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Yale Environment 360
Older Humpbacks Prove Better at Wooing Mates
As humpback whale populations recover, researchers are gaining a richer understanding of these wondrous creatures. A new study suggests it may take years for humpbacks to learn how to successfully serenade a mate.
The E.U.’s Burgeoning Repair Movement Is Set to Get a Boost
Europe’s new Right to Repair Directive will make it easier — and cheaper — for consumers to get their household goods fixed, rather than buy something new. Part of the E.U.’s Green Deal, the plan is expected to slash waste, promote recycling, and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
A.I. Weather Models Fell Short in Predicting Northeastern Blizzard
While artificial intelligence has ushered in a new era of more accurate weather forecasting, A.I. models may still struggle to predict freak storms. This week a historic blizzard blanketed the Northeast in snow, dumping more than 2 feet on parts of New York and Massachusetts, and a conventional weather model outperformed A.I. models in accurately predicting the storm.
Warming Raises the Risk That Multiple Wildfires Strike at Once
The extreme heat, high winds, and severe dry conditions that produce towering, fast-moving flames that advance by the acre are not just becoming more common; new research shows that these factors are increasingly arising in multiple regions at the same time, creating the conditions for simultaneous wildfires around the world.
A High-Stakes Lawsuit Against a French Oil Giant Is Closely Watched in Africa
Hearings began Thursday in the first major climate suit of a multinational oil company in France. Judges will decide if oil giant TotalEnergies must curb its production of fossil fuels to keep its emissions in check. Among those following the case are African campaigners now rallying against a controversial pipeline backed by the oil giant.
Baboon Raiders: In Cape Town, Can Big Primates and People Coexist?
For years, baboons have roamed Cape Town suburbs, entering yards and houses in search of food. Now officials have a conservation plan aimed at reducing conflicts between the large primates and people — but like most things baboon-related here, it is sparking heated controversy.
Brazilian Amazon on Track for Record Low Deforestation
The Brazilian Amazon is on pace to see forest clearing hit a record low this year, government figures show. Officials credit the decline to stepped-up enforcement against illegal deforestation.
Even in Antarctica, Insects Are Eating Microplastics
Microscopic particles of plastic have been found across the Earth, from the clouds over Mount Fuji to the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. Now, scientists have found microplastics in the bellies of Antarctic midges, the only insects found exclusively in Antarctica.
Despite Rollbacks, U.S. Fossil Fuels Face Tough Road Ahead
Last week, the Trump administration declared the federal government has no legal authority to regulate greenhouse gases, its latest move aimed at weakening regulations and boosting fossil fuels. And yet, analysts continue to see waning fortunes for miners and drillers.
Warming Tripled the Odds of Patagonia Wildfires
The climate crisis inflamed wildfires that left 23 people dead in Chile and devastated forests in Argentina that host some of the world’s oldest trees, scientists have found.
As Renewables Take Center Stage in China, Coal Is Moving Into a Supporting Role
In China, the rapid buildout of wind and solar power is pushing coal into decline. China is now upgrading its vast fleet of coal plants to serve as a complement to wind and solar, rather than as a source of baseload power. Analysts say the country is on track to retrofit almost every coal plant by the end of next year.
Scientists See Growing Risk of 'Hothouse Earth' as Warming Gains Pace
Warming is accelerating, threatening a cascade of tipping points that destabilize the climate. In a new paper, scientists say the risk of "hothouse Earth" is greater than once believed.
How Ukraine Is Turning to Renewables to Keep Heat and Lights On
Russia continues to bomb Ukraine’s fossil-fueled power plants, leaving much of the nation shivering during a brutal winter. But Ukraine’s new emphasis on developing decentralized power — from solar panels to wind turbines — is advancing an unexpected green energy transition.
Wolf Found in Los Angeles for the First Time in a Century
For the first time in at least a century, a gray wolf has been found in Los Angeles County. Its arrival is a milestone in the return of the long-embattled predator.
Seas to Rise Around the World — but Not in Greenland
As the planet warms, seas will rise around the world — but not in Greenland, where they are projected to fall by several feet, according to a new study.
U.S. Push for Greenland’s Minerals Faces Harsh Arctic Realities
President Trump has made access to Greenland’s vast reserves of critical minerals a focus of ongoing negotiations. But experts say the U.S. is underestimating the difficulties of mining in a rapidly changing Arctic region that is warming faster than anywhere else on Earth.
As the Arctic Gets Louder, Narwhals Are Going Quiet
In a warming Arctic, noise from growing shipping traffic is interfering with the ability of narwhals to hunt and communicate.
China to See Solar Capacity Outstrip Coal Capacity This Year
This year China will see its solar capacity outstrip its coal capacity for the first time, according to an industry group.
India Says Its Grasslands Are 'Wastelands.' Medieval Folklore Suggests Otherwise
The sprawling grasslands of western India are, in the popular imagination, the remains of woodlands that were leveled under British rule — areas to be reforested, rather than conserved. But a recent analysis of stories, songs, and poems from centuries past reveals that western grasslands predate British colonization.
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