Yale Environment 360

Species Slowdown: Is Nature’s Ability to Self-Repair Stalling? When scientists recently analyzed hundreds of studies of ecosystems, they were surprised to see a marked slowing in the rate of species turnover. If new species don’t replace old ones, they say, ecosystems may have less flexibility to respond to habitat loss and climate change.

Scientists have long predicted ecosystems would shift in response to warming, with some species moving out and others moving in. But a major new study has found the rate of turnover is declining, suggesting nature may be losing its ability to self-repair.

Record Number of Objects Launched Into Space Last Year Humans launched a record number of objects into space last year, from satellites to probes to crewed spacecraft. As launches increase, scientists see new risks in the growing number of satellites amassing over the planet. 

Humans launched a record number of objects into space last year, from satellites to probes to crewed spacecraft.

Scientists see new risks in the growing number of satellites amassing overhead.

Beyond ‘Endangerment’: Finding a Way Forward for U.S. on Climate Environmentalists are challenging the EPA’s repeal of the “endangerment finding,” which empowered it to regulate greenhouse gases. Whether or not the action holds up in court, now is the time to develop climate strategies that can be pursued when the political balance shifts.

The repeal of the "endangerment finding" is unlikely to survive legal challenge, writes Harvard law professor Jody Freeman.

Regardless, she says, the climate fight needs new strategies for when the political balance shifts.

As Solar Boomed, China's Fossil Fuel Emissions Fell In China, the world’s leading carbon emitter, a massive buildout of solar power is beginning to push fossil fuels into decline. Last year China saw its emissions drop, even as demand for energy rose. 

Amid a solar boom last year, China saw its emissions drop, even as demand for energy rose.

For Humpback Whales, Romance Comes With Age Since being decimated by whaling a century ago, humpback whales have made a remarkable recovery around the world. As their numbers grow, researchers are gaining a richer understanding of these wondrous creatures, including how long it may take humpbacks to learn to successfully serenade a mate.

As humpback whales recover, researchers are gaining a richer understanding of these wondrous creatures.

A new study reveals it may take years for humpbacks to learn how to successfully serenade a mate.

The E.U.’s Burgeoning Repair Movement Is Set to Get a Boost Europe’s new Right to Repair Directive will make it easier — and cheaper — for consumers to get their household goods fixed, rather than buy something new. Part of the E.U.’s Green Deal, the plan is expected to slash waste, promote recycling, and cut greenhouse gas emissions. 

Some manufacturers have made it deliberately hard to repair household goods, pushing consumers to buy new products rather than fix old ones.

A new E.U. directive will require companies to provide affordable repairs, helping to slash waste and emissions.

A.I. Weather Models Fell Short in Predicting Northeastern Blizzard While artificial intelligence has ushered in a new era of more accurate weather forecasting, A.I. models may still struggle to predict freak storms. This week a historic blizzard blanketed the Northeast in snow, dumping more than 2 feet on parts of New York and Massachusetts, and a conventional weather model outperformed A.I. models in accurately predicting the storm.

While artificial intelligence has ushered in a new era of more accurate weather forecasting, A.I. models may still struggle to predict freak storms.

This week, a historic blizzard blanketed the Northeast in snow, and a conventional weather model outperformed A.I. in predicting the storm.

Warming Raises the Risk That Multiple Wildfires Strike at Once Firefighters combat a grass fire in Alexandra, Australia, in January. Jay Kogler / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images 

Hot, dry, windy conditions are increasingly arising in multiple regions at the same time, setting the stage for simultaneous wildfires around the world, a study shows. via @vox.com

A High-Stakes Lawsuit Against a French Oil Major Is Closely Watched in Africa Hearings began Thursday in the first major climate suit of a multinational oil company in France. Judges will decide if oil giant TotalEnergies must curb its production of fossil fuels to keep its emissions in check. Among those following the case are African campaigners now rallying against a controversial pipeline backed by the oil giant.

