Over the past few weeks, the planet, atmosphere, and ocean have hit historically high temperatures. July 4, 2023, was the hottest day in recorded history. It’s time to make changes that have been talked about too long. Earth911 is taking a step to help accelerate the development of the circular economy, which can reduce the need to extract raw materials […]
When the global population reached 5 billion in 1987, that number seemed almost inconceivable. But today, there are more than 8 billion people on the planet and by 2056, we could reach 10 billion humans. Without technical innovation and changes in human behavior, Earth’s ecosystems may not be able to support that population. Many people think that overpopulation is a […]
Recent news of killer whales sinking boats may bring to mind Jaws or Moby Dick. But before we decide that orcas are sadistic jerks out for personal revenge, consider another possible explanation. The behavior could be symptomatic of environmental stresses, like loss of prey, that orcas are experiencing around the world. The orcas also might just be playing around. We […]
For humans and animals alike, surviving the winter used to be the challenge. In summertime, the living was easy. But with climate change, average temperatures are rising so much that animals’ natural ranges are shifting and record-breaking heat waves are becoming life threatening. These days, even in summertime, wildlife gardening is less about attracting wildlife and more about helping them […]
Last year, Earth911 encouraged readers to take action by signing a petition to protect endangered shark species. And it appears that world leaders listened. At the CITES Convention in Panama last November, delegates elected to greatly expand the number of shark and ray species protected under CITES. The international treaty now covers more than 100 endangered and threatened species of […]
They light up the sky beautifully, those bright and bold fireworks. But they don’t come without environmental hazards, no matter what time of year they blast off. The composition of fireworks creates highly toxic gases when they are lit. And those pollutants can poison not only the air but water and soil, threatening human and animal life. Fireworks are pretty, […]
June 29 is the day the world gets a definitive answer to the question, “Are things getting better in the tropics?” The question might not seem particularly relevant to those of us living in North America. But the tropics and the temperate zones are closely interrelated. Each region has serious environmental and economic impacts on the other. The fact is, […]
Shrinking biodiversity and increasing climate change are twin environmental crises. And like most twins, they are inseparable. As each problem grows worse, it reinforces the other. Similarly, any action that fights climate change also helps to protect biodiversity and vice versa. One of the most effective ways to keep carbon in the ground and species in the landscape is habitat […]
This month, the wildfire seasons that have choked western cities for the past five years arrived on the eastern seaboard, where cities, including New York and Philadelphia, were engulfed by smoke from Canadian wildfires. It’s time to adapt our lives to the consequences of climate change, making changes to protect our health indoors and outdoors. Wildfire seasons have become longer, […]
Most people who have pets do so because they love animals. Wild animals can be particularly appealing because of the novelty of having something no one else does; an interest in a particular species sparked by social media or TV; or craving a deeper connection with the natural world. But there are more reasons to leave them in the wild. […]