Inside Climate News

As many as 200 to 300 new structures have been permitted in Altadena, but homeowners who survived the Eaton Fire are struggling to rebuild.By Steven Rodas, Nina DietzALTADENA, Calif.—Sylvie Andrews walks among the brilliant white poppies, purple California grapes and olive-green thorns surrounding her yard’s blackened pizza oven—one of the only things that survived last year’s devastating Eaton Fire. But her eyes scan the block beyond, ever-aware of changes to her neighborhood. 

The San Luis Valley’s proposed plan to reduce groundwater pumping could restore its depleted aquifer, but it comes at a steep cost to farmers and an agricultural economy already under strain.By Emily PayneWater regulators and farmers in Colorado’s San Luis Valley are in a lose-lose situation.

Wetlands restoration and wildfire prevention can drive down insurers’ costs and skyrocketing premiums, a new study shows.By Emmett GartnerAfter years trudging through marshes around San Francisco Bay studying conservation practices, coastal ecologist Megan Kelso realized that one of the largest determinants of wetland health may not be an invasive species lurking with her among the sea grasses, but decisions made miles away in the executive suites of insurance companies. 

Shareholder proposals aren’t legally binding. But companies can feel pressure to take them seriously.By Dimuthu AttanayakeThe U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission wants to scrap a rule that allows shareholders to formally petition companies, one of the ways that shareholder advocacy groups have pressed for more action on climate and sustainability. 

An author argues that Earth may have hit “peak lighting,” and that communities are making changes to reclaim their starry nights.Interview by Jenni Doering, Living on EarthFrom our collaborating partner Living on Earth, public radio’s environmental news magazine, an interview by Jenni Doering with author Craig Childs.

Work must stop, effective immediately, after a federal judge in the Western District of Texas issued a temporary injunction against far-reaching legal waivers.By Martha PskowskiEL PASO—Federal Judge Kathleen Cardone granted a preliminary injunction Friday to halt construction on the border wall in Texas’ expansive Big Bend sector, including the national and state parks.

A summer of record heat, severe drought and compounding impacts tested Europe's infrastructure and resilience.By Bob BerwynDuring this past summer of climate extremes, more than half of Europe experienced dangerous levels of heat stress, the combined effect of temperature, humidity, wind and sunshine on the body’s ability to cool itself. In some places, that amounted to a “feels like” temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. 

Amid skepticism from some environmentalists, clean energy advocates see the reforms as crucial for a transition from fossil fuels.By Marianne Lavelle, Dan GearinoThe so-called “lame duck” session of Congress after November’s midterm elections could be momentous for clean energy as lawmakers are set to consider a long-sought bipartisan deal to speed permitting of large energy and infrastructure projects.

Democrat-led states and cities argue that the rollback harms public health and the environment.By Lisa SorgMore than 20 states, including North Carolina, New York, California and Pennsylvania, as well as several cities, are suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over its repeal of most greenhouse gas emissions standards for coal- and natural gas-fired power plants. The agency’s proposal would also thwart future administrations from reinstating the rule.

The lawsuit comes as the Supreme Court is poised to hear arguments in a similar climate case against oil companies. A ruling in the industry’s favor in that case could kill dozens of pending climate suits nationwide.By Dana DrugmandA New Jersey county has become the latest local government to sue major oil and gas companies, seeking to recover costs from damage caused by worsening flooding and other climate change impacts. 

On this special edition of Inside Climate, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse joins co-host Jake Bolster to discuss how Democrats can make climate change a winning issue in the midterm elections.By Jake BolsterWelcome to Inside Climate, a podcast from the staff of Inside Climate News. Ahead of Climate Week NYC, Inside Climate host Jake Bolster speaks to U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and asks why so many Democrats are leaning away from climate messaging at a time when the fossil fuel industry

The nation’s electric utilities release vast quantities of the world’s most potent greenhouse gas. Recycling efforts could slash emissions at little cost, an Inside Climate News analysis reveals.By Phil McKennaRead this article in Chinese 阅读本文中文版.

中国电力企业排放了大量世界上最强效的温室气体。一项Inside Climate News的分析显示，回收措施可以在极低的成本下大幅削减排放。作者：Phil McKennaRead this article in English.

The Rhode Island senator, who could lead the Judiciary Committee if Democrats win in November, urges stronger messaging and a focus on Supreme Court reform.By Marianne LavelleDemocrats controlled the Senate and the presidency when Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse first sought to roust his colleagues from the chamber’s floor, warning them that they were sleep-walking into climate disaster.

Million-dollar homes increasingly replace small-town beach vibes, pushing out longtime residents and transforming oceanfront communities.By Mike SchneiderJaques and Paulina Sebastiao were the first residents on their street to rebuild their two-bedroom house two years after Hurricane Michael’s 155 mile-per-hour winds leveled almost every building in Mexico Beach in 2018.

As climate disasters intensify, mounting debt is leaving vulnerable countries with less money to prepare, recover and invest in climate action.By Alissa de ChasseyThe countries most vulnerable to climate change are spending nearly 25 times more on repaying debt than on climate action, according to a new ActionAid report released Wednesday. 

Climate scientist Michael Mann digs into the story behind the latest numbers.Interview by Steve Curwood, Living on EarthFrom our collaborating partner “Living on Earth,” public radio’s environmental news magazine, an interview by host Steve Curwood with climate scientist Michael Mann.

Cherryfield rallied to remove the last dam on the Narraguagus after decades of habitat rehabilitation by local conservationists and landowners. They are committed to decades more.By Delger Erdenesanaa, The Maine MonitorOn a recent canoe trip to the remote upper reaches of the Narraguagus River, Ellie Mason saw prime Atlantic salmon habitat everywhere.

The action joins a cycle of legal battles against the Trump administration for slashing climate protections.By Keerti GopalEnvironmental and public health groups are suing the Trump administration over its most recent move to eliminate protections against climate-warming pollution.

While ranchers support eliminating federal protections for wolves, data shows the predators kill few cattle. Trump’s lifting of tariffs on foreign beef, however, is hitting cattlemen’s wallets.By Jake Bolster, Peter AldhousAmerica’s centuries-old conflict with wolves took another turn earlier this month when President Donald Trump ordered the animals be stripped of federal protections across several U.S. states, claiming the action will provide economic relief for ranchers.