Costa Rica has won international acclaim for its initiatives to restore its forests. But those successes are now jeopardized by conflicts over the government’s failure to return traditional lands to the Indigenous people who are regarded as the best forest stewards.
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Pollution
As Enforcement Lags, Toxic Coal Ash Keeps Polluting U.S. Water
Despite rules requiring remediation, only a few of the nearly 300 U.S. power plants storing toxic ash — the residue of burning coal — have started cleanups or have plans to do so. Many of these sites are polluting groundwater, putting the drinking water for millions at risk.
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Energy
Averting Crisis, Europe Learns to Live Without Russian Energy
Faced with the cutoff of Russian gas and oil, Europe ramped up solar and wind power, got serious about energy conservation, and tweaked policies to speed its green transition. Despite fears of increased emissions this winter, the EU remained on track to meet its climate goals.
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Solutions
How Indigenous People Are Restoring Brazil’s Atlantic Forest
The Guarani Mbya people are working to restore the once-vast Atlantic Forest, which has been largely lost to development. Gaining official tenure of their lands, they hope, will boost their efforts, which range from planting native trees to reintroducing pollinators.
Oceans
The East Coast Whale Die-Offs: Unraveling the Causes
Activists are blaming a recent spate of humpback strandings off New York and New Jersey on seismic exploration by offshore wind companies. But scientists say the deaths are not unusual and are likely due to increased ship traffic and entanglements with fishing gear.
E360 Digest
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European Central Bank Cuts Carbon Intensity of Corporate Bond Purchases in Half
The European Central Bank has made marked progress on its goal of investing in lower-carbon corporations, cutting the carbon intensity of new corporate bond purchases in half, a new report shows. More about European Central Bank Cuts Carbon Intensity of Corporate Bond Purchases in Half →
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In Eastern U.S., Climate Change Has Extended Forest Growing Season by a Month
A century of rising temperatures has extended the growing season of hardwood forests in the eastern U.S. by one month, a new study finds. More about In Eastern U.S., Climate Change Has Extended Forest Growing Season by a Month →
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Total Weight of Wild Land Mammals Less Than One-Tenth Weight of All Humans
The combined weight of every human is more than 10 times that of every wild land mammal put together, a new study finds. More about Total Weight of Wild Land Mammals Less Than One-Tenth Weight of All Humans →
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Solutions
As Millions of Solar Panels Age Out, Recyclers Hope to Cash In
Solar panels have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years, but they contain valuable metals, including silver and copper. With a surge of expired panels expected soon, companies are emerging that seek to recycle the reusable materials and keep the panels out of landfills.
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Biodiversity
In Cambodia, a Battered Mekong Defies Doomsday Predictions
After years of environmental assault — from dam building, overfishing, and logging — stretches of the Mekong River, upon which millions of people depend, appear to be recovering. Heavy rains have helped, along with a crackdown on illegal fishing and other conservation efforts.
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WATER
How Weather Forecasts Can Help Dams Supply More Water
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is testing ways to use improved weather forecasts to manage some of the nation’s largest dams to store more water and prevent floods. This new approach could help officials respond to new precipitation patterns brought on by climate change.
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ANALYSIS
Microplastics Are Filling the Skies. Will They Affect the Climate?
Recent studies reveal that tiny pieces of plastic are constantly lofted into the atmosphere. These particles can travel thousands of miles and affect the formation of clouds, which means they have the potential to impact temperature, rainfall, and even climate change.
