Environment

Green renovations in schools can bring long-term savings but sometimes have upfront costs.

In an effort to make schools greener, the White House is offering billions of dollars

12:25pm April 22, 2022

by Anya Kamenetz

From solar panels to electric buses — the Biden Administration wants to make it easier for schools to tap more than $5.5 billion for climate-friendly upgrades.

How do you tell your kid that the planet is ending?

How young people are taking action against climate change

9:12am April 22, 2022

Xiye Bastida was raised in the highlands of Mexico with an understanding that she had to thank the Earth for everything it provided. Now, she's dedicated her entire life to the issue of protecting it.

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A recent study by the American Lung Association found that more Americans are living in areas with increased levels of air pollution. Los Angeles has recorded the worst levels of ozone for all but one of the past 23 years.

More than 137 million Americans live in areas with poor air quality, report finds

8:24am April 21, 2022

by Dustin Jones

The rising number of fires hamper decades of environmental efforts, and over 40% of Americans — more than 137 million people — live in places with poor air quality, a new report says.

Environment

New bill would benefit North Carolina's plant biodiversity

4:08pm April 20, 2022

by David Ford

A new house bill in Washington may bring millions of dollars to North Carolina to protect the state's biodiversity.

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Zurich is expanding its district heating system, which delivers hot water and steam through underground pipes. With more buildings relying on this system for heat, there's less demand for natural gas.

To fight climate change, and now Russia, too, Zurich turns off natural gas

12:15pm April 20, 2022

by Dan Charles

Zurich, Switzerland, is shutting down the gas supply to some neighborhoods. Originally aimed at fighting climate change and saving money, it's also a step to cut gas imports from Russia.

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Pipeline used to carry crude oil is shown at the Superior, Wis., terminal of Enbridge Energy, on June 29, 2018. The Biden administration is restoring federal regulations guiding environmental reviews of major infrastructure projects.

Biden administration restores environmental reviews for major infrastructure projects

1:20pm April 19, 2022

by The Associated Press

The move restores regulations guiding environmental reviews of big projects such as highways and pipelines that were scaled back by the Trump administration in a bid to fast-track the projects.

Alamance County group pushes for zoning change as heavy industry grows

4:36pm April 18, 2022

by Keri Brown

Climate change has already made storms more intense, flooding cities with more rainfall than they were built to handle.

Environment

Green infrastructure helps cities with climate change. So why isn't there more of it?

5:05am April 15, 2022

by Lauren Sommer

The U.S. is making the largest investment in history in the country's water system. In the rush to spend, some worry green projects will be overlooked.

More than 3 months after the Marshall Fire, clean up is only beginning near Louisville, Colo.

After a rough year, new wildfire warnings have Boulder, Colorado on edge

5:38pm April 14, 2022

by Kirk Siegler

Boulder, Colorado is again under a red flag warning for extreme wildfire danger as powerful winds like those that fanned a destructive blaze in December return to the drought stricken region.

A new study provides the first evidence of its kind that silica dust is responsible for the rising tide of severe black lung disease, including among coal miners in Appalachia.

Researchers say they've linked silica dust directly to severe black lung disease

5:19pm April 13, 2022

by Robert Benincasa

A new study links the epidemic of severe lung disease among coal miners to toxic silica dust. The findings echo a 2018 investigation by NPR and the PBS show Frontline.