Environment
Despair flows after England's Sycamore Gap tree is cut down. Could it regrow?
The famous tree in northern England is believed to have been around 200 years old. Efforts are under way to salvage it through regrowth or grafting — or starting over from a new seed.
(Image credit: Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)
How the Sierra Club is adapting to the political challenges of the 21st century
Politicians in red states sometimes resist green policies. NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Ben Jealous, executive director of the Sierra Club, about how they're trying to bring red and green together.
Fossil fuel rules catch Western towns between old economies and new green goals
The Biden administration is trying to dramatically change how and where oil and gas drilling occurs on federal land, which is getting mixed reviews in longtime drilling boom-towns.
(Image credit: Kirk Siegler/NPR)
Quagga Mussels Invade Idaho
Tiny, highly invasive mussels have been found in the Snake River in Idaho, prompting an urgent response from officials. The mussels can devastate ecosystems, hydroelectric dams and more.
Maui residents grapple with rumors about the fire and aid as they try to rebuild
As if the most deadly wildfires in modern U.S. history hadn't been devastating enough, Maui residents were then hit with rumors and conspiracy theories, making some people hesitant to seek help.
Louisiana asks for a federal emergency, saltwater threatens Mississippi River
As saltwater creeps up the Mississippi River towards New Orleans, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is preparing to transport huge barges of fresh water to maintain safe drinking levels.
A new climate change report offers something unique: hope
Electric vehicles and solar power are growing quickly and offering hope the world could still meet climate change goals.
(Image credit: Rick Bowmer/AP)
Cars are a major predator for wildlife. How is nature adapting to our roads?
Environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb says cars are killing animals, while highways cut off them off from their food sources and migration paths. His new book is Crossings.
(Image credit: Devon OpdenDries/Getty Images)
The U.S. needs minerals for green tech. Will Western mines have enough water?
As the U.S. plans new mines for copper, lithium and other metals to use in green technologies, mining projects in the West could threaten scarce water supplies.
(Image credit: Julia Simon/NPR)
Thousands of federal firefighters face a looming pay cut. How much is up to Congress
The bipartisan infrastructure law granted federal firefighters a big pay bump. Amid a looming government shutdown, that wage increase will expire, leaving first responders unsure about their income.
(Image credit: Noah Berger/AP)
Young climate activists challenging 32 governments will get their day in court
Six young activists are due Wednesday at the European Court of Human Rights, where they're accusing 32 governments of violating their human rights for failing to adequately address climate change.
(Image credit: Ana Brigida/AP)
Norovirus in the wilderness? How an outbreak spread on the Pacific Crest Trail
Having this virus is bad enough at home, where you might spend hours hugging the toilet. Imagine having it out camping. Investigators wanted to find out how backpackers were getting and spreading it.
(Image credit: Mia Catharine Mattioli/CDC)
Vaccines are still tested with horseshoe crab blood. The industry is finally changing
The horseshoe crab bleeding industry is in transition. One biomedical company agreed to more oversight, and a regulatory group is paving the way for drug companies to use animal-free alternatives.
(Image credit: Ariane Müller)
A lawsuit is challenging the vast number of airstrips in Idaho's protected wilderness
Idaho has more backcountry airstrips and wilderness pilots than any state other than Alaska. Many airstrips were incorporated into protected wilderness but now conservationists are challenging them.
NAACP signs agreement with FEMA to advance equity in disaster resilience
As part of the collaborative effort, the NAACP's Emergency Management Task Force will regularly meet with FEMA to advance its progress on equity within disaster preparedness.
(Image credit: NAACP)
From hangry to chonky: Fat Bear Week is coming
There can be only one — and they shall be rotund. The brown bears of Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska have been plumping themselves up, to prepare for a new hibernation season.
(Image credit: Felicia Jimenez/NPS Photo)
You've likely seen this ranch on-screen — burned by wildfire, it awaits its next act
The Woolsey wildfire devastated most of Paramount Ranch's Hollywood heritage in 2018. Human-driven climate change is demanding difficult decisions about what to preserve in the rebuilding process.
(Image credit: Matthew Simmons/Getty Images)
How wildfire smoke is erasing years of progress toward cleaning up America's air
A new study finds that smoke from massive wildfires has eroded about a quarter of the air quality gains from the last few decades.
(Image credit: David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
Biden is unveiling the American Climate Corps, a program with echoes of the New Deal
The White House says the program will provide paid training to 20,000 Americans in its first year. It's much smaller than its New Deal predecessor, but targets a more diverse group of young people.
(Image credit: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
A Northern California tribe works to protect traditions in a warming world
The Oak Fire last year threatened the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation's way of life. Now the tribe is restoring ancient heritage sites and cultural practices in collaboration with local agencies.
(Image credit: Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation)