All Environment
First LookShould Charleston wall itself off from rising sea levels?The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is weighing a $1.75 billion sea wall proposal to ward off storm flooding in Charleston, South Carolina. Residents want a solution as sea levels rise, but question the project's environmental and social impacts.
First LookTeen power: An Indian girl invents a solar iron to reduce smogA teen in India has come up with an ingenious way to clean up dirty city air: solar-powered clothes irons. Street vendors typically use charcoal to power their irons, but using solar energy instead would reduce costs and pollution.
Could the job of preserving America’s wolves shift to states?As the U.S. Department of the Interior plans to remove the gray wolf from its list of endangered species, Colorado narrowly voted to reintroduce them.
A pollution solution where the rubber meets the roadA group of recent graduates have devised a potential solution to an invisible problem: tire pollution.
First LookBidding adieu, US formally exits 2015 Paris climate accordThe U.S. has formally exited the 2015 Paris Agreement. The climate accord was non-binding, so America's withdrawal doesn't bring immediate changes. But climate advocates blasted America's lack of global leadership on climate change.
First LookRelentless storms: Zeta breaks records as it scours LouisianaMuch of the American Southeast is cleaning up after Zeta, the 27th named storm in a historically busy Atlantic hurricane season. It is the 11th named storm to make landfall in the continental U.S. in a single season, surpassing the nine storms of 1916.
Who should care for the forest? In Kenya, the question sparks violence.Despite having their home recognized by an international court, the Ogiek, an Indigenous, forest-dwelling people, still face evictions.
First LookYoung whales find dining haven in New York City watersCleaner waters and stricter environmental laws have contributed to an increase of juvenile humpbacks flocking to the waters around New York City. But the busy waterways also pose a hazard for the whales.
First Look3,000 years later, Tasmanian devils back on Australian mainlandThe feral marsupials of cartoon fame have returned to the Australian mainland after decades of conservation work. Researchers will continue to track their progress amid concerns over the impact of their reintroduction.
EU, US oil giants take diverging paths on climateSeveral European fossil fuel companies have pledged to go carbon neutral by 2050. Meanwhile, their U.S. counterparts are doubling down on oil and gas.
Can India's wild elephants find a haven in tea gardens?India’s tea gardens are often flashpoints for human-elephant conflict. But some farmers are showing that it doesn’t have to be that way.
First LookSeal populations have recovered, but not everyone is happySeal populations along New England's coast have rebounded from near-extinction due to federal protections. Some say their numbers have grown too large, raising larger questions about how much humans should do to shape the environment in their favor.
A weighty vote: Who will win Fat Bear Week?Katmai National Park’s soon-to-be-hibernating ursine residents are putting on weight, and their online fans are voting for their favorites.
During the coronavirus lockdown, some birds changed their tuneA study of white-crowned sparrows in San Francisco found that, as the city quieted, the birds began singing more softly and with a broader range.
Cover StoryThe Sudbury model: How one of the world’s major polluters went greenA Canadian mining town holds lessons after going from being the largest point source for sulfur dioxide to one of the country’s greenest communities.
First LookHow two freak weather events stoked Western firesA lightning storm and easterly winds fanned the flames that have engulfed the Pacific Northwest in recent weeks. The unpredictable events have renewed debate over what causes wildfires: climate change or lack of forest management.
Cutting emissions, exporting gas: Does Biden’s climate plan make sense?The proposed Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas project could help open Asian markets to U.S. energy. But critics say the climate costs are too high.
US election 2020: A closer look at climate change (audio)A Common Ground Committee podcast: A record-high 60% of Americans say climate change is a major threat. Here's an interview with two Monitor science reporters.
First LookHow debt swaps could help save the environmentDebt swaps could be an innovative approach toward solving environmental issues, especially for developing countries with rich biodiversity and high debt.
One solution to America’s dam-safety problem: Remove themLast year, dams were removed in 26 U.S. states, a new record in a growing movement aimed at improving public safety and restoring waterways.
