All Environment
First LookSaudi Arabia joins pledge for net-zero carbon emissions by 2060Fossil-fuel producer Saudi Arabia joins Russia and China with a stated net-zero carbon emissions target of 2060. The U.S. and聽 European Union are aiming for 2050.
First LookUS school districts convert to electric buses for cleaner airFrom Los Angeles to Miami, school districts throughout the United States are joining a small but growing movement to switch from diesel to electric buses. The motivations run from cheaper operation costs to wanting kids to breathe cleaner air.聽
In New Mexico, a wildlife refuge with urban rootsThis wildlife refuge could become a model for its focus not just on habitat but on serving the residents of its urban locale.
First LookAs Glasgow summit nears, fossil fuel production still risingA climate change report published by the U.N. Environment Program, released Wednesday, shows that most major oil and gas producers plan to increase production into 2030. But to keep global warming at bay, the study says, production needs to be halved.
Solar panels make money in rural America. They don鈥檛 always make friends.The rise of renewable energy promises economic gains for rural America. But that doesn鈥檛 mean everyone welcomes the shift.聽
California oil spill: Improved odds for animals caught in crudeFaster response times and dedicated resources are improving the odds for wildlife caught up in environmental disasters.
First LookWater rights: Environmental groups fight to save Great Salt LakeUtah鈥檚 Great Salt Lake plays a crucial ecological role in the region but is currently facing its lowest level of water since 1847. Environmentalists have achieved some success securing water rights for the lake and are pushing for more to safeguard its future.聽
Cover StoryUntaming a river: The stakes behind America鈥檚 largest dam removalIt鈥檚 America鈥檚 biggest dam removal project. But can farmers, Native Americans, and salmon all walk 鈥� or swim 鈥� away happy?
The Northwest Passage is thawing. Will US, Canada sail its waters together?With the Arctic melting, the U.S. and Canada are trying a cooperative approach to tapping the region鈥檚 thawing resources and trade routes.
Cover StoryOne Western town鈥檚 solution to wildfires? Community.As wildfires haunt the American West, officials in Ashland, Oregon, have developed a bipartisan, community-led approach to forest management.
First LookHow cities are preparing subways for the next big stormFollowing Hurricane Ida, New York City had to pump 75 million gallons of water out of its flooded subway system. As weather events are becoming more extreme, transit officials in cities around the world are saying more preparation is needed.聽
First LookCan Gov. Newsom wean California off oil drilling after spill?California鈥檚 recent oil spill off Huntington Beach has led to a renewal of calls to ban offshore drilling. But the transition away from oil production won鈥檛 be easy for an industry that employs more than 150,000 people and generates significant revenue.
Solar energy is a new cash crop for farmers 鈥� when the price is rightThe transition toward renewable energy is creating a new kind of demand for rural land. Small farmers see a win for the planet and their own security.
First LookShould the EU ban fossil fuel ads? Climate groups say yes.On Monday, more than 20 environmental and climate groups joined together in a call for the EU to ban fossil fuel advertising. 鈥淚 grew up reading signs about how cigarettes kill you, but never saw similar warnings in petrol stations or fuel tanks,鈥澛� says an activist.
First LookLeak stopped, but major oil spill closes Southern California beachesOne of the largest oil spills in recent Southern California history fouled Huntington Beach and other popular beaches. The leak came from an offshore pipeline.
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.