As the impacts of climate change and other threats mount, conservationists are racing to preserve endangered plant species in botanical garden “metacollections” in the hope of eventually returning them to the wild. But what happens when there is no suitable habitat to return them to?
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Climate
Can Toxic Mining Waste Help Remove CO2 from the Atmosphere?
On the coast of Newfoundland, waste from a shuttered asbestos mine has been a troubling source of contamination for decades. Now, a company plans to process the waste to draw CO2 from the air — one of several projects worldwide that aim to turn this liability into an asset.
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INTERVIEW
Saving U.S. Climate and Environmental Data Before It Goes Away
Some 2,000 records went missing from government data sets after the Trump administration took office in January. Canadian geographer Eric Nost talks about the work he and colleagues are doing to archive data related to climate and the environment while it is still accessible.
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Biodiversity
A Craze for Tiny Plants Is Driving a Poaching Crisis in South Africa
South Africa’s Succulent Karoo is the most biodiverse arid region on the planet, with thousands of plants found nowhere else. But to meet a demand fueled by social media, criminal networks have been poaching these colorful succulents by the millions and smuggling them overseas.
Climate
How Climate Change Puts the Safety of Drinking Water at Risk
Wildfires, floods, intense heat, droughts, and other extreme events fueled by climate change are threatening water systems in the U.S. and around the globe. Experts warn of the increasing threat of contamination and the need to improve infrastructure to keep drinking water safe.
E360 Digest
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Peatland Algae to Soak Up More Carbon as Planet Warms
New research finds that microalgae in northern peat bogs will absorb more carbon dioxide as the planet warms, helping to take a bite out of emissions. More about Peatland Algae to Soak Up More Carbon as Planet Warms →
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Carbon Dioxide Levels Highest in 800,000 Years
Temperatures and carbon dioxide levels hit new highs last year, according to a U.N. report detailing the dire state of the global climate. More about Carbon Dioxide Levels Highest in 800,000 Years →
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Grass-Fed Beef No Better for Climate Than Industrial Beef, Study Finds
New research finds that, pound for pound, grazing cattle generate at least as much heat-trapping gas as those raised in feedlots. More about Grass-Fed Beef No Better for Climate Than Industrial Beef, Study Finds →
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Energy
‘Green Grab’: Solar and Wind Boom Sparks Conflicts on Land Use
Solar and wind farms are proliferating and increasingly taking up land worldwide, prompting criticism from rural communities and environmentalists. Solutions range from growing crops or grazing livestock under PV panels to putting floating solar farms on lakes and reservoirs.
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INTERVIEW
Bill McKibben on Climate Activism in the Age of Trump 2.0
Activist Bill McKibben says Americans upset by the Trump administration’s gutting of U.S. climate efforts need to move beyond despair. In an interview with e360, he talks about rethinking the role of protest, the global push on clean energy, and why he sees reason for hope.
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INTERVIEW
Reciprocity: Rethinking Our Relationship with the Natural World
Robin Wall Kimmerer, the bestselling author of Braiding Sweetgrass, recently published The Serviceberry, which explores the economies of nature. In an e360 interview, the Native American ecologist discusses reciprocity, gratitude, and aligning human law with ecological law.
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Oceans
With Sea Ice Melting, Killer Whales Are Moving Into the Arctic
Killer whales have begun to migrate farther into previously icy regions of the Arctic, preying on narwhal, beluga, and bowhead. Scientists say their increasing numbers could shift food webs in ways that affect both endangered whale populations and subsistence Inuit hunters.
