All Environment
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.
Meet the women fighting air pollution in Delhi鈥檚 slumsIn India, female construction workers are especially vulnerable to air pollution. An initiative to equip these workers with tools to monitor and report air quality has offered agency, as well as meaningful change.
First LookOff the grid: Oregon plant aims to prove renewable energy can workA tiny town in Oregon is the site of a new type of energy farm that harvests wind and solar power and stores it in massive batteries. Experts say the innovative project could power a small city.聽
The ExplainerWhat is 鈥榙ead pool鈥� and what does it mean for Colorado River?On the Colorado River, Western states鈥� water usage has exceeded sustainable levels for some time. The path to balancing supply and demand has so far eluded stakeholders, but negotiations continue.
Charting a global drought 鈥� and the world鈥檚 quest to respondDrought has created stress on water supplies and agriculture in numerous parts of the world. This adds urgency to getting better at responding.聽
Points of ProgressA boost to wildlife in Bolivia and to child welfare in NigeriaProgress roundup: From Nigeria鈥檚 drop in child marriage to wildlife populating a dangerous Bolivian road; also notes from California, Nepal, Belgium.
Rise of the climate optimists, pushing back against gloomAgainst a backdrop of dark or doom-filled outlooks regarding climate change, a rising movement seeks to emphasize hope without sugarcoating the crisis.
First LookFirst public carbon database reveals US and Russia as top emittersThe world is getting its first publicly accessible carbon database, which will track 75% of the world鈥檚 total gas, oil, and coal production. Called the Global Registry of Fossil Fuels, analysis of its data could sway international climate talks.聽
First LookNew interactive atlas is a bird watcher's virtual paradiseThe Bird Migration Explorer mapping tool, a聽new online atlas of bird migration, tracks around 450 bird species in the Americas. The past 20 years have seen a renaissance in tracking technologies by using data from birdwatchers and scientific communities.
Behind a coal mine strike: Who cares for workers in a fading industry?Coal miners have been on strike for 18 months in Alabama. Their struggle points to the wider search for a 鈥渏ust transition鈥� for an industry squeezed by energy trends and the fight against climate change.