Historic Wildfires Push the Pacific Northwest Into a New Era of Extreme Fire Risk
The Pacific Northwest is confronting one of the most destructive wildfire seasons in its history, as extreme heat, drought and unusually dry vegetation transform large areas of Washington and Oregon into landscapes increasingly vulnerable to fast-moving fires. More than 2.9 million acres have already burned across the two states in 2026. Oregon has recorded more […]
Federal Plan Orders Deep Colorado River Reductions as Climate Crisis Reshapes the Southwest
The United States government has unveiled a sweeping proposal to reduce water withdrawals from the Colorado River, marking one of the most significant changes to Western water management in decades. The plan would require substantial reductions in water use by the Lower Basin states—Arizona, California and Nevada—as federal officials attempt to prevent the river system […]
Court Filing Reveals Trump Administration Canceled Clean Energy Grants Based on States’ Political Alignment
The Trump administration has acknowledged in federal court that it canceled $7.6 billion in clean energy grants based solely on the political affiliation of the states receiving the funding, contradicting earlier public statements that the projects were terminated because they represented poor investments or failed to meet federal priorities. The court filing states that the […]
Most U.S. Voters Now Connect Extreme Weather to the Climate Crisis
A growing majority of American voters believe extreme weather is becoming more frequent and increasingly recognize climate change as a major cause. The findings suggest that public concern about global warming is extending beyond traditional partisan divisions, even as President Donald Trump continues to dismiss climate change as a “hoax” and his administration weakens federal […]
Massive Heat Dome Threatens Most of the U.S. With Dangerous, Record-Breaking Temperatures
Most of the continental United States is preparing for an unusually large, intense and long-lasting heat dome that could expose millions of people to dangerous temperatures for at least a week. The system will begin settling over the Northern Plains before expanding across as much as two-thirds of the Lower 48 states. Some areas may […]
A Sea Star “Baby Boom” Offers Hope After Disease Devastated Pacific Tide Pools
Sea stars along the West Coast are showing signs of a surprising recovery more than a decade after a devastating disease nearly wiped them out. Biologists studying tide pools in Oregon and other parts of the Pacific Coast are seeing a new wave of young sea stars, raising hopes that some populations may be rebounding […]
Wildfire Smoke Is Reversing Years of U.S. Progress on Cleaner Air
Worsening wildfires are reversing more than a decade of U.S. progress in reducing smog, making the air dirtier and more dangerous for millions of Americans. National ground-level ozone pollution fell sharply from 2003 to 2015 because of stricter regulations on power plants, cars and diesel engines. But since 2015, larger and more frequent wildfires have […]
UN Warns the Next Five Years Could Break Global Heat Records
A new United Nations climate report warns that the world is likely entering an even hotter period, with the next five years expected to bring record-breaking temperatures and more dangerous extreme weather. The report from the World Meteorological Organization and the United Kingdom’s Met Office says there is a 91% chance that at least one […]
Young Americans Sue Trump Administration to Stop Major Climate Pollution Rollbacks
A group of 18 young Americans is asking a federal court to immediately block the Trump administration from dismantling some of the country’s most important climate pollution protections. The lawsuit, Venner v. EPA, challenges the administration’s repeal of the 2009 endangerment finding, the landmark Environmental Protection Agency determination that greenhouse gases endanger public health and […]
FEMA Reform Plan Would Shrink Federal Role in Disasters as Climate Risks Intensify
A Trump-appointed FEMA Review Council has approved a final report calling for major changes to how the Federal Emergency Management Agency operates, potentially reshaping the balance of responsibility between Washington and state governments in disaster response. The council’s recommendations portray FEMA as inefficient, overly bureaucratic, and in need of modernization. The report is not legally […]
