Alarmed at steep declines in insects and wildlife, Bavarian voters backed a referendum aimed at changing destructive farming practices and repairing damaged ecosystems. Now, Bavaria’s initiatives are inspiring other German states to move to stem the loss of biodiversity.
-
Energy
How Kenya’s Push for Development Is Threatening Its Famed Wild Lands
Kenya is pursuing a plan to build an extensive network of roads, power lines, dams, and renewable energy infrastructure. But many of these projects, including wind farms and geothermal facilities, are being constructed in the nation’s iconic parks and wildlife areas.
-
Biodiversity
The Toll of Tourism: Can Southeast Asia Save Its Prized Natural Areas?
From Thailand to Bali, a huge increase in tourists, many from China and other rapidly developing economies, is straining sensitive ecosystems to the breaking point. Some countries are trying to control the boom, with a few closing popular destinations to allow damaged areas to heal.
-
Analysis
Why Green Pledges Will Not Create the Natural Forests We Need
Nations around the globe have pledged to increase their forest cover by planting millions of trees. But new research shows much of this growth would be in monoculture plantations that would be quickly cut down and do little to tackle climate change or preserve biodiversity.
Solutions
Energy Equity: Bringing Solar Power to Low-Income Communities
Millions of Americans lack access to solar energy because they cannot afford the steep upfront costs. Now, more than a dozen states are adopting “community solar” programs that are bringing solar power and lower energy bills to low-income households from New York to California.
E360 Digest
-
Emperor Penguin Colony Experiences “Catastrophic Breeding Failure”
Antarctica’s second-largest breeding colony of emperor penguins, located in the Weddell Sea, has experienced “catastrophic breeding failure” for the past three years, with nearly all of its chicks failing to survive due to the breakup of sea ice, according to a new study published in the journal Antarctic Science. The colony was once home to 14,000-25,000 breeding pairs a year, representing up to 9 percent of the global emperor penguin population. More about Emperor Penguin Colony Experiences “Catastrophic Breeding Failure” →
-
Four Out of 10 Americans Breathe Unhealthy Air
More than 141 million people in the United States — 43 percent of the population — live in places where they breathe unsafe air, according to a new report from the American Lung Association (ALA). That number is 7 million more than reported last year, and demonstrates the impact climate change is having on air quality and public health, scientists warn. More about Four Out of 10 Americans Breathe Unhealthy Air →
-
More Than 1,000 Climate Activists Arrested in London
Police have arrested more than 1,000 climate activists in London over eight days of direct actions that have shut down major parts of the city, including Oxford Circus, Waterloo Bridge, and Parliament Square, Reuters reported. The rallies are the latest in a growing number of climate protests across the globe in recent months, led by youth activists like Greta Thunberg. More about More Than 1,000 Climate Activists Arrested in London →
E360’s in-depth reporting, analysis, and commentary depend on readers like you. Donate now.
Senator Ed Markey has heard the criticism of the Green New Deal as overly broad and unrealistic. But in an e360 interview, Markey, who co-introduced the proposal in Congress, explains why he believes it will spark a much-needed debate about how to confront the climate crisis.
Climate
Polar Warning: Even Antarctica’s Coldest Region Is Starting to Melt
East Antarctica is the coldest spot on earth, long thought to be untouched by warming. But now the glaciers and ice shelves in this frigid region are showing signs of melting, a development that portends dramatic rises in sea levels this century and beyond.
-
Cities
As Mass Timber Takes Off, How Green Is This New Building Material?
Mass timber construction is on the rise, with advocates saying it could revolutionize the building industry and be part of a climate change solution. But some are questioning whether the logging and manufacturing required to produce the new material outweigh any benefits.
-
Policy
From Canadian Coal Mines, Toxic Pollution That Knows No Borders
Massive open-pit coal mines in British Columbia are leaching high concentrations of selenium into the Elk River watershed, damaging fish populations and contaminating drinking water. Now this pollution is flowing across the Canadian-U.S. border, threatening the quality of U.S. waters.
-
Energy
A Fracking-Driven Industrial Boom Renews Pollution Concerns in Pittsburgh
Once known as the Steel City, Pittsburgh is shedding its polluted past and embracing a rebirth built on health care, education, and technology. But the region’s surging fracking industry is attracting a $6 billion ethane plant and other petrochemical facilities, raising new pollution fears.
E360 Series
Crisis on the Colorado
-
Crisis on the Colorado: Part I
The West’s Great River Hits Its Limits: Will the Colorado Run Dry?
-
Crisis on the Colorado: Part II
On the Water-Starved Colorado River, Drought Is the New Normal
-
Crisis on the Colorado: Part III
Running Dry: New Strategies for Conserving Water on the Colorado
-
CRISIS ON THE COLORADO: PART IV
In Era of Drought, Phoenix Prepares for a Future Without Colorado River Water
-
CRISIS ON THE COLORADO: PART V
Restoring the Colorado: Bringing New Life to a Stressed River