All Environment
FocusColorado River water: Is fallowing farmland a fair way to conserve?Calls to sacrifice a shared resource raise questions of justice. One California farm region facing the possibility of having to fallow land wonders whether that’s fair.
First LookHow many US cars are electric? Biden EPA wants it to be 54%.The Biden administration plans to propose a policy that would require more than half of new U.S. vehicles to be electric by 2030. Some American automakers argue that “regulatory mandates alone” cannot ensure the success of the switch to electric vehicles.
First LookWill California bees show up to work? Almond growers hope for blooms.America’s beekeepers have faced challenges during the unusually cold and wet winter in California’s farm country, and bees have been slow to emerge from their hives. But signs of ample wildflowers could mean a good year for honey.
Points of ProgressDouble lives: From glass back to sand, and how solar panels can save waterProgress roundup: Tests show recycled glass aids Louisiana marshlands, floating PV panels slow evaporation, non-invasive imaging uncovers mysteries in Giza.
The ExplainerRisk and recovery: Mississippi tornado signals twin challengesSome research suggests tornado risks may be shifting modestly eastward, raising questions about preparedness in some of the poorest U.S. states.
Cover StoryFor the love of nature: Outdoorspeople help lawmakers bridge dividesClimate action can be politically divisive. But a love for nature is bringing people together – even in Washington.
Points of ProgressErasing stigmas: Women workers’ unique right, and an inclusive censusProgress roundup: Spain passes Europe’s first menstrual leave law, Chile’s fishers sacrifice catch for marine refuges, Singapore makes a High Line.
First LookCalifornia’s ‘wet winter’ eases restrictions but does not end droughtAfter a series of winter storms replenished California’s water sources, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the state will no longer ask people to cut their water use by 15%. He was careful, however, not to say the drought is over.
Biden and oil: What does responsibility mean in a new energy era?The Biden administration’s recent leasing and permitting actions raise questions about the prudence of new oil development during a global push toward cleaner energy.
First LookWorld Water Day: 2 billion people lack drinking water, UN reportsMore than a quarter of the world’s population lacks safe drinking water, and 46% lacks basic sanitation, says a new UN report. This week marks the first major United Nations conference on water in more than 45 years.
Points of ProgressFrom bird hunting in EU to poaching of pangolins, curbs on harmProgress roundup: Lead shot is banned near EU wetlands, a broad new program to save pangolins, and women's firsts in Bolivia and the Navajo Nation.
UN report urges all-out climate push – nowA new report sums up the known science on climate change – and walks a fine line between desperation and hope in an effort to spur global action.
First LookLast opportunity to stop worst of climate change, says UN report“Humanity is on thin ice” but could still prevent the worst effects of climate change, says the top U.N. panel on climate change. Its new report says the world is warming even faster and must cut two-thirds of carbon emissions and fossil fuel use by 2035.
Renewables surge, yet carbon emissions hit record. What gives?How can the world be massively shifting toward renewables and boosting its overall carbon emissions at the same time? We parse the progress in a global transition that’s far from finished.
Points of ProgressLaws with teeth: Slowing shark loss and new coal minesProgress roundup: Quotas boost ranks of female legislators, more shark protections in Costa Rica, and how a law averted a new coal mine in Australia.
Points of ProgressBurn to preserve, and other forest practices, from Ecuador to CaliforniaProgress roundup: Indigenous peoples and governments are working together to preserve forests with controlled burns, protection from logging, and more.
First LookHistoric UN treaty expands safety for dolphins, whales, turtlesThe United Nations has created a treaty that protects marine life in nearly two-thirds of Earth’s oceans. The treaty establishes a new group to manage conservation, and it outlines rules for conducting environmental impact assessments for commercial work.
Make do and mend: As landfills grow, people opt for needle and threadHow are people responding to measures like one in Massachusetts that bans putting textiles in the trash? For some, it’s an opportunity to learn a new skill – while also helping the environment.
Citrus crisis: As an iconic Florida crop fades, another tree risesWith disease threatening their crops, farmers in Florida aim to meet adversity with ingenuity – even if that may mean leaving a storied tradition behind.
Points of ProgressLibrary thrives in a Pakistan gun town; and the olfactory superpower of AIProgress roundup: Books inspire readers in a village known for black-market guns, AI and a desert bug combine for a powerful nose, and more.
