Environment
Follow the latest Environment news, videos, and analysis from ABC News.
June 26, 2025 at 2:47 PM

Young leaders advancing potential climate solutions could win $1 million grants

Youth-led climate groups are getting a $25 million injection from a funding collaborative
June 26, 2025 at 2:47 PM
FILE - Climate activists Elizabeth Wathuti, of Kenya, Vanessa Nakate, of Uganda, and Helena Gualinga of Ecuador attend the climate protest alongside the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on May 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)
June 26, 2025 at 1:45 PM

How carbon capture works and the debate about whether it's a future climate solution

Power plants and industrial facilities that emit planet-warming carbon dioxide are hopeful that Congress will keep tax credits for capturing the gas and storing it deep underground
June 26, 2025 at 1:45 PM
BKV Carbon Ventures senior facility engineer Laura Mamazza stands near part of a compression station at a carbon capture and sequestration facility in Bridgeport, Texas, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
June 24, 2025 at 8:05 PM

Environmental advocates sound alarm over Trump's plan to repeal forest protections

The Trump administration's move to end protections for 58 million acres of national forests will open up the federal lands to destruction, environmental advocates say.
June 24, 2025 at 8:05 PM
The Tongass National Forest on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, July 2, 2021.
June 24, 2025 at 3:54 PM

Wisconsin top court delivers win for environmentalists in 'forever chemicals' fight

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has delivered a victory for environmentalists in the battle over the regulation of “forever chemicals” known as PFAS
June 24, 2025 at 3:54 PM
FILE - A runner grabs a bottle of water at the athlete's village prior to the start of the 116th running of the Boston Marathon, in Hopkinton, Mass., April 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Stew Milne, File)
June 24, 2025 at 3:37 PM

Renewable energy not making a difference? Think again

ABC News Chief Meteorologist Ginger Zee explains the impact that renewable forms of energy are having on the environment.
June 24, 2025 at 3:37 PM
VIDEO: Renewable energy not making a difference? Think again
June 24, 2025 at 3:58 AM

Trump administration plans to rescind rule blocking logging on national forest lands

The Trump administration plans to rescind a nearly quarter-century-old rule that blocked logging on national forest lands
June 24, 2025 at 3:58 AM
FILE - Wrangler Doug Washburn, of Crested Butte, Colo. overlooks aspen trees with their autumn colors, near Jacks Cabin in the Slate River Valley near Crested Butte, Colo. while gathering the Spann cattle from the U.S. National Forest lands, Oct. 5, 2007. (AP Photo/Nathan Bilow, File)
June 23, 2025 at 2:35 PM

How targeting Iran's nuclear facilities could impact the environment

The destruction of uranium enrichment sites that support Iran's nuclear program would not likely have severe environmental consequences.
June 23, 2025 at 2:35 PM
This handout satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies and taken on Feb. 12, 2025, shows an overview of the Fordo (Fordow) uranium enrichment facility, south of the capital Tehran.
June 23, 2025 at 12:06 PM

Support for solar energy, offshore wind falls among Democrats and independents: poll

A new poll shows Americans’ support for green energy tax credits and renewable energies like wind and solar power has decreased in recent years, driven by a softening in support from Democrats and independents
June 23, 2025 at 12:06 PM
FILE - A Block Island Wind Farm turbine operates, Dec. 7, 2023, off the coast of Block Island, R.I., during a tour organized by Orsted. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, File)
June 17, 2025 at 11:42 PM

1st-of-its-kind ban on watering lawns in central Iowa -- and it's not due to drought

A ban on watering lawns has been issued in the Des Moines metro area for the first time to avoid a potential water crisis due to high concentrations of nitrates.
June 17, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Saylorville Lake, a reservoir on the Des Moines River near Camp Dodge, Iowa.
June 16, 2025 at 11:14 PM

First-ever water lawn ban issued in central Iowa due to nitrogen levels in rivers

A ban on watering lawns has been issued in the Des Moines metro area for the first time to avoid a potential water crisis due to high concentrations of nitrates.
June 16, 2025 at 11:14 PM
First-ever water lawn ban issued in central Iowa due to nitrogen levels in rivers
June 16, 2025 at 5:57 PM

