Environment
Cleaning up after the LA wildfires is dangerous. Here’s how to protect yourself
The ash and debris created during the burns could be loaded with dangerous materials. Experts suggest taking care.
Is the air quality index actually useful right now?
The air has improved in the LA region as firefighters get blazes under control, but there are questions about how safe the air actually is.
Development is taking a toll on Florida’s precious springs
The state has been slow to adopt rules to protect Florida's endangered springs. While a boom in residential construction has increased the amount of groundwater being taken from the aquifers.
Trump’s pick for EPA administrator is Lee Zeldin. Here’s what to know.
Democrats worry the Trump administration will roll back efforts to limit climate change.
Toyota’s commercial truck company will pay $1.6 billion for faking emissions tests
Hino Motors will plead guilty to submitting false emissions data to regulators for more than 100,000 heavy-duty trucks. The company will pay an array of fines, and fix some affected vehicles for free.
Invasive green crabs threaten West Coast ecosystems. One solution? Otters
As invasive green crabs wreak havoc on California's estuaries, a new study has found that a restored sea otter population might be the solution.
Weird weather isn’t always because of climate change — but sometimes it is
Sometimes, weather is just weather. And other times human-caused climate change had an obvious impact.
How one U.S. conservationist’s work is helping to preserve Chile’s wilderness
Chile is set to gain its 47th national park early this year — largely due to the efforts of U.S. conservationist Kristine Tompkins and her organization.
People are rushing to install solar panels before Trump becomes President
Potential rooftop solar customers and installers worry the incoming Trump administration might try to eliminate a 30% federal tax credit. Some customers plan to install sooner because of that and solar companies are changing their business plans.
2024 was the hottest year on record. The reason remains a science mystery
The official numbers are in: 2024 is the hottest year on record. Climate change is the main culprit. But there might be something else going on, too.
What is the flame retardant that planes are dropping on the LA fires?
As fire crews and air tankers work to block the wildfires' explosive growth, images of red clouds of fire retardant falling onto trees are common. What is it — and what's in it?
A major winter storm will bring snow to the South. Here are tips from winter experts
Southern states don't often deal with winter conditions, but New England does. New Hampshire especially has tips for how to prepare for a winter storm.
Biden bans new offshore oil and gas drilling in most federal waters
President Joe Biden is moving to ban new offshore oil and gas drilling in most U.S. coastal waters, an effort to block possible action by the incoming Trump administration to expand offshore drilling.
Jimmy Carter’s environmental legacy set the foundation for today’s climate action
Former President Jimmy Carter's work on energy efficiency and renewable energy were criticized, but it laid the groundwork for the country to address climate change now.
New year, new pygmy hippo: A naming poll for this Virginia zoo baby is underway
Moo Deng and Haggis are joined by another slick, round supreme on the scene. Fans of the new baby can cast their vote to name her until New Year's Eve, with the winning name announced the next day.
Snowboarder’s death in Swiss Alps avalanche is a reminder that even pros face risk
The death of an Olympic snowboarding athlete is a reminder that even the most skilled and experienced athletes are not immune to the threat of avalanches, and that knowledge is key to staying safe.
2024 will be the hottest year on record, even hotter than expected
It's looking like 2024 will be the hottest year since record-keeping began, unseating 2023 for the top spot. Climate change is playing a role, and scientists say it was even hotter than expected.
‘We are not California’: New Jersey dealers push back on electric truck rules
Vehicle dealers are pushing back on rules that would increase the number of electric trucks sold in New Jersey. It could be a preview of a brewing fight over state rules about cars.
Watch: A satellite time-lapse shows the world’s biggest iceberg is on the move again
About the size of Rhode Island, the iceberg known as A23a got stuck in an ocean vortex this summer, spinning in place for months. Now, it's free, and heading back into open Antarctic waters.
Federal regulators say an Alabama coal mine’s plans may violate law, leaving citizens at risk
A “ten-day notice” issued to Alabama officials aims to mitigate risks to citizens living above Oak Grove Mine. It comes after months of state inaction and community outrage.
Energy chief Granholm warns against ‘unfettered exports’ of liquefied natural gas
Granholm's statement came as the Energy Department released a long-awaited study that found U.S. LNG shipments drive up domestic wholesale prices and frequently displace renewable energy sources.
Monarch butterflies will get federal protections as a threatened species
U.S. officials decided to extend protections to monarch butterflies after warnings from environmentalists that populations are shrinking and the beloved pollinator may not survive climate change.
Arctic tundra now emits planet-warming pollution, federal report finds
Arctic tundra is releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere as hotter temperatures melt frozen ground and wildfires increase.
Young people are dying of heat and their risks could grow, study finds
Scientists have pointed out that extreme heat is particularly dangerous for older people. A new study shows that young, healthy people are also dying too often in extreme weather.
Negotiators fail to reach an agreement on a plastic pollution treaty. Talks to resume next year
The negotiations in Busan, South Korea, were supposed to be the fifth and final round to produce the first legally binding treaty on plastics pollution, including in the oceans, by the end of 2024.
A landmark climate change case will open at the top U.N. court
The hearings come after years of lobbying by island nations who fear they could simply disappear under rising sea waters,
Reporter Journal: A sunrise trek through wild solitude in New York City
New York City is home to more than eight million people but NPR's Brian Mann mapped out an urban hike through solitude and parkland wildness.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, which is more sustainable: real or plasticky?
It's time to discuss one of the perennial debates of the holiday season. Are real Christmas trees or their fake counterparts more eco-friendly?
Disappointed by this year’s climate talks, Indigenous advocates look to Brazil in 2025
Indigenous advocates called the final agreement in Azerbaijan "drastically insufficient." Now they're focusing on next year's global climate summit in Brazil where Indigenous participation is expected to be historic.
Plastic waste is everywhere. Countries have one more chance to agree on a solution
Negotiations over a U.N. treaty to cut plastics have been bogged down. Environmental groups blame the oil and gas industry.
New Zealanders help save about 30 whales after a pod strands on a beach
New Zealand is a whale stranding hotspot. It's often not clear why they happen but the island nation's geography is believed to be a factor.
With talks teetering, climate negotiators struck a controversial $300 billion deal
Representatives of developing countries and climate activists were furious over the outcome, saying $300 billion annually from industrialized countries is far short of what vulnerable nations need to better protect themselves from climate change.
