Environment

The head table gets set to open the high level segment at the COP15 biodiversity conference in Montreal on Dec. 15, 2022.

Environment

Negotiators at a U.N. biodiversity conference reach a historic deal to protect nature

6:56am December 19, 2022

by The Associated Press

The most significant part of the U.N. pact is a commitment to protect 30% of land and water considered important for biodiversity by 2030, up from 17% of terrestrial and 10% of marine areas.

In this photo taken by a drone on Dec. 9, cleanup continues in the area where the ruptured Keystone pipeline dumped oil into a creek in Washington County, Kan.

The Keystone pipeline leaked in Kansas. What makes this spill so bad?

5:00am December 17, 2022

by Jaclyn Diaz

The cause for the spill is still unclear. What's known is the type of oil that was piped: tar sands oil, also called diluted bitumen. It's a lot harder to clean up than conventional oil.

The commission that regulates California's utilities decided to cut a key incentive for rooftop solar. That move has climate activists worried.

California plans to cut incentives for home solar, worrying environmentalists

10:33pm December 15, 2022

by Julia Simon

California regulators voted to reduce financial incentives for people considering rooftop solar. Climate activists worry that this will undercut greater adoption of solar in the state--and nationwide.

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Water scarcity in Westlands Water District has caused some almond growers to tear out their older orchards.

Environment

Some of America's biggest vegetable growers fought for water. Then the water ran out

6:47pm December 15, 2022

by Dan Charles

For years, powerful farmers in California's Central Valley fought for more water from the state's rivers. Now some are changing course, because there's no more water to be found.

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Environment

Oregon Department of Justice reaches a settlement with Monsanto for PCB contamination

4:19pm December 15, 2022

by Cassandra Profita

Oregon's Department of Justice has reached a nearly $700 million settlement with Monsanto for PCB contamination. It's the largest environment-related settlement in the state's history.

Used tires stacked at a Goodyear auto service location in South San Francisco, Calif., on July, 2020.

Why the government fails to limit many dangerous chemicals in the workplace

1:31pm December 15, 2022

by Sharon Lerner

The U.S. agency that's supposed to protect workers' health has all but given up on setting limits on a dangerous chemical released in tire manufacturing. Meanwhile, workers are dying.

Calif. commission to decide whether to cut a key incentive for rooftop solar

5:16am December 15, 2022

by Julia Simon

California's public utilities commission will vote on whether to get rid of a program that allows homeowners with solar panels to sell their excess power back to the grid.

The multi-billion dollar National Ignition Facility has used 192 laser beams to create net energy from a tiny pellet of nuclear fuel.

U.S. reaches a fusion power milestone. Will it be enough to save the planet?

12:36pm December 13, 2022

by Geoff Brumfiel

A giant laser facility in Livermore, Calif., says it has created net energy from nuclear fusion. It's an important breakthrough, but fusion power remains a distant dream.

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The mountain lion known as P-22, photographed in November 2014 in the Griffith Park area near downtown Los Angeles, is undergoing health evaluations after being captured on Monday.

Hollywood's famous, aging mountain lion has been captured by authorities. Now what?

10:38am December 13, 2022

by Rachel Treisman

P-22 has lived in Griffith Park for a decade, earning nicknames like the "Hollywood Cat" and the "Brad Pitt of mountain lions." He is undergoing health evaluations after exhibiting signs of distress.

Monica Hudson said she has to be very careful pruning, since mistakes take longer to grow out for trees living in pots.

Potted Christmas trees are a rentable alternative to their fake and fresh-cut cousins

8:10am December 13, 2022

by Halisia Hubbard

For Christmas tree shoppers who want a real live tree that's reusable like an artificial one, there may be another option: rentable potted trees that are planted in the ground when they grow too big.