Controversial Interior Department Aide From DOGE to Leave Agency

Tyler Hassen, a former oil executive who had spent time on Elon Musk’s cost-cutting team, faced criticism because he had been given broad authority to make changes at the department.

U.S. and Mexico Sign Deal to Stop Sewage Release Into Tijuana River

The agreement addresses a longstanding problem that has sickened people in both countries.

Readers Sent Us Hundreds of Local Climate Solutions

As part of our 50 States, 50 Fixes series, more than 2,400 Times readers wrote in to tell us about climate action in their communities.

Where Do Untraceable Fishing Fleets Go?

Many ‘dark vessels’ fish illegally in oceans worldwide. New studies show how often they go into Marine Protected Areas.

As U.S. Retreats on Climate, China and Europe Pledge to Go Green Together

A joint statement promised new efforts to cut emissions at a time when China is positioning itself as the world’s one-stop shop for clean energy technologies.

For 1st Time, Fires Are Biggest Threat to Forests’ Climate-Fighting Superpower

Forests play a major role pulling planet-warming carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. As the world heats up, some forests are becoming emitters in their own right.

E.P.A. Proposes Allowing Use of Dicamba Weedkiller on Some Crops

Last year, a federal court banned some uses of the herbicide, which can drift into fields and damage crops.

Joanna Macy, Who Found a Way to Transcend ‘Eco-Anxiety,’ Dies at 96

With books and workshops, she helped others deal with the stress caused by climate change, inspiring them to take action and not be paralyzed by despair.

Does the World Court’s Sweeping Climate Opinion Matter? Five Takeaways.

While the court doesn’t have enforcement mechanisms, it has a prominent voice, and its legal arguments could reverberate.

Energy Dept. Cancels Loan Commitment to Contested Transmission Project

The project, known as Grain Belt Express, had drawn fierce opposition from some landowners and Republican lawmakers.

Top U.N. Court Says Countries Must Act on Climate Change

The International Court of Justice called global warming an “urgent and existential threat” at a closely watched case in The Hague.

E.P.A. Is Said to Draft a Plan to End Its Ability to Fight Climate Change

According to two people familiar with the draft, it would eliminate the bedrock scientific finding that greenhouse-gas emissions threaten human life by dangerously warming the planet.

How Native Homes in New Mexico Are Tapping the Sun

An Indigenous-led nonprofit group is bringing solar power to Navajo Nation and the Hopi tribe, where about 15,000 households lack access to electricity.

Grizzlies Were Raiding Montana Farms. Then Came Some Formidable Dogs.

Bears have recently acquired a fondness for the good eating found around grain bins on Montana’s plains. That’s a big problem for humans and grizzlies alike.

North Carolina’s Bogs Have a Dirty Secret, and That’s a Good Thing

Peat bogs have huge potential to store planet-warming carbon. The ones in North Carolina just need some help to get healthy again.

In New Jersey, Benefits Bloom in Tiny Forests

A nonprofit planted five “microforests” to tackle environmental problems in Elizabeth, N.J. Scientists say they’re making a big difference.

Why This Pennsylvania City Put Its Streetlights on a Dimmer

After passing a Dark Sky ordinance to curb light pollution and save energy, Pittsburgh is installing adjustable streetlights.

Chinese Cars, Brazil Style

China wants to dominate the market for the cars of the future, and it has set its sights on Brazil’s giant auto market.

FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Chief Resigns, Citing Agency ‘Chaos’, Colleagues Said

Ken Pagurek had told colleagues the Trump administration was causing ‘chaos’ inside FEMA and creating dangerous delays in disaster response.

Trump Told Park Workers to Report Displays That ‘Disparage’ Americans. Here’s What They Flagged.

Descriptions and displays at scores of parks and historic sites have been flagged for review in connection with an executive order from President Trump.

U.S. Is Missing the Century’s ‘Greatest Economic Opportunity,’ U.N. Chief Says

In a speech on renewable energy, António Guterres cited “clear market distortion” in favor of fossil fuels by President Trump and others but called the transition to cleaner energy economically inevitable.

Climate Change Is Making Fire Weather Worse for World’s Forests

Forest fires are on the rise globally. An increase in severe fire weather is largely responsible.

Seabed-Mining Firm Faces Legal Questions Over Controversial Trump Policy

After Trump pledged to open international waters to mining, The Metals Company sought U.S. permits. But other countries are raising legal concerns.

Chinese Car Giants Rush Into Brazil With Dreams of Dominating a Continent

As the likes of Ford and Mercedes retreat, Great Wall Motor and BYD are building factories and bringing affordable EVs and hybrids to one of the world’s biggest markets.

How China is Dominating the Electric Car Market

Somini Sengupta, The Times’s international climate reporter, explains China’s auto ambitions in Brazil and the world.

An Ancient Law Could Shape the Modern Future of America’s Beaches. Here’s How.

The growing battle over how to manage sea level rise turns partly on a legal principle set down in Roman times.

E.P.A. Says It Will Eliminate Its Scientific Research Arm

The decision comes after a Supreme Court ruling allowing the Trump administration to slash the federal work force and dismantle agencies.

Interior Dept. to Put Wind and Solar Projects Through Stricter Political Review

Industry groups said the directive could create new delays and bottlenecks for renewable energy projects across the country.

E.P.A. Delays Required Cleanups of Toxic Coal Ash Landfills

President Trump also exempted some coal plants, chemical manufacturers and ore processing facilities from pollution rules for two years.

Heat Season Is Off to a Roaring Start

Temperatures are scorching, and they probably haven’t peaked yet.

With One Call, Trump Alters the Fate of a Contested Power Project

Grain Belt Express, a transmission line that would cross 800 miles of the Midwest, is at the center of a number of disputes.

After 7 Decades of Measurements From a Peak in Hawaii, Trump’s Budget Would End Them

Closing Mauna Loa and three other U.S. sites that track greenhouse gases would disrupt a decades-long record of the planet’s changing atmosphere.

The West’s Megadrought Might Not Let Up for Decades, Study Suggests

Clues from another dry spell 6,000 years ago are helping scientists understand what’s driving the latest one, and why it’s been so unrelenting.

How to Know Your Flood Risk

Climate change has made extreme rainfall more common and more intense. But many flood risk maps have yet to catch up.

How Can I Get Clean Energy Tax Breaks Before They Vanish?

There’s still time to claim credits that could save you thousands of dollars.

NASA Website Will Not Provide Previous National Climate Reports

An agency spokeswoman had initially stated that NASA would retain earlier assessments online for continuity.

Trump Is Gutting Weather Science and Reducing Disaster Response

As a warming planet delivers more extreme weather, experts warn that the Trump administration is dismantling the government’s disaster capabilities.

Around the World, Flash Flood Disasters Are the ‘Hardest Kind to Prevent’

Scholars and designers of early warning systems say that there are still huge gaps in our ability to predict flash floods and warn those at risk.

FEMA Didn’t Answer Thousands of Calls From Flood Survivors, Documents Show

Two days after deadly Texas floods, the agency struggled to answer calls from survivors because of call center contracts that weren’t extended.

Sierra Club’s Executive Director Is on Leave After a Rocky Tenure

Ben Jealous, who joined the environmental group in 2023, has clashed with some employees and the organization’s union.

In Flash Flood Hotspots, Many Federal Meteorologist Positions Remain Unfilled

An analysis of National Weather Service job vacancies found that in more than a third of offices overseeing flash flood hotspots, one or more of three senior leadership roles are open.

Trump May Not Be Done Overhauling Renewable Energy

Days after the passage of a sprawling domestic policy bill, the Trump administration announced moves that could further hamstring renewable energy.

No, Chemtrails Are Not Real or Causing Floods, E.P.A. Says

The agency took the unusual step of creating websites debunking the conspiracy theory that chemicals are being sprayed in the sky to control the weather or do other things.

These Toads Have Psychedelic Powers, but They’d Prefer to Keep It Quiet

New research suggests Sonoran Desert toads went into steep decline after stories of their mind-bending chemical properties began circulating among drug users.

Tons of Invisible Plastic Pieces Lurk in Ocean Water

A new study offers the first estimate of nanoplastic pollution in the ocean. There’s a lot.

Recipients of a U.S. Climate Science Fellowship Are Put on Unpaid Leave

Researchers in the NOAA program were furloughed because funds to pay them were not available.

Research Suggests Climate Change Added Excess Deaths in European Heat Wave

The rapid analysis by World Weather Attribution calculated that climate change might have tripled the death toll from the event.

In Flooded Texas, Questions About FEMA’s Role and Fate

President Trump wants to shutter the agency and shift responsibility and costs of emergency management to the states. In Texas, that process appears to already be underway.

Why the Texas Floods Were So Deadly

Scientists say a hotter planet is driving more intense storms. But experts say the U.S. is also not doing enough to adapt to increasingly intense floods.

Trump Hires Scientists Who Doubt the Consensus on Climate Change

The three scientists joined the administration after it dismissed hundreds of experts who were assessing how global warming is affecting the country.

Trump Wants to Kill a Chemical Safety Board. Chemical Makers Object.

The White House is planning to eliminate the board, a small agency that investigates chemical disasters to understand what went wrong.

Trump Administration, Reversing Itself, Won’t Rewrite a Ban on Asbestos

The about-face came after a public outcry over plans to reconsider Biden-era restrictions on the carcinogenic material.

New Analysis of New Orleans Highlights Sinking and Stable City Spots

A new study identified hot spots of sinking levees that will need to be prioritized for maintenance to withstand future storms and flooding.

As the World Warms, Extreme Rain Is Becoming Even More Extreme

Even in places, like Central Texas, with a long history of floods, human-caused warming is creating the conditions for more frequent and severe deluges.

Beyond the Light Show: The Effects of Fireworks on Animals and People

Firework displays can harm animals and create bursts of pollution with lingering effects, but there are ways to mitigate them.

The G.O.P. Policy Bill Would Shift U.S. Energy Policy

The sprawling bill would boost fossil fuels and end tax credits for wind, solar power and electric vehicles.

How the G.O.P. Bill Will Reshape America’s Energy Landscape

Here’s a rundown on the winners and losers in the legislation muscled through Congress.

Extreme Heat Shuts Down Some Nuclear Reactors in Europe

Power plant operators in Switzerland and France idled reactors so that discharged cooling water would not harm wildlife in already-hot rivers.

E.P.A. Suspends 144 Employees After They Signed a Letter Criticizing Trump

The letter had accused the Trump administration of politicizing, dismantling and sidelining the agency.

E.P.A. Employees Are Invited to Adopt Soon-to-Be Homeless Lab Rats

The agency is cutting animal testing of chemicals. Some scientists are concerned, but in the meantime the rats (and zebra fish) need new homes.

Methane-Tracking Satellite Is Lost, in a Blow to Climate Efforts

The spacecraft, MethaneSAT, was just a year into its mission to provide a clearer picture of planet-warming emissions from oil and gas sites.

A Power Line for Clean Energy Was in the Works. Now, an Investigation Looms.

