All Environment
First LookWater rights: Environmental groups fight to save Great Salt LakeUtah’s Great Salt Lake plays a crucial ecological role in the region but is currently facing its lowest level of water since 1847. Environmentalists have achieved some success securing water rights for the lake and are pushing for more to safeguard its future.
Cover StoryUntaming a river: The stakes behind America’s largest dam removalIt’s America’s biggest dam removal project. But can farmers, Native Americans, and salmon all walk – or swim – away happy?
The Northwest Passage is thawing. Will US, Canada sail its waters together?With the Arctic melting, the U.S. and Canada are trying a cooperative approach to tapping the region’s thawing resources and trade routes.
Cover StoryOne Western town’s solution to wildfires? Community.As wildfires haunt the American West, officials in Ashland, Oregon, have developed a bipartisan, community-led approach to forest management.
First LookHow cities are preparing subways for the next big stormFollowing Hurricane Ida, New York City had to pump 75 million gallons of water out of its flooded subway system. As weather events are becoming more extreme, transit officials in cities around the world are saying more preparation is needed.
First LookCan Gov. Newsom wean California off oil drilling after spill?California’s recent oil spill off Huntington Beach has led to a renewal of calls to ban offshore drilling. But the transition away from oil production won’t be easy for an industry that employs more than 150,000 people and generates significant revenue.
Solar energy is a new cash crop for farmers – when the price is rightThe transition toward renewable energy is creating a new kind of demand for rural land. Small farmers see a win for the planet and their own security.
First LookShould the EU ban fossil fuel ads? Climate groups say yes.On Monday, more than 20 environmental and climate groups joined together in a call for the EU to ban fossil fuel advertising. “I grew up reading signs about how cigarettes kill you, but never saw similar warnings in petrol stations or fuel tanks,” says an activist.
First LookLeak stopped, but major oil spill closes Southern California beachesOne of the largest oil spills in recent Southern California history fouled Huntington Beach and other popular beaches. The leak came from an offshore pipeline.
First LookClimate summit can yield ‘enormous progress’ says US envoyIn run-up to U.N. climate change talks, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry offers hope, while underscoring urgent need for nations to lower carbon emissions.
First LookWhy climate change makes fall foliage harder to spotA warmer climate can also brings invasive pests, the spread of new tree species, and diseases – all factors that could make for less vibrant fall colors in the U.S., scientists say. Fewer colorful leaves could also affect the economy of states that depend on fall tourism.
With South’s ecosystems at risk, a rally around the longleaf pineAn effort to save once-ubiquitous longleaf pines shows a shift toward valuing forest biodiversity in Louisiana and beyond.
First LookIvory-billed woodpecker falls silent, as 23 species go extinctThe U.S. government declared 23 species extinct Wednesday, including the ivory-billed woodpecker, ending searches for their existence. The factors behind the disappearances vary, but in each case, humans were the ultimate cause of their decline.
FocusRural New Mexicans meet drought with culture of water sharingIrrigation ditches called acequias have long supported communities in New Mexico where water is a scarce communal resource. Drought poses new challenges.
In Pictures: Inside the quest to save the northern white rhinoScientists in Kenya hope to bring the northern white rhinos back from the brink of extinction through in vitro fertilization and surrogate rhino mothers.
Carbon offsets are growing fast, but climate benefits remain murkyWhether for a company or a person, a zero-emission lifestyle is hard to achieve. That’s why a market for “offsets” is surging – and controversial.
First LookFridges and air conditioners must get greener, EPA rulesTo combat climate change, the Environmental Protection Agency is limiting production and use of hydrofluorocarbons by 85% over the next 15 years. Often used in refrigerators and air conditioners, HFCs are thousands of times more powerful than carbon dioxide.
First LookChina, US present big climate goals to UN. Will it be enough?On Tuesday, China and the U.S. addressed the United Nations with news of each country’s climate goals. Xi Jinping committed to stop funding coal plants internationally, and Joe Biden plans to double climate aid for poorer nations to $11.4 billion by 2024.
In Pictures: Where elephants help make paperIn Sri Lanka, a papermaker who incorporates elephant dung into his products shows that even wild ideas can pay off.
First LookFight fire with fire? How it could save California's sequoias.Controlled burning to prevent the spread of wildfires is being put to the test in California. A signature grove of trees in California’s Sequoia National Park are under threat. Here’s how firefighters are trying to save them.
