All Environment
First LookToxic water: US abandoned mines leak millions of gallons dailyOld sites mined for gold, silver, and lead for more than a century now leave behind a toxic legacy of flowing, untreated wastewater. The mining pollution, which will require billions of dollars to clean up, should be addressed on a systematic basis, experts say.
Green New Deal: Saving America or turning it socialist?What’s the best path to move the United States toward an emissions-free future? For most voters, the answer has as much to do with their economic worldview as their ideas about the environment.
Nearly 2 billion people depend on Himalayan glaciers. What if they melt?Climate change could drastically reduce glacier cover in the Hindu Kush Himalayas. What will that mean for the people who call the region home?
The orchid whisperers: Rare blooms find an urban perchCan planting endangered plants in urban settings help heal the disconnect between humans and nature? Conservationists in Miami are trying a fresh approach to both landscaping and saving native plants.
Outdoor gear with a side of politics: More retailers embrace activismCan an industry that has traditionally been focused on profit lead value-driven change? A cohort of outdoor brands are stepping into that realm, even going as far as endorsing political candidates.
Putting the sun in Sunshine State? Florida’s about-face on solar powerSolar power has long been a pet issue for progressives and environmentalists. But in Florida, utilities are starting to embrace the technology for economic reasons.
Climate’s pressure on energy firms isn’t just political, it’s financialPG&E’s bankruptcy filing has wider implications. Will CEOs’ and shareholders’ closer attention to the business risks of warming accelerate the move to low-carbon power?
First LookOcean mixing that drives climate discovered in surprise locationScientists have found that a section of the Atlantic Ocean previously considered an "engine" of the world’s climate is actually hundreds of miles in another direction. Understanding ocean circulation offers critical insights into its affects on droughts and the frequency of hurricanes.
FocusLife after coal: Miners wonder how they fit into a low-carbon future.As the needs of a changing planet butt up against local economies, tough questions are emerging about how to help the global population without creating overwhelming hardship for vulnerable individuals.
First LookIn China, missing pangolins show endangered species not protected by lawsEven though China has adopted laws against trade in many endangered species, enforcement and oversight are lax. An environmental nonprofit in Beijing has launched an investigation after 33 trafficked pangolins died in government captivity, and their bodies went missing.
First LookScientists to explore Indian Ocean's uncharted depthsAn unprecedented, three-year mission will explore the Indian Ocean, one of the world's final frontiers. The expedition will document changes taking place beneath the waves that could affect billions of people as the region begins to feel the effects of global warming.
Farmers have a beef with plant- or lab-grown ‘meat.’ Should you care?How we speak can say a lot about how we think – and it can influence how we spend. Consider a rancher-led battle over food labels, where ‘plant-based meat’ is either an oxymoron or cutting-edge Earth-friendly cuisine.
- Farmers have a beef with plant- or lab-grown ‘meat.’ Should you care?
How we speak can say a lot about how we think – and it can influence how we spend. Consider a rancher-led battle over food labels, where ‘plant-based meat’ is either an oxymoron or cutting-edge Earth-friendly cuisine.
First LookEPA prosecutions against polluters drop to 30-year lowIn 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency lost its controversial chief to scandal and reduced the number of agents tasked to investigate crime – leading the agency to prosecute the fewest number of criminal cases since former President Ronald Reagan.
Beneficial termites? How scientists grew to love a household pestCan learning more about a pest turn disgust into admiration? Termites have turned out to play a significant role in ecosystems, but most people wouldn’t know it.
FocusLawrence reborn: A polluted mill town reclaims its futureResidents of New England's former mill towns often feel left behind after manufacturers leave town. But in Lawrence, Mass., locals have refused to let abandoned buildings and polluted landscapes define their future.
FocusOne border crisis averted? How Juárez and El Paso became sister cities.As water scarcity fuels conflicts around the world, sister cities along the US-Mexican border have found mutual success by working together rather than turning against each other.
China gets tough on US recyclables. How one Maine town is fighting back.Sanford, Maine, cut its contamination rate from 15 to 20 percent to 0 to 3 percent in just a few weeks to avoid $100,000 in fees.
Millet anyone? Facing soil crisis, US farmers look beyond corn and soybeansFew Americans think much about where their food comes from, let alone the dirt it grows in. But in the US Midwest and Plains some farmers are looking to the soil to improve their crops and protect the environment.
How Buffalo resurrected its riverIt can be hard to find hope in sludge. But activist citizens in one of America’s most hard-luck cities never gave up on their polluted river – and now the cleaned-up water is one of Buffalo’s biggest attractions.
