A century of rising temperatures has extended the growing season of hardwood forests in the eastern U.S. by one month, a new study finds. Growing season lasts from the first budburst in spring until trees turn gold and crimson in the fall. As spring and fall grow warmer, trees are bearing their leaves for longer, the research shows. For the […]
At the Crossroads: A Dire Yet Encouraging Climate Report From the United Nations
“Climate change is a threat to human well-being and planetary health,” the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) wrote in a new report. The report issued a dire warning about the pace of global warming but acknowledges that humans are making progress toward reversing climate change. “There is a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a livable […]
Earth Action: Saving Water
The UN Water Conference takes place this week in New York City on World Water Day (March 22), bringing together leaders from around the world to discuss and address the critical issue of water scarcity. While those who have the means are tackling the water crisis on a global level, individuals can take action to conserve this precious resource in […]
Best of Earth911 Podcast: Discover Kuni, Japan’s Urban-Rural Connection, With Author Richard McCarthy
Urban-rural and youth-elder divisions in society represent some of the most difficult challenges to having a robust conversation about how to reduce emissions and waste, what we value as a society, and the path to a sustainable, carbon-neutral society. A just future will be codesigned by all of us to some extent, but we need to reconnect to move from […]
Lauded as Green Model, Costa Rica Faces Unrest in Its Forests
Costa Rica has a green halo. In recent decades, the small Central American nation has transformed itself from a notorious hotspot for deforestation into a beacon of reforestation that is the envy of the world. Many of its more than 12,000 species of plants, 1,200 butterflies, 800 birds, and 650 mammals, reptiles, and amphibians have gone from bust to boom, […]
We Earthlings: Local Produce = More Jobs
Reduced carbon emissions from food transport are not the only reason it’s more sustainable to eat locally grown fruits and vegetables. There are also economic benefits. Nearly three times as many jobs are created by farms that sell their produce locally — such as in farmers markets or CSAs — than by wholesale-only farms. Data source: Shopping Your Values: Buy Local […]
Analysis: Coal returns to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
Photo credit: Jeff Zehnder / Alamy. By Zofeen Ebrahim Progress towards the construction of a China-funded coal power plant in Gwadar raises questions about the climate pledges of both China and Pakistan. News that the Pakistan government plans to secure financing and start construction on a long-stalled 300-megawatt coal-fired power plant in the port city of Gwadar has triggered a […]
The Rise of Biodegradable Plastics & New Recycling Technology
Biodegradable plastics have emerged as a potential solution to the severe environmental problem caused by the production and disposal of traditional plastic. These plastics can be made from natural sources like plant-based materials and micro-organisms such as bacteria that can be used in a variety of industries such as packaging, construction, and healthcare. While plastic pollution remains a significant issue, […]
Earth911 Podcast: Clean Earth Rovers CEO Michael Arens on Cleaning Waterways and Bays
Some of the dirtiest, plastic-polluted waters lie at the heart of major cities, in ports, marinas, and where wastewater enters the environment. They are hard to keep clean because of constant activity that adds new waste to waterways. The work is wet, cold, and dirty, which makes port and marina cleanups an ideal job for robots. Meet Michael Arens, co-founder […]