Mining project near Okefenokee Swamp stalled over $2M permit requirement

A hotly debated mining project near the federally protected Okefenokee Swamp has stalled over a $2 million permit requirement needed before Georgia regulators make a final decision
June 16, 2025 at 5:57 PM
FILE - The sun sets on the lily pads and floating vegetation in the Chesser Prairie inside the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge on March 30, 2022, in Folkston, Ga. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton, File)
June 13, 2025 at 5:15 PM

Toxin detected in Lake Erie weeks earlier than ever before, NOAA says

Levels of the toxin microcystin has been detected in Lake Erie weeks earlier than usual, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
June 13, 2025 at 5:15 PM
In this undated file photo, Lake Erie is shown with the Cleveland city skyline in the distance.
June 11, 2025 at 11:23 PM

This is how much more mercury is being transported in rivers compared to 1850s

The amount of mercury being transported through rivers all over the world has risen up to three-fold since the Industrial Revolution.
June 11, 2025 at 11:23 PM
In this Aug. 2, 2023, file photo, chemical mixed water has been released by a factory into Buriganga River in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
June 10, 2025 at 5:43 PM

Invasive stinging Asian needle ants detected in 20 states. What to know

An invasive species of stinging ant is spreading across the U.S., having been detected in at least 20 states. Their stings can lead to anaphylaxis.
June 10, 2025 at 5:43 PM
The emblem of the US Forest Service, part of the Department of Agriculture.
June 6, 2025 at 4:20 AM

Why scientists are concerned over the record amount of seaweed in the Caribbean

Sargassum could soon be rotting and stinking up Florida beaches.
June 6, 2025 at 4:20 AM
Sargassum could soon be rotting and stinking up Florida beaches.
June 5, 2025 at 11:41 PM

Why scientists are concerned over the record amount of seaweed in the Caribbean

Millions of tons of seaweed currently floating in the tropical Atlantic Ocean could soon make its way toward the U.S., according to researchers following the phenomenon.
June 5, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Tourists walk along a beach covered with sargassum seaweed during its season, in Cancun, Mexico June 4, 2025.
June 4, 2025 at 3:06 PM

Senate considers Michael Boren to lead Forest Service, despite clashing with agency

President Donald Trump's nominee to oversee the U.S. Forest Service has a history of clashing with the very agency that he could soon be leading.
June 4, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Mendocino National Forest in Northern California.
June 2, 2025 at 9:42 PM

Northern Lights will be visible in US: Where and how to watch the aurora

A rare Northern Lights display could be visible across the northern United States on Monday. See where and when to watch the aurora borealis, plus viewing tips from NOAA.
June 2, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Northern lights (Aurora Borealis) illuminate the sky in Fairbanks, Alaska, March 27, 2025.
1 month ago

New concerns about West Coast pollution crisis

Experts say up to 60 million gallons of toxic waste are flowing from the Tijuana River in Mexico into the Pacific Ocean each day.
1 month ago
Experts say up to 60 million gallons of toxic waste are flowing from the Tijuana River in Mexico into the Pacific Ocean each day.
1 month ago

Supreme Court unanimously agrees to limit environmental impact studies

The Supreme Court put new limits on the scope of federally mandated environmental impact statements, clearing the way for a proposed rail line linking Utah and Colorado.
1 month ago
An undated photo shows the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C.
1 month ago

Healing through gardening: Organization connects US veterans with nature

Nonprofit organization Heroic Gardens uses horticulture as a form of personal healing for U.S. veterans.
1 month ago
VIDEO: Healing through gardening: Organization connects US veterans with nature
1 month ago

What to know about Empire Wind, the wind farm now allowed to resume construction

What to know about Empire Wind, the offshore wind project the Trump administration is allowing to move forward.
1 month ago
Wind turbines generate electricity at the Block Island Wind Farm, July 7, 2022, near Block Island, Rhode Island. The first commercial offshore wind farm in the United States is located 3.8 miles from Block Island, Rhode Island in the Atlantic Ocean.
1 month ago

Upgrading your landscaping in an environmentally friendly way

A conventional landscaping technique is not the best option for the environment, but sustainable landscaping is a way to design a yard that is easy on the eyes and the planet.
1 month ago
VIDEO: Climate friendly curb appeal
1 month ago