The Grain Belt Express line, meant to carry electricity from wind farms across the Midwest, faces an inquiry from the Missouri attorney general.

Trump’s Policy Bill Could Put the U.S. Further Behind China

Republicans’ tax and policy bill could give China a bigger lead in the race to develop renewable energy technologies.

Democrats Bet Jobs in Red States Would Save Clean Power Projects. They Lost.

By ending tax credits for wind and solar power, Senate Republicans may have jeopardized billions in investments in their own districts.

National Climate Report Website Goes Dark

The federal website hosting five legislatively mandated reports stopped working Monday afternoon.

The U.S. Sends Lots of Plastic Trash Overseas. Malaysia Just Said No Thanks.

No country receives more discarded plastic from wealthy countries, but shipments from the United States are no longer welcome.

An Offhand Remark About Gold Bars, Secretly Recorded, Upended His Life

Brent Efron’s “boring” Tinder date wanted to hear all about his work at the Environmental Protection Agency, so Mr. Efron talked. If only he’d seen the hidden camera.

Near Antarctica, Saltier Seas Mean Less Ice, Study Finds

Briny warm water is mixing on the surface of the ocean, making sea ice melt faster, a new study found.

Data Crucial to Hurricane Forecasts Will Continue, but for One Month Only

U.S. officials said they would stop providing the satellite data online on July 31 rather at the end of June.

E.P.A. Workers Warn Trump Is Politicizing Their Work

In a public letter, employees of the Environmental Protection Agency accused the administration of engaging in unlawful partisan activity and endangering public health.

There’s a Race to Power the Future. China Is Pulling Away.

Beijing is selling clean energy to the world, Washington is pushing oil and gas. Both are driven by national security.

Do I Really Need an Air Purifier?

We asked the experts how to decide.

Surprise Tax in G.O.P. Bill Could Cripple Wind and Solar Power

Wind and solar companies were already bracing for Congress to end federal subsidies. But the Senate bill goes even further and penalizes those industries.

A Public Lands Sell-Off Is Struck From the G.O.P. Policy Bill

Senator Mike Lee, Republican of Utah, said he would withdraw his proposal after it faced intense intraparty opposition.

A Special ‘Climate’ Visa? People in Tuvalu Are Applying Fast.

Nearly half the citizens of the tiny Pacific Island nation have already applied in a lottery for Australian visas amid an existential threat from global warming and sea-level rise.

A Conservative’s Plan to Sell Public Lands Faces MAGA Pushback

They love hunting, fishing and conservatism. And they hate a plan by a conservative senator to sell millions of acres of public lands.

Critical Hurricane Monitoring Data Is Going Offline

The loss of access to the data could hamstring forecasters’ ability to track hurricanes and warn residents of their risk.

An Ode to Joy, in Climate Action

Climate change is often unrelentingly grim. But some activists argue that joyful climate action can change minds.

The World Is Warming Up. And It’s Happening Faster.

Human-caused global warming has been increasing faster and faster since the 1970s.

Republicans Propose a New Way to Scrap Fuel Economy Rules: No Fines

For 50 years, automakers have had to increase the fuel efficiency of their vehicles or pay fines. The Republican megabill would set those penalties to $0.

The Volunteer Groups Preparing for a Post-FEMA World

As the Trump administration threatens to dismantle FEMA, military veterans and other volunteers are preparing to take a bigger role in disaster relief. Emily Cochrane traveled to Kentucky days after a deadly tornado to see what storm recovery could look like without federal support.

How West Virginia is Pulling Pollution, and Rare Earths, Out of Its Streams

Abandoned coal mines had left waterways acidic and rusty orange. Local residents are cleaning them up, and recovering valuable minerals in the process.

Inside a Last-Ditch Battle to Save (or Kill) Clean-Energy Tax Credits

Supporters of tax breaks for wind and solar are fighting to retain them in the G.O.P. tax bill. They’re facing a conservative effort to kill them entirely.

Trump’s OSHA Nominee Has a History With Heat and UPS Drivers

David Keeling would take over the workplace-safety agency just as it is considering rules to protect against extreme heat. His former employers, UPS and Amazon, have opposed the rules.

This Vermont Soccer Team Plays for the Planet

The Vermont Green Football Club champions environmental work and draws sold-out crowds, with the help of free ice cream.

In Alabama, a Social Media Influencer Really Gets Wild

Kyle Lybarger built a loyal following online by talking about native plants and why biodiversity matters.

How Heat Waves Can Worsen Air Quality

Scientists are increasingly concerned about the ways extreme heat and air pollution are linked.

Extreme Heat Is Exacerbating Air Pollution, a ‘Double Whammy’ for Health

Extreme heat is making air pollution worse, scientists say. And President Trump’s regulatory rollbacks could drive air pollution even higher.

Trump Administration to End Protections for 58 Million Acres of National Forests

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the Clinton-era rule barring road construction and logging was outdated and “absurd.”

Oil Companies Fight Climate Lawsuits by Citing Free Speech

The firms say their First Amendment rights are being violated when cities and states sue and accuse them of spreading misinformation about climate change.

War, Inflation and Now Drought Are Hitting Global Food Supplies

Staples including wheat, beef and coffee are all being affected by the lack of rainfall. In some cases, prices are climbing to record highs.

Repeal of Clean Energy Law Will Mean a Hotter Planet, Scientists Warn

Republicans plan to terminate billions of dollars in clean energy tax credits. Experts say that will mean more greenhouse gas emissions and more dangerous heat.

There Might Not Be a Map for That: Budget Cuts Threaten Geological Surveys

Nearly two dozen state geological surveys depend heavily on federal funds. A proposed budget cut could slow or stop key geologic mapping work.

Why Higher Oil Prices May Not Change U.S. Energy Policy

The energy crisis of the 1970s suggests that higher oil prices are unlikely to significantly shift U.S. energy policy away from fossil fuels.

Banning Plastic Bags Works to Limit Shoreline Litter, Study Finds

Using crowdsourced data from shore cleanups, researchers found that areas that enacted plastic bag bans or fees had fewer bags littering their lakes, rivers and beaches than those without them.

Can You Choose an A.I. Model That Harms the Planet Less?

When it comes to artificial intelligence, more intensive computing uses more energy, producing more greenhouse gases.

Elon Musk’s A.I. Company Faces Lawsuit Over Gas-Burning Turbines

The company, xAI, has installed several dozen turbines in Memphis without proper permits, the group said, polluting a nearby community.

Senate Republicans Decline to Save Clean Energy Tax Credits

If enacted, Republicans’ draft legislation would mean that President Biden’s signature climate legislation would effectively be neutered.

Is Fake Grass Safe? A Manufacturer Sues to Stop a Discussion.

Four experts were sued for defamation ahead of a seminar where they planned to talk about research into the potential health risks on playgrounds and sports fields nationwide.

Many Hoped Senate Republicans Would Save Clean Energy. They Mostly Didn’t.

A Senate tax package softens some blows imposed on renewables by a House version of the bill. But it still terminates many credits for clean power.

Pangolins Should Receive Endangered Protections, U.S. Officials Say

The armored mammals are trafficked for their scales and meat.

Will Trump End the First Federal Heat Protections for Workers?

As workplace deaths from heat increase, OSHA is debating the future of the first federal rules to protect workers from extreme heat.

At U.N. Conference, Countries Inch Toward Ocean Protection Goal

More than 20 new marine protected areas in coastal waters were announced at the third U.N. ocean conference this week. Experts say thousands more are needed.

National Parks Are Told to Delete Content That ‘Disparages Americans’

Internal documents reviewed by The New York Times say that “negative” information at parks and other national site must be removed or covered by Sept. 17.

How Is Extreme Heat Affecting Air Travel?

Hot weather influences aircraft performance. We asked experts what it means for safety.

Study Shows Mercury Levels in Arctic Wildlife Could Rise for Centuries

Even as global emissions plateau, new research shows that wildlife in the Arctic is exposed to rising levels, posing a risk to those who eat it.

Head of FEMA Command Center Quits After Trump Says He’ll Phase Out the Agency

The official, Jeremy Greenberg, was in charge of coordinating the national response to major disasters.

Soaring Temperatures Threaten Crops, So Scientists Are Looking to Alter the Plants

Genetically altering crops may be key to helping them adapt to extreme temperatures. But shrinking funds and social acceptance stand in the way.

A Scandal-Plagued Meatpacking Giant Comes to the U.S. Stock Market

JBS, the biggest meatpacker in the world, is set to go public on the New York Stock Exchange this week.

A G.O.P. Plan to Sell Public Land Is Back. This Time, It’s Millions of Acres.

Senate Republicans want to sell the land to build more housing in the West, but the idea is contentious even within their own party.

Submarines Are Hard to Detect. Climate Change Might Make It Even Harder.

Sound is the primary means of tracking subs in vast ocean expanses, and research shows that it’s behaving differently as the seas warm.

E.P.A. Axes Biden’s Climate and Pollution Limits on Power Plants

Lee Zeldin, the E.P.A. administrator, said erasing regulations would produce jobs and lower electricity costs. He called efforts to fight climate change “a cult.”

World Bank Ends Its Ban on Funding Nuclear Power Projects

The decision, a major reversal, could help poorer nations industrialize, cut planet-warming emissions and boost U.S. competitiveness on next-generation reactors.

Why Rooftop Solar Could Crash Under the G.O.P. Tax Bill

Federal tax breaks have fueled a boom. The House bill would end that immediately.

Carbon Capture Comes Back Down to Earth

Billions have been invested in technologies to remove carbon dioxide from the sky in recent years. But Trump’s policies have clouded the outlook.

Document Shows E.P.A. Plans to Loosen Limits on Mercury From Power Plants

The agency plans to weaken limits on toxic emissions from power plants while also scrapping restrictions on planet-warming greenhouse gases.

BlackRock Is Accused of a Plot Against Coal. The Firm Says That’s ‘Absurd.’

An unusual lawsuit in Texas claims investment firms illegally conspired to fight climate change. On Monday, a judge heard arguments to dismiss the case.

See How Marine Heat Waves Are Spreading Across the Globe

Sea surface temperatures in 2024 broke records and about a quarter of the world’s oceans are experiencing temperatures that qualify as a marine heat wave.

In Georgia, Republicans Vote to Kill Green Jobs but Face Little Fallout

In Cedartown, Ga., a solar recycling company’s plan to hire 1,200 people could be upended by Republicans in Congress.

Trump Approves Expansion of Scandal-Hit Coal Mine

Environmental groups had opposed expanding a Montana mine previously caught up in allegations of cocaine trafficking and the faked kidnapping of an executive.

Coal and Gas Plants Were Closing. Then Trump Ordered Them to Keep Running.

The grid operators that draw power from the plants said they never asked for them to remain open, and consumers may have to absorb extra costs.

How Trump Is Changing FEMA as Hurricane Season Begins

As President Trump remakes the agency, former officials say the changes could leave states without key federal support after disasters.

There’s an Effective Way to Deter Rhino Poachers, a New Study Finds

Poaching rates dropped by more than half in African reserves where veterinarians removed the animals’ horns, which are in high demand in some parts of Asia.

