Environment

Environment

Winged warning: Migrating birds hit hard by California’s drought

As the drought dries up California’s wetlands, traveling birds such as ducks, geese and eagles are struggling to survive and breed. “This drought is bad. The odds are against us,” a state expert said.

By Julie Cart • November 10, 2021

CalMatters en Español

Una alada advertencia: las aves migratorias están siendo mucho más afectadas por la sequía de California de lo que se creía

En resumen A medida que la sequía seca los humedales de California, las aves que viajan como patos, gansos y águilas luchan por sobrevivir y reproducirse. “Esta sequía es muy mala. Las probabilidades están en nuestra contra”, dijo un experto estatal. Read this article in English. Dice algo sobre la complejidad de la crisis del agua de California […]

By Julie Cart • November 10, 2021

Environment

As UN tackles twin climate threats, California struggles with them, too

UN nations have pledged to reduce climate-changing methane and forest destruction within 10 years. California has been trying to handle both problems, with limited success.

By Rachel Becker and Julie Cart • November 5, 2021

WhatMatters

Newsom’s challenge in Glasgow: Can he find climate-business balance?

One of the biggest challenges that Gov. Gavin Newsom will face when he travels to Scotland next week for the United Nations Climate Change Conference: Proving to the rest of the world that California is improving its environmental climate without damaging its business climate. The tensions and synergies between the two were evident Tuesday, when […]

By Emily Hoeven • October 27, 2021

Commentary

Why we must turn food waste into a renewable fuel

In a few weeks, cities must keep food scraps and yard waste out of landfills to reduce polluting methane emissions. We can use the stuff we throw away to make renewable natural gas.

By Guest Commentary • October 27, 2021

WhatMatters

Oil faces complicated future in California

Good morning, California. It’s Friday, October 22. Long road to divestment Oil is on its way out in California — kind of. “We don’t see oil in our future,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday, as his administration unveiled a draft proposal — originally scheduled for release last year — that would ban the development of […]

By Emily Hoeven • October 22, 2021

Commentary

Clean water in California is overdue

As we approach the 50th anniversary of the federal Clean Water Act, it is time for the state to get on track toward ensuring swimmable, fishable and drinkable waters for all Californians.

By Guest Commentary • October 19, 2021

WhatMatters

California’s new state of emergency

Good morning, California. It’s Tuesday, October 5. Calls mount to end offshore drilling At nearly 10 pm on Monday night, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Orange County due to the region’s largest oil spill in three decades. The announcement came more than two days after authorities began sounding the alarm on […]

By Emily Hoeven • October 5, 2021

Environment

The latest on the oil spill: A ship may have caused the pipeline damage weeks earlier

The last major oil spill off Huntington Beach was nearly 32 years ago — in almost the same spot. California has 23 offshore oil platforms in federal waters and eight platforms and islands in state waters.

By Julie Cart and Rachel Becker • October 4, 2021

WhatMatters

Massive oil spill batters California’s Orange County coast

California’s taking an environmental beating. Orange County was hit with its largest oil spill in three decades when at least 126,000 gallons of crude oil spewed from a leaking pipeline connected to an offshore platform. The oil slick — which was first reported Saturday and grew large enough to cover the city of Santa Monica […]

By Emily Hoeven • October 4, 2021