News & Commentary

The Fate of This Coral Species Rests in a Dark Room in Tampa

October 28, 2019 Latest NewsFloridaJason Bittel

Scientists have coaxed Atlantic pillar corals to spawn in captivity for the first time—a breakthrough that could save the species from extinction.

This Researcher Thinks It’s OK to Joke About Climate Change

October 25, 2019 PerspectivesUnited StatesJeff Turrentine

In fact, he thinks laughing about it may help us put an end to it.

How Cincinnati Is Punching Above Its Weight in the Climate Fight

October 24, 2019 DispatchCincinnatiSarah Stankorb

For years this midsize city has been a leader in cutting carbon pollution. Now it’s raising its game with solar, energy efficiency, and electric cars.

These Environmental Artists Do the Mash—the Monster Mash

October 22, 2019 PerspectivesUnited StatesPatrick Rogers

Laura and Gary Dumm reanimate classic horror-flick monsters in bone-chilling scenes of the Anthropocene.

We Need a Just Transition—Because We Should Abandon Coal, Not Coal Workers

October 18, 2019 Latest NewsUnited StatesJeff Turrentine

Taking care of those communities distressed by the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy is an economic and ethical imperative.

America’s Dairyland May Have a PFAS Problem

October 11, 2019 DispatchMidwest, Wisconsin, MaineSusan Cosier

The toxic chemicals have been showing up in milk around the country, prompting midwestern farmers to take a closer look at their land.

¿Quiénes son algunos de los mayores defensores de la acción climática del país? Los latinos.

October 10, 2019 ExplainerUnited StatesJeff Turrentine

La comunidad latina se está movilizando para enfrentar el cambio climático.

Some of the Country’s Biggest Supporters of Climate Action? Latinos.

October 10, 2019 ExplainerUnited StatesJeff Turrentine

But since the larger climate movement has done a poor job of engaging them, the community is mobilizing itself.

The World’s Beauty and Destruction—Bound Together

October 8, 2019 PerspectivesUnited StatesPatrick Rogers

With thread, plastic, and reams of climate data, textile artist Tali Weinberg displays our dangerous entanglement with the fossil fuel industry.

What Can We Do to Fix the Drinking Water Problem in America?

October 7, 2019 ExplainerUnited States, Flint, Newark, Michigan, New Jersey

Seth Siegel, author of the new book “Troubled Water: What’s Wrong with What We Drink,” says we must change people’s mind-sets and get to the root of the issue to ensure safe drinking water for everyone.

New Mexico Has a Methane Cloud Visible by Satellite. It Also Has Bold Climate Plans.

October 2, 2019 DispatchNew MexicoTim Vanderpool

As greenhouse gasses fill the sky, a progressive governor and worried residents take on oil and gas—the state’s most powerful industry.

As the Amazon Burns, Jaguars Burn With It

October 1, 2019 DispatchBrazilJason Bittel

How Brazil’s blazes are devastating for these big cats—and for so, so, so much more.

San Jose Ups Its Biking Game

September 30, 2019 DispatchSan Jose (California)Corey Binns

In this sprawling Bay Area city, more than half the carbon footprint comes from cars and trucks. So the city is focusing on growing its network of safe bike paths—and fast.

The Bomb Train Derailment That Sparked a Resistance in the Columbia River Gorge

September 30, 2019 DispatchOregon, CanadaLora Shinn

The fossil fuel industry maintains a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest thanks to its international export activity. But ever since a dangerous rail accident in 2016, local residents have served as a fierce check on its growth.

What We Talk About When We Talk About Climate—and Why It Needs Some Oomph

September 27, 2019 PerspectivesUnited StatesJeff Turrentine

The stories that really reach people are the ones with stirring scenes, suspense, and relatable characters.

In Colorado’s High Desert, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Goes Solar

September 26, 2019 DispatchColoradoStarre Vartan

The Ute Mountain Ute tribe is working to free itself from fossil fuel dependency—and preparing to help solarize the rest of the state, too.

The People of the Isle de Jean Charles Are Louisiana’s First Climate Refugees—but They Won’t Be the Last

September 23, 2019 DispatchLouisianaRobynne Boyd

Whether and how to uproot communities are difficult and painful questions, and we need to get better at answering them.

Has Climate Consciousness Reached a Tipping Point?

September 20, 2019 PerspectivesUnited StatesJeff Turrentine

We don’t want to jinx it, but with the Youth Climate Strike it sort of looks like . . . yes. (Finally.)

As the DOE Abandons a Toxic Mess Threatening the Columbia River, the Yakama Nation Fights Back

September 18, 2019 DispatchWashingtonLora Shinn

The DOE wants to dodge its cleanup duties by reclassifying the nuclear waste contaminating a site along Washington’s Columbia River. Not only is it a reckless move, but it may violate treaty-protected indigenous rights.

This Friday, School Is Out—and the Climate Strike Is On!

September 16, 2019 PerspectivesUnited StatesCourtney Lindwall

In protests around the globe, the next generation is sending a collective message to world leaders to act on climate change. Here, four teenage activists tell us their personal reasons for striking.