Environment

Confused about all the different sustainability ratings out there? The simplest option may be to shop at your local farmer's market.

Apps Aim To Guide You On 'Sustainable Food' (Whatever That Means)

12:04pm October 30, 2014

by Alison Bruzek

Consumers who care about how their food is produced have a growing number of apps they can turn to at the supermarket. The problem? Nailing down just what sustainability means when it comes to food.

These scuba divers are among the 2 million tourists who visit the Great Barrier Reef each year. They contribute about $5.6 billion to Australia's economy, according to the Queensland government.

As Great Barrier Reef Ails, Australia Scrambles To Save It

7:37pm October 28, 2014

by Steve Dorsey

One Australian report estimated the reef had lost more than half its coral since 1985. The government is considering a new 35-year plan to rescue the reef, but some say it falls short.

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Farms outside Baghdad as seen from a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter. Much of Iraq's soil has a high salt content because of flooding and poor drainage.

Who Should Pay To Fix The World's Salt-Damaged Soils?

6:01pm October 28, 2014

by Alison Bruzek

The area of land no longer suitable for farming because of salt degradation is rising quickly. Scientists argue the private sector should help fund efforts to reverse it since it relies on the crops.

These pomegranates are about an inch smaller than the typical size, but they're packed with antioxidants.

Why California's Drought-Stressed Fruit May Be Better For You

1:36pm October 27, 2014

by Sasha Khokha

Is California's severe drought hurting the nutrient content of fruit? No, preliminary data on pomegranates suggest. The fruit may be smaller, but packed with more antioxidants, tests show.

The San Luis Reservoir in central California is the largest "off-channel" reservoir in the U.S. It is currently at less than 30 percent of its normal capacity.

Coping In A Drier World: California's Drought Survival Strategy

7:44pm October 22, 2014

by Kirk Siegler

The dearth of water in this state is showing no signs of easing. Officials have introduced plans to revamp the water rationing and distribution systems until the rains come. If they ever come.

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Environment

Public Input Wanted For Dan River Restoration

8:13pm October 21, 2014

by Keri Brown

A group of environmental agencies wants public help to restore the Dan River after a massive coal ash spill in February.

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Why Are The Great Lakes On The Rise?

6:03pm October 20, 2014

Host Audie Cornish talks with Drew Gronewold, a hydrologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, about why water levels in lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron are rising.

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Researchers say there's plenty the beef industry can do to use less land and water and emit fewer greenhouse gas emissions. But producers may need to charge a premium to make those changes.

Do We Need A New 'Environmental Impact' Label For Beef?

4:49pm October 20, 2014

by Eliza Barclay

Labels like "organic" and "grass-fed" don't capture the beef industry's true environmental impact, researchers say. Why not have a label that assesses water use, land use and greenhouse gas emissions?

The restoration's goal is to put as much of the Kissimmee as possible back to the way it was. This photo shows the river after restoration.

The Kissimmee: A River Re-Curved

3:19pm October 20, 2014

by Amy Green

In Florida, a key river is undergoing the largest environmental restoration effort in the world. But when complete, a looming water shortage means the river's waters still face an uncertain future.

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Workers drill for oil in the Bakken shale formation outside Watford City, N.D., an area experiencing an oil boom.

Predictions Of 'Peak Oil' Production Prove Slippery

12:52pm October 18, 2014

by Marilyn Geewax

Just a few years ago, authors were predicting production would soon hit a peak and then decline. But since then, supplies have surged. So are the forecasters now slapping themselves in the head?