It’s Not Just Poor Rains Causing Drought. The Atmosphere Is ‘Thirstier.’

Higher temperatures caused by climate change are driving complex processes that make droughts bigger and more severe, new research shows.

Electricity Prices Are Surging. The G.O.P. Megabill Could Push Them Higher.

The combination of a data center boom, rising gas exports and cuts to clean energy tax breaks could spike American energy bills, analysts say.

Trump’s Pick to Run the Forest Service Has a History With the Agency

Michael Boren, a tech company founder, has clashed with the agency for years over land he owns in Idaho.

The White House Gutted Science Funding. Now It Wants to ‘Correct’ Research.

Thousands of scientists, academics, physicians and researchers have responded to the administration’s executive order about “restoring a gold standard for science.”

He Built an Airstrip on Protected Land. Now He’s in Line to Lead the Forest Service.

Michael Boren, nominated by President Trump, is accused of threatening trail workers with a helicopter, building an airstrip without a permit and putting a cabin on federal property.

Trump Administration to Open Alaska Wilderness to Drilling and Mining

The Interior Department plans to repeal Biden-era protections across the state’s ecologically sensitive North Slope.

Which Cooking Oil Should I Use?

When it comes to climate and the environment, some oils are a cut above. Here’s what to know.

Climate Scientists Join 100-Hour Livestream to Protest Trump’s Cuts

The livestream featuring hundreds of meteorologists and climate scientists began on May 28 and is scheduled to run through June 1, the first day of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Trump’s Proposed Budget Would Cut a Major Ecology Program

From bee science to understanding the impact of a warming world on plant life, here’s what the Ecosystems Mission Area does.

A Court Debates Whether a Climate Lawsuit Threatens National Security

The judge asked lawyers how a suit by Charleston, S.C., claiming oil companies misled people about climate risks, might be affected by a Trump executive order blasting cases like these.

Alarmed by Trump Cuts, Scientists Are Talking Science. For 100 Hours.

Meteorologists and climate researchers aim to run a livestream for 100 hours in protest of the Trump administration’s cuts to weather and climate research.

Energy Dept. Cancels $3.7 Billion for New Technologies to Lower Emissions

The 24 awards would have gone to a range of companies trying in novel ways to reduce the pollution that is heating the planet.

The Growing Legal Battle Over Climate Change

Oil and gas companies are facing a wave of new lawsuits over their role in global warming.

Some Glaciers Will Vanish No Matter What, Study Finds

Glacial ice will melt for centuries even if global temperatures stop rising now, according to new research.

Oil Companies Are Sued Over Death of Woman in 2021 Heat Wave

Experts said it is the first wrongful death case targeting fossil fuel companies over their role in global warming.

Youth Climate Activists Sue Trump Administration Over Executive Orders

The complaint argues that orders aimed at increasing American fossil fuel production infringe on the fundamental rights of young people.

Will Charleston’s Climate Lawsuit Survive the Week?

The city is suing oil companies over global warming. Trump says lawsuits like these threaten national security. The judge wants to hear what both sides think.

Glacier Landslide Buries a Swiss Village

A mass of ice, rocks and mud tumbled down a mountain, smothering the village of Blatten, Switzerland.

Jerome Ringo, Outspoken Advocate for Environmental Justice, Dies at 70

After working in the petrochemical industry, he devoted himself to environmental activism — and to creating an inclusive movement that looked “more like America.”

German Court Dismisses a Climate Suit but Opens the Door to Future Cases

The judges ruled that German civil law could be used to hold companies accountable for the worldwide effects of their emissions.

The Amazon Loses One of Its Most Celebrated Chroniclers

Sebastião Salgado, a renowned photojournalist who died last week, spent decades capturing an Amazon that is fast disappearing.

Documents Show E.P.A. Wants to Erase Greenhouse Gas Limits on Power Plants

The agency plans to argue that carbon emissions from power plants do not contribute “significantly” to climate change. Scientists disagree.

Trump Orders Faster Build-Out of Nuclear Power Plants

Among a flurry of executive actions, Mr. Trump directed the nation’s nuclear safety regulator to speed up approvals for new reactors.

The Chocolate Cake That Made a Times Reporter Go Vegan

A recipe for a vegan cake from a food blogger in Oregon helped a Times reporter to realize that plant-based eating could be delicious.

In ‘Cancer Alley,’ a Battle Over Who Gets to Measure Air Pollution

Community groups are fighting an unusual Louisiana law that restricts how they use data from air-quality monitors, saying it violates free speech.

House Bill Would Derail Biden’s Signature Climate Law

If passed, a bill from the House of Representatives would sharply curtail the tax credits that have spurred a rise in clean energy investments.

Global Forest Loss Hit a Record Last Year as Fires Raged

Forests around the world disappeared at a rate of 18 soccer fields every minute, a global survey found. Fires accounted for nearly half of the losses.

Senate Republicans Kill California’s Ban on Gas-Powered Cars

In 50 years, California’s authority to set environmental rules that are tougher than national standards had never been challenged by Congress. Until now.

Don’t Mention Climate: Now, Clean Energy Is All About the Money

The Inflation Reduction Act was once hailed as the biggest climate law in U.S. history. But as supporters try to save it, they’ve stopped talking about the environment altogether.

A.I. Is Poised to Revolutionize Weather Forecasting. A New Tool Shows Promise.

A Microsoft model can make accurate 10-day forecasts quickly, an analysis found. And, it’s designed to predict more than weather.

U.S. Takes Another Step Toward Opening the Seabed for Mining

The Interior Department said it would review a new proposal for operations off the coast of American Samoa.

From Oregon, a Chocolate Cake That Changes Hearts and Minds

The Portland area is a hot spot for vegans, who have the most environmentally friendly diets. It has also yielded a game-changing dessert.

Minnesota Teens Are Fighting Climate Anxiety With Shovels

Run by teenagers, for teenagers, the Green Crew helps students get their hands dirty with projects like tree planting, trail restoration and invasive species removal.

Virginians Are Restoring a Forest Economy Built on Herbs and Tradition

Farmers have banded together to make the market for herbal supplements and remedies, part of Appalachia’s cultural heritage, more sustainable and more profitable.

How a Water Conservation Idea Won Over Oklahoma Farmers

Haunted by memories of the Dust Bowl, Oklahoma farmers have adopted conservation practices that have helped to revive about 100 streams.

An Illinois Building Was a Bird Killer. A Simple Change Made a World of Difference.

Chicago is one of the most dangerous cities in the United States for migrating birds, and a glassy lakefront conference center was especially lethal.

How These Windows Are Saving Birds’ Lives

Catrin Einhorn, a reporter covering biodiversity, climate and the environment for The New York Times, explains how McCormick Place, a convention center in Chicago, went from being a killer of migratory birds to a success story. This story is part of The New York Times’s “50 States, 50 Fixes” package that highlights one environmental solution that’s working in each state.

Kennedy’s Allies Against Pesticides: Environmentalists, Moms and Manly Men

An unlikely group is coalescing around the health secretary’s drive for restrictions on atrazine, which is linked to cancer, birth defects and low sperm counts.

In Reversal, Trump Officials Will Allow Huge Offshore N.Y. Wind Farm to Proceed

The Trump administration had issued a highly unusual stop-work order on the Empire Wind project last month, leading to intense pushback from officials in New York.

Trump Turns a Blind Eye to Climate Change

Nearly every other government in the world has recognized that a hotter planet poses a profound threat to humans and ecosystems.

Is ‘Reef Safe’ Sunscreen Really Better?

Here’s how to protect your skin and the environment this summer.

The U.S. Under Trump: Alone in Its Climate Denial

The administration is not only allowing more greenhouse gases. It is undermining the nation’s ability to understand and respond to a hotter planet.

Waiting, Often in the Dark, for Frozen E.P.A. Funds

The Trump administration is trying to claw back billions in climate grants, including $147 million that could help people in Puerto Rico withstand frequent power failures.

The Home Insurance Crisis Is Getting Even More Expensive

In California, a home insurance rate increase by State Farm is yet another sign of growing crisis driven by climate change.

An Effort to Kill Off Lawsuits Against Oil Giants Is Gaining Steam

The Trump administration has declared litigation to hold oil companies responsible for climate change a threat to the American economy and has taken aggressive steps to fight it.

Trump Administration to Uphold Some PFAS Limits but Eliminate Others

The E.P.A. said it would maintain limits on the two most common “forever chemicals” in tap water. Rules for four others will be rolled back.

Heavy Rain Brings Flash Floods to Mid-Atlantic States

Maryland was among states that saw floodwaters inundate buildings and submerge cars, as the National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings.

Making Dishwashers Great Again?

The Trump administration has moved to roll back efficiency and water standards for appliances, fueled by the president’s fixation on low-flow showers and toilets.

3M to Pay New Jersey Up to $450 Million for Drinking-Water Contamination

The state claimed “forever chemicals,” also known as PFAS, contaminated groundwater from an industrial park where they were used for decades.

A Clean Energy Boom Was Just Starting. Now, a Republican Bill Aims to End It.

The party’s signature tax plan would kill most Biden-era incentives, but there’s a sticking point: G.O.P. districts have the most to lose.

Farmers Sued Over Deleted Climate Data. So the Government Will Put It Back.

The Agriculture Department pledged to restore online climate information that farmers said helped them do business, but which officials had deleted.

Energy Department to Repeal Efficiency Rules for Appliances

Experts say the moves, which would apply to household appliances, will raise energy costs for consumers.

Trump Administration to Fast-Track Permits for Utah Uranium Mine

An environmental review of the project, known as Velvet-Wood, would normally take roughly a year. The government says it will complete the process in two weeks.

What’s the Cost to Society of Pollution? Trump Says Zero.

The Trump administration has directed agencies to stop estimating the economic impact of climate change when developing policies and regulations.

There Is No ‘Energy Emergency,’ a New Lawsuit Claims

In the suit, 15 Democratic states called Trump’s declaration illegal and said federal agencies were rushing permits for fossil fuel projects under false pretenses.

The Shipping Industry Gets Serious About Emissions

The shipping industry is pushing to decarbonize, and exploring cargo ships powered by wind, as it confronts President Trump’s tariffs.

Draft Executive Orders Aim to Speed Construction of Nuclear Plants

The potential actions could include overhauling the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and leaning on the U.S. military to deploy new reactors.

A Jewish Celebration at the E.P.A. Also Has Some Jewish Critics

Environmentalists said a ritual at the office of Lee Zeldin, the agency head, highlighted a disconnect between religious principles and looser health and climate protections.

U.S. Government to Stop Tracking the Costs of Extreme Weather

It would be harder for insurers and scientists to study wildfires, storms and other “billion dollar disasters,” which are growing more frequent as the planet warms.

How to Know if Toxic Sewage Sludge Has Been Used in Your Community

Fertilizer containing potentially unsafe levels of “forever chemicals” has been used around the country.

Sewage Sludge Fertilizer From Maryland? Virginians Say No Thanks.

