Europe’s new Right to Repair Directive will make it easier — and cheaper — for consumers to get their household goods fixed, rather than buy something new. Part of the E.U.’s Green Deal, the plan is expected to slash waste, promote recycling, and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
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Biodiversity
Baboon Raiders: In Cape Town, Can Big Primates and People Coexist?
For years, baboons have roamed Cape Town suburbs, entering yards and houses in search of food. Now officials have a conservation plan aimed at reducing conflicts between the large primates and people — but like most things baboon-related here, it is sparking heated controversy.
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Energy
How Ukraine Is Turning to Renewables to Keep Heat and Lights On
Russia continues to bomb Ukraine’s fossil-fueled power plants, leaving much of the nation shivering during a brutal winter. But Ukraine’s new emphasis on developing decentralized power — from solar panels to wind turbines — is advancing an unexpected green energy transition.
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Policy
U.S. Push for Greenland’s Minerals Faces Harsh Arctic Realities
President Trump has made access to Greenland’s vast reserves of critical minerals a focus of ongoing negotiations. But experts say the U.S. is underestimating the difficulties of mining in a rapidly changing Arctic region that is warming faster than anywhere else on Earth.
ANALYSIS
Overshoot: The World Is Hitting Point of No Return on Climate
With warming set to pass the critical 1.5-degree limit, scientists are warning that the world is on course to trigger tipping points that would lead to cascading consequences — from the melting of ice sheets to the death of the Amazon rainforest — that could not be reversed.
E360 Digest
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A.I. Weather Models Fell Short in Predicting Northeastern Blizzard
While artificial intelligence has ushered in a new era of more accurate weather forecasting, A.I. models may still struggle to predict freak storms. This week a historic blizzard blanketed the Northeast in snow, dumping more than 2 feet on parts of New York and Massachusetts, and a conventional weather model outperformed A.I. models in accurately predicting the storm. More about A.I. Weather Models Fell Short in Predicting Northeastern Blizzard →
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Warming Raises the Risk That Multiple Wildfires Strike at Once
The extreme heat, high winds, and severe dry conditions that produce towering, fast-moving flames that advance by the acre are not just becoming more common; new research shows that these factors are increasingly arising in multiple regions at the same time, creating the conditions for simultaneous wildfires around the world. More about Warming Raises the Risk That Multiple Wildfires Strike at Once →
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A High-Stakes Lawsuit Against a French Oil Giant Is Closely Watched in Africa
Hearings began Thursday in the first major climate suit of a multinational oil company in France. Judges will decide if oil giant TotalEnergies must curb its production of fossil fuels to keep its emissions in check. Among those following the case are African campaigners now rallying against a controversial pipeline backed by the oil giant. More about A High-Stakes Lawsuit Against a French Oil Giant Is Closely Watched in Africa →
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Oceans
Sea Star Murder Mystery: What’s Killing a Key Ocean Species?
Billions of sea stars, victims of a deadly wasting illness, have perished over the last decade, imperiling marine ecosystems and spurring a global hunt for a biological or environmental culprit. Recently, researchers identified a likely suspect, but the case is far from closed.
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Solutions
In Hunt for Rare Earths, Companies Are Scouring Mining Waste
Tailings and acid mine drainage from mines contain critical minerals needed for clean energy technologies. Now, researchers are developing new techniques for retrieving these key metals, which could reduce the need for new mines and help clean up pollution at old mining sites.
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Solutions
Plagued by Flooding, an African City Reengineers Its Wetlands
As climate change and urbanization intensify flooding in Rwanda, the capital of Kigali has embraced nature-based solutions. The city is restoring and reshaping 18,000 acres of degraded wetlands, planting native species to filter and slow runoff, and enhancing biodiversity.
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FILM
At a Marine Field Station, Rising Seas Force an Inevitable Retreat
The scientists at a New Jersey marine station are conducting a sobering experiment: monitoring the destruction of their facility from rising waters. Oscar-winning filmmaker Thomas Lennon shows how the researchers are working to produce useful science before they must leave.
Living With Wildlife
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As Jaguars Recover, Will the Border Wall Block Their U.S. Return?
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Despite Criticism, the Last of the Rattlesnake Roundups Hang On
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As Wolf Populations Rebound, an Angry Backlash Intensifies
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Octopuses Are Highly Intelligent. Should They Be Farmed for Food?
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Deadly Encounter: Mountain Lion Attacks Spark Controversy