Environment
Archive
Clothing companies have long relied on PFAS, or forever chemicals, to provide stellar water, stain, and oil repellency. But at what cost? New regulations are forcing your favorite apparel brands across the globe to rethink their chemistry.
Your toothbrush is part of the plastic crisis. It doesn’t have to be.
The oceans need protection like never before, and the environmental organization is redefining itself. The original focus—dramatic campaigns against whalers and seal hunters operating under the flags of nations like Japan—is giving way to an emphasis on fisheries protection in cooperation with governments. Tristram Korten rides along with Peter Hammarstedt, the Swedish activist at the heart of this strategy.
Your defunct electronics—from headlamps, digital cameras, avalanche beacons and GPS devices to fitness watches, laptops, cell phones and headphones—all contain valuable, yet hazardous resources. Here’s how to make sure they get properly recycled.
We talked to the secretaries of energy and transportation, plus the national climate advisor about the White House’s plans to flood “charging deserts” with EV infrastructure
Millions of Christmas trees wind up in the landfill after the holidays, emitting methane and taking up precious space. Don’t let yours be one of them. There are plenty of ways to put that pine to good use.
A nature walk through the Florida Everglades
Plus eight other easy, planet-friendly actions that everyone around you will start imitating
Research shows that wolves are vital to intact ecosystems, but Republicans are stoking fear in rural voters
The West isn’t always best. Here’s why one outdoorsy editor gave up Oregon and moved his family to New England.
We spoke to Kerry, the special presidential envoy for climate, about the conference’s historic agreement, which promises to end oil, gas, and coal use by 2050
A weather phenomenon coated the peak in glaze ice for a few glorious hours in November. Employees at the observatory grabbed their skates and made the most of it.
The secretary of transportation spoke to ϳԹ about his plan to save the lives of humans and wild animals simultaneously
State lawmakers should step in and ensure that the “Kelly Parcel” ends up in the hands of the National Park Service, writes our articles editor
These easy-to-make presents will show your loved ones that you care about them as well as the planet
After 50 years, one of the most consequential environmental laws in U.S. history may no longer be relevant to the world we’re living in
Sixteen young people took Montana to court to hold the state responsible for violating their right to a clean and healthful environment
The death of Manuel Paez Terán, a “Stop Cop City” protester, in January marked the first time police have shot and killed an environmental activist on U.S. soil
Give yourself the gift of a better climate future by donating to these nonprofits
The outdoor recreation economy is outpacing domestic growth
The Fifth National Climate Assessment, released by the White House this week, shows it’s not too late to act
There’s no better way to grasp the dos and don’ts of curbside recycling than seeing the sorting in action
A simple, free home energy audit showed me how to fix air leaks, insulation shortages, and other common culprits that cost me big bucks each year
The “mategration” of giant spiders across the southwest has prompted biologists and state officials to consider creative ways to circumvent roadways
No matter if the curse of Pele is real or not, tourists should leave volcanic stones where they belong
Spiders and other hairy scary critters are everywhere. It’s best—for us and the planet—if we can figure out how to coexist.
Throughout the lower 48, recreational bush pilots are using their nimble planes and social media influence to spread the word about bold frontiers in flight: touching down on remote federal lands, flocking to little-used runways in designated wilderness, and drag racing one another for pure sport. Their capstone event each season, the High Sierra Fly-In, never fails to deliver hair-raising thrills.
If the congress can't get its act together by November 17, federal firefighters will each lose $20,000 per year
Researchers say the iconic peak has lost nearly seven feet of elevation since 2021
This week, 12 of Alaska’s chubbiest bruins will face off in a bracket for the title of Fat Bear Week Champion. Here’s what you need to know.
With each chop, you’re releasing microplastics into your food
Indigenous model and activist Quannah ChasingHorse lives her life in two very different worlds
Officials found the victims on Saturday morning and euthanized a bear that exhibited aggressive behavior
A bizarre rescue in Michigan has eerie similarities to a 2022 incident in Washington State
The new jobs program will hire 20,000 young adults to boost climate resilience and environmental justice
As Republican legislators fail to reach a deal with the fringe of their own party, the National Park Service and normal people who depend on it prepare to suffer
Our list includes a pair of doughnut thieves in Alaska, a selfie taker in Colorado, and the tripod of Orlando
Sustainability 101 says only buy what you need. But when it comes to electric cars, that rule doesn’t always apply.