Maryland has restricted use of the toxic fertilizer. A plan to send more to Virginia has sparked fears of contaminated farms and fisheries.

Trump Officials Ask Court to End Protections for a Strutting, Showy Bird

The lesser prairie chicken, known for the males’ quirky courtship dance, inhabits grasslands sought-after by farming and energy developers.

Across America, Big Cities Are Sinking. Here’s Why.

A major reason is too much groundwater is being pumped out, new research shows, threatening buildings and infrastructure nationwide.

States Sue Over Freeze on Funding for Electric-Vehicle Charging

A lawsuit led by Washington, Colorado and California accuses the Trump administration of unlawfully withholding funds for new charging stations.

Want to Be a Deep Sea Explorer? Don’t Worry, There’s Lots Left.

Researchers collected more than 43,000 records of dives and assessed the photos and videos to determine how much of the bottom has been seen by humans.

Trump Administration Is Said to Target Park Service Grants

Dozens of programs, many linked to climate change and diversity, have been designated for elimination by DOGE, according to people with knowledge of the plan.

E.P.A. Plans to Shut Down the Energy Star Program

Employees were told that the popular energy efficiency certification program would be “de-prioritized and eliminated,” according to documents and a recording.

Trump Is Picking New Climate Fights With States. Here’s Why.

The White House has begun a new effort to sue individual states over their climate initiatives and to stop lawsuits against fossil fuel companies.

Why 35 House Democrats Joined Republicans Against a Major Climate Policy

Some said they worried that California’s planned ban on gas-powered vehicles would raise the price of cars. Another cited “intense and misleading lobbying” by the oil industry.

17 States Sue Over Trump’s Halting of Wind Power Projects

The halt threatens jobs and holds back energy production at a time the president has claimed an “energy emergency,” state attorneys general said.

What Kind of Seafood Should I Eat?

We asked the experts how to make smart choices at the fish counter, for your health and for the environment.

India Sees a Future Making Solar Panels for Itself, and Maybe the World

Global wariness of Chinese solar and E.V. domination offers India an opening. The government is spending money to try to catch up, but it has a long way to go.

Weed Manager of the Year: One Man’s Quest to Save the Sonoran Desert

As official research positions are lost to budget cuts, the work of citizen scientists to preserve federal forests is becoming more valuable.

New ‘Climate Superfund’ Laws Face Widening Legal Challenges

The Trump administration sued to block two state laws designed to force oil companies to pay the costs of climate change. Several other states are joining the fight, too.

Two Scientific Groups Say They’ll Keep Working on U.S. Climate Assessment

The organizations said they would publish researchers’ work even after the Trump administration decision to dismiss all authors on the project.

What Australia’s Vote Means for Climate in a Major Coal Economy

The leading candidates in Saturday’s national election have starkly different policies on energy and global warming.

Hawaii Announced a Climate Lawsuit. So the Government Sued Hawaii First.

In an unusual move, the Trump administration pre-emptively sued Hawaii and Michigan to try to stop them from suing oil companies over global warming.

Can California Set Its Own Air Pollution Rules?

This week, the House of Representatives voted to block the state’s ban on the sale of new gas-powered vehicles, challenging its rule-making authority.

House Votes to Block California’s Plan to Ban New Gas-Powered Cars

Republicans, joined by a handful of Democrats, voted to eliminate California’s electric vehicle policy, which had been adopted by 11 other states.

House Votes to Repeal California’s Clean Truck Policies

Lawmakers voted to stop the state from requiring that an increasing share of new trucks sold there have zero emissions.

Man Accused of Hacking Climate Groups Can Be Sent to U.S., Judge Says

A London court approved the extradition of Amit Forlit, who ran companies that allegedly stole information on behalf of a lobbying firm hired by Exxon.

Fact-Checking the ‘President Who Follows Science’

The White House published a page on its website this month outlining the Trump administration’s key actions on climate and the environment. We annotated some of the claims.

Days After Trump Commits to Seabed Mining, Two Sides Face Off

At a congressional hearing, one executive welcomed President Trump’s “starting gun” to begin mining. Democrats and Republicans clashed over environmental and business concerns.

Trump’s 100 Days of Upending Climate Policy

In just a few months, President Trump’s moves have exceeded the worst fears of climate activists.

All Authors Working on Flagship U.S. Climate Report Are Dismissed

The Trump administration told researchers it was “releasing” them from their roles. It puts the future of the assessment, which is required by Congress, in doubt.

E.P.A. Says It Will Tackle ‘Forever Chemicals.’ Details Are Sparse.

A new proposal to combat PFAS contamination, announced by the Environmental Protection Agency, left critical questions unanswered.

Climate Change, Once a Big Issue, Fades From Canada’s Election

Even though Liberal candidate Mark Carney has a lengthy climate policy résumé, Trump’s threats have nearly drowned the issue out of the campaign.

For Trump, Chemicals in Straws Are a Crisis. In Water, Maybe Less So.

An administration document aimed at eradicating paper straws highlights the dangers of PFAS chemicals. Their presence in tap water nationwide hasn’t gotten the same attention.

The Trump Administration Wants Seafloor Mining. What Does That Mean?

A recent executive order would accelerate mining in little-understood undersea ecosystems.

Building the World’s Biggest Plane to Help Catch the Wind

Radia, a Colorado-based company, wants to build enormous aircraft to transport giant wind turbine blades. It’s betting that politics won’t get in the way.

Trump Takes a Major Step Toward Seabed Mining in International Waters

A new executive order pits the United States against the rest of the world over the question of who can exploit mineral resources in shared waters.

Can 3,500 Percent Tariffs Protect the U.S. Solar Industry?

The U.S. imposed sky-high tariffs on solar imports from four countries, but it’s unclear if they will be enough to fight back Chinese competitors.

Child Health Experts With Diversity Roles Will Be Fired or Reassigned

The moves are aimed at eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and environmental justice programs at the E.P.A., Trump administration officials say.

A Planned E.U. Rule Has Coffee Growers in Ethiopia Scrambling

The measure will require geolocation data to show that beans aren’t linked to deforestation. Farmers say they need more time to prepare.

Interior Department to Fast-Track Oil, Gas and Mining Projects

The Trump administration plans to significantly reduce environmental reviews before permitting drilling and mining projects on public lands and in federal waters.

New Study Could Bolster Climate Laws to Make Polluters Pay

Vermont was the first state to try to hold polluters accountable for climate disasters. New research aims to assign specific responsibility.

Almost Half of Americans Breathe Unhealthy Air, Report Finds

Weakening or rolling back longstanding environmental regulations would worsen the problem, the American Lung Association assessment says.

The Connection Between Faith and Environmental Action

Leaders from many religions — including, notably, Pope Francis — have long sought to tie their faith to environmental stewardship.

Sweating to Shivering: Study Finds Rapid Swings in Temperature Have Increased

Flips between warm temperatures to cold and vice versa have become quicker, more frequent and more intense in recent decades, a new study shows.

Wildfire smoke tinged the sky orange in Fort Collins, Colo., in the Rocky Mountains region on Sept. 7, 2020, during a heat wave, before temperatures dropped significantly overnight and a snowstorm hit the area.

Shell Recyclers in Connecticut Are Helping Oysters Find Homes

A small team is rescuing a “ridiculous amount” of shells from restaurant trash bins and using them to rebuild oyster habitat in Long Island Sound.

Maryland Protected Nearly a Third of Its Land, and It’s Reaching for More

Nine states have set goals to conserve 30 percent of their land by 2030. Maryland got there first.

In Indiana, Putting Up Solar Panels Is Doing God’s Work

A cluster of evangelical groups in the state is pushing for environmental action. Leaders say they’re following the biblical mandate to care for creation.

How a Funeral Director Brought Wind Power to Rural Missouri

Every year for nearly two decades, the small city of Rock Port has been producing more electricity from wind energy than it needs.

Fighting Louisiana Floodwaters With Patches of Green

Simple, affordable initiatives like rain gardens are helping to soak up water in New Orleans.

E.P.A. Set to Cancel Grants Aimed at Protecting Children From Toxic Chemicals

The cancellations, set to apply to pending and active grants, also affect research into “forever chemicals” contaminating the food supply.

How Pope Francis Helped Inspire the Global Movement Against Climate Change

Francis framed climate change as an urgent spiritual issue and helped push the world to take action.

What’s the Best Thing I Can Do for the Planet?

For Earth Day, we asked the experts. They shared advice on how to be the best planetary citizen possible.

How Fertilizer Poisoned So Much Farmland

For years, a factory offered farmers its sewage as free fertilizer, and the surrounding land — some of which is still used to grow food — became contaminated with “forever chemicals.” Hiroko Tabuchi, a reporter for The New York Times covering pollution, explains what happened and what could hamper the cleanup.

Sludge Contaminated 10,000 Acres of Farmland. What Should Be Done?

For years a textile mill gave farmers its sewage sludge as free fertilizer. Today the land is full of “forever chemicals.”

Trump Opens a Huge Marine Protected Zone to Commercial Fishing

The president said the move was aimed at making the United States the world’s “dominant seafood leader.”

Here’s What to Know About Rare Earth Minerals and Renewable Energy

The shift to cleaner power needs resources from China. An export ban just cut off some supplies.

Release of E.P.A. Climate Grants Is Paused by New Court Ruling

After a federal judge on Wednesday ordered the release of up to $650 million in frozen grants, an appeals court temporarily halted the payouts.

By Redefining ‘Harm,’ Agencies Aim to End Longstanding Wildlife Protections

Trump officials have proposed changing a decades-old interpretation of a key word in the Endangered Species Act, which would make it much easier to log, build or drill for oil.

Climate Change Is Stressing the World’s Blood Supplies

Extreme weather disasters, increasing as the planet warms, can curb blood donations while increasing demand, a new analysis found.

Weather Service Prepares for ‘Degraded Operations’ Amid Trump Cuts

An internal document describes how severe shortages of meteorologists and other staff members could affect forecasts and other operations.

2 Judges Order Federal Agencies to Unfreeze Climate Money

The rulings are setbacks to Trump’s efforts to halt climate and environmental funding approved under the Biden administration.

Not Just ‘Rare Earths’: U.S. Gets Many Critical Minerals From China

Beijing’s ban on exporting six valuable minerals highlights America’s reliance on China for many raw materials that Washington has designated “critical.”

How Trump Might Unwittingly Cut Emissions From Online Shopping

Fast fashion retailers rely heavily on shipping by air. The president’s tariffs could change that.

To Fight Federal Job Cuts, Energy Experts and States Try a New Argument

In letters to multiple agencies, the focus is on how job reductions at E.P.A., Interior and other agencies would hurt President Trump’s “energy dominance” agenda.

White House Plan Calls for NOAA Research Programs to Be Dismantled

A Trump administration budget proposal would essentially eliminate one of the world’s foremost Earth sciences research operations.

Ann Arbor Wants to Build Its Own Renewable-Energy Grid

Ann Arbor, Mich., moved forward with an ambitious plan to build its own utility that aims to provide clean power outside the grid.

