The farmers and ranchers who descended on City Hall in Jacksonville, Texas, had been told to “leave their pitchforks at the door.” While everyone ultimately arrived unarmed, the attendees of the June 19 board meeting of the Neches & Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District were ready for a fight. In...
At COP30 in Brazil, countries plan to armor themselves against a warming world
Bill Gates scandalized much of the climate advocacy world late last month when he called for a “strategic pivot” in climate action. The Microsoft cofounder and billionaire philanthropist argued for shifting attention away from global temperature targets and toward the work of preparing for the consequences of global warming. Or,...
How the shutdown broke America’s food chain — and what happens next
In a dramatic twist of political defections and contentious concessions, the longest ever federal shutdown came to a close late last Wednesday as Congress finally managed to agree on a deal to reopen the government. Government agencies are now beginning to resume operations, employees are returning to work, and federal...
The birth of the climate doula
In the days leading up to Hurricane Irma’s landfall in September 2017, Esther Louis made preparations to flee Florida with her husband and four children. The Category 4 Hurricane was expected to hit the Florida Keys and make it’s way up the state, posing a risk to millions of residents....
‘Everyone is exhausted’: First week of COP30 marked by frustration with slow progress
Frustration about slow progress at the United Nations climate talks boiled over this week. After hours under the equatorial sun at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, scores of protesters pushed past security guards Tuesday evening and briefly occupied parts of the negotiating area, calling for an end to mining and logging in...
The climate paradox of having a dog
I’ve been a vegetarian for over a decade. It’s not because of my health, or because I dislike the taste of chicken or beef: It’s a lifestyle choice I made because I wanted to reduce my impact on the planet. And yet, twice a day, every day, I lovingly scoop...
How urban farms can make cities more livable and help feed America
If you’ve spent any time on a roof, you know that it’s not especially pleasant up there — blazing in the summer, frigid and windy in the winter. Slap some solar panels up there, though, and the calculus changes: Shaded from gusts and excessive sunlight, crops can proliferate, a technique...
COP30 has big plans to save the rainforest. Indigenous activists say it’s not enough.
On Friday, at least 100 Indigenous protestors blocked the entrance to the 30th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP30, in Belém, Brazil. The action comes on the heels of an action earlier this week when hundreds of Indigenous peoples marched into the conference, clashing with security, and pushing...
‘They’re playing games’: Illinois lawmakers press Trump administration over stalled lead-pipe funding
Lead pipes are ubiquitous. At this point, no state has gotten rid of all of its toxic lead service lines, which pipe drinking water to homes and businesses. But some cities like Chicago, New York City, and Detroit, have more lead plumbing than others, and replacing it can cost tens...
What will it take to rebuild Jamaica’s food system after Hurricane Melissa?
In the three weeks since Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica, with destructive winds of up to 185 miles per hour, authorities have been busy addressing immediate crises and assessing the damage. The strongest hurricane ever recorded to hit the Caribbean nation, Melissa collided with houses and property and downed power lines...