Environment
Follow the latest Environment news, videos, and analysis from ABC News.
March 21, 2025 at 11:41 AM

Ocean dumping – or climate solution? An industry bets on the ocean to capture carbon

Dozens of companies and academic groups are pitching the same theory: that sinking rocks, nutrients, crop waste or seaweed in the ocean could lock away climate-warming carbon dioxide for centuries or more
March 21, 2025 at 11:41 AM
In this photo provided by Gigablue, circular structures called booms containing particles engineered by the company Gigablue, float near a research vessel in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Dunedin, New Zealand, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, as part of a project to grow tiny organisms known as phytoplankton that absorb carbon dioxide from the ocean. (Gigablue via AP)
March 18, 2025 at 9:50 PM

Trump wants 'clean' coal. Here's why there's no such thing

President Donald Trump has called for the expansion of U.S. coal production, claiming that an increase of "clean" coal produced in the U.S. will soon take place.
March 18, 2025 at 9:50 PM
The Comanche Generating Station, a coal-fired power plant owned by Xcel Energy.
March 18, 2025 at 9:16 PM

Trump wants 'clean' coal, but there's no such thing

Experts say coal may be "cleaner than ever," but it's still not "clean" energy.
March 18, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Experts say coal may be "cleaner than ever," but it's still not "clean" energy.
March 15, 2025 at 6:35 AM

A river ‘died' in Zambia after an acidic waste spill at a Chinese-owned mine

Authorities and environmentalists in Zambia fear the long-term impact of an acid spill at a Chinese-owned mine that poisoned a major river and could potentially affect millions of people after signs of pollution were detected at least 100 kilometers do...
March 15, 2025 at 6:35 AM
This image taken from video Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, shows farmer Juliet Balaya as she surveys the damage to her crop and fishpond caused by a mine waste spill near Kitwe. (AP Photo/Richard Kille )
March 14, 2025 at 2:39 AM

Trump’s EPA dismantles regulations – how polluters might benefit

ABC News’ Stephanie Ramos talks to former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy on the Trump administration’s rollback of clean air and water protections.
March 14, 2025 at 2:39 AM
VIDEO: Trump’s EPA dismantles regulations – how polluters might benefit
March 13, 2025 at 4:23 PM

EPA workers silenced as agency cancels hundreds of grants

Staffers have been told they are prohibited from communicating with grantee partners they are supposed to monitor, according to multiple sources inside the agency. ABC News’ MaryAlice Parks reports.
March 13, 2025 at 4:23 PM
VIDEO: EPA workers silenced as agency cancels hundreds of grants
March 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM

EPA workers silenced as agency cancels hundreds of grants

EPA staffers have been told they are prohibited from communicating with grantee partners they are supposed to monitor, according to multiple sources inside the agency.
March 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Signage at the headquarters of the United States Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, Feb. 18, 2025.
March 13, 2025 at 6:48 AM

EPA head says he'll roll back dozens of environmental regulations

The head of the Environmental Protection Agency has announced a series of actions to roll back landmark environmental regulations, including rules on pollution from coal-fired power plants, climate change and electric vehicles
March 13, 2025 at 6:48 AM
FILE - Former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., President-elect Donald Trump's pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency, appears before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Capitol Hill, Jan. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
1 month ago

Environment can have greater impact on health than genes, study shows

A new study finds that your environment can have a greater impact on your health over your genes. ABC News medical correspondent Dr. Darien Sutton discusses.
1 month ago
VIDEO: Environment can have greater impact on health than genes, study shows
2 months ago

Zeldin vows to review EPA spending, may 'claw back' IRA funds

President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to head up the Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Zeldin, emphasized accountability during hours of testimony Thursday.
2 months ago
Lee Zeldin, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency testifies at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, in Washington, Jan. 2025.
3 months ago

These plants and animals will benefit from Biden's protected land declaration

Vast forests, desert land and even a volcano are among the landscapes included in what's now the largest corridor of federally protected land in the U.S.
3 months ago
A desert bighorn sheep.
3 months ago

How to lower your carbon footprint after the holidays

After the holidays, it’s important to think about the best way to dispose of organic decorations, including Christmas trees and wreaths.
3 months ago
3 months ago

Abandoned oil and gas wells in US may bring leak dangers

Estimates suggest that millions of abandoned gas and oil wells may pose a threat to communities across the country, an ABC News investigation finds. 
3 months ago
Abandoned oil and gas wells in US may bring leak dangers
3 months ago

