All Environment
Delhi dispatch: Through haze of smog and blame, signs of cooperationThe Monitor鈥檚 correspondent lands in Delhi just as a wave of severe air pollution envelopes the city. During limited trips out of his air-purified hotel room, he watches an annual blame game unfold 鈥� and an earnest search for solutions.
First LookCOP27: Here are the top agenda items for the climate conferenceThe 2022 UN Climate Change Conference, also referred to as COP27, is meeting in Egypt this month to discuss topics ranging from fossil fuels to damage compensation.聽Last year鈥檚 discussions will be reopened and goals will be reevaluated.
Where climate burdens fall heaviest: Nations with lightest emissionsWith effects of climate change being felt worldwide, demands from marginalized nations for fairness are rising at the COP27 global summit in Egypt.
First LookRenewal: New Mexico tribe deploys ancient practices against droughtIn a northern New Mexican town, drought is forcing changes to water and crop management. The local Indigenous community, which has inhabited the area for thousands of years, is taking a lead in introducing time-tested, nature-based approaches.
First LookConservation and cooperation: How the pirarucu returned to the AmazonA threatened giant fish species has returned to the lakes of the Medio Jurua in Brazil thanks to multifaceted cooperation. Such efforts have not been seen in the vast region before 鈥� and it鈥檚 a vision of what鈥檚 possible in future Amazon conservation efforts.
On climate change targets, can success be relative?Doubts are surfacing over the world鈥檚 ability to meet targets to limit global warming, prompting some experts to suggest a more nuanced approach.
Points of ProgressFueling up: Free school meals in US and geothermal power in KenyaProgress roundup: Governments fuel the dignity of people with wider labor protections, free lunch in more U.S. schools, and the lowering of poverty in China.
Cover StoryGeothermal 2.0: Why Cornell University put a 2-mile hole in the EarthTo solve humanity鈥檚 reliance on fossil fuels, solar and wind power isn鈥檛 enough. Some researchers and investors are looking down, not up.
First LookRussia, Ukraine among nations to set Antarctic marine protectionsDelegations from a coalition of powerful nations will meet in Australia this week to impose new protected areas in Antarctica to prevent overfishing. But some worry that the Russian delegation may use its veto power to halt further progress.
First LookCould the global energy crisis be a turning point for clean energy?Rising costs and irregular supply could be the impetus for a shift towards cleaner energy, the International Energy Agency finds. For the first time ever, global demand for every fossil fuel will exhibit a peak or plateau in the coming decades.
Points of ProgressBetter laws, less punishment, more freedom 鈥� from Cuba to OklahomaProgress roundup: Fewer Oklahomans are in prison, Cubans vote for same-sex marriage, and marine life gains protections in the Republic of Congo and Sri Lanka.
First LookBehind the colorful tropical fish trade loom perilous practicesThe trade of saltwater aquarium fish has been growing since the 1930s, but destructive fishing methods can harm both the fish and their ecosystems. Local education and training may provide a solution to keeping reefs in good health.聽
Points of ProgressFrom beach to desert, efforts that add upProgress roundup: New laws plus volunteers are cleaning up Australia鈥檚 beaches. And in the Western U.S., incarcerated people are helping save a habitat.
First Look'We're on our own': People with disabilities left out of climate plansWhen it comes to emergency and natural disaster planning, there is often inadequate preparation for people living with disabilities. As climate-related disasters become more common, advocates are urging for more inclusive evacuation procedures.
A street lit by rotten onions? An Indian market embraces biogas.A biogas plant at a vegetable market in India's Telangana state is showing that a little resourcefulness can go a long way in caring for the planet and its people.
Points of ProgressWhat鈥檚 positive about 鈥榸ero,鈥� and a shield that鈥檚 invisibleProgress roundup: Daunting goals that are being achieved include eliminating traffic deaths in Hoboken, New Jersey, and the healing of the ozone layer.
First LookNew Zealand proposes 'burp tax' to combat climate changePrime Minister Jacinda Ardern鈥檚 administration聽is proposing a tax on greenhouse gasses that originate from farm animals. Dairy is New Zealand鈥檚 largest export, and this tax would be the first of its kind. Farmers have been quick to condemn the proposal.
鈥楧o something small鈥�: One journalist sees solutions for world鈥檚 oceansA new podcast explores difficult ocean issues that are both above and below the waterline, from slavery to fishery depletion.聽
First LookAs Baltic pipeline leaks methane, scientists point to bigger problemData shows that the methane leak from a damaged pipeline in the Baltic Sea is one of the largest recorded to date. But scientists say that large gas leaks are common and are often downplayed by corporations and governments.聽
The ExplainerFlorida has invested in resilience. Hurricane Ian is a sobering test.Hurricane Ian, one of the strongest-ever hurricanes making landfall in the U.S., comes after an era of major coastal development. But Florida has also ramped up preparedness.