China's Crackdown On Polluters
You've seen the pictures of smog-filled skies over Chinese cities, pedestrians venturing out only in gas masks. But 2017 was the year China finally began to crack down on big polluters.
Environment
2017 Was The Year Of Extreme Weather
This year will go down in history for its extreme weather. Researchers have now definitively attributed three major extreme weather events to climate change.
Manliness And Green Living
NPR's Linda Wertheimer talks with marketing professor Aaron Brough about his finding that men are less likely to recycle than women because eco-friendly behaviors don't seem manly.
'Farm To City' Deal To Dry Out Stretches Of California's Legendary Salton Sea
Critics say the state's mitigation plan falls far short of what's needed to protect this former tourist mecca from the impact of the coming water transfer.
Federal Appeals Court Gives EPA 90 Days To Propose Long-Awaited Lead Standards
A federal appeals court has ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to propose a new standard for lead inside homes within 90 days. NPR's Robert Siegel speaks with Eve Gartner, who litigated on behalf of groups suing the EPA to update the standards.
Flint Accused Of Violating Agreement To Replace Lead Service Lines
Advocacy groups say Flint isn't sharing information about efforts to remove lead service lines. They're asking a judge to force the city to comply.
Thomas Fire Evacuees Return Home To Find What's Left
The massive Thomas Fire in Southern California is now 89 percent contained and evacuees are starting to return home. The Upper Ojai Valley was especially hard-hit. About a quarter of the homes there were destroyed.
North Carolina Researchers Reinvent The Toilet
Imagine a bathroom that isn't connected to an outside plumbing system. Where would everything go?
Accidentally Killing Birds Isn't A Crime, Says Trump Administration
A legal memo from the Department of the Interior declares that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act applies only to purposeful actions that kill migratory birds.
California Says Nestle Lacks Permits To Extract Millions Of Gallons Of Water
California regulators say Nestle lacks the legal permits for millions of gallons of water it extracts from the San Bernardino National Forest and sells under the Arrowhead brand.