All Environment
Cover StoryBear ambassador: Lynn Rogers advocates for human-bear coexistenceLynn Rogers has done his research on wild black bears a little differently: walking alongside them, feeding them, sleeping next to them.
Points of ProgressDignity in a home address, and the right to a healthy environmentProgress roundup: The dignity of slum residents in India receiving home addresses, final exoneration in Salem witch trials, environment as a human right, and more.
The ExplainerHeat. Drought. Fires. Floods. Texas grapples with a new era.Texas may not be the epicenter of political passion about climate change, but it is increasingly emblematic of America’s climate change experience.
Postcard from Minnesota: Far from drought, but is it a climate haven?While climate change may appear most severe in places affected by drought or rising seas, inland and water-rich areas feel their own pressure to adapt.
Where should reporters draw the line in covering wildfires?When covering wildfires, reporters juggle a desire to give audiences up-to-the minute information and a need to respect residents’ and first responders’ boundaries. What is the media’s responsibility in such fast-moving situations?
Five years after Hurricane Harvey, a legacy of perseveranceLong after floods, Texans struggle to rebuild. But rather than losing hope, they are finding patience, resolve, and humor to carry them through.
Points of ProgressTiger births and Benin Bronzes: Restorations of nature and artIn our progress roundup, a return to the old, plus new ways of making food and fuel: more tigers in Nepal, the Smithsonian on returning artifacts, world’s largest vertical farm, and more.
Climate action: How values – and disasters – influence progressAuthor and sustainability professor Andrew Hoffman finds most people in the United States ready to acknowledge the dangers of climate change – and share the responsibility for mitigating it.
Air conditioning: Can people stay cool without warming the planet?As the climate warms, more people are seeking air conditioning to stay cool. But air conditioning itself can exacerbate global warming. Is there a way to balance these competing needs?
Points of ProgressHistory uncovered: Fossils older than dinosaurs, and a religious refugeProgress roundup: Discoveries in both Brazil and Turkey were so vast that paleontologists and archaeologists have a wealth of opportunities to learn.
First LookA year after wildfire disaster, life returns to California forestsIn the Sierra Nevada, tiny flowers are growing, suggesting that signs of life are gradually reemerging in the area. Experts say the effects of climate change can be “significant” on forest recovery, though, preventing some species from thriving as they once did.
Wildfires, hurricanes, and lessons on cooperation from Florida PanhandleWildfires made worse by a hurricane years earlier in Florida’s Panhandle show how connected environmental events can be – and the value of cooperation in working to prevent and respond to them.
First LookOne word, bioplastics: Investments pour into biodegradable plasticAs countless tons of plastics pile up in landfills and pollute waterways, investors are pushing billions of dollars toward innovative bioplastics, made from corn, sugar, and cooking oil, which biodegrade far more easily than traditional plastics.
First LookIn California, freshwater fish and farmers feel the droughtCalifornia’s vital waterways are becoming saltier in the face of severe drought. The change in river salinity puts fish and agriculture alike at risk. Some solutions against the saltwater intrusion include a desalination plant, an artificial rock barrier, and groundwater pumps.
Points of ProgressBouncing back: Cheese in Bosnia, trees around the worldProgress roundup: Bosnian cheesemakers revive their craft after the war, 36 countries count gains in tree coverage, plus briefs from Kenya, India, and the U.S.
How to cool cities, from heat officers to pavement sunscreenHow can urban planning enhance heat resilience? Researchers in Arizona say cooperation is key.
Carrots not sticks? Senate bill may offer template for climate action.Some analysts see the proposed Inflation Reduction Act as a blueprint for more carbon-reduction progress – focused around incentives and investments.
Points of ProgressWhat a view: More starlit skies and a mapped ocean floorProgress roundup: Cooperation across groups achieves goals such as understanding the geography of the seafloor and eliminating light pollution.
First LookOil-rich Middle East feels climate change heat, mulls going greenAs the driest part of the world gets drier, the Middle East is paying more attention to the impact of climate change. People and politicians alike want to explore green energy options, but in a region reliant on fossil fuels, that prompts hard questions.
First LookIn Las Vegas, intense drought means smaller swimming poolsAfter Sept. 1, residential swimming pools built in Las Vegas can only be about the size of a three-car garage. Officials cite concerns over dwindling water supplies from the Lake Mead reservoir on the depleted Colorado River. There are about 200,000 swimming pools in Las Vegas.
