All Environment
Landmark Vermont ‘climate superfund’ law would make polluters pay for climate changeOn May 30, Vermont became the first state to enact a “climate superfund” law. The landmark legislation, which is likely to face legal challenges, would make fossil fuel companies pay for the effects of climate change.
First LookBeneath the surface: Leaky storage tanks pose unseen environmental threatsLeaking underground tanks threaten to contaminate groundwater relied upon by nearly half of Americans. Even a pinprick-size hole in an underground tank can send 400 gallons of fuel a year into the ground.
First LookIn Northeast Brazil, effort to reintroduce Spix’s macaws takes flightIn Brazil, a South African couple is working with local communities to reintroduce the highly endangered Spix’s macaw into nature. There are about 360 in captivity and few are in the wild.
First LookHow seven women heat chiefs are helping to offset effects of ‘global boiling’Some cities around the world are experiencing the warmest temperatures in 2,000 years. From Miami to Athens, local heat officers work to prepare urban environments for hot summers by planting trees and installing water fountains.
Cicadas are out in the trillions and citizen scientists are rejoicingThe emergence of two periodical cicada broods that haven’t overlapped since 1803 is inspiring some people to dive deeper into citizen science.
Points of ProgressCustomer service: China’s quick EV battery swaps, and sidewalk story time in PakistanProgress roundup: EV company in China makes battery swaps faster than charging. And in Pakistan, volunteers spread the joy of books in an outdoor story time.
First LookThe wind industry is floating an idea: Building turbines on the oceanAs the world searches for new sources of renewable energy, one option is making waves – or at least riding them. Floating turbines could capture powerful offshore winds and generate electricity for millions of homes, as long as they can stay upright.
First LookThe missing link: Energy panel opens the way for more renewables on the US gridThe U.S. power grid is facing a “make-or-break moment,” the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s chair said May 13. A new rule approved by the commission will make it easier to transmit renewable energy.
First LookWildfire season in Canada has begun, after drought-fueled record blazes in 2023Authorities are ordering people to evacuate as wildfires rage across British Columbia. In 2023, intense Canadian fires sent smoke drifting into cities across the northeastern United States.
First LookMichigan gets its first-ever tornado emergency as massive hail batters SoutheastTornadoes have touched down in a handful of states across the U.S. this week, including three in Michigan. Severe storms and massive hail have caused three deaths, dozens of injuries, extensive property damage, and left 135,000 without power.
Tesla news looks grim. But the bigger picture for EVs is a bright one.Headlines suggest the shift to electric vehicles is hitting roadblocks. Evidence points to an industry that’s continuing to grow and innovate.
First Look‘We’re living climate change now.’ Latin Americans bring climate worries to high court.Victims of climate change in Latin America are bringing their complaints to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The findings of the court could help shape better policy and laws, saving countless lives and bolstering infrastructure.
Points of ProgressStories of resilience: Bees make a comeback, and how immigrants lift economiesProgress roundup: Bee colonies are on the rise, Venezuelan migrants benefit their adopted countries, and an ancient irrigation system in Oman still works.
First LookSolar panels are spreading over Midwest farms – and edging out the cropsSolar energy companies are leasing thousands of acres of land from Midwestern farmers, which can hinder crop-growing or grazing livestock there. It’s a tradeoff between expanding renewables and giving up future yields.
First LookNew EPA rule sets deadline for coal fired-plants: Clean up or shut downThe Biden administration has taken its most aggressive action yet on cutting greenhouse gas emissions from the private sector. That includes a strict ultimatum for coal-fired power plants.
Are world’s 200 million pastoral herders a climate threat?A U.N. report suggests that pastoralism may be part of the global emissions problem. Some researchers see the climate math on herders differently.
First LookThink red-hot heat’s bad? Just wait until code magenta.A new warning tool created by the National Weather Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention aims to respond to the increasing dangers of severe heat. The system offers a seven-day forecast with risks from minimal to extreme.
Charting the rise of plastic pollution – and solutionsPlastic pollution is a focus of Earth Day and of global treaty talks. Our story and charts show the scale of the problem and possible paths toward solutions.
FocusHow global innovators design a sustainable futureProjects are sprouting up around the globe to build environmentally focused communities. These efforts aim to be practical and inviting, not idealistic.
Maasai women are told to stay home. These rangers fight poachers instead.In Kenya, an all-woman ranger unit is challenging stereotypes and helping protect both wild animals and the people who live beside them.
