About 8,000 people at nearly 20 camps were affected by a mandatory evacuation order yesterday, as out-of-control wildfires continue to spread in the oil-rich province. The latest evacuation could further postpone the restart of at least one million barrels a day in tar sands production. Wall Street Journal
Sonic Sea
Our new documentary shines light on the deadly impacts of ocean noise. Watch the premiere May 19 on the Discovery Channel.
A new study finds that Latin American second-growth forests that grow back after disturbances can store the equivalent of 21 years' worth of regional emissions. It is the first time the carbon storage capabilities of forests less than 60 years old have been studied closely. Climate Central
Only about 60 vaquitas remain in the Gulf of California, where poachers often kill the small mammals accidentally when looking for totoaba fish. While the Mexican government has taken steps to protect the species, such as temporarily banning gill nets and deploying its navy to patrol for illegal fisherman, scientists say it hasn't been enough. If gill netting resumes, the vaquita could disappear by 2022. New York Times
The Pacific island nation's climate change minister has announced plans to generate all of the country's electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Radio New Zealand
The new rules aim to cut methane emissions from the gas sector by 40 to 45 percent by 2025. They also require more frequent surveys for leaks and improved data-gathering on leakage. The potent greenhouse gas has previously been unregulated in the United States. Mother Jones
Without plants we would not be here.
—Kathy Willis, director of science at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, comments on a new report that finds one-fifth of the world's plants are threatened with extinction.
A Shell helicopter spotted a 13-mile-long oily sheen in the water yesterday about 97 miles from the Louisiana coast. The company says it has shut in all subsea wells in the area to stop the leak and is coordinating a cleanup plan. Officials are investigating the cause of the incident. Here we go again... Reuters
A new report by the World Health Organization says 60 percent of European cities exceed safe limits for air pollution, compared to 20 percent of cities in North America. The popularity of diesel-powered engines and weaker environmental regulations in Europe contribute to the disparity, experts say. New York Times
Tiny particles of plastic are becoming ubiquitous in the environment—so much so that an environmental health expert says there's a "real possibility" we could end up inhaling them into our lungs. Scientists are just beginning to study the issue and what the possible health effects might be. The Guardian