The Hidden, Very Good Reason for the $10 Oil Tax
Doomed as it may be, an oil tax is a step toward redefining energy as a public good—for which everyone pays the cost of overuse and abuse.
Environment
Why We Need to Keep 80 Percent of Fossil Fuels in the Ground
Life depends on it. Bill McKibben on the big changes we’ve already made in remarkably short order.
Rebuilding Trust After Flint: What About the Water In Your City?
Despite decaying infrastructure and budget pressures, city water utilities have mostly delivered on their promise of healthy water.
How Far Can We Get Without Flying?
When a climate scientist decided to stop flying to cut his carbon emissions, he caught a glimpse of the post-oil future.
The Pipeline Strikes Back: The Audacity of TransCanada’s $15B Suit Against the U.S.
The political saga of the Keystone XL pipeline is like a real-life version of The Force Awakens. So why are we giving the Dark Side even more power?
The Oil Industry Won in Alberta. Now First Nations Look to Heal Their Land
The Alberta tar sands are home to the third-largest proven reserves of crude oil in the world. Here, First Nations engage in a complex dance of resistance to and cooperation with industry in order to survive.
If There Are No New Farmers, Who Will Grow Our Food?
Programs across the country are trying to make it easier for new farmers to get started and put down roots. Here's why: There's only one farmer under 35 for every six over 65. By 2030, one-quarter of America's current farmers will retire.
As Rising Seas Force Exile, Islanders Hold Fast to What Matters Most
Pacific Islanders are among the first victims of climate change-induced sea level rise. As natives quickly run out of land and struggle to maintain crops, leaders are searching for ways to protect their people and thousands of years of cultural heritage.
The Deal That Brought the Colorado River Back to the Sea
A new amendment to the 1944 water treaty between Mexico and the United States aims to create a fair, cooperative system for restoring the Colorado River.
One Clan’s Unique Weapon Against Big Oil
Because the Unist’ot’en clan has given up no land rights after decades of courtroom battles, they maintain a strong foothold on land crucial to future oil expansion plans.
How to Stop an Oil Train: The Hearts-and-Minds Climate Defense That Won Over a Courtroom
The Delta 5 loss was actually a big win. “Frankly, the court is convinced that the defendants are far from the problem and are part of the solution to the problem of climate change.”
In North Dakota’s Booming Oil Patch, One Tribe Beat Back Fracking
The Turtle Mountain Band was among the first tribes to ban the drilling process. Here’s the difference it made.
Big Oil and Gas Want Them Out, But One Small Clan Is Standing Up to Pipeline Expansion
A First Nations clan is bringing pipeline projects to a grinding halt—simply by occupying their traditional lands.
The New Face of Hunger: How Statistics Underestimate the Food Problem
Today, 800 million of us are considered “hungry,” but we produce enough calories to feed us all. Rather than a lack of food, we’re dealing with a lack of democracy.
Another Extinction: Words We Use to Describe the Natural World
Why naturalists and their linguistic allies fight to keep the language that gives us our sense of place from falling out of modern dictionaries.
Canadian Company Sues U.S. for Blocking Keystone XL—and Shows How the TPP Can Hurt Climate
Environmentalists have worked for years to get governments to regulate fossil fuels. Here’s how trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership make that even harder.
A Neighborhood Revolution in a Pot of Soup
After living in the same town for 14 years, I decided it was finally time to meet my neighbors. My secret? Soup night.
Will the TPP Set Back This Campaign to Stop a Proposed Coal Mine Near Montana Tribal Land?
The TPP makes the rights of companies sacrosanct, and that includes the right to mine. But what about the rights of people who live in the way of proposed mining sites?
Six Hopeful Breakthroughs from 2015
Despite conflicts and crises at home and abroad, 2015 offered glimpses of the road to a more just, compassionate, and sustainable world.
Was 2015 the Year Big Food Began to Lose Its Sway?
Companies like Coca-Cola and Monsanto were called out for conflicts of interest, leaving many in the public health sector to wonder if next year transparency might become the new normal.
Why We Should Care What Climate Scientists Think
As a scientist at the Paris agreement discussions, I hoped to see a fruitful collision of the climate scientist and climate activist. I expected strong words regarding science and broader social change.
The Risks of Being Heard at COP21: How I Ended Up In a Parisian Jail Cell
At international summits like COP21, diplomats and dignitaries dominate the dialogue. To see how voices outside the negotiations are heard, I joined a peaceful protest at the Louvre Museum.
Locals Dig Deep to Save Himalayan Springs From Drying Out
Water has become increasingly scarce in northwest India. As rain patterns shift and temperatures rise, communities are using small-scale local solutions to avoid dire drought.
Las Vegas Becomes a Model For Police Reform (And Other News to Chew On)
The Supreme Court denies a pro-gun appeal, Beijing closes streets due to smog, and Las Vegas curbs police violence with body cams, education, and accountability.
Soon, Oregon Polluters May Have to Pay Residents for Changing the Climate
A group of activists in Oregon wants polluters to pay residents for using their air. I spoke with Camila Thorndike, director of Oregon Climate, about this unusual effort to put a price on carbon.
Inspiration in Your Inbox
Sign up to receive email updates from YES!
Help Fund Powerful Stories to Light the Way Forward
Donate to YES! today.