All Environment
First LookClimate summit can yield 鈥榚normous progress鈥� says US envoyIn run-up to U.N. climate change talks, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry聽offers hope, while underscoring urgent need for nations to lower carbon emissions.
First LookWhy climate change makes fall foliage harder to spotA warmer climate can also brings聽invasive pests, the spread of new tree species, and diseases 鈥� all factors that could make for less vibrant fall colors in the U.S., scientists say. Fewer colorful leaves could also affect the economy of states that depend on fall tourism.
With South鈥檚 ecosystems at risk, a rally around the longleaf pineAn effort to save once-ubiquitous longleaf pines shows a shift toward valuing forest biodiversity in Louisiana and beyond.
First LookIvory-billed woodpecker falls silent, as 23 species go extinctThe U.S. government declared 23 species extinct Wednesday, including the ivory-billed woodpecker, ending searches for their existence.聽The factors behind the disappearances vary, but in each case, humans were the ultimate cause of their decline.
FocusRural New Mexicans meet drought with culture of water sharingIrrigation ditches called acequias have long supported communities in New Mexico where water is a scarce communal resource. Drought poses new challenges.
In Pictures: Inside the quest to save the northern white rhinoScientists in Kenya hope to bring the northern white rhinos back from the brink of extinction through in vitro fertilization and surrogate聽rhino mothers.
Carbon offsets are growing fast, but climate benefits remain murkyWhether for a company or a person, a zero-emission lifestyle is hard to achieve. That鈥檚 why a market for 鈥渙ffsets鈥� is surging 鈥� and controversial.
First LookFridges and air conditioners must get greener, EPA rulesTo combat climate change, the Environmental Protection Agency is limiting production and use of hydrofluorocarbons by 85% over the next 15 years. Often used in refrigerators and air conditioners,聽HFCs are thousands of times more powerful than carbon dioxide.聽
First LookChina, US present big climate goals to UN. Will it be enough?On Tuesday, China and the U.S. addressed the United Nations with news of each country鈥檚 climate goals. Xi Jinping committed to stop funding coal plants internationally, and Joe Biden plans to double climate aid for poorer nations to聽$11.4 billion聽by 2024.聽
In Pictures: Where elephants help make paperIn Sri Lanka, a papermaker who incorporates elephant dung into his products聽shows that even wild ideas can pay off.
First LookFight fire with fire? How it could save California's sequoias.Controlled burning to prevent the spread of wildfires is being put to the test in California. A signature grove of trees in California鈥檚 Sequoia National Park are under threat. Here鈥檚 how firefighters are trying to save them.
First LookGas fermentation turns carbon into 'upcycled' perfume, clothesThrough a process called 鈥済as fermentation,鈥� recycled carbon is being used to make everyday household products. The captured carbon replaces pollutant-heavy fossil fuels, creating 鈥済reen chemicals,鈥� 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鈥檚 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 鈥渃limate migrants.鈥�
First LookEco-conscious Glasgow looks to rivers and air to heat cold homesGlasgow, Scotland residents are attempting to embrace clean energy at home 鈥� 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聽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聽Florida鈥檚 groundwater. But grassroots conservationists are fighting back 鈥� and winning.
