All Environment
Cover StoryThe Sudbury model: How one of the world鈥檚 major polluters went greenA Canadian mining town holds lessons after going from being the largest point source for sulfur dioxide to one of the country鈥檚 greenest communities.聽
First LookHow two freak weather events stoked Western firesA lightning storm and easterly winds fanned the flames that have engulfed the Pacific Northwest in recent weeks. The unpredictable events have renewed debate over what causes wildfires: climate change or lack of forest management.
Cutting emissions, exporting gas: Does Biden鈥檚 climate plan make sense?The proposed Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas project could help open Asian markets to U.S. energy. But critics say the climate costs are too high.
US election 2020: A closer look at climate change (audio)A Common Ground Committee podcast: A聽record-high 60% of Americans say climate change is a major threat. Here's an聽interview with two Monitor science reporters.
First LookHow debt swaps could help save the environmentDebt swaps could be an innovative approach toward solving environmental issues, especially for developing countries with rich biodiversity and high debt.
One solution to America鈥檚 dam-safety problem: Remove themLast year, dams were removed in 26 U.S. states, a new record in a growing movement aimed at improving public safety and restoring waterways.
First LookEPA to focus on clean-ups, economic growthThe EPA chief says that if President Trump is reelected, the agency will shift focus to community clean-ups and off of climate change. Critics argue the agency has abandoned its 鈥渃ore mission of protecting human health and the environment.鈥�
Deep-water fish farming in the Gulf of Mexico: Who benefits?If approved, the Velella Epsilon project could mark the United States鈥� grand entrance into the aquaculture club.聽
鈥榃e鈥檙e not dead yet鈥�: Big Basin redwoods scorched, but not lost.Ravaged by wildfire, Big Basin鈥檚 redwoods seemed doomed.聽But, most of the beloved sequoias aren鈥檛 actually dead, say scientists.
First LookNow a Category 1 storm, Laura blasts Gulf Coast for two daysHurricane Laura struck the coast of Louisiana and Texas as a Category 4 storm with 150 mph winds, rain, and sea level rise on Wednesday and Thursday. It was the seventh named storm to make landfall in the U.S. this year, breaking a century-old record of six.
California wildfires: Why this year is so intenseA combination of climate change, government complacency, and bad weather has made for a wildfire season in California like never before.
In India, an ancient grain is revived for the modern eraResistant to heat and drought, millets are making a comeback in India, along with a chance for marginalized farmers to take control of their lives.
What should wildfire prevention look like? Three experts urge action.As wildfires ravage California, three fire researchers say preventive action is the long-term challenge.
First Look'Nobody watching' as oil companies skip EPA rules in pandemicSince March, thousands of companies have been allowed to bypass regulations that protect the environment, such as聽monitoring for hazardous emissions. The clemency is supposed to end this month, but experts worry the harm is already done.
Cover StoryPower pivot: What happens in states where wind dethrones King Coal?In an age of global warming, coal consumption is dropping and renewable energy is rising. Nowhere is that trend more evident than in Wyoming.
First LookFirefighters stretched thin as dozens of California fires spreadCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency and ordered thousands to evacuate as firefighters scrambled to contain wildfires amid a heat wave and lightning.
First LookWhat a controversial oil and gas leasing plan means for AlaskansThe Trump administration approved an oil and gas leasing plan in聽Alaska鈥檚 Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.聽Environmentalists worry about the plan's impact on wildlife, but Gov. Mike Dunleavy聽called it "a milestone in Alaska's ... new energy frontier."
First LookWhy some oil companies oppose Trump's methane check rollbackThe Trump administration has authorized the rollback of an Obama-era rule designed to limit methane leaks, a change environmental advocates say is illegal. Small oil and gas operators support the move, but聽major companies who were聽already exceeding the rule's requirements oppose it.
In the Tongass, a tussle over Alaska鈥檚 identityA U.S. Forest Service rule limiting new roads is set to be lifted for Alaska鈥檚 Tongass National Forest. But few say it will bring back logging.聽
First LookDerecho damage: Rare storm leaves mass blackouts in MidwestClocking 100 mph winds, one of the most powerful derechoes in recent history injured several people and left a trail of destruction as it swept through multiple states. At least one mayor has declared a civil emergency.