Light pollution now obscures the band of stars in the night sky for millions of people across the world, including almost 80 percent of North Americans and 60 percent of Europeans. Associated Press
A new report says the country is on track to installing 14.5 gigawatts of solar capacity in 2016—nearly twice as much as last year's 7.5 gigawatts. Even better, in the first quarter of 2016 solar made up 64 percent of all new capacity, which is more than coal, natural gas, and nuclear combined. EcoWatch
The first-of-its-kind climate measure, which passed at the polls this week with 65 percent approval, will tax residents $12 each year. The money will be used to restore habitat, remove pollution, and fund nature-based flood protections.ThinkProgress
This week the EU called on its 28 member states to get a move on. The ratification process may be highly complicated, but the union's Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy says members are "determined to maintain the momentum and spirit of Paris" by getting it done ahead of schedule. Reuters
The agency just launched CORAL (Coral Reef Airborne Laboratory), a new three-year campaign to collect data on the world's reefs from aircraft 23,000 feet up. The scientists hope the new perspective will offer insights into how environmental changes are affecting these important ecosystems in different locations. Associated Press
In 2015 CO2 emissions from energy consumption took a step in the right direction, growing by 0.1 percent compared to 0.5 percent in 2014. The shift away from coal and toward renewables and natural gas has contributed to the flattening. Reuters
The move makes the Scandinavian country the first in the world to ban deforestation. From us and the trees: Takk! Christian Science Monitor
New research on saw-whet owls finds that for every decibel of increased noise, the raptors' ability to detect prey declined by 8 percent and their ability to strike prey dropped by 5 percent. When the noise level hit 61 decibels, the owls didn't notice nearby prey at all. Audubon
During a visit to the White House this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India is working toward signing on to the landmark agreement this year. The entrance of the world's third-largest greenhouse gas emitter could help enact the plan years ahead of schedule. Reuters
Humans have literally impacted everything from mammoths to microbes.
—Jon Erlandson, director of the Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History, discusses new research that says landscapes untouched by humans have not existed for millennia.