Climate

National

Extreme weather, fueled by climate change, cost the U.S. $165 billion in 2022

7:18am January 12, 2023

by Nathan Rott

The U.S. suffered 18 separate billion-dollar disasters in 2022, highlighting the growing cost of climate change. (Story aired on All Things Considered on Jan. 10, 2023.)

Most reservoirs aren't allowed to fill up in the winter, but Folsom Reservoir outside of Sacramento, California is using a new strategy to save more water by using weather forecasts.

Environment

Heavy rain is still hitting California. A few reservoirs figured out how to capture more for drought

5:11pm January 11, 2023

by Lauren Sommer

Decades-old rules mean most reservoirs aren't allowed to fill up in the winter. A new approach using weather forecasts is helping some save more water to help with California's drought.

Queue Listen Now

National

An update from California's Office of Emergency Services on its severe weather

10:18am January 11, 2023

by Dwane Brown

NPR's Dwayne Brown speaks with Brian Ferguson from California's office of emergency services. More than 17 people have died in the onslaught of storms in the state.

Queue Listen Now

National

Storms continue to hit California, forcing evacuations in cities like Santa Barbara

4:56pm January 10, 2023

by Matt Guilhem

Storms continue to pummel California. Parts of Santa Barbara as well as the nearby towns of Montecito and Carpenteria have been evacuated due to fears of mudslides. More rain is on the way.

Queue Listen Now

National

Encore: Warm weather in the Northeast is hurting businesses that count on snow

4:56pm January 10, 2023

by Emily Russell

Businesses in the Northeast that rely on winter recreation activities are having a bad year. Warm temperatures are keeping snowmobilers and skiers off the trails.

Hurricane Ian caused $112.9 billion dollars and more than 150 deaths when it slammed into south Florida in 2022, making it the costliest climate-fueled disaster in the U.S. last year.

Extreme weather, fueled by climate change, cost the U.S. $165 billion in 2022

4:56pm January 10, 2023

by Nathan Rott

The U.S. endured 18 separate billion-dollar disasters in 2022, highlighting the growing damages of human-caused climate change.

Queue Listen Now

In this false-color image, the blue and purple show the hole in Earth's protective ozone layer over Antarctica on Oct. 5. Earth's ozone layer is slowly but noticeably healing.

The ozone layer is on track to recover in the coming decades, the United Nations says

4:25pm January 10, 2023

by Jaclyn Diaz

The ozone layer is a thin shield in the stratosphere that protects humans and the environment from harmful levels of the sun's ultraviolet radiation.

Researchers say ocean water vapor may be an answer to a climate change issue

5:07am January 10, 2023

Only 2.5% of the Earth's global water supply is fresh water and supplies are shrinking with the unrelenting advance of climate change. Researchers say ocean water vapor may provide relief.

California moves ahead with plans for floating wind turbines miles off its coastline

7:26pm January 09, 2023

by Kevin Stark / KQED

A first-of-its-kind offshore wind lease auction along California's coast generated $750 million in combined sales. Analysts say that's a strong and positive market signal for American offshore wind.

Queue Listen Now

The British government is set to announce the full details of the single-use plastics ban on Saturday.

England will ban single-use plastic plates and cutlery for environmental reasons

1:38pm January 09, 2023

by Rachel Treisman

Environment Secretary Therese Coffey says the new ban will stop pollution from "billions of pieces of plastic." Advocates applaud the move but say it doesn't go far enough on its own.