All Environment
The orchid whisperers: Rare blooms find an urban perchCan planting endangered plants in urban settings help heal the disconnect between humans and nature? Conservationists in Miami are trying a fresh approach to both landscaping and saving native plants.
Outdoor gear with a side of politics: More retailers embrace activismCan an industry that has traditionally been focused on profit lead value-driven change? A cohort of outdoor brands are stepping into that realm, even going as far as endorsing political candidates.
Putting the sun in Sunshine State? Florida鈥檚 about-face on solar powerSolar power has long been a pet issue for progressives and environmentalists. But in Florida, utilities are starting to embrace the technology for economic reasons.
Climate鈥檚 pressure on energy firms isn鈥檛 just political, it鈥檚 financialPG&E鈥檚 bankruptcy filing has wider implications. Will CEOs鈥� and shareholders鈥� closer attention to the business risks of warming accelerate the move to low-carbon power?
First LookOcean mixing that drives climate discovered in surprise locationScientists have found that a section of the Atlantic Ocean previously considered an "engine" of the world鈥檚 climate is actually hundreds of miles in another direction. Understanding ocean circulation offers critical insights into its affects on droughts and the frequency of hurricanes.
FocusLife after coal: Miners wonder how they fit into a low-carbon future.As the needs of a changing planet butt up against local economies, tough questions are emerging about how to help the global population without creating overwhelming hardship for vulnerable individuals.
First LookIn China, missing pangolins show endangered species not protected by lawsEven though China has adopted laws against trade in many endangered species, enforcement and oversight are lax. An environmental nonprofit in Beijing has launched an investigation after 33 trafficked pangolins died in government captivity, and their bodies went missing.
First LookScientists to explore Indian Ocean's uncharted depthsAn unprecedented, three-year mission will explore the Indian Ocean, one of the world's final frontiers. The expedition will document changes taking place beneath the waves that could affect billions of people as the region begins to feel the effects of global warming.聽
Farmers have a beef with plant- or lab-grown 鈥榤eat.鈥� Should you care?How we speak can say a lot about how we think聽鈥嬧�撀燼nd it can influence how we spend. Consider a rancher-led battle over food labels, where 鈥榩lant-based meat鈥� is either an oxymoron or cutting-edge Earth-friendly cuisine.- Farmers have a beef with plant- or lab-grown 鈥榤eat.鈥� Should you care?How we speak can say a lot about how we think聽鈥嬧�撀燼nd it can influence how we spend. Consider a rancher-led battle over food labels, where 鈥榩lant-based meat鈥� is either an oxymoron or cutting-edge Earth-friendly cuisine.
First LookEPA prosecutions against polluters drop to 30-year lowIn 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency lost its controversial chief to scandal and reduced the number of agents tasked to investigate crime 鈥� leading the agency to prosecute the fewest number of criminal cases since former President Ronald Reagan.
Beneficial termites? How scientists grew to love a household pestCan learning more about a pest turn disgust into admiration? Termites have turned out to play a significant role in ecosystems, but most people wouldn鈥檛 know it.
FocusLawrence reborn: A polluted mill town reclaims its futureResidents of New England's former mill towns often feel left behind after manufacturers leave town.聽But in Lawrence, Mass., locals have refused to let abandoned buildings and polluted landscapes define their future.
FocusOne border crisis averted? How Ju谩rez and El Paso became sister cities.As water scarcity fuels conflicts around the world, sister cities along the US-Mexican border have found mutual success by working together rather than turning against each other.
China gets tough on US recyclables. How one Maine town is fighting back.Sanford, Maine, cut its contamination rate from 15 to 20 percent to 0 to 3 percent in just a few weeks to avoid $100,000 in fees.
Millet anyone? Facing soil crisis, US farmers look beyond corn and soybeansFew Americans think much about where their food comes from, let alone the dirt it grows in. But in the US Midwest and Plains some farmers are looking to the soil to improve their crops and protect the environment.
How Buffalo resurrected its riverIt can be hard to find hope in sludge. But activist citizens in one of America鈥檚 most hard-luck cities never gave up on their polluted river 鈥� and now the cleaned-up water is one of Buffalo鈥檚 biggest attractions.
First LookWith government incentives, Norway sees electric car sales boomNorway's government offers big subsidies and perks to electric vehicle owners, including free use of bus lanes and waived sales taxes. It appears these incentives have largely succeeded 鈥� nearly 30 percent of all new cars in Norway are electric.
As UN climate summit winds down, signs of a path forward?Delegates at the UN climate talks are tasked with uniting some 200 nations behind a single set of rules.聽The process has been somewhat unwieldy. But it has also shone a light on the power of compromise.
Techno-charged street art brings climate change to lifeDiscussions around climate change are often mired in heated political rhetoric. In Miami, a team of artists aims to cut through the rancor with a series of augmented reality murals.