Latest Environmental concerns News
California wildfires threaten famous giant sequoia trees
THREE RIVERS, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters wrapped the base of the world's largest tree in a fire-resistant blanket as they tried to save a famous grove of gigantic old-growth sequoias from wildfires burning Thursday in California’s rugged Sierra Nevada. The colossal...
Health department: Wells flooded by Ida should be tested
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Owners of private water wells that might have flooded during Hurricane Ida should have their water tested for contamination, the Louisiana Department of Health said Thursday. The department said in a news release that the wells must be...
Biden $3.5T plan tests voter appeal of expansive gov't role
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s “build back better” agenda is poised to be the most far-reaching federal investment since FDR’s New Deal or LBJ’s Great Society — a prodigious effort to tax the rich and shift money into projects and programs touching the lives of nearly...
Democrats call oil giants to testify on climate campaign
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional Democrats are calling top executives at ExxonMobil and other oil giants to testify at a House hearing as lawmakers investigate what they say is a long-running, industry-wide campaign to spread disinformation about the role of fossil fuels in causing global...
Future of Lake Tahoe clarity in question as wildfires worsen
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — When a wildfire crested the mountains near North America's largest alpine lake, embers and ash that zipped across a smoky sky pierced Lake Tahoe’s clear blue waters. The evacuation order for thousands to flee their homes has been lifted, but...
Soaring utility bills alarm Europe, raise fears for winter
MADRID (AP) — Wholesale prices for gas and electricity are surging across Europe, raising the prospect of increases in already-high utility bills and further pain for people who have taken a financial hit from the coronavirus pandemic. Governments are scrambling to find...
Ozone hole over Antarctica larger than usual, scientists say
BERLIN (AP) — Scientists say the hole in the Earth’s protective ozone layer over the Southern Hemisphere is larger than usual this year and already surpasses the size of Antarctica. The European Union’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service said Thursday that the...
EU unveils Indo-Pacific strategy, tries to allay China fears
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union on Thursday unveiled a new strategy for boosting economic, political and defense ties in the Indo-Pacific, just hours after the United States, Britain and Australia announced a new security alliance likely to reshape their relations with the vast region. ...
Blowers, mowers and more: American yards quietly go electric
For Jared Anderman, of Croton-on-Hudson, New York, switching from gasoline-powered tools to electric ones for lawn care was a no-brainer. “I’m concerned about climate change and wanted tools that are more eco-friendly, and also quieter. I like listening to music when...
Sri Lanka conservationists fight elephant smuggling in court
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Environmentalists in Sri Lanka are challenging a court order issued earlier this month that would allow the return of 14 illegally captured wild elephants to people accused of buying them from traffickers. Rights groups and lawyers say the...
