Environment

Cars make their way toward downtown Los Angeles on April 22. California could regain the right to set its own vehicle emissions standards after the Environmental Protection Agency announced it was moving to curb a Trump-era policy that sought to erode the

Environment

White House Is Preparing To Give Back California's Smog-Busting Powers

5:49pm April 26, 2021

by Camila Domonoske

California may regain the right to set its own vehicle emissions standards as part of the Biden administration's push to reverse Trump-era environmental policies.

Biden Taps A Former Top Scientist At NOAA To Lead The Weather And Climate Agency

5:27pm April 25, 2021

by Eric McDaniel

Rick Spinrad previously served as the agency's top scientist. His nomination comes at a difficult period for NOAA, which spent the Trump administration mired in scandal and without a permanent leader.

Firms May Have To Disclose Climate-Related Risks In Financial Disclosures

8:43am April 25, 2021

by H.J. Mai

Companies like to talk about fighting climate change. But they're not necessarily keen to admit if they have a factory in an area prone to flooding or if their supplier was just hit by a hurricane.

Environment

Life Kit: Green Living

5:02pm April 24, 2021

by Dan Charles

The heating, cooling and lighting in buildings account for nearly a third of U.S. greenhouse emissions. NPR's Life Kit has tips for how to shrink the carbon footprint of your house or apartment.

U.S. Steps Back Into Leadership Role To Battle Global Climate Change

8:32am April 24, 2021

by Jeff Brady

At a virtual summit, President Biden set a goal to cut U.S. global warming emissions in half by 2030. Administration officials and business leaders discussed what it would take to meet that goal.

A woman wearing an orange floral, button-down dress carries a green mesh bag full of produce and holds extra produce in her arms.

Environment

Life Kit Episodes To Help You Live More Sustainably — From The Kitchen To The Closet

7:00am April 24, 2021

by Clare Lombardo

Climate change calls for systemic solutions — but we can all do our part to reduce waste and trim our carbon footprint. These Life Kit episodes can get you started.

A fracking site in Kern County, Calif. Fracking — short for hydraulic fracturing — is the process of extracting oil deep underground using a high-pressure water mixture to break up rock.

California Governor Moves To Ban Fracking By 2024

7:59pm April 23, 2021

by Emma Bowman

Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered state officials to halt issuing new fracking permits by then as he looks to phase out all oil extraction by 2045.

Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry tells NPR that the U.S., China and other major emitters aren't doing enough to stem climate change.

John Kerry Says Climate Change Is An 'Existential' Crisis

6:04pm April 23, 2021

by Ari Shapiro

John Kerry, Biden's special envoy for climate, says climate change is an existential crisis. "And the question is, are we behaving as if it is? And the answer is no."

Queue Listen Now

Climate Migrants Battle Flooding Again

4:29pm April 23, 2021

by Ezra David Romero

East Palo Alto is a lower-income, more diverse city than its better-known neighbor. It's also more vulnerable to flooding from rising seas, and now many residents are pushing for protection.

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Abnormally Dry California Forests Are A Grim Warning For 2021's Wildfire Season

4:29pm April 23, 2021

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with reporter Amy Graff from SFGate about a grim sign for 2021's wildfire season: low moisture in California forests.