All Environment
Points of ProgressBeach and river cleanups: Strange finds, and fish fertilizer for saleIn our progress roundup, volunteers are cleaning up river trash by the ton, and others are making something useful out of the waste left by fishers cleaning their catch.
‘We can’t wait’: Grassroots solutions ease flooding in New OrleansIn New Orleans, as the government struggles to respond to climate change, neighborhood coalitions are taking the initiative to find – and implement – solutions.
First LookIndy 500 waves green flag for sustainability with lofty goalsAt this weekend’s Indy 500, fans can buy T-shirts made from recycled plastic bottles. They’re one of the many initiatives – along with renewable tires – contributing to the goal of holding carbon-neutral races by 2050.
How climate change ‘doomerism’ fuels violent extremismFinding that messages of alarm can lead to despair – and even violent extremism – climate activists are increasingly urging action grounded in hope.
First LookHow nine schoolgirls stood up for Ecuador's Amazon and wonIn 2021, nine schoolgirls sued the Ecuadorean government, saying the use of flares by oil companies in the Amazon violated their constitutional right to a healthy environment. They won their case, but a year later, they’re still fighting to protect their community.
Points of ProgressGreen energy from sewage, and furniture from plastic wasteProgress roundup: An Oregon county funds cogeneration water plant, Dutch open-source nonprofit helps refugees make new plastics from old, and more.
Difference MakerMeet the volunteers maintaining the Appalachian TrailDedication. Love. Humility. Those are just a few of the qualities volunteers who maintain the Appalachian Trail bring to the paths year after year.
FocusHow Florida became the leader in fighting fire with fireWhen you fight fire with fire, the problem and solution look identical. But planning and discretion distinguish controlled burns from wildfires – and help combat them.
Points of ProgressFault, justice, and firsts in court, nature, and the newsroomIn our progress roundup: no-fault divorce spreads in the U.K., data on exonerations aids advocates, Nepal and British Columbia preserve species, and more.
First LookLos Alamos lab helps fight fires, now it's threatened by oneFrom nuclear bombs to climate change the Los Alamos National Laboratory specializes in existential threats, including predicting and preventing wildfires. But now a massive wildfire threatens the historic New Mexico lab itself.
First LookBuried treasure: Divers surface trash and data at Lake TahoeScuba divers at Lake Tahoe spent a year retrieving 25,000 pounds of trash from off its shores and sorting it by type and location. It’s a first-of-its-kind effort to learn more about the potential harm caused by plastics and other pollutants found in its waters.
Can country living and a new EV plant coexist? Some Georgians say no.In rural Georgia, building a better future can be hard to define – much less agree on – even when 7,500 good jobs are on the line. What’s the right balance between conservation and progress?
First Look‘Tilos is a pioneer’: Small Greek island makes big green shiftThe remote Greek island of Tilos, like many islands in the Aegean sea, has long struggled with electrical outages, overflowing landfills, and a lack of reliable drinking water. Now, Tilos is going green, offering a blueprint for other islands to follow.
‘If our animals survive, we will.’ Somaliland grapples with drought.As the Horn of Africa faces its worst drought in 40 years, conflict and climate change have made the situation worse. Locals hope climate-smart agriculture can mitigate future crises.
The ExplainerOfficial climate reports pile up. But do they connect with the public?What do IPCC reports on climate change really mean? Their acronyms can overwhelm, but the message from their scientific consensus is important.
Puerto Rico seeks clean-energy revolution. It is getting blackouts.After Hurricane Maria upended its electricity grid, Puerto Rico has a huge clean energy ambition – but ongoing power outages, too.
Points of ProgressOcean surprises: Get out your microscope and headphonesIn our progress roundup, scientists used sound to confirm a healthy coral reef, found two new phytoplankton, and tested an anti-malaria mosquito net.
Meet the nurdle hunter combing the beach for hidden pollutionMark McReynolds’ nurdle hunters scour the sands for a tiny pollutant most beachgoers don’t even know exists.
Grounded, and loving it. Can giving up air travel bring joy?A small but growing number of people have given up flying because of climate concerns. What surprised them, they say, is the joy they gained from the journey.
Cover StoryDemand for oil is spiking. So why are North Dakota rigs lying idle?Demand for oil is surging, but rigs in North Dakota are lying idle as the U.S. tries to figure out the future of its energy supply.
