Environment

California sheep rancher Dan Macon had to sell almost half of his herd because the drought left him without enough feed.

With Drought The New Normal, Calif. Farmers Find They Have To Change

11:37am November 20, 2014

by Kirk Siegler

Three years of severe drought in California is forcing farmers and ranchers to make some tough choices. In some cases, they're rethinking everything about their business and finding new opportunities.

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Carbon dioxide is represented by the red on this map.

WATCH: How Carbon Dioxide Travels Around The Globe

1:10pm November 19, 2014

by Eyder Peralta

A NASA computer model visualizes in detail where carbon dioxide is released, how it moves across the globe and how it's affected by the seasons.

Pipes for TransCanada's planned Keystone XL pipeline are stored in Gascoyne, N.D. The U.S. House has voted to approve the proposed project, which would allow crude oil to flow from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. The Senate plans to vote Tuesday on legislat

What You Need To Know About The Keystone XL Oil Pipeline

7:36pm November 18, 2014

by Jeff Brady

The long-delayed project is a jobs generator to some and an ecological disaster to others. Ahead of a key Senate vote, we revisit what the Keystone XL pipeline would do and why it's so contentious.

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Pipes for Transcanada Corp.'s planned Keystone XL oil pipeline are stacked at a depot in Gascoyne, N.D. The House of Representatives approved the Keystone XL pipeline Friday; the Senate voted against it on Tuesday.

Senate Rejects Keystone XL Pipeline Bill, In A Close Vote

6:52pm November 18, 2014

by Bill Chappell

The controversial project to expand an oil pipeline running from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico has failed to get the approval of Congress.

A jogger goes for a run amid heavy smog in Shanghai on Wednesday. China has for the first time agreed to limit its carbon emissions, but critics are questioning whether the move goes far enough.

China Agrees To Pollution Limits, But Will It Make A Difference?

5:58pm November 18, 2014

by Anthony Kuhn

China has for the first time announced a ceiling to its future carbon emissions. Critics say the commitment is primarily symbolic, and unlikely to have a significant impact in the near future.

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The rendering industry likes to call itself the world's oldest recycling system. Nearly 100 percent of processed pigs will eventually get used — as meat and in uses as varied as medicine and pet food.

Everything But The Squeal: How The Hog Industry Cuts Food Waste

10:34am November 18, 2014

by Peggy Lowe

Large-scale hog operations get a bad environmental rap. But when it comes to processing the animals, the industry is a model of efficiency, making use of every last bit in sometimes surprising ways.

Sherri Erkel and her daughter, Asa, cook dinner in their kitchen in Iowa City, Iowa. The Erkel family is part of an EPA study measuring the amount of food wasted in U.S. homes.

To End Food Waste, Change Needs To Begin At Home

3:24pm November 17, 2014

by Grant Gerlock

The U.S. throws out 35 million tons of food each year. While many restaurants, supermarkets and processors are taking responsibility, many consumers aren't. An EPA pilot program aims to change that.

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Patch Of Pacific Water Is Warmest In Decades

12:25pm November 16, 2014

by Nate Rott

A stretch of unusually warm water is lingering off of the West Coast. Scientists are calling it "the blob." Fishermen are calling it the best the thing to happen to their industry in 20 years.

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Success Record is Mixed For Global Climate Deals

11:18am November 15, 2014

As China and the U.S. strike a landmark climate change deal, NPR's Scott Simon asks science correspondent Christopher Joyce how effective these climate targets have been historically.

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Judge Denies BP's Attempt To Avoid Up To $18 Billion In Fines

12:20pm November 14, 2014

by Bill Chappell

Last month, the company asked the judge to reconsider a ruling that could trigger fines under the Clean Water Act. And on Thursday, he said no. The company says it will appeal.