Environment

This 1990 aerial file photo shows a section of the Tongass National Forest in Alaska that has patches of bare land where clear-cutting has occurred. The federal government plans to reinstate restrictions on road-building and logging on the country's largest national forest.

The U.S. reinstates road and logging restrictions on the largest national forest

5:56pm January 25, 2023

by The Associated Press

A federal agency said it is reinstating restrictions on road-building and logging on the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska. USDA's move repeals a Trump administration-era decision.

15 wishes for 2023: Trailblazers tell how they'd make life on Earth a bit better

11:35am January 25, 2023

by NPR Staff

We asked for a wish from expert wishers around the globe — from Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai to MacArthur "genius" grantee Gregg Gonsalves to Melva Acostaa, who runs a soup kitchen in Peru.

ICARDA lab employee Bilal Inaty cuts a lentil plant in order to test it for various diseases at the ICARDA research station in the village of Terbol in Lebanon's Bekaa valley, on Dec. 21, 2022.

How ancient seeds from the Fertile Crescent could help save us from climate change

10:30am January 25, 2023

Some of the tens of thousands of seeds stored at a facility in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley may hold keys to helping the planet's food supply adapt to climate change. Many seeds were saved from Syria's war.

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New guidance calls for lower lead levels in food for babies and children under 2. Lead exposure can be harmful to developing brains.

The FDA proposes new targets to limit lead in baby food

4:01am January 25, 2023

Toxic metal can be harmful to developing brains. New lead targets are part of a broad FDA imitative to reduce children's exposure to the lowest levels possible.

Wind turbines, of the Block Island Wind Farm, tower over the water on October 14, 2016 off the shores of Block Island, Rhode Island.

Biden's offshore wind plan could create thousands of jobs, but challenges remain

1:26pm January 24, 2023

by H.J. Mai

When President Biden talks about tackling climate change, he talks about economic opportunities. Offshore wind promises to provide many opportunities, but it's not for everyone.

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Grey kangaroos feed on grass near Canberra, Australia, March 15, 2008. A bill that would ban the sale of kangaroo parts has been introduced in the Oregon Legislature, taking aim at sports apparel manufacturers that use leather from the animals to make their products.

Oregon lawmaker introduces a bill that would ban the sale of kangaroo parts

2:39am January 24, 2023

by The Associated Press

A bill that would ban the sale of kangaroo parts has been introduced in the Oregon Legislature, taking aim at sports apparel manufacturers that use leather from the animals to make their products.

In this Sept. 20, 2017 file photo, electricity poles and lines lie toppled on the road after Hurricane Maria hit the eastern region of the island in Humacao, Puerto Rico.

Solar energy could be key in Puerto Rico's transition to 100% renewables, study says

3:57pm January 23, 2023

by Jeff Brady

A federal study shows Puerto Rico can meet its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2050. The path includes a focus on solar power panels installed across the territory.

Skiers cruise down the slopes at Snowmass ski area in Colorado. This winter has already delivered snow totals above 130% of average, but climate scientists say it will take more than one wet winter to pull the arid West out of a 23-year drought.

Why heavy winter rain and snow won't be enough to pull the West out of a megadrought

12:04pm January 22, 2023

by Alex Hager

This winter could provide some relief for parched reservoirs in the Colorado River Basin, but climate scientists warn that the severe drought won't end with one wet season.

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Environment

Melting ice is forcing polar bears on land. Polar bear patrols can help

8:02am January 22, 2023

by Ayesha Rascoe

As climate change warms up the planet, polar bears are pushed closer to human habitats, leading to dangerous interactions. Polar bear patrol programs help protect both the bears and humans.

Environment

Are single-use coffee pods really more environmentally friendly?

1:24pm January 21, 2023

A story raced through the media this week, stating that single-use pods may be more environmentally friendly than other ways of preparing coffee. We wondered, is that really true?

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