A new study points to a stunning loss of topsoil in the Corn Belt — the result of farming practices that have depleted this once-fertile ground. Beyond diminished agricultural productivity and more carbon in the atmosphere, it is a catastrophic loss of an irreplaceable resource.
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Energy
On U.S. East Coast, Has Offshore Wind’s Moment Finally Arrived?
After years of false starts, offshore wind is poised to take off along the East Coast. Commitments by states to purchase renewable power, support from the Biden administration, and billions in new investment are all contributing to the emergence of this fledgling industry.
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Analysis
Why Drilling the Arctic Refuge Will Release a Double Dose of Carbon
In the renewed debate over drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, one troubling impact of oil development has been overlooked: Disrupting the annual caribou migration will have a profound effect on the soil and release even more greenhouse gas into the atmosphere.
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Biodiversity
An Illicit Trade in Brazil Is Sending Tiny Songbirds to Their Deaths
Thousands of saffron finches are being snatched out of South American forests and sold in Brazil for use in brutal, illegal fighting rings. Lax wildlife laws have made it difficult for authorities to crack down on the lucrative trade, leaving traffickers and ring runners undeterred.
Biodiversity
Assisting Evolution: How Far Should We Go to Help Species Adapt?
An Australian project to help threatened marsupial species adapt to avoid predatory cats is among a host of ‘assisted evolution’ efforts based on the premise that it is no longer enough to protect species from change: Humans are going to have intervene to help them change.
E360 Digest
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Emissions Drop Equivalent to Covid Shutdowns Needed Every Two Years to Limit Warming to 2 Degrees C
Carbon dioxide emissions must fall by the equivalent of a global lockdown roughly every two years for the next decade for the world to keep within safe limits of global heating, research has shown. More about Emissions Drop Equivalent to Covid Shutdowns Needed Every Two Years to Limit Warming to 2 Degrees C →
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Australian Miners Adopt Stricter Rules for Indigenous and Environmental Impacts
Australian mining companies will now be required to follow stricter rules governing the impacts of their projects on First Nations communities and the environment, according to new guidelines adopted by the Minerals Council of Australia, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. More about Australian Miners Adopt Stricter Rules for Indigenous and Environmental Impacts →
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Regulators Ban Fracking Permanently in the Four-State Delaware River Watershed
The regulatory agency in charge of managing the Delaware River and its tributaries voted last week to permanently ban natural gas drilling and fracking within the entire four-state watershed, which supplies the drinking water for more than 13 million people in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York. More about Regulators Ban Fracking Permanently in the Four-State Delaware River Watershed →
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Opinion
Avoiding a ‘Ghastly Future’: Hard Truths on the State of the Planet
A group of the world’s top ecologists have issued a stark warning about the snowballing crisis caused by climate change, population growth, and unchecked development. Their assessment is grim, but big-picture societal changes on a global scale can still avert a disastrous future.
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Solutions
How Paving with Plastic Could Make a Dent in the Global Waste Problem
Roads in which waste plastic is melted down and mixed with paving materials are becoming more common around the world. Although for now they remain a niche technology, experts say the roads could become one of a diverse array of uses for discarded plastic.
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Policy
Water Warning: The Looming Threat of the World’s Aging Dams
Tens of thousands of large dams across the globe are reaching the end of their expected lifespans, leading to a dramatic rise in failures and collapses, a new UN study finds. These deteriorating structures pose a serious threat to hundreds of millions of people living downstream.
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Cities
In a Refinery’s Ashes, Hope for an End to Decades of Pollution
An old industrial site in Philadelphia is being converted into a vast e-commerce distribution center, a trend being seen in other U.S. cities. But the developers of these brownfields must confront a legacy of toxic pollution and neglect of surrounding communities of color.