Trump’s New Way to Kill Regulations: Because I Say So

The president is trying new shortcuts to eliminate energy and environmental rules, but legal experts say the efforts could face high hurdles.

New Pact Would Require Ships to Cut Emissions or Pay a Fee

A draft global agreement sets a fee for cargo ships, which carry the vast majority of world trade, to pay for their greenhouse gas emissions.

E.P.A. Is Said to Plan Deep Cuts to Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program

Officials are moving to eliminate requirements that most big polluters disclose how much carbon dioxide and other planet-warming gases they emit.

Climate Change Could Become a Global Economic Disaster

New warnings from financial firms and insurers point to a future defined by profound risks to the global economy from heat, storms and other disasters.

A Sign Your Fish Might Be on Drugs: Risky Behavior

Researchers studying pharmaceutical pollution tracked salmon that had been exposed to anti-anxiety medication. The fish appeared to lose their inhibitions.

A Champion of Oil Ends Her Bid to Lead the Bureau of Land Management

Kathleen Sgamma abruptly withdrew from consideration days after a memo surfaced in which she sharply criticized President Trump.

Trump Threatens Climate Policies in the States

After halting federal attempts to combat global warming, President Trump is now targeting efforts by states to reduce greenhouse gases, setting up a legal clash.

Trump Administration Cuts Funding and Staff for Flagship Climate Report

The move raises concerns among scientists that the assessment, which is required by Congress, is now in jeopardy.

Trump Administration Cuts Research Funding, Claiming It Creates ‘Climate Anxiety’

The cuts to a Princeton University program come as the Trump administration has been reviewing an array of research grants related to global warming.

Five Takeaways From Trump’s Plan to Rescue Coal

To help the struggling coal industry, President Trump used his executive authority to try to keep aging plants alive and burn more coal for electricity.

NOAA Staffing Cuts Threaten Years of Salmon Harvests

In Washington, where salmon is a multibillion dollar industry, government staff terminations and budget freezes may put salmon production at risk.

Tariffs May Make It Too Expensive to ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’

President Trump’s tariff polices have sent oil prices falling, which may push energy companies to reconsider their plans to drill.

‘Getting Heavier’: Climate Change Primes Storms to Drop More Rain

With rising temperatures, the atmosphere can hold more moisture, meaning precipitation has a tendency to fall at more extreme levels.

Trump Signs Orders Aimed at Reviving a Struggling Coal Industry

The moves include loosening environmental rules, but it is unclear how much they can help reverse the sharp decline in coal power over the last two decades.

Trump Administration Opens More Public Land to Drilling and Mining

The move, focused on Nevada and New Mexico, is aimed at removing “burdensome” restrictions on energy and mineral development, a statement said.

Should I Ditch My Gas Appliances?

They’re a big source of greenhouse gases. Here’s what to think about if you’re considering switching to electric.

Chemical Industry Asks Trump for Exemption From Pollution Limits

The Biden-era limits were designed to reduce emissions of toxic pollutants, including a cancer-causing ingredient used in antifreeze and plastics.

Republican Plan to Kill California’s E.V. Policies Hits Senate Snag

The Trump administration asked Republicans in Congress to stop California’s ban on new gas-powered cars. The Senate parliamentarian said it wasn’t allowed.

Trump’s Tariffs Could Threaten His ‘Energy Dominance’ Agenda

A new wave of tariffs could raise costs for energy producers, including oil and gas companies, as well as solar and wind firms.

How Tariffs Could Upend the Transition to Cleaner Energy

The levies are expected to drive up costs for U.S. companies that rely on renewable energy technology from abroad and scramble supply chains worldwide.

How Trump’s Tariffs Could Hobble the Fastest-Growing Energy Technology

Across the country, companies have been installing giant batteries that help them use more wind and solar power. That’s about to get much harder.

Coal Plant Ranked as Nation’s Dirtiest Asks for Pollution Exemption

The facility, in Colstrip, Mont., used a new E.P.A. system for requesting special waivers from President Trump.

Entire Staff Is Fired at Office That Helps Poorer Americans Pay for Heating

The move threatens to paralyze the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps to offset high utility bills for roughly 6.2 million people nationwide.

E.P.A. Hunt for Shady Deals and ‘Gold Bars’ Comes Up Empty

The agency head said a $20 billion Biden climate program was marred by fraud and abuse. A judge said on Wednesday the E.P.A. hasn’t provided evidence.

Why Al Gore Is Shifting His Climate Activism Abroad

Given the Trump administration’s recent moves relating to climate, the former vice president is looking to the developing world for the next generation of climate activism.

Trump Said Auto Emissions Don’t Affect the Environment. That’s Not True.

The president wants to weaken limits on tailpipe pollution. Scientists say it’s driving climate change and taking human lives “every day.”

Lee Zeldin, E.P.A. Head, Shuts National Environmental Museum

The exhibits were dedicated to the agency’s history. Mr. Zeldin said closing the collection would save $600,000 annually.

A Quarter-Billion Dollars for Defamation: Inside Greenpeace’s Huge Loss

A pipeline company’s lawsuit against the environmental group could chill free speech, experts said. First Amendment issues are likely to figure prominently in an appeal.

How Lee Zeldin Went From Environmental Moderate to Dismantling the E.P.A.

He once talked about the need to fight climate change. Now, he embraces Elon Musk, lavishes praise on the president and strives to stand out in a MAGA world.

A Maker of Sewage-Based Fertilizer Leaves Town Amid a Toxic Crisis

Ranchers in Texas claim livestock was sickened by ‘forever chemicals’ in fertilizer made from sewage sludge. Now Synagro, a Goldman Sachs-backed firm, has lost a deal to manufacture there.

Dreams of the Possible and Impossible for This Year’s Garden

The arrival of spring brings joy, and a challenge: finding solutions to increasingly erratic weather.

Mining Company Seeks Trump Support to Shortcut Access to Seabed Metals

Mining companies and the Trump administration want the metals to boost manufacturing. Environmentalists and some countries worry industrial mining would harm oceans.

Global Sea Ice Hits a New Low

The data comes after researchers reported that the past 10 years have been the 10 hottest on record.

A New Series in The Times, Inspired by You

Across the country, in red and blue states, everyday people, local groups and government officials are making creative plans that protect the environment. This year, we’ll be telling you about them.

E.P.A. Offers a Way to Avoid Clean-Air Rules: Send an Email

Referring to a little-known provision, it said power plants and others could write to seek exemptions to mercury and other restrictions and that “the president will make a decision.”

She Inspired Laws to Hold the Fossil Fuel Industry Accountable. Now She’s a Target.

A conservative group is suing for emails of a law professor who helped create legislation to force oil, gas and coal companies to pay for climate damage.

Energy Transfer vs. Greenpeace Verdict

The damages for defamation claims are laid out on pages 11-13 and 27-29. Punitive, or exemplary, damages are addressed on pages 16 and 32.

50 States, 50 Fixes

A series about local solutions, and the people behind them, to environmental problems.

Care About Food Waste? In Massachusetts, You Can Be a Compost Consultant.

It’s a dirty job, and someone gets to do it.

Living Car-Free in Arizona, on Purpose and Happily

One community near Phoenix is taking a “completely different” approach to development.

They’re in Hot Water in Idaho. Here’s Why That’s a Good Thing.

Nearly 500 buildings in the state capital get their heat from a clean, renewable source located deep in the ground.

Bridges and Tunnels in Colorado Are Helping Animals Commute

The state has emerged as a leader in building wildlife crossings, which can save animals, money and human lives.

At This Clinic in Hawaii, Nature Is the Medicine

A neglected parcel of land was restored by volunteers and patients at a community medical center. Along the way, their health also improved.

A Landmark Lawsuit, Where Kids Sued America, Comes to an End

The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal in the long-running case, known as Juliana, which helped spawn legal strategies widely adapted to other lawsuits over climate.

The Vicious Cycle of Extreme Heat Leading to More Fossil Fuel Use

A new report illustrates a concerning dynamic: Record heat last year pushed countries to use more planet-warming fossil fuels to cool things down.

What Shopping Bags Should I Use?

All bags are not created equal when it comes to the environment. And paper might not be as green as you think.

E.P.A. Investigations of Severe Pollution Look Increasingly at Risk

The agency will no longer shut down “any stage of energy production,” absent an imminent threat, a new memo says, and will curtail efforts to cut pollution in poorer areas.

Government Science Data May Soon Be Hidden. They’re Racing to Copy It.

Vast quantities of climate and environmental information have been removed from official websites in the past months. Scientists are trying keep it available.

A Personal Finance Reporter Ponders His Own Climate Change Risk

A Times reporter co-wrote a guide to buying a home in an era of record heat, floods and billion-dollar disasters.

Here’s What the Rise of Clean Energy Looks Like From Space

New data from a constellation of satellites 250 miles above Earth’s surface shows how solar and wind have taken off in recent years.

Jury Orders Greenpeace to Pay Pipeline Company More Than $660 Million

The environmental group had said the lawsuit, over its role in a protest movement, could mean an end to its operations in the United States.

Judge Temporarily Stops E.P.A. From Clawing Back $14 Billion in Climate Grants

Billions of dollars in funding for climate projects are still in limbo after a federal judge blocked the E.P.A. from withdrawing the money.

Earth’s 10 Hottest Years on Record Are the Last 10

A report from the World Meteorological Organization confirms that 2024 was the hottest year on record and the first year to be more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above the preindustrial era.

The Man Behind the Republican Case for Clean Energy

Representative Andrew Garbarino of New York is at the center of a Republican push to save a key part of former President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s climate agenda.

Trump Administration Aims to Eliminate E.P.A.’s Scientific Research Arm

More than 1,000 chemists, biologists and other scientists could be laid off under a plan to dismantle the Office of Research and Development.

E.P.A. Offers No New Evidence in Battle Over $20 Billion in Climate Grants

Nonprofit groups have sued the agency to get access to grants approved by Congress to fund climate and clean energy projects across the country.

The Republicans Pushing Trump to Save Biden’s Clean Energy Tax Credits

Despite President Trump’s rollback of climate policy, some Republicans and business leaders say clean energy can help his “energy dominance” agenda.

Want Cheap Power, Fast? Solar and Wind Firms Have a Suggestion.

Renewable energy companies are shifting strategy under President Trump, emphasizing the economic benefits of low-carbon electricity.

It Fought to Save the Whales. Can Greenpeace Save Itself?

The storied group has a remarkable history of daring protests and high-profile blunders. It faces a reckoning in North Dakota.

Famous Climate Observatory’s Lease May End Because of DOGE

NOAA, the nation’s leading climate science agency, may lose dozens of offices, including one that is key to the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii.

The Climate Fix: Nuclear Waste Finds Its Forever Home

Finland may soon become the first country to develop a permanent way to store spent nuclear fuel by burying it in tunnels deep underground.

‘We Hear You, Mr. President’: The World Lines Up to Buy American Gas

Facing Trump tariff threats, governments and companies are proposing major investments in American liquefied natural gas projects.

