A Clever New Map Shows Which Chicago Neighborhoods Are Most at Risk From Pollution
The NRDC hopes its new research into municipal pollution can help organizers push for sound, equitable policy.
Sophie Yeo
Sophie Yeo is an independent journalist covering climate change, the environment, and conservation. She has written for the Guardian, the Washington Post, Earther, Hakai, and others. She was formerly a staff writer for Carbon Brief.
How Communities in the U.K. Are Taking on Fracking
The Conservative British government has rallied behind fracking, but in Lancashire and beyond, locals are pushing back.
New U.N. Guidelines Will Help People Displaced by Climate Change
The agreement marks a rare moment of unity on an increasingly fraught topic.
Some Positive News on Climate Finance at COP24
There are concerns that the boost may be short-lived as populist governments shun climate aid.
Will the Juliana Climate Case Ever Go to Court?
Here's what you need to know about the young people suing the U.S. government over climate change.
A Legal Battle in the Coachella Valley Could Transform How California—and the Nation—Uses Water
Tribal control of groundwater could mean opportunities for economic development, while helping Native Americans deal with the pressures of climate change.
Why the Decline of Newspapers Is Bad for the Environment
New research suggests that corporations pollute more when there aren't local papers to hold them accountable.
For Communities of Color, Nearby Industry Leads to Pollution but Not Employment
Vulnerable communities of color living in the shadow of U.S. industry tend to suffer more than they gain.
How the Government Plans to Defend Itself Against the Young People Suing Over Climate Change
Reviewing the government's expert testimony, we can see what its strategy will be as the Juliana case comes to trial.
Why Some Home Prices Rebound Quickly After a Forest Fire
A ruined view following a wildfire affects property values, but only because it's a painful reminder of risk, economists find.
What's the Point of the IPCC's New Climate Report?
Even as some observers were struck by the dire forecast, many others say that this is nothing new—and that national leaders will ignore it anyway.
How a Coming Exodus From Flint Could Further Imperil the City's Infrastructure
According to a new study, wealthy and educated citizens could be the first to go.
Has Hurricane Florence Destroyed Records of America's Slave Trade?
Historical archives housed in universities, courthouses, and local libraries are at heightened risk from flooding and mold.
How Traditional Food Is Helping Communities in a Changing Arctic
As hunting grows hazardous, Arctic community centers provide meals of whale and seal.
Can Insurance Help Californians Recover From Natural Disasters?
SB30 has bipartisan support in the state, and also enjoys the backing of Southern California Edison and representatives from the insurance industry.
Colorado Climbers Race to Gather Data About Bats Before a Fungal Disease Hits the State
Biologists have little idea where many of Colorado's bats reside. Athletes are helping.
Hunting for Ghost Nets in the Great Lakes
Free-floating fishing nets can kill fish and sailors. On the Great Lakes, anglers and tribes are confronting the problem.
Peer Pressure Can Make Americans Eat Less Meat
Harnessing the brain's desire to conform to societal norms could be key to cutting meat consumption, researchers say.
Natural Burials Are Rising, and That's Good for the Planet
Natural burials offer a greener alternative to traditional cemeteries, but Big Funeral is fighting back.
Fixing Sexism at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
A sexist remark at a recent meeting prompted some soul-searching among the world's top climate scientists. How can they prevent women's expertise from being excluded?
Is It Safe to Eat Local Produce After a Wildfire?
New findings could help unravel the larger mystery of how pollution affects produce.
Chantal Bilodeau Brings Climate Change to the Theater
Through a cycle of eight plays, Canadian playwright Chantal Bilodeau explores the inner lives of the Arctic's inhabitants during a time of dramatic change.
Will Artificial Intelligence Make Citizen Scientists Obsolete?
Deep learning models are allowing us to identify flora and fauna automatically. But are there scientific tasks—tasks so intrinsically human—that they can't be done by a computer?
Zero Hour: Inside the Youth Climate March
A conversation with 16-year-old Jamie Margolin, who is leading the Zero Hour march.
Intensifying Heat Waves Bring Hidden Expenses—Especially for the Poor and Vulnerable
Some of the poorest people in the U.S. end up spending more than 50 percent of their income on energy over the course of the year.
EPA Found Culpable in Flint's Other Lead Crisis
The longest-running civil rights case against the EPA has just come to a bittersweet end.
Are the Feds Cherry-Picking Data to Force Pipelines Through Vulnerable Communities?
Critics say the Federal Energy Regulatory Agency has masked the high costs of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline to communities of color.
When Scientists Become Storytellers
A new edition of PLoS Biology is dedicated to narrative-driven, peer-reviewed papers, all in the hope of reaching a wider audience and spurring action.
Can Locals in Napa Stave Off a Troublesome Mega-Vineyard?
In California wine country, environmentalists and vintners have kept an uneasy peace. Corporate overreach and damage to the environment are fracturing it.
If Americans Keep Ignoring Flood Risk, We Could Face a Housing-Market Crash
On the coastlines of America, many home buyers are ignoring the new realities of storms and floods—and, in too many cases, the government isn't helping.
How to Protect Rare Books and Manuscripts From Climate Change
Almost all American archives are at risk from disasters or changing temperatures. Community history will probably be the first to go.
The Mysterious Long-Term Effects of Inhaling Smoke From Forest Fires
As wildfires burn longer and fiercer, doctors are trying to work out how today's smoke will affect tomorrow's health.
A Group of Young Colombians Just Beat Their Own Government in Court
A swift victory in the Colombian Supreme Court could pave the way for further legal action around the world.
Can Walden Pond Be Saved?
After Thoreau made the pond famous in 1854, an influx of tourists and fishermen have come to imperil the ecological outlook of the area.
Chicago's Mexican Immigrants Are Fighting Toxic Air Pollution—Again
In 2012, Little Village residents helped shut down a coal plant. Now, a redevelopment company plans to build a distribution center in its place, bringing more dirty trucks to the neighborhood.
How New Satellites Can Help Prevent Disaster Insurance Fraud
Satellite images could suddenly make it a lot riskier to perpetrate these crimes.
Can the Menominee Tribe in Wisconsin Block the Back Forty Mine?
With a Canadian company looking to mine gold, silver, and copper on ancestral lands, opponents worry about toxic water and the destruction of Menominee heritage.
Inside the Fight Over Pipelines in Louisiana's Atchafalaya Basin
Anti-pipeline activists find themselves in league with the swamp's Cajun crawfishers as they work to thwart projects by the same company that built the Dakota Access Pipeline.
As Climate Change Intensifies, Here Are the Most—and Least—Resilient Counties in America
A recent EPA survey takes into account extreme weather, but also social factors such as poverty, health, and governance.