One of the most visible indicators of ocean surface temperature warming due to climate change is the bleaching of coral reefs. Environmental changes like warming waters can cause corals to expel the algae that live on them and provide them with nutrients, turning the corals white. A new study has found that, while most of […]
A new report from nonprofit First Street Foundation finds that many Americans are exposed to unhealthy levels of pollution regularly and predicts the number of people exposed to unhealthy air could rise further by the middle of the century. The report, “Atrocious Air,” highlights how climate change is impacting air quality currently, and how it […]
Quick Key Facts What Are ‘Coral Reefs’? Coral reefs consist of hundreds of thousands of coral polyps — marine animal invertebrates with hard calcium carbonate exoskeletons. Different species grow to form a variety of measurements and shapes — from the size of a pinhead to as large as a foot in diameter. Coral colonies are […]
In 1980, Greg Kauffman — founder of nonprofit Maui Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF) — started World Whale Day. A celebration of the humpback whales who grace Maui’s waters each winter, the holiday is observed on the third Sunday of February and is an opportunity to raise awareness about threats to the species. This year, World […]
According to a new report from fossil fuel accountability organization the Center for Climate Integrity (CCI), the plastics industry has known for decades that the widespread recycling of its products was not feasible, but continued to promote it and mislead the public. Many of the fossil fuel companies that were aware and deceived the public […]
Greenland is the largest island in the world at approximately 836,330 square miles and has roughly 57,000 permanent residents. Warming in the region has been double the average global rate since the 1970s, according to a press release from the University of Leeds. Greenland’s ice sheet covers most of its land mass with enough ice […]
The stress our planet faces from climate breakdown is increasingly apparent from “breaking news” events such as wildfires, hurricanes and flooding. Such reports often emphasize timely evacuations or posthumous accounts of the damage. A new film, Earth Protectors, focuses more on the trend of climate change and the people around the world who are being […]
In an average year, the Great Lakes get about 40% ice cover. Now, after the warmest year on record and the first time the world has passed the 1.5°C target for a full year, the most recent Great Lakes ice cover analysis by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service shows that average […]
A first-ever United Nations report — State of the World’s Migratory Species — has found that more than 22 percent of migratory species are at risk of extinction globally due to overexploitation, habitat destruction and climate change. The report was launched by the UN’s Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) […]