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Leslie Kaufman
An employee of Trex stands with bales of used plastic, which the company recycles into decking material.
ENVIRONMENT / Sustainability
Nov 25, 2024
Can the world unite to end the plastic pollution crisis?
The rising toll of plastic in the environment is impossible to ignore.
A firefighter walks on mud and rocks from a mudslide during a storm in Los Angeles on Feb. 5.
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change
Feb 29, 2024
U.S. and Philippines pay highest economic price for climate-fueled weather
The U.S. currently experiences the worst losses in absolute terms: about $97 billion annually.
A sea turtle swims off the coast of Brazil. Sea turtles can migrate hundreds or thousands of miles.
ENVIRONMENT / Wildlife
Feb 14, 2024
Overhunting and habitat loss endanger migratory animals, U.N. says
One in five migratory species is at risk of extinction, according to a new report by the United Nations.
Sections of the forests in Colville, Washington, have already been thinned, allowing trees to grow less densely and reducing the risk for wildfire.
ENVIRONMENT / Sustainability
Oct 26, 2023
How to prevent forest fires by building cities with more wood
Not everyone is convinced mass timber will help forest health.
Japan Times
WORLD
Sep 2, 2022
Water crisis in southern U.S. city previews a wetter and hotter future
In addition to warming up the planet, climate change is making precipitation events more intense, and therefore more likely to overwhelm strained systems.
Japan Times
WORLD
Apr 28, 2022
Biden’s climate ambitions are all but dead
Political allies are now acknowledging what scientists have confirmed: There's virtually no viable path to slashing U.S. emissions in line with Biden's 2030 target
Japan Times
WORLD / FOCUS
Apr 23, 2021
Biden’s climate summit shows how far U.S. leadership has to go
Many of the 40 heads of state who participated had their own message: America needs to do more to convince everyone else that it's both up to the task and reliable over the long haul.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Apr 2, 2021
For climate progressives, Biden’s $2.25 trillion isn’t enough
The fact that the bill contains extensions of a tax credit for carbon capture stood out to some as proof that the administration was addressing climate change only superficially.
Japan Times
WORLD
Feb 25, 2021
Frozen pipes in Texas warn of supply risk as disasters grow more frequent
As the world warms, some cities are having to ration water during extended droughts, while others see agricultural lands and reservoirs threatened by floods and sea-level rise.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Feb 17, 2021
After four years of Trump, some scientists are treading into politics
Among the things that most inflamed scientists was Trump's rejection of the wide body of research establishing climate change, which he has called a hoax.
Japan Times
WORLD
Feb 10, 2021
Deep South towns are counting on Biden to keep his climate promises
Rising heat and more intense flooding are increasing the stress on all sorts of aging American infrastructure, and the impact often hits disadvantaged communities hardest.
Japan Times
WORLD / FOCUS
Oct 9, 2020
Who’s whispering in Joe Biden’s ear about climate policy?
Biden's plan was knitted together in consultation with representatives from various diverse corners of the economic, political and climate advocacy worlds.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Mar 19, 2020
Plastics had been falling out of favor. Then came the coronavirus
It took one week after the first U.S. case of COVID-19 with no overseas connection for Starbucks Corp. to temporarily ban customers from bringing in reusable coffee mugs.

Longform

Visitors to Kyoto walk along a street near Kiyomizu Temple in April. A popular tourist spot, Kyoto has seen what locals feel to be an overwhelming amount of tourists in 2024.
Is Japan ready for 60 million tourists?