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On Thursday, a group of 17 Republicans did something slightly unusual for conservative Congressional representatives: They introduced a climate plan. “Climate plan,” at least, is one way of putting it. The strategy calls for increasing domestic production of all energy sources (including fossil fuels), streamlining the permitting process for new energy projects, increasing liquefied natural …

The emptiness of Republicans’ new climate strategy Read More »

Earlier this spring, Nebraska lawmakers passed a bill authorizing construction of a canal that would siphon water from neighboring Colorado, igniting a war of words between the two states’ leaders. Nebraska’s governor, Republican Pete Ricketts, says that the canal will “protect Nebraska’s water rights for our kids, grandkids, and generations beyond.” Colorado’s Democratic governor, Jared …

Is Nebraska building a $500 million ‘canal to nowhere’ just to own the libs? Read More »

For the first time, the United States government will approach water scarcity as a national security issue, Vice President Kamala Harris said this week.  The policy shift is part of the newly announced White House Action Plan on Global Water Security, which aims to “elevate water security” as an international priority. The strategy calls on …

Water security is now a key US foreign policy priority Read More »

This story was originally published by Yale Environment 360 and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Deep in the Rift Valley of East Africa, close to some of the most ancient human remains ever unearthed, one of the continent’s last hunter-gatherer tribes is embracing 21st century environmentalism. The Hadza people, often called “the last archers …

In Tanzania, carbon offsets preserve forests and a way of life Read More »

This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center. It is being co-published with Public Health Watch and the Investigative Reporting Workshop. Hannah Molina was buckling her toddlers into their car seats for Wednesday night church when she noticed the faint chemical odor. She felt a little lightheaded, but she didn’t think much about it. The …

A Texas county wants to punish polluters. The state won’t let it. Read More »

Around noon one day in January 2019, a dam containing waste from a Brazilian iron mine collapsed, releasing 3.4 million tons of sludge. The cascade killed 272 people and flattened houses and buildings for miles, including the mine’s offices and cafeteria, before emptying into the Paraopeba River in southeastern Brazil. Such disasters have been increasing …

Extreme weather is making mining waste a major problem Read More »

As Tropical Storm Olivia bore down on the island of Maui in September 2018, Kaliko and her family grabbed their most important belongings and fled. The storm inundated the island with more than a foot of rain, and the floodwater lifted Kaliko’s home from its foundation and washed part of it away. Now, 11-year-old Kaliko …

In Hawaii, youth are suing over climate inaction Read More »

Twelve years ago, when Democrats controlled both houses of Congress and the presidency, the country teetered on the edge of passing its first-ever comprehensive climate bill. A triumvirate of senators were negotiating bipartisan legislation that would invest in clean energy, set a price on carbon pollution, and — as a carrot for Republicans — temporarily …

Democrats and the endless pursuit of climate legislation Read More »

A report released Wednesday by two corporate accountability groups, Little Sis and the Action Center for Race and the Economy, aims to shine a spotlight on ties between leadership at Fidelity Investments and the fossil fuel industry. With $4.2 trillion under management, Fidelity Investments is one of the largest asset management firms in the world, …

Report sheds light on Fidelity’s little-known fossil fuel ties Read More »

Hurricane Agatha, the first named storm of this year’s Pacific hurricane season, slammed into the coast of southwest Mexico on Monday, bringing coastal flooding, heavy rain, and sustained winds of 105 miles per hour. It was the strongest storm to hit Mexico’s Pacific coast in the month of May since record keeping began in 1949.  …

A Pacific hurricane may kick off yet another hectic Atlantic hurricane season Read More »