City bans plastic bags, straws

Vancouver is bringing in bans on the use of plastic bags, straws and other single-use items, while introducing what the city believes to be a first-of-its-kind fee for disposable cups in the country.

UN: 'Quick wins' needed to keep climate goals within reach

A new report from the U.N. Environment Program shows the amount of planet-heating gases being pumped into the atmosphere hitting a new high last year, despite a near-global pledge to reduce them.

Coldplay is refusing to tour for environmental reasons

The band Coldpay is not going to tour again until they can figure out how to make it less negative on the enviornment.

New law cracks down on private garbage collection in NYC

There will be fewer private trash haulers in New York City as a result of a new law signed by Mayor Bill de Blasio that cracks down on the industry.

Leftover fabric finds a new use instead of ending up in landfill

Designers such as Marc Jacobs, Oscar De La Renta, Express, J. Crew and others produce hundreds of thousands of pounds of fabric that normally just gets dumped in a landfill. But a New York City nonprofit has found a way to take that unwanted fabric and give it new life.

Report: Despite climate change warnings, most countries still investing in fossil fuels

Despite promises from world leaders to do more to combat climate change, a U.N. environmental report says that most countries are still investing in fossil fuels.

Finding a use for leftover fabric
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A New York-based nonprofit called FABSCRAP has helped prevent almost a half million pounds of leftover fabric from ending up in landfills.

Illegal pot farms on public land creating environmental hazard

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two months after two men were arrested at an illicit marijuana farm on public land deep in the Northern California wilderness, authorities are assessing the environmental impact and cleanup costs at the site where trees were clear-cut, waterways were diverted, and the ground was littered with open containers of fertilizer and rodenticide.

China's largest garbage dump at capacity -- 25 years early

China's biggest dump is already full -- 25 years early -- after the massive amount of waste produced by the country's 1.4 billion people forced the garbage graveyard to accept four times as much trash per day as it was designed for.

Spider and insect populations are declining at ‘frightening’ rates, scientists say

Insect and spider populations are falling dramatically across the globe, spurring concern throughout the scientific community, and a new study suggests that the decline may be happening more quickly and extensively than previously suspected.

Die-off of Peconic Bay scallops under review

Suffolk County officials are calling on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to take a closer look at this year's historic scallop die-off.

Dutch cut max speed limit to rein in pollution

The Dutch government is lowering the top speed limit on highways in a bid to put the brakes on emissions of the pollutant nitrogen oxide.

The most destructive hurricanes are hitting the U.S. more often

Big, destructive hurricanes are hitting the U.S. three times more frequently than they did a century ago, according to a new study.

Group calls for NY to create $1 billion climate fund

New York is facing calls to create a $1 billion fund for climate change projects ranging from mass transit to aid to municipalities when fossil fuel plants close.

Capitol Watch: New Yorkers await toxic chemical testing

It's unclear just when New York will move ahead with ambitious plans that were announced last year to test public water systems for three industrial chemicals.

‘Untold suffering’: 11,000 scientists issue stark warning about effects of climate change

More than 11,000 scientists from around the world have issued a warning about climate change, declaring "clearly and unequivocally that planet Earth is facing a climate emergency," in a new report published in BioScience.

Earth just experienced the hottest October on record, European climate officials say

The Copernicus Climate Change Service confirmed that last month was the hottest October on record globally, according to data released by the European organization. 

New York may require restaurants to let you bring your own takeout containers

If passed, the Right to Refill Act would require restaurants to allow patrons to use their own containers for leftovers and bring their own mugs and water bottles for beverages.