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Environment

First Look Hurricane lessons: the effect on rainforests offer insight into climate change

Ongoing experiments in Puerto Rican rainforests are examining how already stressed ecosystems respond to severe weather such as hurricanes. The findings may hold the key to understanding how other regions might respond and adapt to global climate change.
Has the EPA lost its teeth? House to investigate dwindling enforcement.

Deregulation has been a hallmark of the Trump administration's EPA. But data suggests that the agency may be bypassing the courts by declining to enforce pollution violations.

First Look Toxic water: US abandoned mines leak millions of gallons daily

Old sites mined for gold, silver, and lead for more than a century now leave behind a toxic legacy of flowing, untreated wastewater. The mining pollution, which will require billions of dollars to clean up, should be addressed on a systematic basis, experts say.
Green New Deal: Saving America or turning it socialist?

What’s the best path to move the United States toward an emissions-free future? For most voters, the answer has as much to do with their economic worldview as their ideas about the environment.

Photos of the Week 02/18 Photos of the week

Revelers march and shout to the crowd during the Chinese Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown, New York, Feb. 17.

Nearly 2 billion people depend on Himalayan glaciers. What if they melt?

Climate change could drastically reduce glacier cover in the Hindu Kush Himalayas. What will that mean for the people who call the region home?
The orchid whisperers: Rare blooms find an urban perch

Can planting endangered plants in urban settings help heal the disconnect between humans and nature? Conservationists in Miami are trying a fresh approach to both landscaping and saving native plants.
Outdoor gear with a side of politics: More retailers embrace activism

Can an industry that has traditionally been focused on profit lead value-driven change? A cohort of outdoor brands are stepping into that realm, even going as far as endorsing political candidates.
Putting the sun in Sunshine State? Florida’s about-face on solar power

Solar power has long been a pet issue for progressives and environmentalists. But in Florida, utilities are starting to embrace the technology for economic reasons.
Climate’s pressure on energy firms isn’t just political, it’s financial

PG&E’s bankruptcy filing has wider implications. Will CEOs’ and shareholders’ closer attention to the business risks of warming accelerate the move to low-carbon power?
First Look Ocean mixing that drives climate discovered in surprise location

Scientists have found that a section of the Atlantic Ocean previously considered an "engine" of the world’s climate is actually hundreds of miles in another direction. Understanding ocean circulation offers critical insights into its affects on droughts and the frequency of hurricanes.
Focus Life after coal: Miners wonder how they fit into a low-carbon future.

As the needs of a changing planet butt up against local economies, tough questions are emerging about how to help the global population without creating overwhelming hardship for vulnerable individuals.
First Look In China, missing pangolins show endangered species not protected by laws

Even though China has adopted laws against trade in many endangered species, enforcement and oversight are lax. An environmental nonprofit in Beijing has launched an investigation after 33 trafficked pangolins died in government captivity, and their bodies went missing.
First Look Scientists to explore Indian Ocean's uncharted depths

An unprecedented, three-year mission will explore the Indian Ocean, one of the world's final frontiers. The expedition will document changes taking place beneath the waves that could affect billions of people as the region begins to feel the effects of global warming.
Farmers have a beef with plant- or lab-grown ‘meat.’ Should you care?

How we speak can say a lot about how we think – and it can influence how we spend. Consider a rancher-led battle over food labels, where ‘plant-based meat’ is either an oxymoron or cutting-edge Earth-friendly cuisine.