A lawsuit in France will decide if oil giant Total must curb its production of fossil fuels to keep its emissions in check. The case is being closely followed by African campaigners who are rallying against a controversial pipeline backed by the oil giant.

For years, baboons have roamed the suburbs of Cape Town, sneaking into houses in search of food.

Now, officials have a plan to rein in conflicts between the primates and people — but like most things baboon-related, it is sparking heated controversy.

Read more: bit.ly/4rqllmD

Brazilian Amazon on Track for Record Low Deforestation The Brazilian Amazon is on pace to see forest clearing hit a record low this year, government figures show. Officials credit the decline to stepped-up enforcement against illegal deforestation.

Forest clearing in the Brazilian Amazon is on pace to hit a record low this year, officials say.

Even in Antarctica, Insects Are Eating Microplastics Microscopic particles of plastic have been found across the Earth, from the clouds over Mount Fuji to the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. Now, scientists have found microplastics in the bellies of Antarctic midges, the only insects found exclusively in Antarctica.

Scientists have found microplastics in the bellies of Antarctic midges, the only insects found exclusively in Antarctica.

Despite Rollbacks, U.S. Fossil Fuels Face Tough Road Ahead Last week, the Trump administration declared the federal government has no legal authority to regulate greenhouse gases, its latest move aimed at weakening regulations and boosting fossil fuels. And yet, analysts continue to see waning fortunes for miners and drillers.

Last week, the Trump administration declared the federal government has no legal authority to regulate greenhouse gases, its latest move aimed at weakening regulations and boosting fossil fuels.

And yet, analysts continue to see waning fortunes for miners and drillers.

Warming Tripled the Odds of Patagonia Wildfires A satellite image of fires burning burning in and around Argentina's Los Alerces National Park in January. NASA

The hot, dry, windy conditions that gave rise to fires in Patagonia last month were made three times more likely by warming, an analysis found. via @theguardian.com

With Renewables Ascendant in China, Coal Is Moving Into a Supporting Role In China, the rapid buildout of wind and solar power is pushing coal into decline. To aid the shift to renewables, China is upgrading its vast fleet of coal plants to serve as a complement to wind and solar, rather than as a source of baseload power. Analysts say the country is on track to retrofit almost every coal plant by the end of next year.

In China, the rapid buildout of wind and solar power is pushing coal into decline.

To aid the shift to renewables, China is now upgrading its vast fleet of coal plants to serve as a complement to wind and solar, rather than a source of baseload power.

Scientists See Growing Risk of 'Hothouse Earth' as Warming Gains Pace A new study warns that warming is not only accelerating but that the planet is approaching tipping points, from the dieback of the Amazon rainforest to vanishing of Arctic sea ice, that could destabilize the climate. Scientists say the risk of “hothouse Earth” is greater than once believed.

Scientists say the risk of "hothouse Earth" is greater than once believed.

Warming is gaining pace, threatening a cascade of tipping points that destabilize the climate.

How Ukraine Is Turning to Renewables to Keep Heat and Lights On Russia continues to bomb Ukraine’s fossil-fueled power plants, leaving much of the nation shivering during a brutal winter. But Ukraine’s new emphasis on developing decentralized power — from solar panels to wind turbines — is advancing an unexpected green energy transition.

Russian attacks on coal and gas power plants have left Ukraine shivering during a brutal winter.

To cope, Ukraine is adding solar and wind power. While a single missile can cripple a coal plant, dozens may be needed to take out a wind farm.

Wolf Found in Los Angeles for the First Time in a Century For the first time in at least a century, a gray wolf has been found in Los Angeles County. Its arrival is a milestone in the return of the long-embattled predator.

For the first time in at least a century, a gray wolf has been found in Los Angeles County. Its arrival is a milestone in the return of the long-embattled predator.

Sea to Rise Around the World — but Not in Greenland As the planet warms, seas will rise around the world — but not in Greenland, where they are projected to fall by several feet, according to a new study.

As the planet warms, seas will rise around the world — but not in Greenland, where they are projected to fall by several feet, according to a new study.