Abandoned oil and gas wells in US bring fears of leak dangers

More than 3.5 million abandoned oil and gas wells are littered across the United States and an estimated 14 million Americans live within a mile of one of the wells.
3 months ago
The source of Lake Boehmer is a leaking abandoned well originally drilled in the 1950s. The well is leaking up to 600 gallons a minute.
3 months ago

This state's now closer to ending gas-powered new car sales

California has been given the green light by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars and light trucks by 2035.
3 months ago
Motorists drive vehicles on the 101 freeway during the morning commute, Sept. 23, 2024, in Los Angeles.
3 months ago

How to really solve the plastics problem

Modern society has a big problem when it comes to plastic -- and it's contributing heavily to pollution and climate change.
3 months ago
Biodegradable products made out of cassava fiber.
4 months ago

How 'refill and reuse' can help eliminate single-use waste

Single use items often come with plastic and paper that will eventually be thrown away and sent to a landfill.
4 months ago
4 months ago

How to turn ocean waves into renewable energy

The power of the ocean could soon be used to power homes in the U.S. as scientists prepare to test an untapped form of renewable energy.
4 months ago
The Yaquina Head Lighthouse as seen from Beverly Beach State Park near Newport, Ore.
4 months ago

Why Texas could be the next big producer of green hydrogen

Texas has the potential to become a major producer of green hydrogen due to its existing energy infrastructure, according to a new study.
4 months ago
Transmission towers are seen at the CenterPoint Energy power plant on June 09, 2022 in Houston, Texas.
4 months ago

Drought causing saltwater to enter Delaware River

More than 17 million people get their drinking water from the Delaware River basin, according to environmental nonprofit American Rivers.
4 months ago
More than 17 million people get their drinking water from the Delaware River basin, according to environmental nonprofit American Rivers.
4 months ago

Bodies of water all over Northeast drying up due to drought conditions

Important bodies of water that supply water to populated regions in the Northeast are drying up due to drought conditions in recent months.
4 months ago
Water levels at the Wanaque Reservoir are becoming dangerously low as the region experiences an outbreak of wildfires as the dry conditions persist on November 14, 2024 in Wanaque, New Jersey.
4 months ago

What Trump's 'drill, baby, drill' fracking agenda could look like

President-elect Donald Trump's second term could bring reform to energy permitting and increased fracking on federal lands.
4 months ago
Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during an election night event in West Palm Beach, Florida, Nov. 6, 2024.
4 months ago

Why Trump's pick for energy secretary is wrong about green energy: Experts

The United States has seen a significant increase in the use of clean energy over the last few years; however, Chris Wright has claimed otherwise.
4 months ago
Wind turbines in a field at sunrise on June 28, 2024 in Nolan, Texas.
4 months ago

'Severe' toxic smog blankets Delhi, shuttering schools

Delhi's air-quality index, or AQI, shot up past 1,000 on Monday, more than five times higher than Sarajevo, the second most-polluted major city.
4 months ago
A man visits the Lodhi gardens on a cold smoggy morning in New Delhi on Nov. 18, 2024.
4 months ago

The world's corals are facing dire consequences from climate change: New research

Climate change is decimating the likelihood of survival for a large portion of the world's coral reefs, according to new research.
4 months ago
Natural Great Barrier Reef in Queensland.
5 months ago

Record air pollution causes hospitalizations in Pakistan

In the Punjab region of Pakistan, record-high air pollution levels triggered hospitalizations and school closures, as cities remain shrouded in a thick, toxic smog.
5 months ago
Commuters ride along a street engulfed in smog, in Lahore, Pakistan, on Nov. 5, 2024.
5 months ago

How fracking may determine the election in swing state Pennsylvania

Swing state Pennsylvania has one of the largest natural gas deposits in the nation, but residents are concerned about health impacts.
5 months ago
Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a presidential debate with Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Sept. 10, 2024.
5 months ago

How crops will fare with 45% of the US experiencing drought

The U.S. is experiencing the driest fall on record, which could potentially impact the quality of upcoming autumn harvests, experts told ABC News.
5 months ago
An American flag in front of a corn field at Smith Family Farm in Smithton, Pa., Sept. 23, 2024.
5 months ago

Giant tubeworms part of an ecosystem found thriving under the seafloor

A thriving ecosystem has been uncovered in the depths of the Pacific Ocean.
5 months ago
Lava formation is seen in the East Pacific Rift zone, April 8, 2016.
5 months ago

Wildlife populations have declined by 73% in 50 years: Study

The World Wildlife Fund warns that the next five years are "crucial for the future of life on Earth."
5 months ago
African penguins are seen at the coast of Simon's Town as the number of endangered African penguins has declined due to numerous human factors such as industrial fishing and fuel oil spills in Western Cape, South Africa on Sept.  7, 2024.
5 months ago

