Honoring Public Lands in the Trump Era
For National Public Lands Day, we're highlighting some of our favorite stories on the past, present, and future of public lands in America.
Environment
The Damage From Hurricane Florence Is Still Growing
An accounting of the ongoing damages, from failing dams to coal-ash ponds.
To Curb Carbon Emissions, Cities Need More Efficient Buildings
Buildings account for roughly 50 percent of a city's total carbon emissions, and 70 percent in major cities like London, Los Angeles, and Paris.
Waste From Central California's Oil Fields Is Spreading Underground, Threatening Water Supplies
In California's Central Valley, the oil industry has been dumping wastewater into unlined—and under-regulated—ponds, threatening the state's limited groundwater and the humans who rely on it.
How Communities Manage Hazards During Natural Disasters
The decisions made when managing a range of hazards are a key factor in a community's vulnerability during storms like Hurricane Florence.
Inside the Effort to Preserve Migratory Bird Habitat in Central California
Concerned citizens, scientists, and conservation groups have joined forces to protect what stopover spots remain for birds migrating from South America to the Arctic.
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.
The DOI Eliminates Safeguards on Methane Waste
Several non-profit groups have lambasted the new rule as a handout to the extractive industry.
The Movement for Urban Tree Expansion Is Growing
In Austin, Texas, and King County, Washington, private companies can now offset their carbon emissions by funding tree-planting in their local cityscape.
House Representatives From Michigan Introduce a Bill to Address PFAS Contamination
Congress will consider a bill requiring states to work with federal agencies to remove and remediate water contaminated with a dangerous chemical compound.
Won't You Be My Climate-Conscious Neighbor?
New research suggests social comparison can be an effective way to reduce energy consumption.
Hurricane Florence Has Already Flooded Pits of Toxic Waste in North Carolina
State agencies and environmental groups have recorded several breached or overflowing hog-waste pits and coal ash ponds—and the floodwaters are still rising.
Coal Ash Leaks Have Been Reported Along Florence's Path Through North Carolina
Concerns arose before Hurricane Florence made landfall about the piles of toxic waste from coal-burning power plants in the storm's path.
A New Study Reveals Global Drivers of Deforestation
Commodity-driven deforestation is most responsible, with farming and forestry also playing a major role in the global tree cover loss.
Viewfinder: The Aftermath of Typhoon Mangkhut in Hong Kong
People walk through a flooded shopping mall in the Heng Fa Chuen district during Super Typhoon Mangkhut in Hong Kong, China, on September 16th, 2018.
Who Gets the Credit for California's Climate Wins?
Inside the (mostly) friendly tug-of-war at the Global Climate Action Summit over who's greenest.
Can California Actually Achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2045?
Governor Jerry Brown has signed multiple pieces of legislation that codify California's ongoing transition away from relying on fossil fuels for energy.
North Carolina's Hog Waste Problem Has a Long History. Why Wasn't It Solved in Time for Hurricane Florence?
The hog industry is changing, but, as Hurricane Florence hits, history may be doomed to repeat itself.
The Hazards Beneath Us
A new book explores how, for decades, businesses of all sizes have been burying hazardous waste all over cities.
At the GCAS in San Francisco, the Youth Have a Voice—But Only One
An interview with Jamie Margolin, founder of Zero Hour and the youngest official speaker at this week's climate summit in San Francisco.
Trump Says the East Coast Is 'Absolutely Prepared' for Hurricane Florence. Is That True?
If recent federal disaster response is any indication, the president's boast is wildly misleading.
Uncovering the Ancient Roots of Domesticated Dogs
A new study lends insight into how domestication of our four-legged companions was steered by interactions with humans and their cultural practices.
The Exceptional State
What made California stand out and then stand up to a sitting president.
The Limits of Solidarity at the Global Climate Action Summit
Analyzing the tensions around this week's climate talks in San Francisco.