Dried up rice fields in West Java, Indonesia, where El Niño is fueling an extended drought.

Food & Agriculture

How This Year’s Super El Niño Will Worsen Global Hunger

A monster El Niño is nearing its peak, deepening drought in many parts of the world. Coming as countries slash foreign aid and war chokes supplies of energy and fertilizer, the climate phenomenon could leave millions more people in vulnerable countries without enough to eat.

By Nicola Jones

WATER

As the Colorado River Shrinks, Calls to Drain Lake Powell Grow

Lake Powell recently dropped to a historic low, slashing hydropower and the flow of water downstream. As drought deepens, groups are pushing to drain the lake entirely to reveal its long-submerged rock arches and spires and allow wildlife along the Colorado River to recover.

By Jim Robbins
ANALYSIS

What Is Driving the Global Resurgence of Mangrove Forests?

After decades of losses, mangrove trees are gaining ground on coastlines around the world, often in places they have never grown before. Paradoxically, scientists say, warming temperatures and the destruction of inland forests are helping to power the revival.

By Fred Pearce
Biodiversity

Arctic Wildlife Research Suffers as Geopolitical Competition Grows

As national security and the hunt for rare minerals come to dominate Arctic agendas, governments are slashing support for wildlife research. Scientists say the loss of monitoring is unprecedented and comes as climate change dramatically reshapes life in the Far North.

By Ed Struzik

A hearing room in the headquarters of the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C.

OPINION

The U.S. Public Is Losing Its Say on Environmental Policy

Federal agencies have long been required to seek public comment when writing new regulations or approving large projects, from highways to data centers. The Trump administration is systematically undercutting that process, stifling public input while skirting federal laws.

By Jody Freeman

E360 Digest

Digest Archive →

As the Japanese Countryside Empties Out, Wildlife Is Disappearing

The Japanese population is in decline, but the downward trend is especially pronounced in rural areas. The loss of people might be expected to lead to a resurgence of wildlife. But paradoxically, where farms have been abandoned, wildlife is also disappearing. More about As the Japanese Countryside Empties Out, Wildlife Is Disappearing →
Environmentalists Notch Wins on Key Ballot Measures

In the U.S. midterm elections, which saw Democrats make sweeping gains across the country, environmentalists scored wins on key ballot measures in several states. More about Environmentalists Notch Wins on Key Ballot Measures →
As Mangrove Forests Expand in China, Bird Species Multiply

A push by China to revive its mangrove forests is paying off. Not only have mangroves colonized large areas of coastline, but the new forests have drawn scores of new bird species. More about As Mangrove Forests Expand in China, Bird Species Multiply →

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Women water seedlings at a nursery near Buee, Ethiopia.

Solutions

Fifty Billion Seedlings: Can Ethiopia Replant Its Ravaged Forests?

A legacy of deforestation has left Ethiopia struggling with more intense flooding and drought. The country is trying to restore its native forests through one of the world’s most ambitious and well-funded tree-planting campaigns, but such projects in other nations have often fallen short.

By Samuel Abate and Freddie Clayton

OPINION

The Solar Boom in Developing Nations: Fast, Chaotic, and Unequal

Soaring energy costs are driving a solar rush in developing countries, but as households unplug from the grid, those who remain face higher electricity bills. If governments fail to manage the buildout, the growth of solar could destabilize power systems and deepen economic inequality.

By Jan Rosenow
Climate

Why Germany Is Building an Ark for U.S. Climate Data

As researchers around the world begin work on the next U.N. climate assessment, fears are growing that the Trump administration could meddle with critical U.S. climate data. In response, scientists are preparing to transfer vast troves of that data to repositories in Germany.

By Christian Schwägerl
INTERVIEW

From Indigenous Loss, a Potent Legal Argument on Climate

In an interview, human rights lawyer Julian Aguon explores how climate change is undermining the cultural traditions of Indigenous peoples. He is citing these injuries in legal actions, including in a major victory at the International Court of Justice last year.

By Beth Gardiner