Dec 11 - In a historic first for California, juvenile sunflower stars, reared in human care, were successfully placed into the ocean and later retrieved as part of a pioneering field study aimed at restoring one of the Pacific’s most ecologically vital and endangered marine species. Led by nonprofit Sunflower Star Laboratory (and several other conservation entities) this collaborative effort

In 2022, the Biden administration earmarked billions of dollars to help revitalize and strengthen former coal communities. The objective was to lay down building blocks for the region to transition from extractive industries like coal and timber to a hub for solar and other advanced energy technologies, with a view to long-term economic, climate and social resilience. But on his first day in office, Donald Trump scrapped Biden’s clean energy and environmental programs

Nearly 900 acres of land have been returned to the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation in California. The land borders Yosemite National Park -- one of the most visited National Parks—— and the Sierra National Forest. The land was transferred from the Pacific Forest Trust and was underwritten by a grant from the California Natural Resources Agency Tribal Nature-Based Solutions Program.

In a world where news about endangered species is often bleak, a sprawling underwater canyon off the coast of Nova Scotia is offering something rare: hope. There, in the dark, nutrient-rich waters of the Gully, a vast submarine canyon roughly the size of the Grand Canyon, Canada’s northern bottlenose whales are making a remarkable recovery.

More than 4,000 gallons of oil and contaminated wastewater spilled in southern Monterey County following a pipeline failure (December 5), according to state emergency filings. Private cleanup crews were dispatched to the scene at the San Ardo Oil Field, which was “contained to the immediate area,” according to reports from field operator Aera Energy.

Just over a decade ago, more than half the country’s electricity was produced by burning through mountains of lignite, the lowest-grade form of coal. Now, if all goes according to plan, Greece aims to shutter its last two coal-fired power plants next year and stop producing coal from most of its mines, including one that is among the largest in Europe.

Dec 4 - Midpen approved the acquisition of a property that supports the critical connection between two of the highest peaks in the Santa Cruz Mountains: Mount Umunhum and Loma Prieta. This purchase not only preserves open space, it forges a connection for wildlife and future trails high above Silicon Valley.

Up to 1 to 2 billion tonnes of future CO2 may have been prevented by ending new offshore oil and gas exploration. One of the most significant climate decisions taken by any major economy in years. The UK government has confirmed that it will stop issuing new offshore exploration licences as part of its North Sea Future Plan.

One Pila Mesh Home battery can power a typical refrigerator for 32 hours, or double that for customers that tack on an ​“expansion pack.” Pila’s 1.6-kilowatt-hour batteries retail for $1,299, which is more than what you’d spend for another portable battery with roughly equivalent storage capacity.

California has launched an innovative project that could save up to 63 billion gallons of water annually while generating clean electricity. Project Nexus places solar panels directly over irrigation canals in the Central Valley, creating the first system of its kind in the United States.

Microfibers are a type of microplastic that comes from textiles. They have been found in the ocean, on remote mountaintops, and in human lung, placenta, and even brain tissue. Wear and tear from laundering is a major source of microfibers, which get washed down the drain from laundry machines and blown out into the air through dryer vents, too small to be caught by standard lint traps.

In a landmark decision that’s reverberating across the agricultural world, Mexico has replaced 16 million tonnes of genetically modified corn with native varieties and banned glyphosate, a toxic herbicide linked to environmental and health risks. This isn’t just policy it’s a powerful return to ancestral wisdom, ecological integrity, and food sovereignty.

The uniquely vulnerable West Antarctic Ice Sheet holds enough water to raise global sea levels by 5 meters. But when that will happen — and how fast — is anything but settled. In May 2014, NASA announced at a press conference that a portion of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet appeared to have reached a point of irreversible retreat.

Heat is the No. 1 weather-related killer worldwide. The International Labour Organization — a UN agency —estimated that more than 2.4 billion workers were exposed to excessive heat globally in 2020. Local and national governments have failed to catch up to the risk, which climate change is worsening.

In 2024, the Siletz Tribe and its partners got a major boost in the effort to reintroduce sea otters: through the Biden administration’s America the Beautiful grants they received a $1.56 million grant over three years to reintroduce the species to Oregon and Northern California. The return of sea otters (xvlh-t'vsh in the native Siltz language) to the coast of Oregon will not only impact the broader ecosystem of animal and kelp forest life, it will also affect

Tule elk are once again roaming the Sierra Nevada foothills southwest of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks after a historic land return that Gov. Gavin Newsom is calling the largest of its kind in the region’s history. The 17,030 acres made up of two former ranch properties were recently returned to the Tule River Indian Tribe.

Recent election results and evidence from states show misgivings about the growth of AI and the ramifications for energy costs and the environment. For people who live near proposed data centers, there is a sense of powerlessness, which Inside Climate News has documented across the country, including the backlash to a plan for a huge data center in Bessemer, Alabama.

Brazil, a country at the heart of the world’s climate future, has taken a major step by creating 10 newly recognized Indigenous territories. The announcement came at a moment of heightened emotions and protests both inside and outside the COP30 conference, underscoring how deeply land rights and climate justice are intertwined.

A broad coalition of EJ, environmental, and labor advocates, as well as port and industry representatives, honored Senator Lena Gonzalez (CA-33) as the 2025 Offshore Wind Champion, recognizing her steadfast commitment to advancing California’s clean energy goals through responsible offshore wind development. The coalition praised Senator Gonzalez’s pivotal role in securing Proposition 4 funding to modernize and electrify California’s ports, investments that will position the state as a national hub for offshore wind. More of this STORY.

Nov 17 - The Environmental Working Group has reached a settlement in its lawsuit alleging that Tyson Foods’ promises to reach “net-zero” greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and sell “climate-smart” beef were not backed by sufficient actions to make those goals credible. Under the settlement, Tyson will refrain from making these environmental claims for five years..