Environment

Environment

This Red Oak Tree Has Its Own Twitter And It Shares Insight About Climate Change

5:32pm August 14, 2019

Deep in a forest of central Massachusetts stands an average red oak tree. Nothing is special about it, except for the fact that it tweets, offering insight into climate change.

Mississippi River floodwaters inundate the pavilion and a play area at Harriet Island in St. Paul, Minn., this past March.

Wet, Wild And High: Lakes And Rivers Wreak Havoc Across Midwest, South

11:47am August 14, 2019

by Cheryl Corley

Parts of the Mississippi have been above flood stage for months. All of the Great Lakes are at or near record-high levels. It's halting barge traffic, damaging infrastructure and eroding shorelines.

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A Newark, N.J., resident carries a case of bottled water distributed Monday at a recreation center. The Environmental Protection Agency said residents shouldn't rely on water filters the city gave out to address lead contamination.

Newark's Drinking Water Problem: Lead And Unreliable Filters

8:11pm August 13, 2019

by Sasha Ingber

Officials in the New Jersey city began to hand out water bottles this week after the Environmental Protection Agency said filtered drinking water samples exceeded government thresholds on lead levels.

The river that once snaked through the village is now a large trash heap.

How Bad Is Pakistan's Plastic Bag Problem? See For Yourself

5:47pm August 13, 2019

Prime Minister Imran Khan's ban on plastic bags in Pakistan goes into effect on Aug. 14. Environmentalists say it's a good idea — but argue that the plan is flawed.

Environment

Why Utility Companies Are Key To Slowing Climate Change

5:13pm August 13, 2019

by Dan Charles

Some of the oldest companies in America are in the climate change debate. Utilities are supposed to deliver electricity cheaply and reliably. Now, regulators are trying to make them go green.

Cows graze on a grass field at a farm in Schaghticoke, N.Y. The grass-fed movement is based on the idea of regenerative agriculture.

Is Grass-Fed Beef Really Better For The Planet? Here's The Science

2:46pm August 13, 2019

by Nancy Matsumoto

There are many elements to consider: climate, animal welfare, greenhouse gas emissions, land use. And with so many factors at play, sometimes the answer gets complicated.

Why Are Salmon Being Found Dead In Rivers Across Western Alaska?

7:29am August 13, 2019

by Anna Rose MacArthur

The largest die-off reported comes from the Koyukuk River, a tributary of the Yukon. Researchers suspect record warm waters as the cause but not all salmon are affected.

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A bald eagle prepares to take off from a pine tree in Pembroke Pines, Fla. The eagle population rebounded after protections put in place under the Endangered Species Act.

Trump Administration Makes Major Changes To Protections For Endangered Species

7:35pm August 12, 2019

by Nathan Rott

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt says the revisions will make the landmark conservation law more efficient. Critics say it will hurt endangered plants and animals as they face mounting threats.

Trump Draws Backlash From Wildlife Groups For Revisions To Endangered Species Act

5:28pm August 12, 2019

by Nathan Rott

The Trump administration is changing the way it enforces the Endangered Species Act. Critics say it will leave more plants and animals vulnerable to extinction.

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This tree-planting photo was submitted with an application for a gun license in Ferozepur, a city in India's Punjab state.

To Get A Gun License, First You Have To Plant 10 Trees

9:38am August 09, 2019

by Kamala Thiagarajan

That's the new rule in Ferozepur, a district in India's Punjab state. As proof you have to submit a photo of yourself with your saplings.