The E.P.A. Shifts Its Mission

The agency was created to protect the environment and public health, but a series of moves suggests it is transforming under President Trump.

E.P.A. Targets Dozens of Environmental Rules as It Reframes Its Purpose

Lee Zeldin, the E.P.A. administrator, said the agency’s mission was to make it cheaper to buy cars, heat homes and run businesses.

E.P.A. Cancels Climate Grants, Intensifying Battle Over $20 Billion

Here is what we know about the billions in funds that have led to federal investigations, lawsuits and frozen bank accounts for climate nonprofit groups.

Climate Group Funded by Bill Gates Slashes Staff in Major Retreat

Breakthrough Energy, an umbrella group for energy and environmental efforts funded by Mr. Gates, is resetting for the Trump era.

E.P.A. Plans to Close All Environmental Justice Offices

An internal memo directs the closure of offices designed to ease the heavy pollution faced by poor and minority communities.

E.P.A. Grant Recipients Find Their Funds Frozen, With No Explanation

Dozens of nonprofit groups have been unable to access the federal government’s payment system. The E.P.A. hasn’t explained why.

Birds Face Weakened Protections Under Trump Move

The Interior Department is suspending 20 Biden-era legal opinions, including one leading to fines against energy companies if birds die in oil spills or other industrial activities.

Supreme Court Rejects an Effort to Block States From Suing Oil Giants

The justices declined to hear unusual arguments from Republican-led states that sought to end lawsuits against energy companies over their role in global warming.

U.S. Energy Secretary Pledges to Reverse Focus on Climate Change

To applause from oil and gas executives, Chris Wright said natural gas was preferable to renewable energy and climate change was a “side effect of building the modern world.”

What Should I Wear to Work Out?

Every fabric has an environmental cost. Here’s how to make informed choices.

Climate Nonprofit Sues E.P.A. Over Billions in Frozen Funds

In a lawsuit, Climate United claims the E.P.A. is illegally withholding funds that have become a target of the Trump administration.

NOAA Said to Be Planning to Shrink Staff by 20 Percent

Together with recent firings and resignations, the new cuts could hamper the National Weather Service’s ability to produce lifesaving forecasts, scientists say.

Fossil Fuels Are the Future, Energy Secretary Tells African Leaders

Chris Wright’s remarks were welcomed at a time when countries across the region have felt whipsawed by cuts to longstanding African energy initiatives.

Climate Change Made South Sudan’s Heat Wave 10 Times as Likely, Study Finds

Years of war and food insecurity in the region made the extreme heat especially dangerous.

Will the Shift to Clean Power Continue Under Trump?

Experts say that President Trump may be able to slow the transition away from fossil fuels, but he won’t be able to stop it completely.

See How Butterflies Are Surviving, or Not, Near You

Populations are falling in the United States, a new study has found. Look up what’s happening in your area.

National Parks Had a Record Year. Trump Officials Appear to Want It Kept Quiet.

As the administration fires rangers and other workers, an internal memo is directing the National Park Service not to publicize visitors numbers.

Trump’s E.P.A. to Rewrite Rules Aimed at Averting Chemical Disasters

The Biden-era rules require thousands of hazardous-chemical sites to adopt new safeguards against storms, spills and other risks.

Cuts Could Close Campsites and Trails in California, Forest Service Memo Says

A government spreadsheet lists thousands of campsites and trails that could shutter for the summer because of federal government staff reductions and budget freezes.

U.S. State Department Shuts Down Pollution Monitoring Abroad

Since 2008, embassies and other diplomatic posts had been publishing data about local air quality. In many countries, it was the only reliable source of such information.

Climate Groups Were Counting on $20 Billion. Trump Won’t Let Them Access It.

The Justice Department and F.B.I. are investigating $20 billion in climate funds, despite a top prosecutor’s decision that there was not sufficient evidence of wrongdoing.

A Straightforward Climate Fix Hits Another Setback

Cutting down emissions of planet-warming methane from oil and gas production was supposed to be relatively simple. It hasn’t worked that way.

World’s Largest Iceberg Runs Aground

A massive superberg, four times as big as New York City, has halted east of the southern tip of South America.

Trump Administration Said to Drop Lawsuit Over Toxic Chemical

The Biden administration had sued to force the Denka Performance Elastomer plant in Louisiana to reduce emissions of chloroprene, a likely carcinogen.

Rising Temperatures Are Scrambling the Base of the Ocean Food Web

Scientists are gaining new insights into how plankton supports life on Earth — just as climate change is changing everything.

Trump Moves to Increase Logging in National Forests

The president wants to circumvent environmental regulations to expand timber production, something sought by homebuilders and the construction industry.

A Tough Start for Greenpeace in Court Fight With Pipeline Giant

The environmental group, battling a multimillion-dollar lawsuit over protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline, told the North Dakota Supreme Court it can’t get a fair trial.

‘Full on Fight Club’: How Trump Is Crushing U.S. Climate Policy

President Trump has quickly transformed America’s approach to the environment, withholding funds and stretching the limits of presidential power.

Hundreds Are Said to Quit NOAA in a New Round of Departures

The resignations came a day after a wave of firings at the agency, a world center of climate research.

‘Don’t Touch My Pan!’ France Bans Toxic PFAS, Except in Cookware

A new French ban on “forever chemicals” allows their use in nonstick pans after industry opposition, including a rally by employees of Tefal, a cookware maker.

Trump’s Cuts Come With Risks. Including From Volcanoes.

A spending freeze could disrupt systems that warn communities when eruptions appear imminent.

Minnesota’s Red-Tape-Cutting Experiment

Last year, the state passed a law to tackle a major barrier to cleaner energy: the long bureaucratic delays to get basic permits.

Far From Washington, Some Small Wins in the Fight to Protect Nature

Delegates at global biodiversity talks in Rome agreed on a framework for monitoring environmental commitments and other measures.

Mass Layoffs Begin at NOAA, With Hundreds Said to Be Fired in One Day

The cuts came just before a separate wave of departures was expected under the Trump administration’s so-called deferred resignation program.

Senior Leaders Are Leaving an Already-Depleted Disaster Agency

Along with about 1,000 rank-and-file workers, FEMA is losing some of the managers most experienced in handling emergency efforts.

The Case Against Greenpeace Puts a Spotlight on Native History

Indigenous activists behind protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline say a lawsuit against Greenpeace is trying to rewrite their role and history.

‘Day of Reckoning’: Trial Over Greenpeace’s Role in Pipeline Protest Begins

Energy Transfer, which owns the Dakota Access Pipeline, is seeking $300 million, a sum that Greenpeace says could bankrupt the storied environmental group.

Trump Said E.P.A. Would Lose 65 Percent of Staff. Then, a Correction.

The president said Lee Zeldin, the agency administrator, was planning mass layoffs. Hours later, officials said the president was referring to a budget cut only.

Trump’s Plan to Repeal Climate Policy Could Upend Shift to Electric Cars

The administration is setting the stage for Congress to repeal a longstanding waiver that allows California to set its own pollution standards. State officials say the effort is illegal.

She Lobbied for a Carcinogen. Now She’s at the E.P.A., Approving New Chemicals.

Lynn Dekleva, who recently took a senior role at the agency, once led an aggressive effort by industry to block regulations on formaldehyde.

Trump’s Transportation Dept. Targets Blue State Priorities

The Trump administration has set its sights on high speed rail in California and congestion pricing in New York, worrying transportation experts.

The World Bank Pivoted to Climate. That Now May Be a Problem.

The Trump administration’s deep cuts to clean-energy programs are raising concerns about U.S. commitments to the lender.

How Far Do Trump’s Cuts to Science Reach? To the Ends of the Earth.

The National Science Foundation has fired workers at the office that manages polar research, raising fears about a reduced U.S. presence in two strategic regions.

Farmers Sue Over Deletion of Climate Data From Government Websites

The data, which disappeared from Agriculture Department sites in recent weeks, was useful to farmers for business planning, the lawsuit said.

How Can I Lower My Climate Risk When Buying a House?

The danger from extreme weather is growing, and so are insurance costs. Here’s what to know.

Greenpeace Goes to Court in $300 Million Suit That Poses Bankruptcy Risk

In a closely watched case, the owner of the Dakota Access Pipeline is claiming the environmental group masterminded protests that hurt the company’s business.

The $20 Billion Controversy Over E.P.A. Climate Funds, Explained

An attempt by the agency to claw back billions in climate funds has led to confusion and the resignation of a top prosecutor.

Trump Team Plans Deep Cuts at Office That Funds Recovery From Big Disasters

Staff at the office, a branch of the U.S. housing department that Congress uses to address the worst catastrophes, would be reduced by 84 percent.

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Environmentalists Sue to Block Trump’s Offshore Drilling Plans

The suit, filed in Alaska, is likely to be the first of many challenging the administration’s goal of expanding fossil fuel production.

Trump Administration Moves to Fast-Track Hundreds of Fossil Fuel Projects

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has cited President Trump’s claim of a national energy emergency to speed up permits for new gas pipelines and other projects.

A Slow-Moving California Landslide Suddenly Speeds Up

A new map shows where land movement is accelerating, buckling roads and collapsing homes.

Britain’s clean energy goal is ‘sinister,’ the U.S. energy secretary says.

The comments by Chris Wright, a former oil executive, were a highly unusual criticism of one of the United States’ closest allies.

Trump’s Cuts Could Make Parks and Forests More Dangerous, Employees Say

Thousands of employees who helped oversee vast areas of wilderness have lost their jobs in President Trump’s moves to shrink the federal work force.

Climate Aid Projects Fighting Extremism and Unrest Are Closing Down

Heat, drought and floods are growing security risks, Western defense officials say, feeding instability and violence that could prove costly in the long term.

As Trump Targets Research, Scientists Share Grief and Resolve to Fight

At a conference in Boston, the nation’s scientists commiserated and strategized as funding cuts and federal layoffs throw their world into turmoil.

Forest Service Layoffs and Frozen Funds Increase the Risk From Wildfires

The Trump administration’s decision to fire 3,400 workers and pause funds used for wildfire prevention comes as wildfires are growing more dangerous and frequent.

Will There Be Enough Power to Remove Carbon From the Sky?

The direct air capture industry has ambitious plans to pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but it’s vying for limited renewable power resources.

Texas County Declares an Emergency Over Toxic Fertilizer

Johnson County is seeking federal assistance, saying its farmland has become dangerously contaminated with “forever chemicals” from the use of fertilizer made from sewage sludge.

Trump’s Funding Freeze Raises a New Question: Is the Government’s Word Good?

Companies that get federal grants or loans usually sign a legally binding agreement and depend on getting reimbursed. The new administration has upended that expectation.

FEMA Quietly Eases Rules Meant to Protect Buildings in Flood Zones

The agency issued an internal memo saying it would “pause” a regulation directing that schools, libraries and other public facilities damaged by disasters be rebuilt safely.

Tracking Trump’s Biggest Climate Moves

In his first few weeks, President Trump has frozen climate spending, shaken up staffing at agencies like the E.P.A. and set off a wave of legal challenges.

