Pollution

The NRDC hopes its new research into municipal pollution can help organizers push for sound, equitable policy.

• By Sophie Yeo

A new study has cast doubt on the extent to which mesophotic reefs may be a refuge for shallower species hit by overfishing, warming waters, and extreme weather.

• By Emily Clark

North Carolina has acutely felt the downside of a massive, environmentally damaging pork production industry, but a better model may be emerging.

• By Brad Weiss

The contaminated beaches that researchers studied in the Mediterranean are crucial nesting sites for both green and loggerhead sea turtles.

• By Nora Ward

New research suggests that corporations pollute more when there aren't local papers to hold them accountable.

• By Sophie Yeo

The small city set a new national precedent in the fight against chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, which caused major danger to the atmosphere.

• By Linda Poon

The Our Ocean Conference generated 287 pledges in bilateral and multilateral agreements between governments, the private sector, civil society organizations, and philanthropic foundations that are valued at more than $10 billion.

• By Basten Gokkon

A new report estimates that remediating contaminated small water systems could cost up to $666 a year per person.

• By Emily Moon

I grew up drinking and bathing in the toxic waters around a military base in North Carolina. Thirty years later, I went back to investigate.

• By Lori Lou Freshwater

Natural burials offer a greener alternative to traditional cemeteries, but Big Funeral is fighting back.

• By Sophie Yeo

Blue-green algae has bloomed again in Lake Okeechobee, filling waterways with putrid sludge that can contaminate local water and marine animals.

• By Rebecca Renner

Vietnam either has to change the way it approaches shrimp farming or face the loss of hundreds of hectares of land.

• By Zoe Osborne

Seagulls search for food near a sewage discharge area next to piles of plastic bottles washed away by the water on the seaside of Ouzai, south of Beirut, on July 19th, 2018.

• By Pacific Standard Staff

Those living near factory farms have to contend with noxious odors, toxic emissions, and swarms of insects, and have had little success in obtaining relief—but that is changing.

• By Sacoby Wilson

The proposed mine would sit within Cenderawasih Bay National Park, while parts of it also overlap onto or border the Wondiwoi Mountains Nature Reserve—both protected areas.

• By Basten Gokkon

Because of Volkswagen's deceptive actions, 10.7 million defective vehicles were sold to customers around the world.

• By Ashley Hackett

Groups of volunteers clean up plastic waste on a beach in Lima, Peru, during World Environment Day on June 5th, 2018.

• By Pacific Standard Staff

Campaigns against single-use plastic waste are picking up steam.

• By Ashley Hackett

Instead of shaming disabled consumers who rely on straws, let's hold producers of plastic financially responsible for their waste.

• By David M. Perry

Europe announced it will seek to ban the use of certain common plastic items, including plastic cutlery, straws, plates, swabs, and fishing gear.

• By Pacific Standard Staff

Touching asbestos doesn't scare Pierrette Théroux, founder of the Asbestos Historical Society. As a child, she woke to dustings of asbestos, fallen overnight like snow.

• By Crystal Chan

As scientists sort out the best way to capture and measure the harmful microfibers that now litter most of the world's freshwater, we have no choice but to keep drinking.

• By Morgan Baskin

News and notes from Pacific Standard staff and contributors.

• By Pacific Standard Staff
• Member Exclusive

A federal judge in California blocked the city of Oakland's attempt to prevent the shipment of coal through a proposed cargo terminal.

• By Kate Wheeling