Environment

Climate Change Is A Top Campaign Issue — At Least For Democrats

9:56pm October 20, 2020

Former Vice President Biden says tackling climate change is all about creating jobs. We examine his ambitious plans to make the U.S. economy carbon neutral and challenges he would face as president.

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A photo taken in July shows what's left of the Jeffrey asbestos mine in Asbestos, Quebec. The town has voted to change its name to Val-des-Sources.

The Town Of Asbestos, Quebec, Chooses A New, Less Hazardous Name

4:55pm October 20, 2020

by Laurel Wamsley

The former mining town has watched its name transform from an asset in the late 1800s to a liability in recent decades. Residents voted to change the name to Val-des-Sources, or valley of the springs.

Study: Plastic Baby Bottles Shed Microplastics When Heated. Should You Be Worried?

6:43pm October 19, 2020

by Maria Godoy

The implications for a child's health are not yet known. The study's authors urge people not to panic — and stress the need for more research.

Wildfires Jeopardize Access To Drinking Water

4:41pm October 19, 2020

by Luke Runyon

This summer's record-breaking wildfires have reduced some forests to burnt trees and heaps of ash. In towns, the ash could clog pipes and cause problems with drinking water systems for years.

What Would A 2nd Trump Term Mean For The Environment?

7:11am October 19, 2020

President Trump touts his success at boosting fossil fuels and rolling back climate rules. But he's faced setbacks in court and pushback from states and industry.

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Kendall-Osborne finds a small jewelry box in the remains of her Deer Park home, one of the few recognizable items left behind.

Environment

Undisclosed: Most Homebuyers And Renters Aren't Warned About Flood Or Wildfire Risk

9:00am October 18, 2020

Wildfires and floods threaten tens of millions of properties in the U.S. But most Americans get little or no information about climate risks when they move.

A Thailand-based oil and gas company had offered to pay for a new school in Shadyside, Ohio. But with its local project now on hold, superintendent John Haswell says all he can do is "wait and wait."

Appalachian Town Must 'Wait And Wait' As Pandemic Puts Plastics Plant On Hold

1:27pm October 17, 2020

by Reid Frazier

For a decade, growing American gas production has fueled a petrochemical boom. There are big plans for more plants in Appalachia, but the pandemic — and an oversupply of plastics — may crush them.

How Americans Feel About Climate Change And Disasters That Affect The U.S.

4:07pm October 16, 2020

As climate disasters grow in the U.S., NPR talks with people around the country about how they are feeling — both during this moment and about the future.

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'Timber Wars' Podcast To Look At Cultural Divide Over How To Manage Forests

4:07pm October 16, 2020

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Aaron Scott of Oregon Public Broadcasting about his new podcast, Timber Wars, which deals with the origins of the debate over how U.S. forests are managed.

Read President Trump's and Democratic nominee Joe Biden's plans on the environment.

Environment

Trump's And Biden's Plans For The Environment

9:45am October 16, 2020

by Elena Moore

Here's how the environmental priorities of the Republican president and his Democratic challenger compare.