Environment
Why Some Home Prices Rebound Quickly After a Forest Fire
A ruined view following a wildfire affects property values, but only because it's a painful reminder of risk, economists find.
On Long Island, Failure to Absorb Sandy’s Lessons
Six years after Sandy hit New York killing 43 people and destroying numerous homes, waterfront development in the region continues with scant attention to cohesive storm-mitigation strategy.
Reconstructing Hurricane Harvey to Find Its Overlooked Victims
Will Houston’s data-driven approach help it distribute recovery funds more fairly?
What Local Climate Actions Would Have the Greatest Impact
In light of even more dire news about our warming planet, leading thinkers tell us the one thing cities and states could do to cut emissions significantly—and fast.
Here Are the Mediterranean Sites That Will Be Swallowed by the Sea
Coastal erosion and flooding are threatening ancient cities from Tunisia to Italy.
The Dutch Can’t Save Us From Rising Seas
Dutch engineers are renowned for their ability to keep cities dry. But their approach doesn’t necessarily translate to an American context.
The Grim State of Electric Vehicle Adoption in the U.S.
Plugging in cars and trucks will be critical to averting climate catastrophe, according to the IPCC. How far has the U.S. come?
Before-and-After Photos of Michael’s Destruction
NOAA images reveal the storm’s brutal, but uneven, impact on the Florida Panhandle.
Climate Change Might Be Bad for Your Mental Health, Too
Average monthly highs above 86 degrees Fahrenheit increase the probability of mental-health issues, a new study finds.
The Sudden, Shocking Growth of Hurricane Michael
In little more than a day, a Category 1 storm became a “worst-case scenario” Category 4.
How America Fails at Communicating Flood Risks
We have good data about flood risks. The challenge is getting it to people when they need it, in a way that’s useful.
A City That Takes Climate Change Seriously: Paris
The French capital, under Mayor Anne Hidalgo, could be a model for how cities can mitigate and plan for climate change. But change has not come easily.
Climate Change Is Testing Asia’s Megacities
Even the largest, most advanced cities are vulnerable to the intensifying storms in the Pacific Ocean.
Big Cities Have Longer Flu Seasons, While Small Cities Have More Intense Ones
New research reveals how city size and density affect the transmission of the flu virus.
First Came the Hurricane. Now Come the Mosquitoes.
Heavy rains and flooding create ideal conditions for swarms. For public health officials, the focus is on curbing the potential for viruses to spread.
Can We Detect Tsunamis Before It’s Too Late?
Even the world’s best system “is really not a technological solution to the problem of a near-field tsunami.”
The Toxins of Camden
It wafts and weaves through the struggling industrial city, disproportionately affecting its public school students.
Why Mayors Are Rallying Around the Mississippi River
For communities from Minnesota to Louisiana, the Mississippi is the source of increasing problem flooding, but it’s also the key to a clean water supply and a healthy economy.
Night of the Living Synanthropes
Raccoons, rats, and pigeons have adapted to live in close proximity to humans. What if we tried to understand their world instead of writing them off as pests?
Mapping Where Environmental Justice Is Most Threatened in the Carolinas
Eight places have long been vulnerable—and without them, we may not have the language, knowledge, and tools to fight environmental injustice in the age of climate change.
The Black Communities That Have Fought for Their Right to Exist in the Carolinas
The African-American families embroiled in litigation against toxic animal-feeding operations join a long history of black communities fighting for the right to their health in the Carolinas.