ‘ghost lake’ – and its own political divisionsTulare Lake, which didn’t exist mere months ago, could submerge a community and two prisons. Local and state agencies are having to work together.
In Pictures: Two views of elephant tourism in ThailandAs Thailand’s elephant tourism rebounds from a pandemic pause, so too has discussion of how to best care for the beloved beasts.
On solar energy, a top-down push meets bottom-up doubtsSolar power is a growth industry and a national priority. But that doesn’t mean solar projects are easily built. One problem may be a lack of dialogue between investors and local communities.
Points of ProgressBright spots: Dark sky in China, and TV lessons for Afghan girlsProgress roundup: The BBC creates educational TV shows for Afghan girls stuck at home; a Chinese community gets certified by the Dark-Sky Association.
Biden targets power plant emissions. How does your state stack up?As the Biden administration proposes new power plant rules to address climate change, our chart package looks at current emissions and how to fund a transition.
Meet Peru’s unsung hero of the Pómac ForestReviving a forest is a community affair. But collective efforts often begin with one person. In Peru’s Pómac Forest, that’s Carlos Alberto Llauce Baldera.
The ExplainerNo more gas stoves? New York is first state to ban gas in new buildings.New York state’s ban on natural gas in new construction has critics, but also supporters who say it’s an important step toward net-zero emissions.
Points of ProgressReunited: Stolen art goes home, and why lonely habitats need companyProgress roundup: New York's Antiquities Traffic Unit returns hundreds of objects, the Amazon's isolated habitats grow stronger when linked, and more.
These EV-savvy high schoolers could help California meet green tech goalsThis border-town high school is revving up students for an EV workforce. It’s an effort well suited to California’s green technology goals.
Is nuclear power attractive or risky? In Minnesota, it’s both.In Minnesota legislature, climate change has revived Democrats’ interest in nuclear power. But a radioactive leak has rekindled public concerns about safety.
First LookIs there a clear track to zero emissions? California tackles trains.The California Air Resources Board passed a rule to cut down on greenhouse gas and smog emissions from diesel trains. Some champion the rule, but others say the requirements are too steep for an industry that already helps the state and nation emit less.
Points of ProgressMeeting unique needs: From sign language TV to teen pregnancy preventionProgress roundup: Meeting the needs of different sectors of society requires unique solutions, in Liberia, the UK, and a new U.S. national monument.
First LookCalifornia runneth over: Winter storms restore 100% water supplyCalifornia officials announced that the state will provide full allocations to 29 water agencies supplying about 27 million customers and 750,000 acres of farmland for the first time since 2006. Big winter storms ended three years of drought in the state.
Dolphins as casualties: The environmental costs of Ukraine warUkrainian prosecutors are preparing to take the Russian military to court on ecocide charges, based on a spike in Black Sea dolphin deaths
The world sees invasive seaweed. This gardener sees housing bricks.The seaweed invasion across the Caribbean sparked the imagination of a Mexican gardener who is turning piles of it into sustainable building blocks.
Germany ditched nuclear power. Other nations show new interest.Renewable energy is competitively priced. But many say nuclear power still has a role to play even as old plants shut down. A status report in charts.
Is kicking out illegal miners enough to save Brazil’s Amazon?Brazil’s president is doubling down on protecting the Amazon – crucial for combatting global warming.
First LookGermany ends its nuclear power. But what will become of the waste?Germany has switched off its three remaining nuclear power plants as part of a long-planned transition toward renewable energy. The question of what to do with 62 years worth of accumulated toxic waste remains unsolved.
Points of ProgressKeeping it wild: Tokyo farms and Europe’s last undammed riverProgress roundup: There's balance in growing food among skyscrapers, keeping Europe's last wild river unbounded, and bringing back an endangered feline.
Sticks plus carrots: How realistic is Biden’s electric-car target?Electric vehicles account for only about 6% of current U.S. car sales. Still, a Biden target of about two-thirds by 2032 may not be out of reach.
