Environment

Environment

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

We can implement that in other buildings in the city [where] it makes sense, in your local hospital, your libraries, even your apartment complexes,

San Francisco Peninsula Coast, Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley Including San Jose are under a weather alert for showers by the National Weather Service on Wednesday at 6:58 p.m. The alert is in effect until 7:30 p.m. Wind gusts of up to 40 mph and pea-sized hail (0.25 inches) are probable. At 6:58 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a shower 10 miles west of Boulder Creek, or 18 miles northwest of Santa Cruz, moving northeast at 20 mph, according to the NWS San Francisco CA.

Installing rooftop solar is one of the best ways to reduce monthly electricity bills.

It was off-limits to the public for a century until recently, when a nonprofit land trust called the Wildlands Conservancy liberated the coastline following 10 years of planning. Accessing the preserve is allowed after reaching the farthest end of Bodega Harbour, a scenic coastal community of 700 homes linked within an 18-hole golf course. But once word about the hike began to spread last month, locals began saying their neighborhood was upended overnight by hundreds of cars.

Wildfires are no longer a once-a-year emergency in Canada. In 2025, fires burned more than 8.3 million hectares across multiple provinces (roughly the size of New Brunswick), making it the second-worst wildfire season in the country. Some experts warn this could become the new normal. At The Walrus Talks Wildfires, expert voices from the health, climate, policy, and technology sectors come together to explore the impact of the wildfire crisis.

We can implement that in other buildings in the city [where] it makes sense, in your local hospital, your libraries, even your apartment complexes,

Like much of Miami, the area faces mounting climate risks. Miami's sea levels have risen eight inches since 1950. By 2040, the water is projected to be 10 to 17 inches higher than it was in 2000. As the water rises, that's making "sunny day" flooding from high tides more common-up 400% over the last 20 years in Miami Beach-and storm surges are increasingly dangerous.

AqueLyst approaches this challenge through odor elimination science, focusing on neutralizing odor-causing compounds at their origin. Rather than masking unwanted smells, the brand applies a science‑forward method that addresses odors at the molecular level. This approach reflects a shift away from traditional deodorizing practices and harsh chemical treatments, offering a responsible alternative for environments that require consistent, source-based odor control supported by practical chemistry and surface-safe formulations.

The government has awarded contracts to a record supply of new solar power projects, in a move that boosts the country's clean power goals but could spark anger from local opponents. The developments will be located across England, Scotland and Wales, with the West Burton solar farm planned for the Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire border becoming the largest ever to win a government contract.

The updated Building Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO) requires sellers of single family homes or duplexes to complete at least six credits worth of upgrades before final sale or pay $2,500 to the city, which is then funneled to the buyer upon completion of the upgrades. For many sellers, installing a heat pump is the easiest and most efficient way to earn all six credits in one fell swoop, while also significantly increasing the appeal of the property, notes Grimsich, CEO of 1-888-Heat-Pumps.

The British artist Andy Goldsworthy moved to Penpont, a village in southwest Scotland, in 1986, when he was thirty. The area's initial appeal was twofold. Property was cheap, which meant that Goldsworthy and his wife at the time, Judith Gregson, could acquire an unrenovated stone building that had likely once stored grain. This structure could serve as a workspace and, for a while, as a rough-and-ready home.

"Wildflower growth depends on a delicate mix of weather factors, including rain and its timing, amount of sunlight, seasonal temperature patterns, and wind," State Parks wrote in its forecast. "Depending on the region and weather, the peak bloom season typically begins in mid-February onward." Currently, some colors have already been spotted in both the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, which is northeast of San Diego, and the Red Rock Canyon State Park, which sits north of Los Angeles.

The pattern change began Monday when the barometric pressure surrounding the region started to fall gradually. That increase in low pressure is coming from the southwest and the air is flowing north, opposite of many winter low-pressure systems that dip in from the Pacific Northwest. As a result, light but steady rain is expected to start in Monterey County and the Central Coast late Tuesday morning. The rain is expected to reach the region closer to San Francisco sometime Tuesday night, Murdock said.

To see where the moon melts over the garden,or where the bats flit, or where the air sweetens with pollen and moth-frenzy, I recommend a night walk to discern the perfect patch for it. Under this glow, we could all use a distraction-dig with a silver shovel and choose colors that swoon and moan under our satellite: dusty pinks, baby blue, lavender, white, and butter yellow gems unfurl at dusk until dawn.

BP's sponsorship of the museum has long drawn ire, in part because the oil company pursues an "all out for oil and gas" strategy, including plans to exploit deep drilling at the recently discovered Burmerangue site off the coast of Brazil. The project has been criticised by campaigners and oil and gas unions due to its threat to ocean ecosystems, elevated carbon dioxide levels, and lack of revenue flowing back into the Brazilian economy.

An air quality tracking system from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) detected an extremely hazardous pocket of polluted air around the Pittsburgh suburbs, just ten miles south of the Pennsylvania city. Live data captured sharply elevated levels of PM2.5, microscopic particles composed of toxic compounds or heavy metals that are small enough to penetrate the lungs, exacerbate respiratory issues such as asthma, and contribute to heart attacks.

Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.