Environment
Indian Cities Are Becoming Urban Heat Islands
The urban heat island effect is growing in large cities like Delhi and Mumbai, and will exacerbate the risks posed by heat waves.
Why the Amazon Is on Fire
The rash of wildfires now consuming the Amazon rainforest can be blamed on a host of human factors, from climate change to deforestation to Brazilian politics.
Will Sea-Level Rise Claim Egypt’s Second-Largest City?
Al-Max village in Alexandria was ruined by floods in 2015. Yet, despite climate change’s growing threat to the city, critics say it has scarcely been addressed.
Will Another U.S. City Emerge As the ‘Next Flint’?
It’s becoming clear that the problem of lead in Americans’ drinking water extends well beyond Flint.
It's Time to Ditch Paper Straws, Too
They’re a single-use, disposable consumer item—a greener option, but not a green one.
What U.S. Cities Facing Climate Disaster Risks Are Least Prepared?
New studies find cities most vulnerable to climate change disasters—heat waves, flooding, rising seas, drought—are the least prepared.
Rockaway Beach is Disappearing and Resurgent All at Once
After Superstorm Sandy, New York City’s oceanfront neighborhood got a boost of investment. But that hasn’t stopped the waves from stealing the beach.
The Future of the City is Thirsty
A new WRI report on 15 cities across the Global South reveals that access to safe drinking water is often underestimated—and the challenge will only get worse.
This Land Is the Only Land There Is
Here are seven ways of understanding the IPCC’s newest climate warning.
Why Casablanca's ‘American Landfill’ Keeps Growing
A landfill of nearly 200 acres of trash grows daily and torments residents on the outskirts of Morocco’s largest city. No one knows quite what to do about it.
Are Shared Scooters Good for the Planet? Only If They Replace Car Trips
Companies say their rides are “Earth-friendly” and “carbon free,” but lots of cars are used to keep the scooters charged.
A Modest Proposal to Make Air Travel Obsolete
To reduce emissions from air travel, Germany’s Green Party wants to eliminate the need for domestic flights by making big investments in trains.
How American Cities Score on Clean Energy
The good news: More American cities are taking action. The bad news: There’s a lot left to be done.
The ‘Toxic Fallout’ From the Notre-Dame Disaster: Lead Contamination
A French environmental group is suing the city over widespread lead dust contamination released in the historic cathedral fire on April 15.
Living Near Trees, Not Just Green Space, Improves Wellbeing
New research finds that, when a neighborhood’s green space leads to better health outcomes, tree canopy provides most of the benefits.
It's Getting Too Damn Hot to Have Fun in the Summer
An environmental economist explains how climate change and extreme weather could mean summer is no longer the peak season for festivals and outdoor recreation.
Berkeley Bans Natural Gas in New Buildings
On Tuesday, the California city passed the first all-electric building ordinance in the United States.
Europe’s Cities Weren’t Built for This Kind of Heat
A record-breaking heat wave across London, Paris, and Amsterdam is signaling an urgent need for design and cultural changes to combat climate change.
The U.S. Is Facing a Federal Firefighter Shortage
The government is struggling to budget and plan for longer, more severe fire seasons.
In Madrid, a Car Ban Proves Stronger Than Partisan Politics
A new mayor vowed to bring vehicles back to the city center. The strong citizen backlash suggests that European cities’ car bans are not, in fact, in peril.
Pressed for Space, Hong Kong Will Create New Land
The ‘Lantau Tomorrow’ plan would expand small islands for much-needed new housing, but not without risks to the environment.