These Trump policies will have the most lasting impact on the environment: Experts

Some of the policies enacted under the Trump administration will have lasting impacts on the environment far after the current president leaves office, experts say.
1 month ago
Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Jason Ulseth shows a large collection area of trash along the bank during a boat tour of the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta, on April 22, 2025, on the occasion of Earth Day.
1 month ago

Court rules that Joshua tree should have protections

A California federal court struck down an attempt from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to revoke protections for the Joshua Tree under the Endangered Species Act.
1 month ago
Joshua trees stand in a campground in Joshua Tree National Park on February 20, 2025 near Joshua Tree, California.
1 month ago

Debunking misconceptions about carbon dioxide

ABC News chief meteorologist Ginger Zee talks to scientists about carbon dioxide, the gas critical for life on Earth.
1 month ago
VIDEO: Debunking misconceptions about carbon dioxide
2 months ago

Ban on plastic bags is working for environment: Experts

ABC News chief meteorologist Ginger Zee heads to New Jersey where one lawmaker wants to repeal the ban on single-use plastic bags.
2 months ago
VIDEO: Ban on plastic bags is working for environment: Experts
2 months ago

How clean air and water is addressed in new EPA reorganization

Environmental Protector Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced a significant reorganization for the agency.
2 months ago
In this undated file photo, Mount Washakie is shown in Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming.
2 months ago

These are the biggest 'anti-environment' policies enacted in Trump's 1st 100 days

President Donald Trump has enacted a sweeping number of policies that could harm the environment and hamper goals for greenhouse gas reductions, some experts say.
2 months ago
The PEMEX Deer Park oil refinery, April 8, 2025, in Deer Park, Texas
2 months ago

New satellite will provide an unprecedented look at the planet's forests

The European Space Agency has put its Biomass satellite into orbit.
2 months ago
Biomass is the first satellite equipped with a P-band synthetic aperture radar, which is capable of penetrating forest canopies to measure woody biomass – trunks, branches, and stems – where most forest carbon is stored. These measurements act as a proxy for carbon storage, the assessment of which is the mission’s primary goal.
2 months ago

How rock dust is used to fertilize farms, clean the air

A carbon removal company has been collecting rock dust to capture carbon and make farming more efficient.
2 months ago
A carbon removal company called Lithos Carbon is using enhanced rock weathering to make farming more sustainable and capture carbon from the atmosphere.
2 months ago

How rock dust is used to fertilize farms, clean the air

ABC News’ Ginger Zee reports from North Carolina on how farmers are using rock dust to enrich soil and help remove carbon from the atmosphere.
2 months ago
VIDEO: How rock dust is used to fertilize farms, clean the air
2 months ago

The science that can protect Earth from climate change

ABC News chief meteorologist Ginger Zee tackles one of the most common myths she hears about climate change.
2 months ago
VIDEO: The science that can protect Earth from climate change
2 months ago

Heat-resistant corals are 'miracle-like' discovery amid climate change: Scientists

Researchers said they discovered a "biological treasure chest" of corals located in an underwater lagoon off a remote South Pacific island.
2 months ago
The Acropora corals stick out of the water because the tide is low and the wind pushes the water out of the closed lagoon on November 27, 2021 in Tatakoto, French Polynesia. Tatakoto, a remote atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia, is surrounded by a lagoon rich in marine life. Like many regions worldwide, its corals are subjected to thermal stress caused by elevated temperatures. Yet, they have developed an exceptional heat resistance, a rare trait that could help restore degraded reefs.
2 months ago

How people are building more sustainable homes

"GMA" explores how people are creating more sustainable living spaces as part of “Our Home,” an Earth Week campaign to highlight efforts to protect, restore and celebrate our planet.
2 months ago
VIDEO: How people are building more sustainable homes
3 months ago

How Trump's executive order on coal could impact energy use in the US

President Donald Trump's quest to conduct a resurgence of coal production and utilization in the U.S. is farfetched and unlikely, according to energy experts.
3 months ago
The Comanche Generating Station, a coal-fired power plant owned by Xcel Energy.
3 months ago

