All Environment
First LookEPA to focus on clean-ups, economic growthThe EPA chief says that if President Trump is reelected, the agency will shift focus to community clean-ups and off of climate change. Critics argue the agency has abandoned its “core mission of protecting human health and the environment.”
Deep-water fish farming in the Gulf of Mexico: Who benefits?If approved, the Velella Epsilon project could mark the United States’ grand entrance into the aquaculture club.
‘We’re not dead yet’: Big Basin redwoods scorched, but not lost.Ravaged by wildfire, Big Basin’s redwoods seemed doomed. But, most of the beloved sequoias aren’t actually dead, say scientists.
First LookNow a Category 1 storm, Laura blasts Gulf Coast for two daysHurricane Laura struck the coast of Louisiana and Texas as a Category 4 storm with 150 mph winds, rain, and sea level rise on Wednesday and Thursday. It was the seventh named storm to make landfall in the U.S. this year, breaking a century-old record of six.
California wildfires: Why this year is so intenseA combination of climate change, government complacency, and bad weather has made for a wildfire season in California like never before.
In India, an ancient grain is revived for the modern eraResistant to heat and drought, millets are making a comeback in India, along with a chance for marginalized farmers to take control of their lives.
What should wildfire prevention look like? Three experts urge action.As wildfires ravage California, three fire researchers say preventive action is the long-term challenge.
First Look'Nobody watching' as oil companies skip EPA rules in pandemicSince March, thousands of companies have been allowed to bypass regulations that protect the environment, such as monitoring for hazardous emissions. The clemency is supposed to end this month, but experts worry the harm is already done.
Cover StoryPower pivot: What happens in states where wind dethrones King Coal?In an age of global warming, coal consumption is dropping and renewable energy is rising. Nowhere is that trend more evident than in Wyoming.
First LookFirefighters stretched thin as dozens of California fires spreadCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency and ordered thousands to evacuate as firefighters scrambled to contain wildfires amid a heat wave and lightning.
First LookWhat a controversial oil and gas leasing plan means for AlaskansThe Trump administration approved an oil and gas leasing plan in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Environmentalists worry about the plan's impact on wildlife, but Gov. Mike Dunleavy called it "a milestone in Alaska's ... new energy frontier."
First LookWhy some oil companies oppose Trump's methane check rollbackThe Trump administration has authorized the rollback of an Obama-era rule designed to limit methane leaks, a change environmental advocates say is illegal. Small oil and gas operators support the move, but major companies who were already exceeding the rule's requirements oppose it.
In the Tongass, a tussle over Alaska’s identityA U.S. Forest Service rule limiting new roads is set to be lifted for Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. But few say it will bring back logging.
First LookDerecho damage: Rare storm leaves mass blackouts in MidwestClocking 100 mph winds, one of the most powerful derechoes in recent history injured several people and left a trail of destruction as it swept through multiple states. At least one mayor has declared a civil emergency.
First LookIsaias, Bertha, who's next? 2020 hurricane forecast revised.The 2020 hurricane season could be one of the more active seasons on record with twice as much storm activity as a normal year, forecasters say. The NOAA increased the chance of an above average hurricane season from 60% to 85%.
The ExplainerTrump’s environmental rollbacks: A four-year tide of regulatory changeFrom climate change to endangered species, our timeline and charts chronicle sweeping changes under President Trump that could have lasting effects.
Can roadsides offer a beeline for pollinators?A national network of highway departments and conservation groups are working to set aside the land on the sides of highways to protect pollinators.
Is recycling broken? Don’t toss it out yet, say insiders.The coronavirus pandemic and China’s 2018 ban on U.S. paper and plastic waste have dealt blows to the recycling industry. But recycling remains popular.
First LookTo cut emissions, could you give up living in a large house?A new study reports that U.S. homeowners' emissions vary between states, income brackets, and house sizes. For a greener future, buyers should get more compact houses in denser neighborhoods, researchers say.
How COVID-19 changed the climate conversationGovernments could meet their climate commitments by spending post-coronavirus recovery budgets on green, low-CO2 economic projects. Will they?
