Our Stories

Latest News

Renewable electricity has powered Costa Rica for 75 days straight! -

So far, heavy rains and hydroelectric power plants have helped the country's grid steer clear of fossil fuels for all of 2015. Geothermal and wind energy are also doing their part in Costa Rica, which is working to become completely carbon-neutral by 2021. Think Progress

French roofs now require solar panels or plants. -

The law, which applies to new construction in commercial zones, will help generate power, reduce heating and cooling costs, and control runoff. The country could use some greening—Paris banned almost half of its cars for a day today after heavy smog briefly made it the most polluted city in the world. The Guardian

The Obama administration has unveiled a new set of rules for fracking on public lands. -

Companies will be required to build stronger wells, adhere to stricter standards for wastewater disposal, and publicly disclose the chemicals they use, the Interior Department says. But environmental advocates contend that the regs fall far short of what is needed to protect 750 million acres of public and tribal lands across the country—an area more than seven times the size of California. Politico

The Eiffel Tower disappeared behind a brown haze this week as pollution spiked in Paris. -

French authorities imposed emergency measures, including a 14-mile-per-hour speed limit on local freeways. The Guardian

Europe’s wild bee species are dying off. -

Nearly one in ten species is threatened with extinction, according to a new study. The paper, by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, blames changes to agricultural practices. The Guardian

Manatees may be too cute for their own good. -

Activists are threatening to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for letting visitors hug the marine mammals at Florida’s Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, saying the handsy tourists are interfering with the manatees' behavioral patterns. Washington Post