Environment
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As UN climate summit winds down, signs of a path forward?
Delegates at the UN climate talks are tasked with uniting some 200 nations behind a single set of rules. The process has been somewhat unwieldy. But it has also shone a light on the power of compromise.
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Techno-charged street art brings climate change to life
Discussions around climate change are often mired in heated political rhetoric. In Miami, a team of artists aims to cut through the rancor with a series of augmented reality murals.
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US presence at climate talks mirrors political rifts at home
US withdrawal from its role as multilateral leader in global affairs is apparent at the COP24 climate summit. But local leaders and career officials are showing that there's more than one way to participate.
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First Look One man's quest to make up for years of high carbon emissions
When Dirk Gratzel realized his personal carbon emissions were more than twice the national average in Germany, he made dramatic lifestyle changes to curb them. From one-minute showers to cutting out most meat and dairy, he says the changes have made his life better.
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Test Your KnowledgeCould you pass a US citizenship test? Find out.
Photos of the Week 12/17 Photos of the Week
Female inmates dressed as guards pose for a photo during Nelson Hungria Prison's annual Christmas event for inmates and jail staff in Rio de Janeiro on Dec. 13. Inmates serving time for offenses from burglary to homicide spent weeks decking out their cell blocks with handmade Christmas decorations and planning Bible-related p...
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A moral test at climate summit: What do rich nations owe poorer ones?
The Paris climate agreement was forged in a spirit of unified commitment. Now world leaders must determine how to quantify the obligation to aid developing nations in an energy transition.
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At COP24, climate consensus reigns. But what does that really mean?
For some people, acceptance of climate change comes down to belief. But for the majority of the nations gathering for COP24, it is a matter of scientific consensus, the product of a cumulative and rigorous body of research.
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Who owns the view? North Dakotans tangle over proposed wind project.
Wind power is booming in North Dakota, even as industry growth cools in many states. But the mood here is shifting, as residents grapple with conflicting views of property rights.
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Dissecting a hurricane: What makes a superstorm?
For centuries, hurricanes have been viewed as chaotic forces of nature. Today, thanks to daring pilots and advancing technology, scientists and the public are gaining valuable insight into the making of a cyclone.
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First Look Children demand climate change action through protests and lawsuits
Though children are too young to vote, they're finding ways to take action in other ways: In Australia, thousands of students skipped class Nov. 30 to protest the government's climate policies, and in the US and Canada, groups of young people are suing their governments.
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COP24: Nationalism and the challenge of climate change
At a world gathering on climate change this weekend, nations will face a key political test: whether they can transcend the narrowness of nationalism in favor of cooperation. All eyes will be on the US and China.
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First Look Brazil's president-elect wants to roll back protections for rainforest
The Amazon acts as the world's lungs – releasing 20 percent of the world's oxygen and guaranteeing rainwater across the Americas. But Jair Bolsonaro sees the rainforests and the indigenous communities who live in them as a hindrance to economic growth.
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First Look The fate of Poland's coal mines up for discussion at climate talks
In the southwestern region of Silesia, coal mining is at the heart of culture and industry. The younger generation, however, is interested in moving Poland away from its heavy dependence on coal to reduce carbon emissions, a stance that is dividing families.
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First Look How AI land maps help conservation efforts respond to climate change
In 2016, Chesapeake Conservancy took months to complete a digital map of the Chesapeake Bay, allowing conservation groups to more precisely measure change. Now the group is working with Microsoft's deep-learning technology to be faster and more accurate.
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First Look Mythical Mexican axolotl faces extinction in the canals of Xochimilco
The Mexican salamander revered by ancient Aztecs and modern geneticists is in the fight for its life as numbers outside captivity drop. A group of biologists and conservationists are working to preserve its habitat on the outskirts of Mexico City.
