All Environment
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.聽
Farmers have a beef with plant- or lab-grown 鈥榤eat.鈥� Should you care?How we speak can say a lot about how we think聽鈥嬧�撀燼nd it can influence how we spend. Consider a rancher-led battle over food labels, where 鈥榩lant-based meat鈥� is either an oxymoron or cutting-edge Earth-friendly cuisine.- Farmers have a beef with plant- or lab-grown 鈥榤eat.鈥� Should you care?How we speak can say a lot about how we think聽鈥嬧�撀燼nd it can influence how we spend. Consider a rancher-led battle over food labels, where 鈥榩lant-based meat鈥� 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 鈥� 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鈥檛 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.聽But in Lawrence, Mass., locals have refused to let abandoned buildings and polluted landscapes define their future.
FocusOne border crisis averted? How Ju谩rez 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鈥檚 most hard-luck cities never gave up on their polluted river 鈥� and now the cleaned-up water is one of Buffalo鈥檚 biggest attractions.
First LookWith government incentives, Norway sees electric car sales boomNorway's government offers big subsidies and perks to electric vehicle owners, including free use of bus lanes and waived sales taxes. It appears these incentives have largely succeeded 鈥� nearly 30 percent of all new cars in Norway are electric.
As UN climate summit winds down, signs of a path forward?Delegates at the UN climate talks are tasked with uniting some 200 nations behind a single set of rules.聽The process has been somewhat unwieldy. But it has also shone a light on the power of compromise.
Techno-charged street art brings climate change to lifeDiscussions around climate change are often mired in heated political rhetoric. In Miami, a team of artists aims to cut through the rancor with a series of augmented reality murals.
US presence at climate talks mirrors political rifts at homeUS withdrawal from its role as multilateral leader in global affairs is apparent at the COP24 climate summit. But local leaders and career officials are showing that there's more than one way to participate.
First LookOne man's quest to make up for years of high carbon emissionsWhen Dirk Gratzel realized his personal carbon emissions were more than twice the national average in Germany, he made dramatic lifestyle changes to curb them. From one-minute showers to cutting out most meat and dairy, he says the changes have made his life better.聽
A moral test at climate summit: What do rich nations owe poorer ones?The Paris climate agreement was forged in a spirit of unified commitment. Now world leaders must determine how to quantify the obligation to aid developing nations in an energy transition.
At COP24, climate consensus reigns. But what does that really mean?For some people, acceptance of climate change comes down to belief. But for the majority of the nations gathering for COP24, it is a matter of scientific consensus, the product of a cumulative and rigorous body of research.
Who owns the view? North Dakotans tangle over proposed wind project.Wind power is booming in North Dakota, even as industry growth cools in many states. But the mood here is shifting, as residents grapple with conflicting views of property rights.
Dissecting a hurricane: What makes a superstorm?For centuries, hurricanes have been viewed as chaotic forces of nature. Today, thanks to daring pilots and advancing technology, scientists and the public are gaining valuable insight into the making of a cyclone.
