All Environment
First LookWith European Union's ratification, Paris climate deal to enter into forceOnce the EU submits the paperwork on Wednesday, the historic global climate accords will enter into force in 30 days.- First LookBotswana's change of heart scuttles bid to revive ivory tradeBotswana, which has the world's largest elephant population and had previously supported limited trade in ivory, now seeks to provide elephants with the highest levels of protection.
How the Endangered Species Act sets species on paths to recoveryPlans set in motion decades ago to save US species are seeing results, with more delistings from the 1973 Endangered Species Act under the Obama administration than under all previous administrations since the act's inauguration.聽
First LookExtremely rare tree frog died in Atlanta, likely marking species' extinctionThe last known living Rabbs' fringe-limbed tree frog was found dead聽in its enclosure聽at the Atlanta Botanical Garden last week, probably marking the end of the species.
First LookWith India's seal of approval, climate change deal on the brink of becoming bindingIndia ratified the Paris Agreement on Climate Change at the United Nations on Sunday, the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's birth. India accounts for about 4.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Hawaii's bees join endangered species list, but hope remainsSeveral types of yellow-faced bees native to Hawaii were classified as 'endangered,' a move many hope will protect the pollinators who play a crucial role in the local ecosystem.聽
First US bees put on Endangered Species listThe US Fish and Wildlife Service聽added seven yellow-faced聽bee聽species, native to Hawaii, on the Endangered Species List.聽
First LookUS wildlife officials have failed the world's last red wolves, judge rulesA shrinking population of red wolves in North Carolina warrant USFWS protection, argue environmentalists, with the number of individuals declining from 100 to just 45 in the past two years.
First LookEU Paris ratification: world leaders' response to the US elections?The European Union agreed to a fast-track deal for the Paris climate accord on Friday. The deal, which pushes the agreement above the ratification threshold, means the commitments will enter into law before the next US president is elected.
Is Saudi Arabia serious about bringing back high oil prices?Saudi Arabia appears to be backing off its policy of letting low oil prices burn off a global glut. But its real motives still aren't clear.聽
Dam reservoirs linked to methane emissions: How dirty is 'clean' hydropower?Artificial reservoirs created by dams may emit 1.3 percent of global emissions in the form of methane, says a new study. How will that affect hydropower-dependent nations?
First LookTrade ban: Shy and elusive pangolin finally gets protectionUN wildlife officials have voted to ban trade in all eight species of Asian pangolins. The creature is prized for its meat and scales, which are used for medicinal purposes.聽
First LookWhy do endangered whales keep getting entangled off New England?The right whale's numbers have been particularly affected by fishing gear, according to an August study.
First LookAre baby lobsters cooked? Rising temperatures threaten Maine's iconRising ocean temperatures prove difficult for baby lobsters to reach maturity, scientists say. How soon could New England's lobster industry be effected?
New US endangered species listing rules: A better path to conservation?US Fish and Wildlife officials say the new rule could streamline the process for listing endangered species. But can it find common ground between public land businesses and conservationists?
The Americans are coming! US shale gas finds a new market in BritainThe first shipment of US shale gas has arrived in Scotland. Meanwhile, there's opposition to fracking within Britain. How is this apparent contradiction being addressed?
What's making all those fish off Florida's coast die?The proliferation of harmful algae blooms typically cause damage either directly by releasing toxins into the water and air or indirectly by throwing off the balance of the ecosystem through oxygen depletion.
First LookWhy the US will probably fall short of its Paris Agreement emissions targetWith the landmark climate agreement nearing ratification, scientists are investigating how likely nations are to fulfill their pledges. One study suggests the United States, for one, may have been overly optimistic.
Pollinators need a cultural ambassador. Are butterflies up for the assignment?Some conservationists hope to use the monarch butterfly's signature charisma to rally public support for bees and other less-loved pollinators.
Ivory on wings: Poachers threaten Southeast Asia's 'laughing' birdThe helmeted hornbill is sought for a reddish protrusion on its beak that is similar to ivory. As elephant populations have dwindled, poachers have increasingly turned to the peculiar bird.
