Environment
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First Look Underdogs no more: African wild dogs make comeback in Mozambique
After near extinction in the 1970s due to famine and disease, African wild dogs have been re-introduced in Gorongosa National Park as part of a carefully planned project to restore the species in a diverse ecosystem where it can thrive.
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First Look To avert potential wildfires, officials across Southwest close national forests
Extreme drought in southwestern Colorado has caused San Juan National Forest officials to close many parks and trails in an effort to resolve ongoing wildfires and prevent more from starting, a move that has already been made in both Arizona and New Mexico.
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First Look Divers help to remove abandoned, destructive 'ghost' nets
Lost or discarded fishing gear known as 'ghost nets' float unsupervised in today's oceans, and they're trapping fish and disturbing underwater ecosystems. Volunteer divers are working to retrieve an estimated 640,000 tons of gear from the ocean floor.
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First Look Hawaii volcano spews out lava ... and information for scientists
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano is providing scientists with new insights on how volcanoes work and the patterns they follow. Scientists are now predicting volcanic activity, especially eruptions, more accurately, which will help nearby residences evacuate to safety earlier.
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Rethinking disposable straws – for the sake of the oceans
A movement to ban single-use plastic straws and bags is gaining momentum around the world.
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First Look Boston hosts international mayors to address threats of rising sea levels
The International Mayors Climate Summit, being held at Boston University, is where officials will meet to discuss how their cities will adapt to climate change. Boston is working to develop new policies and structures that can stand sturdy against a changing environment.
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Transforming air pollution into talk-provoking art
By using exhaust to make ink, Graviky Labs hopes to spur conversation about air pollution.
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First Look Plastic waste piles up globally due to China import ban
The United States, Japan, Germany, and others have long used China as a dumping ground for plastic waste, exporting an estimated 116 million tons of waste since 1992. Now, the country's recent ban is serving as a wake-up call for countries to manage waste better.
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First Look Thailand takes first step toward total ban of e-waste
Electronic waste – while a lucrative business for processing plants – releases harmful lead, mercury, cadmium, and other toxins into the environment. E-waste is a growing problem in Southeast Asia as China cracks down on its recycling and e-waste imports, the world's main dumping ground for e-waste for the past two decades.
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Poachers become protectors: How tigers bounced back in an Indian park
Who knows how to fight poaching better than former poachers themselves? A program in Periyar Tiger Reserve has reduced poaching by not only policing the park, but also by giving former poachers an alternate economic lifeline.
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First Look EPA announces plan to clean up Colorado mines
Over the next five years, the Environmental Protection Agency will work to remove or control toxic contaminants from campgrounds, mine waste piles, ponds, and rivers.
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One company's plan to create affordable green housing in Nigeria
Founded by Chinwe Ohajuruka, The Comprehensive Design Service aims to provide simple, sustainable housing to people in Nigeria who otherwise could not afford home ownership due to high building costs and a rapidly expanding urban population.
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Despite natural gas boom, this Texas town is going 100% renewable
As US communities shift away from fossil fuels, cities and towns are grappling with the challenge of just how much they can rely on renewable energy. Denton, Texas, aims to show the way.
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First Look Portugal races to protect its citizens against wildfires – with goats
Deadly wildfires in Portugal killed 106 people in 2017. Now, government officials are focusing on prevention. One part of the solution: hiring dozens of goat herds to eat vegetation that could otherwise be potential kindling for forest fires.
Photos of the Week 0625 Photos of the Week
A standing guard soldier gets his sweat wiped off by his chief at the Mamayev Kurgan World War II memorial complex in Volgograd, Russia, on June 21.
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How Fukushima turned a nuclear advocate into an antinuclear champion
Naoto Kan, Japan's former prime minister, was devoted to the idea of nuclear power. But after his country's nuclear disaster in 2011, he turned into an improbable activist against atomic energy. Can he persuade the pro-nuke French?
- First Look As clean energy prices fall, rural communities in Asia, Africa benefit
- First Look France looks to speed up wind power projects
- First Look 20 countries agree to end coal use by 2030
- First Look Booming US crude oil exports raises questions about infrastructure capability