U.S. Push for Greenland’s Minerals Faces Harsh Arctic Realities President Trump has made access to Greenland’s vast reserves of critical minerals a focus of ongoing negotiations. But experts say the U.S. is underestimating the difficulties of mining in a rapidly changing Arctic region that is warming faster than anywhere else on Earth.

President Trump has made access to Greenland’s vast reserves of minerals a focus of ongoing negotiations.

But experts say the U.S. is underestimating the challenges of finding, extracting, and transporting rare earth minerals in a rapidly warming Arctic.

As the Arctic Gets Louder, Narwhals Are Going Quiet

As the Arctic warms and shipping traffic grows, noise from ships is interfering with the ability of narwhals to hunt and communicate. via @insideclimatenews.org

China to See Solar Capacity Outstrip Coal Capacity This Year This year China will see its solar capacity outstrip its coal capacity for the first time, according to an industry group.

This year China's solar capacity will outstrip its coal capacity for the first time, according to an industry group.

India Sees Its Grasslands as 'Wastelands.' Ancient Poems Show Otherwise The sprawling grasslands of western India are, in the popular imagination, the remains of woodlands that were leveled under British rule — areas to be reforested, rather than conserved. But a recent analysis of stories, songs, and poems from centuries past reveals that western grasslands predate British colonization.

The grasslands of western India are, in the popular imagination, the remains of woodlands lost under British rule — areas to be reforested, not conserved.

But an analysis of medieval songs and stories reveals the grasslands predate British colonization.

Mojave Solar Farm a Haven for Rare Desert Plant

A rare desert plant is flourishing at a solar farm near Las Vegas, new research finds.

The study is the latest to show how, under the right circumstances, solar arrays can be a boon to nature. via @grist.org

Polar Bears Are Thriving on This Arctic Island, Even as Sea Ice Dwindles In parts of the Arctic, polar bears are in decline as sea ice, which they depend on to hunt, disappears. That is not the case, however, on the Norwegian island of Svalbard, where bears have actually managed to grow more plump even as ice melts away.

In parts of the Arctic, polar bears are in decline as sea ice disappears.

But on the Norwegian island of Svalbard, bears have actually managed to grow more plump even as ice melts away.

Overshoot: The World Is Hitting Point of No Return on Climate With warming set to pass the critical 1.5-degree goal, scientists are warning that the world is on course to trigger tipping points that would lead to cascading consequences — from the melting of ice sheets to the death of the Amazon rainforest — that could not be reversed.

With warming set to pass the critical 1.5-degree goal, scientists say the world is on course to hit tipping points — from the melting of ice sheets to the death of the Amazon rainforest — that can not be reversed.

Europe to Ramp Up Offshore Wind in Push for Energy Independence A group of European leaders pledged Monday to build 100 gigawatts of offshore wind, enough to power more than 50 million households. As Europe faces a hostile Russia and an increasingly bellicose U.S., experts see deepening risks in its reliance on imported fossil fuels.

European leaders pledged Monday to build 100 gigawatts of offshore wind, enough to power more than 50 million households.

As Europe faces a hostile Russia and an increasingly bellicose U.S., experts see deepening risks in its reliance on imported fossil fuels.

Last Year Saw a Big Jump in Clean Energy Investment

Global investment in clean tech reached a new high of $2.3 trillion last year, according to an analysis.

Investment grew even in the U.S., despite a sweeping rollback of government support for clean energy.

After L.A. Fires Receded, Indoor Pollution Grew, Study Finds Even after the disastrous L.A. wildfires abated last year, the danger from smoke persisted for many people living nearby. A new study finds that, by some measures, indoor air pollution actually worsened after the fires.

Even after the disastrous L.A. wildfires abated last year, the danger from smoke persisted for many people living nearby.

A new study finds that, by some measures, indoor air pollution actually worsened after the fires.

In Europe, Wind and Solar Overtake Fossil Fuels Last year, for the first time, wind and solar supplied more power than fossil fuels to the E.U., according to a new analysis.

In a first, Europe generated more power from wind and solar than from fossil fuels last year.