All Environment
Points of ProgressFrom zero waste to LGBTQ rights: How cooperation got the job doneProgress roundup: State-by-state votes secure same-sex marriage rights for all of Mexico. And a small Japanese city cooperatively works toward zero waste.
First LookCan wildlife return to urban areas? ‘Rewilding’ might be the answer.Development in urban areas is gobbling up wildlife habitat, stirring calls for “rewilding” places where wildlife thrived until driven out. The process aims to revive natural systems in degraded locations, though it can be a tough sell for urbanites.
What would a climate-resilient Pakistan look like? Sindh offers clues.In Pakistan’s flood-ravaged Sindh province, an absence of government and international disaster aid has left much of rebuilding to civil society. Local initiatives are aiming to make communities more resilient.
‘The ocean is what we know.’ Can Senegal woo climate refugees inland?Senegal’s plan to relocate residents from a flood-prone peninsula to a dusty, inland village offers a glimpse into how countries might manage climate refugees.
First Look‘We are a part of nature’: Hawaiians learn to let lava flowFor decades, Hawaiians have searched for ways to divert lava flows – from deific offerings to building walls to dropping bombs. Now they are wondering: What’s the point in trying to control the environment?
First LookIndia expands climate efforts as newest chair of G-20 economiesIndia became chair of the G-20 leading economies Thursday and will prioritize climate protection in its new role. The country, which remains one of the world’s top emitters of planet-warming gases, has made recent strides toward environmental goals.
FocusThe Florida town that challenged Hurricane Ian and wonStorm resilient design – a solar field, water system, human-made wetlands, native plants – helped Babcock Ranch, Florida, stand up to a powerful test.
First LookCriticisms ‘outdated’: Australia opposes endangered reef statusThe Great Barrier Reef may not get an official “endangered” status from UNESCO, thanks to the Australian government’s lobbying. Given recent legislative turnover, leaders argue that criticisms of government climate inaction are now obsolete.
Cover StoryCities are killing birds. Activists and architects have solutions.Collisions with buildings kill as many as 1 billion birds a year in the United States. But architects and activists are working to make cities safer.
First LookSalton Sea revival next ‘extraordinary measure’ for US drought reliefThe U.S. government has set aside $250 million to restore the Salton Sea, a drying California lake. The money will come out of the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act, which set aside $4 billion to stave off the effects of drought across the West.
Points of ProgressOld ways, new gains: US apprenticeships expand, ancient Dutch crop revivesProgress roundup: Tradition improves U.S. job training, and bringing back buckwheat as a Dutch crop pays off in biodiversity – and old-fashioned pancakes.
This nonprofit helps old building materials find new homesA nonprofit in Springfield, Massachusetts, exemplifies rising efforts to reuse the materials left over from building teardowns and remodels.
Utah is growing fast. Will there be enough water for everyone?Some Utah towns are slowing development in the face of drought. Would conservation and higher rates work to limit water consumption?
Drought: Is there a way to have sustainability and a lawn?Drought is longer and more frequent across the U.S., so have we reached the extinction of the beloved American lawn?
Points of ProgressFrom Greece to Bangladesh, individual acts, big impact for land and waterProgress roundup: Care for the environment doesn’t always require the newest technology. Citizens in Bangladesh, Ecuador, and Greece are making strides.
Somalia on brink of famine. Can new tools, timely aid avert the worst?Somalia’s worst drought in 40 years has sparked warnings from the U.N. of unprecedented catastrophe. While a functioning government is coordinating relief work, generosity is needed.
Climate summit achieved new unity. Now there are pledges to fulfill.A breakthrough between rich and poor nations shows how cooperation and diplomacy can bear fruit – even if COP27 climate summitry falls short of hopes.
First LookCzech coal makes a comeback amid European gas shortagesThe Czech region of Ostrava has been working for decades to reduce its pollution levels brought on by heavy industrialization. The energy crisis sparked by the war in Ukraine, however, has revived energy inefficient coal as a cheaper option to natural gas.
First Look‘Battered but not broken’: Great Barrier Reef shows climate resilienceScientists studying coral reproduction in the Great Barrier Reef combine ancient knowledge with technology to tackle the effects of warming waters. Indigenous groups have a growing role in management of the reef and experts are seeing hope for regeneration.
FocusAs world grows hotter, farmers race to innovateFood security is rising as a worldwide challenge due to climate change. Farmers are finding new ideas, and sharing old ones, to meet it.
