All Environment
Cairo’s ‘Garbage City’ rebranded: It’s recycling ... and a livingResidents of Cairo’s Manshiyat Naser neighborhood were once referred to as zabaleen, garbage people. But today’s push for a green economy and the demand for recycled plastic is changing perceptions of their work.
The ExplainerCalifornia storms: When a year’s worth of rain in two weeks isn’t enoughAfter weeks of massive rainstorms, California and the American West are grappling with how to manage flood risks, rebound from drought, and make new plans for the Colorado River Basin.
Points of ProgressGood intentions, good results: People pull together for forests and a fishProgress roundup: Both when trust is returned to locals, and when government protects nature from overutilization, disparate interests can make change.
First LookGreta Thunberg brings activist star power to German mine standoffAfter being detained at the expansion of a coal mine in Germany, environmental activist Greta Thunberg hasn’t let that stop her. “Climate protection is not a crime,” she tweeted, and has named Germany as a major polluter.
First LookHow Exxon Mobil dismissed its own researchers' climate predictionsExxon Mobil’s scientists in the 1970s forecasted the coming global warming with precision equal to or better than government and academic scientists, says a new study by the journal Science. Publicly the oil giant doubted that climate change was real.
First LookSmall German town becomes latest front in battle for Paris AgreementA rural town in Germany is scheduled to be bulldozed so an energy company can mine for coal. Climate activists are up in arms, while officials claim legal precedent to enforce evacuation. Opposition lawmakers want the government to reverse its decision.
Points of ProgressPower unlocked: Debt funds conservation, refugee brings solar to his campProgress roundup: Belize frees conservation funds with “blue bonds,” African refugee teaches himself solar-powered internet, gecko species recovers.
First LookOzone layer projected to heal completely by 2066, says new reportThe hole in the ozone layer has been slowly repairing itself since the Montreal Protocol banned aerosol products in 1987. The latest report from the UN predicts the ozone layer will make a full recovery in about 43 years.
First LookWater from ‘terrific snowpack’ sparks tentative hope in CaliforniaRecent snowstorms in the Sierra Nevada may bring drought relief for California later this year. State officials are marking the historic precipitation, but a good start to the rainy season does not guarantee a long, wet winter that can help end the drought.
Points of ProgressKeeping food out of landfill in South Korea, and nursing Haiti’s forestsProgress roundup: South Korea collects food waste from residents; the quiet conservation efforts in Haiti; first-ever decline in smoking rates worldwide.
First LookSkis, boots, and ... shorts? Warm temperatures keep Alps snow free.Winter in the Alps usually means snow-covered mountains and winter sports. But it’s been unseasonably warm so far, continuing the trend of the warmest winters on record, according to the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization.
First LookEPA finalizes protections for wetlands, repealing Trump-era ruleThe EPA on Friday finalized regulations to protect hundreds of thousands of small streams, wetlands, and other waterways. The protections are in response to a Trump-era rule that environmentalists said left waterways vulnerable to pollution.
Points of ProgressThe values that led humanity forward this yearResponsibility, equality, dignity, ingenuity, cooperation – five values that drove progress around the world in 2022.
Oh, Christmas tree: What happens to holiday waste after New Year’s?The holidays generate more waste than any other season. A program in Louisiana hints at progress by using discarded Christmas trees to help rebuild shorelines.
Points of ProgressBubbles that fight trash, and a penguin chick surpriseProgress roundup: Dutch engineers create a simple solution to corral trash on waterways; conservationists create hope for Africa’s endangered penguin.
In the northern Rockies, winter snows bring a flurry of hopeThe arrival of winter can be greeted with trepidation. But for this essayist, the darkening days and declining temperatures come with a promise.
Points of ProgressIt spins, it floats: Solar power generated on water and for garment tradeProgress roundup: Photovoltaics are being sited on waterways around the world. And in India, solar power is increasing efficiency and raising pay.
First LookFarm economics: How much are soil carbon credits worth?Regenerative farms improve soil quality by trapping planet-heating emissions. As these types of farms become more common, groups are working to quantify the amount of carbon these farmers store in their soil, fueling offset markets where credits are sold.
Not rolling on the river: Drought tests America’s main water highwayRecent rains are starting to refill a shrunken Mississippi River and allow freight to flow more freely. But questions remain about how to manage the river for resilience.
First LookVirtual reality puts the climate’s future in the hands of gamersClimate experts have long struggled to help people see and emotionally grasp likely futures as the planet warms. Virtual reality games offer decision-makers a choice of alternative futures, and can be seen as an immersive way to experience climate risk.
