All Environment
Cover StoryFlorida brought back its panthers. Can people live with them?The big cats鈥� revival in Florida is a conservation success story. But can they coexist with Florida鈥檚 booming population?聽
First Flint, then Jackson. Is America ready to fix its water supply?A water system failure in Jackson, Mississippi, is a sign of wider challenges 鈥� with what you could call the basic plumbing of society.聽
First LookPlanned fires reduced damage of Oregon wildfire, analysis showsYears of forest management have made Oregon鈥檚 massive Bootleg wildfire more manageable, an evaluation suggests. The findings point to the benefits of planned fires 鈥� allowing some naturally occurring fires to clear out plants that fuel wildfires, instead of putting them out.
First LookSeas are rising. Will California's 'managed retreat' ease fears?As rising seas encroach upon coastal communities in California, cities are preparing to buy up vulnerable property and encourage residents to move inland in a 鈥渕anaged retreat.鈥� It鈥檚 one of the state鈥檚 many initiatives to mitigate the effects of climate change.
First Look'Unprecedented' Europe floods fuel urgent calls to cut emissionsExtreme weather events, such as the deadly floods in Europe, are likely to be more common, scientists say, stressing the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions and make cities and infrastructure more resilient to climate change.
First LookA summer like fall: Major US wildfires torch Western forestsThe destructive Bootleg Fire in southern Oregon grew on Sunday to more than 476 square miles, an area about the size of Los Angeles.
First LookGOP group aims to educate fellow Republicans on climate changeNot all conservatives deny聽global warming is a serious threat. Through an ad campaign that targets Republican voters and a Conservative Climate Caucus, some lawmakers are using carefully crafted messages to change minds about the environment.
First LookMexico lifts boat ban. Will endangered porpoises survive?The Mexican government has lifted a boat ban in an area where endangered porpoises swim, switching to a 60-boat tolerance policy. Conservationists say the move leaves the marine mammals, of which about 10 remain, vulnerable to fishing nets.
FocusHow a river town relocated, with climate lessons for todayNow perched 400 feet higher than in 1993, the Illinois town of Valmeyer is a model of perseverance 鈥� but with cautionary lessons for our times.
First LookHow Audubon societies are grappling with a racist pastAudubon societies across the United States are reckoning with the racist views of their society鈥檚 name sake,聽John James Audubon. Many environmental groups are working to become more inclusive and improve diversity among their staffs.
First LookSecond bout of high temperatures triggers Western wildfiresAlthough scientists say wildfires brought by a climate change-fueled megadrought continue to rage across the U.S. West, there is hope that the worst is already over as fire agencies report new progress in controlling the flames.
First LookTrash talk: Are waste-to-energy plants a sustainable solution?An increase in residential garbage production over the past year is sparking debate about the merits of waste-to-energy plants. Some say burning trash carries environmental and health risks, while others consider it a viable alternative to landfill disposal.
First LookThe Great Salt Lake is drying. Here's why that matters.One of the largest natural lakes in the U.S. is set to hit a 170-year low this year, and drought will only make matters worse. As the Great Salt Lake shrivels, it's taking a toll on local wildlife, businesses, and air quality.聽
鈥楥reation care鈥�: How churches aim to save a warming planetIn Canada, a 鈥渨ild church鈥� movement聽symbolizes growing urgency around climate change. In the U.S., too, many faith communities embrace the issue.
Letter from a heat-parched West: How times and temps have changedBefore summer even officially started, new temperature records were baked into the books in places like Salt Lake City and Sacramento, California.
First LookPrescribed burns reduce wildfire risk but landowners remain waryAs wildfire season intensifies each year, prescribed burns, first introduced on the West Coast in the 1950s, are increasingly being recognized as a way to control forest undergrowth. Yet, the risks of harm and financial liability when a burn goes wrong slow adoption.
First LookNot so great: UNESCO adds Australia's reef to endangered sitesIn a controversial effort to bolster Australia鈥檚 climate change response, the聽U.N. World Heritage Committee intends to downgrade the Great Barrier Reef鈥檚 World Heritage status. Australia, while acknowledging climate change, said the claim is overblown.聽
First LookWetlands and hot sauce: Tabasco company stems erosion with grassMcIlhenny Co. brews Tabasco sauce on Avery Island, Louisiana. Sinking land has been a problem throughout southern Louisiana, but Avery Island is slowly rising, thanks to the grass-planting efforts of the company in order to protect its factory.
Climate conundrum: Tax on emissions is pragmatic but unpopularJoe Biden is seeking an unprecedented level of U.S. reductions in greenhouse gas emissions 鈥� yet shying away from one major tool for doing that.
First LookIf Jamaica wants more tourists, do more trees have to go?On the coast of Jamaica, developers are building a $550 million resort, which they say will create 3,500 jobs. They have also promised to replant the mangroves, seagrass, and coral they will displace 鈥� but critics worry it won鈥檛 be enough to preserve the local ecosystem.聽