climate

National

Arizona, Nevada and Mexico see water usage cuts as Colorado River shortage deepens

5:14pm August 16, 2022

by Alex Hager

Tuesday, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officially declared the Lower Colorado River Basin has hit a "Tier 2" shortage, triggering new cuts in water usage for Arizona, Nevada and Mexico.

A formerly sunken boat sits high and dry along the shoreline of Lake Mead at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, on May 10, near Boulder City, Nev.

U.S. says drought-stricken Arizona and Nevada will get less water from Colorado River

4:29pm August 16, 2022

by The Associated Press

U.S. officials announced Tuesday that the two states, which rely on water from the Colorado River, will face more water cuts as they endure extreme drought.

Philosopher William MacAskill coined the term "longtermism" to convey the idea that humans have a moral responsibility to protect the future of humanity, prevent it from going extinct and create a better future for many generations to come. He outlines th

How can we help humans thrive trillions of years from now? This philosopher has a plan

6:44am August 16, 2022

by Malaka Gharib

William MacAskill's book, What We Owe the Future, urges today's humans to protect future humans — an idea he calls longtermism. Here are a few of his hardly modest proposals.

Elephants at a water pan in Hwange National Park in north western Zimbabwe. The sanctuary has a capacity for 15,000 elephants, but it currently hosts more than 45,000 according to ZimParks, the country's wildlife management authority.

Drought is driving elephants closer to people. The consequences can be deadly

7:06pm August 15, 2022

by Tendai Marima

Zimbabwe's elephant population is growing, but climate change makes rainfall unpredictable. Animals travel farther in search of water now and often end up clashing with villagers for scarce resources

Blacktail Deer Creek in Yellowstone National Park, seen here in a 2019 photo from the ecological study known as NEON, is one site where researchers have bubbled sulfur hexafluoride into the water.

Why scientists have pumped a potent greenhouse gas into streams on public lands

5:00am August 15, 2022

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

A 30-year, nationwide study of ecological changes — including the effects of climate warming — has been releasing a powerful greenhouse gas, and critics want it to stop.

Levi Draheim has spent half his life involved in climate change litigation aimed at holding federal and state leaders accountable on fossil fuels.

Meet the teenager who helped push Florida toward cleaner energy

7:00am August 14, 2022

by Amy Green

About 200 young people used Florida law to successfully petition the state to adopt renewable energy faster. One of them, Levi Draheim, is a veteran at suing the government to act on climate change.

What oil companies gain from the landmark climate bill

5:10pm August 13, 2022

Some say benefits for fossil fuel companies in Congress's climate change legislation weaken its impact. NPR's Michel Martin speaks with energy historian Gregory Brew about the bill.

People spend time at the park at dusk during a summer heat wave in Hoboken, N.J., on July 21, 2022.

The U.S. in July set a new record for overnight warmth

2:21am August 13, 2022

by The Associated Press

The average low temperature for the lower 48 states in July was 63.6 F. It's not only the hottest nightly average for July, but for any month in 128 years of record keeping, a NOAA climatologist said.

World News

A 'monster' wildfire in France sends thousands out of their homes

5:25pm August 12, 2022

by Eleanor Beardsley

France battles a "monster" wildfire that has forced thousands to flee their homes. Wildfires in Europe this summer have broken out as heat waves bake the continent and renew focus on climate change.

Grape vines at Korbel vineyards are submerged under floodwater Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, near Guerneville, Calif. The Central Valley produces $17 billion worth of crops every year. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

A cataclysmic flood is coming for California. Climate change makes it more likely.

2:00pm August 12, 2022

by Nathan Rott

There's a long history of massive inland flooding in California. New research finds that climate change has already doubled the odds it happens again.