All Environment
Ithaca, New York, set 鈥榯otally crazy鈥� climate goals. Here鈥檚 what happened next.Ithaca, New York, launched a Green New Deal five years ago. The city鈥檚 journey shows the promise and pitfalls of municipal action on climate change.聽
Points of ProgressThe pleasure of whale songs, and more playgrounds for allProgress roundup: More whale sounds in the Southern Ocean may indicate species recovery. Playgrounds designed for all ages spread the pleasure.聽
As wildfire season looms, these residents aren鈥檛 waiting for government helpAfter a record 2023 wildfire season, Canadian officials say they are better prepared to protect communities this year. Residents aren鈥檛 so sure.
How bird illustrators help science soarA popular science illustration fellowship for bird artists aims to highlight the benefits of deep observation in a digital age.聽
Hurricanes have been strengthening 鈥� like Beryl. Some scientists propose a Category 6.Hurricane Beryl's path heads near Jamaica after reaching Category 5 earlier than any storm on record. Does the hurricane scale need an overhaul?
Meet the coast鈥檚 living fossils. Horseshoe crab gets an image boost from artists.The horseshoe crab has been misunderstood by beachgoers for decades. Artists are part of a new preservation effort, helping people to see the prehistoric creature in a new light.聽
First LookWhat鈥檚 worse for the climate than planes? Last year, it was Canada鈥檚 wildfires.Researchers estimated that last year鈥檚 Canadian wildfires put 3.28 billion tons of heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the air, nearly four times the carbon emissions as airplanes.
First LookWhen the levees breached this week, it was landlocked Midwesterners who got floodedAfter days of heavy rains in the Midwest, damage from the floodwater is extensive. Levees breached along the Big Sioux River and the Little Sioux River have triggered evacuations across Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
First LookFlooding forces people from homes in parts of Iowa, while east coast heat wave holdsAfter weeks of rain, floodwaters forced people out of their homes in parts of Iowa. Meanwhile, roughly 100 million people around the United States are under heat warnings or advisories.
Hawaii reaches pathbreaking climate settlement with childrenYouth-led lawsuits over climate change are rising around the world. A case in Hawaii stands out, as the state agrees to a settlement with plaintiffs.聽
First LookExtreme heat threatens 2 million hajj pilgrims. Scientists warn it will only get worse.Temperatures over 124 degrees Fahrenheit have resulted in a death toll of at least 562 people so far during this year鈥檚 hajj pilgrimage.聽Climate scientists say extreme heat will only increase in severity with each coming year.
Points of ProgressFrom museums to monasteries, saving art amid climate changeProgress roundup: Museums use less air-conditioning, monasteries are being cared for by local conservators, and the 鈥淵osemite of South America鈥� is sold to conservationists.聽
This Namibian park has skyscraper-high dunes and a spectacular view of dawnA trusty guide in love with the smallest of beings draws attention away from the impossibly high mounds of sand in the Namib-Naukluft National Park.
Where the wildflowers grow ... in a Ukrainian war zoneWhen a Ukrainian dam blew up a year ago, floods destroyed homes and farmland across swathes of the south. But nature is reclaiming its rights.
First LookCopper manufacturers step up recycling game by tapping the 鈥榰rban mine鈥�Wire manufacturer Nexans is mixing increasing amounts of discarded copper into its products in an effort to meet the rising demand for the metal, which is expected to nearly double by 2035. The company鈥檚 copper rods now contain 14% recycled copper.
The ExplainerHow rising sea temperatures are affecting Earth鈥檚 climateOceans help keep temperatures on Earth balanced. Yet rising temperatures are affecting their ability to serve as a heat buffer.聽
A climate scientist questioned his findings. It didn鈥檛 go well.Despite a wide consensus about climate change, many people remain skeptical. Can climate scientists earn back the public鈥檚 trust?
First LookElectric vehicles are the key to a greener future. So why aren鈥檛 Americans buying in?As the EPA pushes for electric vehicles, a new AP-NORC poll reveals Americans鈥� hesitancy to ditch gasoline. Many Americans surveyed cite price as a deterrent for purchasing an EV, and others worry about a lack of charging infrastructure in rural areas.
Low-income areas lack trees, yet they often turn them down. Here鈥檚 why.Some residents in low-income areas distrust efforts to plant trees, based on past experiences. That鈥檚 changing as groups gather buy-in from locals.聽
First LookBetter preparedness is saving lives in climate disasters, new UN chief saysU.N. Assistant Secretary-General Kamal Kishore highlights the role of improved warning systems in averting deaths from tropical cyclones and floods. Challenges persist in keeping affected populations from falling into poverty as climate disasters rise.