FEMA Can Freeze Money for Migrant Shelter Program in New York, Judge Says

The court ruled that the Trump administration had a narrowly defined path to withhold some funds to the city that had been approved by Congress.

California’s Scary Product Warning Labels Might Be Working, Study Says

Products must state if they contain chemicals tied to cancer or other risks. As a result, manufacturers have pulled back from using the chemicals, researchers found.

Environmentalists Gear Up to Fight Trump in Court

As Trump pledges regulatory rollbacks, environmental groups say the administration’s aggressive cost-cutting tactics could make it easier for them to win some long-term battles.

How Can My Valentine’s Flowers Show the Earth Love, Too?

If you’re scooping up a bouquet at the grocery store, here are a few things to consider.

California’s High-Risk Insurer Gets $1 Billion Bailout After L.A. Fires

The move will likely lead to higher costs for households across the state, and may push more insurers to leave, intensifying a home insurance crisis.

Under Trump, Billionaire Climate Champions Have Gone Quiet

Since the inauguration, billionaires who funded climate action over the last decade have avoided criticizing Trump’s climate policies.

NOAA Is Told to Make List of Climate-Related Grants, Setting Off Fears

Staff members search for spending on “climate science,” “climate crisis” and “pollution” as one of the world’s premier climate research agencies girds for cuts.

Trump Killed a Major Report on Nature. They’re Trying to Publish It Anyway.

The first full draft of the assessment, on the state of America’s land, water and wildlife, was weeks from completion. The project leader called the study “too important to die.”

Trump Is Freezing Money for Clean Energy. Red States Have the Most to Lose.

About 80 percent of manufacturing investments spurred by a Biden-era climate law have flowed to Republican districts. Efforts to stop federal payments are already causing pain.

U.S. Aid Agency’s Climate Programs Aimed to Curb Migration. Now They’re Gone.

Aid projects were designed to help Central Americans withstand extreme weather at home. Their end could undercut Trump’s goal of reducing migration.

Trump Administration Move to Freeze E.V. Charger Funding Confounds States

Some have halted work on the Biden-era $5 billion program to build E.V. charging stations. Others plan to keep building. Most are confused.

‘BACK TO PLASTIC’: Trump Vows to Keep the Government on Plastic Straws

The move would run counter to a Biden administration push to cut back on single-use plastic, which was considered a milestone.

In Greenland, the Ice Doesn’t Just Flow, It Quivers and Quakes

By using a fiber-optic cable to detect tiny vibrations a mile below the surface, scientists discovered a surprising way that ice sheets move.

Why Coal Has Been So Hard to Quit in the U.S.

What the economics of coal-rich states like Wyoming tells us about the transition away from the dirtiest fossil fuel.

E.P.A. Workers Who Assist Heavily Polluted Communities Are Put on Leave

President Trump is expected to close the office as he cuts programs to help poor and minority communities that are disproportionately affected by pollution.

Where Coal Is Retiring, and Hanging On, in the U.S.

Once the dominant source of energy in the United States, today, nearly 400 coal units supply roughly 16 percent of the nation’s grid.

Global Temperatures Shattered Records in January

Earth’s prolonged streak of abnormal heat continued into 2025 despite the arrival of La Niña ocean conditions, which typically bring cooler temperatures.

Trump Rehires Neil Jacobs, Former NOAA Chief Involved in ‘Sharpiegate’

A respected atmospheric scientist, Dr. Jacobs was found to have violated NOAA’s code of ethics in 2019.

How Trump’s Trade War Could Affect Climate Change

President Trump’s tariffs could threaten supply chains in the renewable energy industry and disrupt oil and gas markets.

E.P.A. Demotes Career Employees Overseeing Science, Enforcement and More

A spokeswoman for the agency said the change was “common practice.” Others said it injects partisanship into jobs that have always been neutral.

Chris Wright Is Confirmed as Secretary of Energy

The former fracking executive said in confirmation hearings that his top priority would be to “unleash” American energy production.

E.P.A. Tells More Than 1,000 They Could Be Fired ‘Immediately’

A spokeswoman for Lee Zeldin, the new head of the agency, said the goal was to create an “effective and efficient” federal work force.

Trump’s Halt on Climate Spending Freezes Jobs and Stalls Projects

The pause affects billions of dollars and is delaying home repairs, factory construction and other projects, many in states that voted Republican.

No More Palm Trees, and Six Other Ways L.A. Can Protect Itself From Wildfires

Around the world, other communities are experimenting with ideas that Los Angeles could borrow as it rebuilds from disastrous wildfires.

The Climate Fix: Africa’s Solar Revolution

In announcing a $35 billion program to bring inexpensive solar power to some 300 million Africans, officials left out two words: climate change.

Doug Burgum Is Confirmed by Senate as Interior Secretary

The former governor of North Dakota is promoting President Trump’s “energy dominance” agenda and wants more oil, gas and mining on public lands.

Trump’s First Two Weeks Have Thrown U.S. Climate Spending Into Chaos

Executive orders and announcements by President Trump have put billions of dollars in U.S. climate commitments into question.

Senate Confirms Lee Zeldin to Head E.P.A.

The former New York congressman has little experience in environmental policy. He is expected to follow orders to weaken climate rules.

These Are the Winds That Turn Wildfires Deadly in L.A.

The Santa Ana winds tend to cause the same corridors to burn over and over again. Experts say the region needs to adapt.

Inside Trump’s Renewed Effort to Undo a Major Climate Rule

A rule known as the endangerment finding requires the E.P.A. to regulate greenhouse gases. It has proved resilient against earlier attacks.

The Climate Migration Question: Rebuild or Relocate?

After a flood destroyed their town, Kentucky residents faced the agonizing choice of whether to stay or to relocate to new communities built on former strip mines.

Could Trump Use the ‘God Squad’ to Override Environmental Law?

The president wants to convene the rarely used panel, which has the power to carve out exemptions to the Endangered Species Act. Here’s what to know.

Kentucky’s Mountaintop Mines Are Turned Into Neighborhoods

As the risk of extreme flooding increases with climate change, an effort is underway to relocate hundreds of flood survivors to unique higher ground.

Inside a New Plan to Bring Electricity to 300 Million in Africa

Some $35 billion is aimed at building small solar sites in rural areas and other improvements. The World Bank chief called the project “foundational to everything.”

What Kind of Dog Poop Bags Should I Use?

Are those green bags that claim to be compostable really better for the environment? We’ve got the scoop.

Trump Stocks E.P.A. With Oil, Gas and Chemical Lobbyists

Top political appointees are already at the E.P.A. preparing to erase the agency’s climate rules and pollution controls. Many of them have tried it before.

What Is the Future of the Paris Agreement?

On President Trump’s first day in office, he pulled out of the Paris Agreement, a pact among nearly all nations to fight climate change. Reporting from Davos, Switzerland, David Gelles, a climate journalist for The New York Times, explains what this decision means for the rest of the world.

Trump says states should manage disasters and weighs shuttering FEMA.

“I’d rather see the states take care of their own problems,” the president said. Federal emergency managers from both parties have made the same argument.

Trump Said, ‘We Have More Coal Than Anybody.’ See Where We Burn It.

There are 206 coal-burning power plants left in the United States, which supply about 16 percent of the country’s energy. Experts say burning more doesn’t make financial sense.

The Dissonance of Climate Promises at Davos

C.E.O.s, policymakers and billionaires at the World Economic Forum’s conference have long pledged to fight climate change. Has it done any good?

Trump’s Retreat From Clean Energy Puts the U.S. Out of Step With the World

Most major economies are investing in ever-cheaper solar and wind power. The United States risks further ceding a global market to China.

Five Ways Trump Made It Suddenly Harder to Face Climate Risks

From national security to home insurance, the president has quickly changed America’s climate adaptation policies in important ways.

Trump Sees National Emergencies Where Experts Say There Are None

Mr. Trump had the authority to declare two emergencies. But they also happened to advance his favorite targets: more fossil fuels and less immigration.

Former Navy SEAL Said to Be Interim Head of FEMA

Cameron Hamilton does not appear to have experience coordinating responses to large-scale disasters, like the wildfires in California.

Trump Wants to Rename Denali. Alaska Lawmakers Don’t.

The president wants to honor a predecessor, William McKinley, by returning his name to North America’s highest peak. The state’s senators prefer the Native name.

Two Industry Executives Join E.P.A. to Help Oversee Chemical Rules

Nancy Beck and Lynn Ann Dekleva worked in the first Trump administration, where they fought chemical restrictions.

Trump Wants to Unleash Energy, as Long as It’s Not Wind or Solar

Legal experts said the president was testing the boundaries of executive power with aggressive orders designed to stop the country from transitioning to renewable energy.

Why Is It So Cold in the South If the Planet Is Warming? Here’s What We Know.

A mass of air called the polar vortex has escaped the Arctic and plunged southward. Some scientists see the fingerprints of climate change.

U.S. Wind Power Faces Huge Challenges After Trump Orders a Crackdown

In a sweeping order, President Trump halted federal approvals for new wind farms, in a move that could affect projects on land and in the ocean.

3 of the Most Important Trump Executive Orders on Climate

President Trump’s wave of executive orders yesterday sent an undeniable signal to the world about the United States’ role in fighting climate change.

Trump Signs Orders to Promote Fossil Fuels and End Climate Policies

The president said he’d declare an energy emergency, increase drilling and end support for electric cars. His pivot to oil and gas follows the hottest year in recorded history.

Trump Orders a U.S. Exit From the World’s Main Climate Pact

The United States will be one of only four countries outside the Paris Agreement, which is designed to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

Airborne Lead and Chlorine Levels Soared as L.A. Wildfires Raged

The findings give new insight into the dangers of urban wildfires that burn plastics and other chemicals in homes and property.

To Be From L.A. Is to Know Its Twin Temptations: Beauty and Danger

A Times climate reporter reflects on a city, its mythology and a reckoning with disaster.

Hit by Wildfire? Here’s How to Deal With Insurers and FEMA.

You don’t need to settle for what your insurance company or the government first offers. And you don’t have to fight alone.

As the World Warms, Davos Braces for Political Drama

A new U.S. president’s promise to expand fossil fuels that is at odds with global ambitions to combat climate change will be a topic of discussion at the World Economic Forum.

Trump Targeted Scientists in His First Term. This Time, They’re Prepared.

Agencies and unions have put in place new guardrails designed to limit political interference in government research.

L.A. Fires Revive Calls for a ‘Climate Superfund’ Law in California

New York and Vermont recently passed laws like these, which require energy companies to pay climate damages and will likely face fierce challenges.

Biden Administration Creates Final Limits for Oil Drillers in Alaska

Republicans said they were seeking ways to quickly reverse the restrictions in the state’s North Slope region.

More Americans, Risking Ruin, Drop Their Home Insurance

As climate threats worsen, they are skipping payments and losing protection.

How Do You Convince Consumers to Eat Plant-Based Meat?

The imitation meat industry is facing an identity crisis, and the challenge of convincing American consumers to make more planet-friendly choices.

