Environment
How social media is influencing our interactions with public lands
Getting the perfect online photo is drawing more people into nature. Land managers are trying to mitigate risks and damage to wild places.
Will Washington voters buy into Inslee’s vision on climate policy?
Voters are set to weigh in on the governor’s “proudest accomplishment.” The state’s cap-and-trade law that some say is key to the third-term Democrat’s legacy is on the ballot this fall.
More states ban PFAS, or forever chemicals, in more products
In total this year, at least 16 states adopted 22 PFAS-related measures.
Nuclear power could solve US electricity needs. But at what cost?
State lawmakers are increasingly eyeing nuclear power to boost clean energy. But as Three Mile Island and a Michigan reactor aim to restart, critics question whether the cost makes sense.
Want your community to be climate resilient? Put someone in charge.
COMMENTARY | As billions of federal climate dollars flood state and local coffers, governments need people in place who have the authority to coordinate, fund and carry out a plan to build resilience.
California AG says ExxonMobil misled public on plastic recycling
Attorney General Rob Bonta says the oil giant promoted recycling as a way to bolster its sales of the environmentally fraught products, even though only about 5% of all plastic is actually recycled.
Why people aren’t buying heat pumps—and what states can do about it
COMMENTARY | New research from the coldest part of the country finds we need to tell people what heat pumps are before telling them why they should buy them.
As deadly bird collisions with buildings mount, cities look for solutions
Big buildings with glass facades are becoming notorious for deadly crashes, claiming a billion birds a year. Some want to do something about it.
Trees aren't just pretty to look at. They're also good for yew.
More U.S. cities are planting trees as a way to improve public health and reduce climate threats. New data shows they might be on the right track.
In an era of dam removal, California is building more
Project boosters claim the dams will be the most environmentally focused dams in California’s history, with water earmarked for environmental purposes and minimum flow requirements for the Sacramento River.
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States take a more measured approach to ESG mandates
There's great recognition—on both sides of the issue—that strict pro- and anti-environmental, social and governance investing strategies can lead to unintended costs and administrative challenges.
This city in the West made itself drought-proof. Then its dam started leaking.
Albuquerque, New Mexico, and cities across the West rely on fragile water sources—and aging infrastructure.
The secret to decarbonizing buildings might be right beneath your feet
It's already happening in Massachusetts.
Is it time to break up with fireworks?
Fourth of July celebrations have long featured flashy pyrotechnics. But more environmentally friendly spectacles could take their place.
The federal government just acknowledged the harm its dams have caused tribes. Here’s what it left out.
The Biden administration said officials historically gave “little, if any, consideration” to impacts on tribal fishing. But some sought deliberately to upend the harvest, according to documents obtained by ProPublica and Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Lead water pipes created a health disaster in Flint, but their replacements carry hidden costs
COMMENTARY | Durability and the risk of chemicals being released when pipes heat up are just some of the concerns about plastic pipes.
How AI can help and hurt the environment
Artificial intelligence could put a greater strain on electricity, water and other resources already under pressure from data centers. But the technology also presents opportunities to address environmental challenges.
New York governor blocks downtown tolling plan at the last minute
Citing economic hardships, Gov. Kathy Hochul put an indefinite hold on the congestion pricing plan for Lower Manhattan, upending a decade of planning to reduce traffic and air pollution.
Support for rooftop solar outpaces other energy infrastructure
A new survey assessed support of local government officials in Michigan for solar, wind and nuclear energy infrastructure and power transmission.
Colorado takes a new—and likely more effective—approach to the housing crisis
COMMENTARY | Colorado’s transit-oriented housing has gained support among developers, city planners and environmental advocates.
