How Plants and Microorganisms Can Clean up the Mess We Make

Avoiding pollution in the first place would be best. But as we transition to a post-carbon future, biological solutions can help us find a path forward. Bioremediation is a fascinating area to explore if you are interested in ecology, ecosystems, and nature restoration. This is the process by which we use plants, bacteria, or fungi …

What Trees Can Do for You

Trees are instrumental to the quality and health of our lives, our homes, and our planet. It could be said trees naturally call for attention as they climb toward the sky with their arms outstretched. Yet, it’s still easy for us to ignore them. As we bustle through our own day-to-day lives, trees seem to …

Oil, Gas Exploration and Deforestation Threaten Africa’s Great Carbon Sink

The planet’s largest remaining carbon sink is at risk. In the center of the African continent, an immense and vital forest currently thrives. As the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest, the Congo Basin covers six countries and around 500 million acres–an area one-fourth the size of the contiguous U.S. It is a haven for both human and natural …

What’s the Difference Between Global Warming and Climate Change?

Though they are used interchangeably, the terms are indeed different. The terms “global warming” and “climate change” are often used interchangeably. In the scientific literature, climate change and global warming are inextricably linked, even if they are distinct phenomena. The simplest explanation of that linkage is that global warming is the chief cause of changes …

Climate Change Is Responsible for 37% of Heat Deaths

The climate crisis leaves more people vulnerable to heat waves than ever before. Heat waves are one of the most dangerous kinds of extreme weather events, and several studies have warned that they will become even deadlier as the climate warms.1 Now, a first-of-its-kind study published in Nature Climate Change reveals that this prediction has …

Polar sea ice continues steep decline; but will a troubled world notice?

Sea ice extent is at record, and near record, lows for this time of year in both polar regions, leaving the planet increasingly vulnerable to the cascading effects of global warming. This March, the Arctic sea ice winter maximum reached its lowest extent in the 47-year satellite record, while the Antarctic sea ice summer minimum …

Indonesians suing pulpwood firms over haze face intimidation, seek human rights protection

JAKARTA — Residents of the Indonesian province of South Sumatra are seeking protection from the country’s National Human Rights Commission after reportedly facing intimidated for filing a lawsuit against three pulpwood companies over recurring haze pollution. One of the 11 plaintiffs, Yeyen, said she was pressured by a company representative to withdraw the lawsuit just …

Celebrate Earth Day: Embrace a Greener Future

Every year on April 22nd, people around the world come together to celebrate Earth Day. It’s a day dedicated to raising awareness about environmental issues and inspiring action to protect our planet. This global movement is a powerful reminder that we all have a role to play in preserving the Earth for future generations. Whether …

Gutting clean energy incentives would drive up electric bills

Rising energy costs are a problem in the U.S. Ending Inflation Reduction Act tax credits and ramping up fossil fuels would make it even worse. The Trump administration insists that renewables are making energy more expensive and that more fossil-fueled power will reduce utility bills. But those claims are false — and if congressional Republicans …

EU’s solar and wind growth pushes fossil-fuel power to lowest level in 40 years

Over the past decade, coal power use in the European Union (EU) has fallen by 61%, according to Carbon Brief analysis of new figures from energy analysts Ember.  Solar power output in the EU more than tripled between 2014 and 2024, the report shows, with last year seeing coal generation overtaken for the first time. Meanwhile, wind generation …