All Environment
First LookGas fermentation turns carbon into 'upcycled' perfume, clothesThrough a process called “gas fermentation,” recycled carbon is being used to make everyday household products. The captured carbon replaces pollutant-heavy fossil fuels, creating “green chemicals,” which are turned into plastics, fabrics, and more.
A lesson from Hurricane Ida that is changing the worldHurricane Ida was a monster storm. But New Orleans learned lessons from Hurricane Katrina and made itself more resilient. The world should take note.
Beyond sand castles: Sculptors create dunes to save America’s shorelineCan a sand sculpture save a beach? As coastal communities confront shoreline erosion, building new dunes is one option in a dawning era of constant adaptation.
First LookSevere climate could displace 200 million by 2050, report findsUrgent action to reduce global emissions and bridge development gaps is needed to avert a mass population displacement, says a new World Bank climate change report. Water scarcity, poor crop production, and rising sea levels could lead to 200 million “climate migrants.”
First LookEco-conscious Glasgow looks to rivers and air to heat cold homesGlasgow, Scotland residents are attempting to embrace clean energy at home – primarily by using air-source and water-source heat. This is one of many initiatives designed to help Glasgow reach its pledge of net-zero emissions by 2030.
Amid permafrost and tundra, Russians forge their own environmentalismPromoting ecological practices is not easy in the Russian Arctic. But locals are finding ways to change how the public interacts with the environment.
Lead-tainted water: What Newark can teach US about investing in safetyNewark, New Jersey, is rapidly replacing lead water pipes. So is Bennington, Vermont. They symbolize hope on a long-standing public health concern.
On Menorca, locals push sustainable tourism to save a critical speciesThe island of Menorca, in Spain, is a rare success in sustainable tourism. But the threat to Posidonia seagrass shows there is still work to be done.
The fight over water in Florida has had some surprising winnersBusiness interests often trump environmental concerns about Florida’s groundwater. But grassroots conservationists are fighting back – and winning.
FocusRebuild or relocate? Storms leave Louisiana city facing tough choices.The people of Lake Charles, Louisiana, have experienced two hurricanes plus a severe winter storm in the space of a year.
‘This isn’t just weeds’: Native gardens are repairing local ecosystemsNative and wildlife gardens are on the rise in the U.S. Conservationists say that trend could help fix the food web.
Silver bullets: Can cloud seeding ease the drought in the West?The value of cloud seeding as a way to create rain is debatable. But parts of the drought-ridden western U.S. are giving it a try.
‘I consider them friends’: Anglers sacrifice to save troutIn Colorado, love of rivers looks like restraint. Facing chronic drought, fly fishers pause short-term interests with the hope of long-term payoffs.
FocusWater shortage spans the Southwest – but so does water progressToday’s declaration of a Lake Mead shortage signals the scale of drought in the Southwest. It also reflects the power of cooperative planning.
Canada gets serious about water woes. Will Indigenous voices be heard?Even resource-rich Canada faces threats to its water – and many say a stronger voice for Indigenous people is a key to better governance.
How pandemic relocations are snarling in-demand suburbsReacting to the pandemic, people left cities but stayed within 150 miles. Now, suburban traffic congestion is up, and public transit ridership down.
Climate report: Hope is not lost, but ‘we need to move faster’Dire predictions don’t have to lead to dire outcomes. That’s a key message in an alarming report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
First LookEarth hits 'code red' on climate change. Can disaster be averted?In a new report released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, researchers found that human-caused climate change is accelerating at a quicker rate than expected, with emissions to pass a key threshold set out in the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
To protect legacy and livelihoods, ranchers battle droughtRanchers drill for water and downsize while waiting for rain. Droughts across the West and Midwest prompt more well-drilling and cattle sales.
First LookDuty or dirty deal? States put cost of package waste on companies.New initiatives requiring producers to pay for the recycling of their packaging are gaining traction across the United States. Proponents say the bills will discourage excessive packaging and improve recycling, but critics worry about the rising costs of doing business.