The top nonprofits win a customized Land Rover Defender 130 and a pile of cash. Cast your vote starting on September 15 to help choose this year’s winners.
The author of ‘How to Prepare for Climate Change’ shares his takeaways from summer 2023
The attack occurred during an organized bear hunt in northern Sweden
Artificial light makes it impossible for most people in North America to see the Milky Way. But we don’t have to live like this.
Over eight million acres of public lands are gridlocked by private property. When a group of hunters jumped from one plot of federal land to another, they ignited a debate around just how much a landowner can control.
Hawaii’s climate and ecology have changed in the last few decades, bringing fire to a landscape that hasn’t evolved to withstand it
Why even bag it if you’re not going to carry it out?
It’s not all doom and gloom. There’s good news about climate, too.
Officials in Savoie recently warned hikers to stop harvesting protected species of flowering plants from the hillsides
Heat-related deaths are on the rise across the Southwest, with multiple tragedies occurring in U.S. national parks
The Sourdough and Blue Lake Fires shut down the only road through the park, and crews are working to protect populated areas from the blazes
As extreme temperatures blaze across the nation, parks are taking extra measures to keep visitors safe
After wildfires devastated the town of Lahaina, mutual aid and community support have proven to be more robust than governmental aid
The ruling says the state has an obligation to provide residents with “a clean and healthful environment”
The delinquent black bear—who is actually a female—was finally trapped by officials near South Lake Tahoe
A quick, easy-to-understand summary of how hunting animals for their hides, horns, and antlers benefits wildlife conservation
There’s been a series of encounters in recent weeks. Research suggests that killing bruins isn’t the best way to prevent attacks.
The Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon monument will protect thousands of square miles from uranium mining
What do winners of the Defender Service Awards have in common? They make the world a better place, and now Land Rover is helping them do it.
An elaborate scheme targeted toy giant Mattel and the plastics industry by capitalizing on our big pink moment
Fifty years from now, we might be walking the Grand Canyon’s valley floor instead of running rapids down a healthy river
The nonprofit leader learned that the best way to handle an environmental crisis is to trust that your community will move forward together
New legislation is being supported by a major REI initiative
Nature is the ultimate source of wonder. But what is awe, really, and why is it good for us?
We’ve all taken in the power of a big slide on social media. But there’s no substitute for the real thing.
We talked to three experts to unpack the invisible havoc unleashed by our mindless idling epidemic
On an expedition to the arctic, the adventure photographer got a lesson from an orca on what happens when we really tune into nature
From growing plants from seeds, to repurposing food scraps, to turning trash into all-natural cleaners and beauty products, TikTok phenom Creative_explained will inspire you to waste less and save money
The renowned environmentalist knows that an effective revolution requires a movement, which is why he’s recruiting even the most unlikely activists
California’s Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act is the state’s first law aimed at protecting a species threatened by climate change
Want a hiking boot to adventure with you for years to come? Meet the Danner Mountain 600 Leaf GTX.
El Niño is officially here. That’s bad news for fragile marine ecosystems
Retreating from a wildfire during a backpacking trip inspired the nonprofit founder to share climate change’s impacts on nature with others
Investigators say Edward Frederick Wackerman intentionally started the 2022 Oak Fire. The blaze burned more than 100 homes just outside the national park.
Winners of the Defender Service Awards save bears, train service dogs, feed people in need, and more. Meet last year’s honorees—and learn how to enter the 2023 contest now!
Save money and go easier on the planet with these tips and alternatives
Working the front lines of America’s wildfires is a difficult and dangerous job, but that doesn’t mean everyone who signs up is chasing adventure
A Montana trucker accidentally ran over the cub on a desolate stretch of road. Then, the mother bear showed up.
As America continues to grapple with political uncertainty and an uneasy relationship with the planet, the author and environmentalist makes the case for an expansive and inclusive grassroots movement
Venture into a pristine world where wildlife roams by day and the cosmos comes completely alive by night
In 2016, a wildfire jumped the Athabasca River and headed straight for Fort McMurray, an Alberta oil town 600 miles south of the Arctic Circle. In this excerpt from ‘Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World,’ John Vaillant chronicles the moment the blaze enters town, forcing nearly 90,000 people to flee in what remains the largest, most rapid single-day evacuation in the history of modern fire.
The sad situation is a reminder to visitors to avoid handling wild animals