Trump signs executive order to expand 'clean' coal, but there's no such thing

President Donald Trump has called for the expansion of U.S. coal production, claiming that an increase of "clean" coal produced in the U.S. will soon take place.
3 months ago
The Comanche Generating Station, a coal-fired power plant owned by Xcel Energy.
3 months ago

Dire wolf revived through biotech company's de-extinction process: Scientists

Biotech company Colossal Biosciences said it has brought back the dire wolf, an animal that went extinct 10,000 years ago, through its de-extinction process.
3 months ago
Colossal's dire wolves were born in late 2024.
3 months ago

Dormant algae revived after 7,000 years beneath the Baltic Sea

Researchers have successfully revived algae that remained dormant underneath sediment at the bottom of the Baltic Sea for more than 7,000 years.
3 months ago
Tiny diatom cells that were dormant in sediment beneath the Baltic Sea for 7,000 years were successfully revived, scientists say.
3 months ago

The deepest lake in the US is closing for 2 years, NPS says

Those wanting to recreate in the deepest lake in the U.S. will need to schedule a visit soon, before access closes for two years.
3 months ago
View of Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, July 2, 2020.
3 months ago

Researchers make surprise discovery after piece of Antarctic ice shelf breaks off

An iceberg the size of Chicago broke off am Antarctic ice shelf to reveal a thriving ecosystem underneath, according to researchers.
3 months ago
Icebergs seen around Research Vessel Falkor (too). The newly exposed Antarctic seafloor also allowed the team to gather critical data on the past behavior of the ice sheet. The ice sheet has been shrinking and losing mass over the last few decades due to climate change.
3 months ago

Scientists warn honey bee colonies could decline by 70% in 2025

Washington State University entomologists announced this week that commercial honey bee colony losses are projected to reach between 60% and 70% in 2025.
3 months ago
3 months ago

This is what's causing California sea lions to act aggressive, lethargic

Sea lions on the California coast are displaying strange behavior likely due to a harmful algae bloom impacting the region, according to marine researchers.
3 months ago
A sick California sea lion with possible domoic acid poisoning is rescued to be evaluated by volunteers from CIMWI (Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute) in Santa Barbara, California, on March 25, 2025.
3 months ago

These are the impacts some scientists fear most from EPA deregulation

Several of the environmental benefits Americans experience today -- clean air, clean water, clean rain -- could soon be in jeopardy from EPA deregulation efforts.
3 months ago
A person exits the headquarters building of the Environmental Protection Agency, March 12, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
3 months ago

Trump wants 'clean' coal, but there's no such thing

Experts say coal may be "cleaner than ever," but it's still not "clean" energy.
3 months ago
Experts say coal may be "cleaner than ever," but it's still not "clean" energy.
3 months ago

Trump’s EPA dismantles regulations – how polluters might benefit

ABC News’ Stephanie Ramos talks to former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy on the Trump administration’s rollback of clean air and water protections.
3 months ago
VIDEO: Trump’s EPA dismantles regulations – how polluters might benefit
3 months ago

EPA workers silenced as agency cancels hundreds of grants

Staffers have been told they are prohibited from communicating with grantee partners they are supposed to monitor, according to multiple sources inside the agency. ABC News’ MaryAlice Parks reports.
3 months ago
VIDEO: EPA workers silenced as agency cancels hundreds of grants
3 months ago

EPA workers silenced as agency cancels hundreds of grants

EPA staffers have been told they are prohibited from communicating with grantee partners they are supposed to monitor, according to multiple sources inside the agency.
3 months ago
Signage at the headquarters of the United States Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, Feb. 18, 2025.
4 months ago

Environment can have greater impact on health than genes, study shows

A new study finds that your environment can have a greater impact on your health over your genes. ABC News medical correspondent Dr. Darien Sutton discusses.
4 months ago
VIDEO: Environment can have greater impact on health than genes, study shows
5 months ago

Zeldin vows to review EPA spending, may 'claw back' IRA funds

President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to head up the Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Zeldin, emphasized accountability during hours of testimony Thursday.
5 months ago
Lee Zeldin, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency testifies at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, in Washington, Jan. 2025.