Australia is approving coal mine expansions because of their “very small” impact on global heating. It doesn’t stack up.
Narrow-leaved kalmia is an invasive plant typical of boreal ecosystems. Its proliferation can hinder the reforestation of areas subject to disturbances.
(Jacques Ibarzabal/iNaturalist)
Jérôme Alsarraf, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC); Andre Pichette, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC) e Jean Legault, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC)
Boreal plants produce molecules that are valued by traditional medicines and inspire the development of medicinal products by contemporary chemists.
The case hinged on Montana’s ‘green amendment,’ which guarantees a constitutional right to ‘a clean and healthful environment.’ Other states have similar amendments, and more are considering them.
A view of the devastation in Lahaina, Hawaii, following the wildfires in August 2023.
AP Photo/Rick Bowmer
The region of Maui has been revered by its Indigenous peoples as a sacred place for generations. It is believed to be the home of Kihawahine, a woman who transformed into a goddess.
Paul Hardisty, Australian Institute of Marine Science e Line K Bay, Australian Institute of Marine Science
We used to focus just on protection of vital ecosystems like the reef. But as climate change and other threats accelerate, we need to actively help nature get ready for the heat.
Thick smoke rolling in from Canada’s 2023 wildfires was a wakeup call for several cities.
Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images
Air quality forecasting is getting better, thanks in part to AI. That’s good, given the health impact of air pollution. An environmental engineer explains how systems warn of incoming smog or smoke.
It may soon be possible to reduce cyclone formation and intensity by spraying particles into the atmosphere above a forming storm. But the technology opens up a can of worms
Climate change is ramping up, and with it, so is the rhetoric for action. It’s a fine line to walk between sounding the alarm and being accused of alarmism.
Sydney’s 14 wastewater treatment plants could be modified to also accept food waste, research shows. The ‘anaerobic digestion’ process would produce energy as well as nutrients for reuse.
Cleanup after the Ahr River floods in July 2021.
Sascha Steinback/EPA
Climate change is going to bring social change. Will it drive ever-faster efforts to stave off the worst – or trigger social upheavals making it harder for us to respond?
You might see the heartbreaking videos of stranded whales and dolphins and wonder why we can’t rescue them. Sometimes we can – but time and tide make it harder