The Next Threat to L.A.? Rainfall That Could Cause Landslides

While firefighters begin containing the Los Angeles wildfires, the land left behind is at a higher risk of floods and debris flows.

Energy Dept. Backs $22 Billion in Loans to Reshape U.S. Power Grids

The loan guarantees are one of the final attempts by the outgoing Biden administration to encourage power companies to cut emissions while trying to keep rates down.

Lee Zeldin, Trump’s E.P.A. Nominee, Is Short on Environmental Experience

Mr. Zeldin, a Trump loyalist, would be charged with dismantling climate rules and perhaps the agency itself. He faced questions from the Senate Thursday.

Doug Burgum, Trump’s Choice for Interior, Aims for ‘Energy Dominance’

The former North Dakota governor told senators at his confirmation hearing that he saw limits on energy production as a national security threat.

Yes, Imitation Meat Is Processed. Can It Also Be Healthy?

After being targeted by the meat industry, swept up in the culture wars and pummeled in sales, two plant based meat companies are reinventing themselves.

He Saved His Home From Fire. But Toxic Dangers Still Lurk.

Health hazards from soot and smoke blown indoors onto furniture and walls can linger for months, researchers say: “Wind will get through every crack.”

How to Get FEMA Help

The agency offers different types of financial assistance after disasters. The fastest is a one-time payment of $770.

Are Biden and Trump at Odds on Global Energy Strategy? Maybe Not So Much.

When it comes to gas exports and competition with China, the two administrations share a similar vision, the top U.S. energy diplomat says.

More Americans Than Ever Are Living in Wildfire Areas. L.A. Is No Exception.

Fierce winds and months of drought set the conditions for the catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles, but the growth of housing in fire-prone areas also played a major role.

Chris Wright, Trump’s Energy Pick, Is Quizzed on Climate and Clean Energy

Wright, the founder of a fracking firm, testified that he would back all forms of low-carbon energy as well as gas, oil and coal.

What to Know About ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Sludge Fertilizer

How to understand the E.P.A.’s new warning about PFAS levels in sewage sludge.

California Withdraws Some Requests for Tighter Climate Rules

State regulators said the measures would probably have been rejected by the Trump administration and that they would focus on homegrown legal strategies instead.

California’s Insurance System Faces Crucial Test as Losses Mount

The California FAIR Plan, the state’s insurer of last resort, had just $377 million available last week to pay claims that could reach billions, officials said.

In a First, the E.P.A. Warns of ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Sludge Fertilizer

Levels of PFAS in sewage sludge used as fertilizer can pose risks that sometimes exceed safety thresholds “by several orders of magnitude,” the agency said.

Supreme Court Clears a Path for Climate Lawsuits to Proceed

The high court declined to hear a challenge to a major case in which Honolulu is suing energy companies over climate change.

An Inauguration Watch Party Aimed at Celebrating Fossil Fuels

Harold G. Hamm, the founder of the Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, and other oil and gas companies stand to profit from Donald Trump’s energy policies.

Are Smart Thermostats Worth the Money?

Here’s what to know about potential savings on your power bill, and the environmental benefits.

Pop-Up Donation Center Provides Relief for Displaced Angelenos

A community-ran donation center that started as two hot dog carts has grown into a full-scale relief effort for residents displaced by fires.

Far From the Fires, the Deadly Risks of Smoke Are Intensifying

Researchers see a growing health danger from the vast plumes of pollution spawned by wildfires like the ones devastating Los Angeles.

‘We’re in a New Era’: How Climate Change Is Supercharging Disasters

Extreme weather events — deadly heat waves, floods, fires and hurricanes — are the consequences of a warming planet, scientists say.

Why Wasn’t California Prepared for These Wildfires?

California is the most prepared state in America for wildfires. So why is it unable to protect its largest city?

L.A. Fires Show Limits of America’s Efforts to Cope With Climate Change

California has focused on fortifying communities against wildfires. But with growing threats, that may not be enough.

The blazes also raise worries for Southern California wildlife.

We’ve Breached a Key Limit for Global Warming. Now What?

Global temperatures last year crept past 1.5 degrees Celsius, a key goal for climate diplomacy, raising questions about how much nations can stop the planet from heating up further.

Pink Fire Retardant, a Dramatic Wildfire Weapon, Poses Its Own Dangers

It’s widely used because it can slow flames in ways that water can’t. But it also contains heavy metals and other harmful compounds.

2024 Brought the World to a Dangerous Warming Threshold. Now What?

Global temperatures last year crept past a key goal, raising questions about how much nations can stop the planet from heating up further.

Naz Sykes went back to her neighborhood in Pacific Palisades only to find that her family’s house had burned down in the wildfire.

‘Everything Is Burned Down’

Sheila Morovati’s Pacific Palisades home was spared, but her neighborhood was decimated in the Los Angeles fires. For her, climate change looms over the tragic losses.

U.S. Efforts to Cut Emissions Stalled in 2024 as Power Demand Surged

After staying flat for nearly two decades, electricity use is starting to rise again, and the boom in wind and solar power hasn’t kept pace.

California Wildfires Threaten Insurers Already Teetering From Climate Shocks

Companies started pulling back from the state as earlier fires made it harder to turn a profit. Experts warn the exodus could grow.

Wildfires in California are spreading faster, scientists have found.

An analysis of 60,000 wildfires found that growth rates had increased over the decades in California and other parts of the West.

Watch Live: Officials Give Updates on California Wildfires

Officials give an update on the wildfires in Southern California.

Trump Wants Oil Drilling in Alaska. A Lease Sale There Just Flopped.

No companies bid for the chance to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It was the second auction in four years that failed to draw strong interest.

A Key Part of Biden’s Climate Law Was Built to Survive Trump. Now, the Test.

A lucrative tax credit for renewable energy could be hard to kill because it applies to technologies favored by Republicans, not just wind and solar.

What Will Power the A.I. Revolution?

The energy that will power the booming data-center industry could end up increasing emissions, at least in the short term.

Trump Promises to End New Wind Farms

Wind energy is one of the fastest growing and cheapest forms of electricity in the United States. The president-elect calls it “garbage.”

Exxon Sues California Official, Claiming He Defamed the Company

The lawsuit, an unusual strategy for the oil giant, comes after California’s attorney general sued Exxon last year alleging it misled the public about plastics recycling.

Biden Designates Two New National Monuments in California

The decision means Mr. Biden has protected about 674 million acres of federal land, more than any other president.

The Panama Canal’s Newest Voyagers: Fishy Intruders From Two Oceans

A multibillion-dollar expansion helped the canal accommodate king-size cargo ships. It might also be fueling ecological upheaval.

‘Forever Chemicals’ Reach Tap Water via Treated Sewage, Study Finds

Wastewater, even after treatment to make it drinkable, contains high levels of PFAS, according to researchers.

Sure, the Romans Were Smart. But They Could Have Been Smarter.

Exposure to lead from mining probably lowered I.Q. levels in the empire, research has found. It might be the world’s first case of widespread industrial pollution.

Biden Bans New Oil and Gas Drilling Along Most U.S. Coasts

The ban affects the entire Eastern Seaboard, the Pacific Coast along California, Oregon and Washington, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the Northern Bering Sea.

House Republicans Pledge Drilling and Make It Easier to Shed Federal Land

The newly elected Speaker said the party would make it a priority to “restore America’s energy dominance.”

After Fierce Lobbying, Treasury Sets Rules for Billions in Hydrogen Subsidies

With a lucrative tax credit, the Biden administration is hoping to establish a new industry that might help fight climate change.

Biden Expected to Permanently Ban Oil Drilling in Some Federal Waters

The move, expected as early as Monday, relies on a 70-year-old law that could make it difficult for the Trump administration to reverse it.

What Happened to Carter’s White House Solar Panels? They Lived On.

The panels, removed under Ronald Reagan, found new homes from Maine to China. And their legacy still reverberates.

To Understand Trump and Biden, Look to Reagan and Carter

Forty-four years ago, Ronald Reagan took aim at Jimmy Carter’s environmental legacy. President Biden’s climate initiatives could face a similar fate.

Trump Wants Greenland and the Panama Canal. It’s About Climate.

Global warming is making both places more important to global shipping and trade.

What Period Products Are Best for the Environment?

You’ve got choices, from menstrual cups to washable pads. Here’s how they stack up.

Berrien Moore III, Pioneering Scholar of Earth Science, Dies at 83

As a researcher at several universities and an adviser at NASA, he used data analysis to show how the planet’s different systems are interrelated.

The E.P.A. Promotes Toxic Fertilizer. 3M Told It of Risks Years Ago.

The agency obtained research from 3M in 2003 revealing that sewage sludge, the raw material for the fertilizer, carried toxic “forever chemicals.”

Trump Picks a Former Treasury Official as His Top Economist

Stephen Miran, who served during Donald Trump’s first term and now works at a hedge fund, has accused the Biden administration of manipulating markets.

The New Climate Gold Rush: Scrubbing Carbon From the Sky

Investors are betting that they can make a dent in global warming, and healthy profits, with companies that alter the atmosphere.

E.P.A. Administrator Michael Regan to Depart at End of December

Mr. Regan informed agency employees that he would leave before the formal end of the Biden term.

How the Climate Crisis Became an Insurance Crisis

Even in formerly low-risk areas, home insurers are raising premiums and ending coverage. The upheaval could push down home values and reverberate through the economy.

Biden, Headed to the Exit, Sets an Aggressive Climate Goal for the U.S.

The promise of deeper emissions cuts will very likely be ignored by the Trump administration, but officials hoped it would send a signal to the world.

E.P.A. Allows California to Ban Sales of New Gas-Powered Cars by 2035

The Trump administration is expected to revoke the program, setting up a legal clash between the state and federal government.

Youth Climate Activists Get Major Win in Montana Supreme Court

The court agreed that the state’s energy policies violated Montanans’ constitutional right to a clean environment.

Insurers Are Deserting Homeowners as Climate Shocks Worsen

Without insurance, it’s impossible to get a mortgage; without a mortgage, most Americans can’t buy a home.

See Where Home Insurance Policies Were Dropped in Your State

Insurers are retreating from communities across the country that face growing risks from hurricanes, wildfires and other disasters. Here’s how your area compares.

Worrying Signs From the Arctic

Scientists are seeing changes that could have consequences for the whole planet.

Gas Exports Pose Some Risks to U.S. Economy and Environment, Study Says

The long-awaited study was criticized by the oil and gas industry and could help environmental groups that want to stop new export terminals.

Fusion Start-Up Plans to Build Its First Power Plant in Virginia

Commonwealth Fusion Systems, an M.I.T. spinoff, aims to generate carbon-free electricity in an industrial park near Richmond in the early 2030s.

How to Repair the Planet? One Answer Might Be Hiding in Plain Sight.

We tend to look at environmental problems in isolation. A holistic approach would be more effective, a new report says.

‘Unfettered’ Gas Exports Would Harm U.S. Economy, Energy Secretary Warns

Jennifer Granholm said a new analysis showed that the continued pace of exports was “neither sustainable nor advisable.”