Environment
Climate news, including natural resources, endangered species, sustainability and conservation in Chicago.
Author Rachel Carson’s book about the threat posed by the pesticide DDT ultimately led to the creation of the EPA and other environmental milestones.
The number of people who consider climate change a very serious problem should be 100%, but now it’s less than half. Meanwhile, most scientists believe global warming is accelerating quickly toward the point of irreversible ecological damage.
Carbon capture and sequestration technology is vital to help meet decarbonization goals.
Contestants come from 50 states and 12 countries, with 2,500 dogs taking part. Only one dog from Illinois will compete in the obedience category. The show continues through Tuesday, when the best in show will be named.
Bicycling grew more in Chicago than in any other major American city since 2019. But bike safety advocates say the city could be doing much more to protect cyclists and make biking even more attractive.
We know that pipes can break. Escaping CO2 is toxic, polluting, combustible and explosive. Just ask the residents of Sartartia, Mississippi, what happened when a CO2 pipe burst there in 2020.
Multiple rounds of storms accompanied by strong winds and hail moved through the area, the National Weather Service said. Hail was reported in Hyde Park. A ground stop was issued for O’Hare Airport, where 119 flights were canceled.
The group that blocked George Lucas from building a museum on Soldier Field’s south parking lot says the stadium project could ultimately end up in court — even if filing another lawsuit is “not the first thing you want to do.”
A rougher allergy season and the prevalence of wildfires will make the summer especially tough for people with asthma.
The cicadas are coming, and these glorious insects fill me with wonder.
Researchers said if state officials don’t curb utility spending, “Illinois is on course to maintain its entire gas system indefinitely.”
If the Department of Natural Resources opened up waterways, riverbanks would be ripped up for piers and docks. Lights and porta-potties would be needed.
“Things people don’t have to prep for and don’t think are a big deal are real-life issues for us,” said Laura Florek, a Northbrook mom of two young adults with autism.
The shells are turned into GastroPops, a treat used to lure predators so researchers can study their behavior. The students will travel to Miami later this month to test the treats in the field.
As a state that has already lost 90% of its wetlands, Illinois must protect what remains of these critical environments.
The government this year acknowledged Agent Orange’s presence at 17 bases, but not others where evidence is mounting — including Fort Ord in California and, possibly, Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois.
For decades, the department and many local law enforcement agencies have erroneously sided with landowners who want to keep the public far from their private lands.
Significantly increasing the percentage of electric vehicles on the roads is an important goal if we want to reduce climate change. But there are roadblocks, even for motivated EV buyers.
Experts at the Morton Arboretum say it’s important to protect any trees planted in the past three years with fine mesh netting.
Power plant owners will be forced to clean up their coal ash pollution under new rules recently issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.