Wildlife populations declined by 73% in 50 years: Study

The study’s findings revealed declines in “every indicator that tracks the state of nature on a global scale."
5 months ago
The study’s findings revealed declines in “every indicator that tracks the state of nature on a global scale."
5 months ago

Florida's coastline could change after Hurricane Milton, officials say

As Hurricane Milton barrels toward Florida, piling onto the damage from Hurricane Helene, officials warn of "severe" levels of coastal change.
5 months ago
Florida's Pass-A-Grille Beach on the west coast is one of many beaches across Florida that has seen the shoreline change over time.
6 months ago

Why parts of the Sahara Desert are turning green

One of the driest regions on earth is shifting green, as an influx of heavy rainfall causes vegetation to grow in the typically barren landscape.
6 months ago
A view of Africa from NASA.
6 months ago

'Last Lands' explores battle to protect planet's national parks

ABC News' Bob Woodruff takes us on a spectacular expedition around the world and inside the efforts to preserve natural wonders.
6 months ago
VIDEO: 'Last Lands' explores battle to protect planet's national parks
6 months ago

Conservationists persist in Latin America despite political challenges, experts say

Embattled political systems in Latin America make it difficult for conservationists and environmental policymakers to preserve the ecosystem and natural resources.
6 months ago
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro gestures as he delivers a speech during a rally in Caracas, on Aug. 28, 2024.
6 months ago

'Last Lands' explores global battle to protect planet's vital ecosystems

The globetrotting series kicked off Monday, with correspondent Bob Woodruff shining a spotlight on the fight to protect the planet's most threatened national parks.
6 months ago
A sea turtle swimming in the Coral Triangle near Indonesia.
6 months ago

Why scientists fear rapid spread of 'aggressive' invasive species found in Florida

An aggressive species of invasive seagrass that has been traversing for more than a century has been detected in the U.S. for the first time.
6 months ago
An aggressive seagrass species has been discovered in Biscayne Bay off the coast of Florida.
7 months ago

Environmental group wants RFK Jr. investigated over alleged severed whale head

An environmental group wants NOAA to investigate whether the former presidential candidate violated the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
7 months ago
Former Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. watches his former running mate Nicole Shanahan speak during a campaign event at the Henry J. Kaiser Event Center in Oakland, Calif., on March 26, 2024.
7 months ago

Scientists find another reason why the melting Arctic could be disastrous

Melting permafrost in the Arctic is releasing toxic mercury into the water system, potentially impacting the food chain, scientists say.
7 months ago
Pack Ice breaking in the Arctic
8 months ago

Why some are reconsidering having a lawn to save the planet

While a perfectly manicured lawn is part of the American ideal, non-native plants can be expensive to maintain, so many are going local to beautify their yards.
8 months ago
VIDEO: Why some are reconsidering having a lawn to save the planet
8 months ago

Goodbye turf lawns: Homeowners are using native plants to 're-wild' their yards

The days of the perfect-looking yard -- often lawns that guzzle copious amounts of water to stay green -- may soon be gone.
8 months ago
8 months ago

A concert series in England where top artists perform in protected, preserved forests

Summer is something very precious in England, usually lasting only a few weeks at its peak, and many do whatever they can to enjoy it.
8 months ago
“Forest Live” is a major live music series spread over a just few weeks in England and features the likes of Sting, Nile Rogers, Bryan Adams, Gregory Porter and Van Morrison.
8 months ago

How it's getting easier to make buildings more environmentally sustainable

The places human beings spend the most time are among the largest producers of greenhouse gas emissions in the world.
8 months ago
A view of a row of historic brownstones in Manhattan, New York City.
8 months ago

Metals on ocean floor produce 'dark oxygen,' new study finds

Mining activity could negatively affect the seafloor ecosystem, scientists warn.
8 months ago
The creation of dark oxygen could influence deep-seafloor ecology.
8 months ago

Metals on ocean floor produce 'dark oxygen,' new study finds

Mining conducted on the floors of deep seas could create "dark oxygen" containing metals that could impact the quality of oxygen above water.
8 months ago
A high-powered lamp illuminates a deep underwater exploration scene.
8 months ago

Hydrothermal explosion sends tourists running at Yellowstone National Park

A hydrothermal explosion Tuesday morning at Yellowstone National Park sent people running for cover and prompted the closure of an area containing several geysers.
8 months ago
VIDEO: Hydrothermal explosion sends tourists running at Yellowstone National Park
8 months ago

Video shows tourists flee as Yellowstone geyser erupts

A video shows a geyser in Yellowstone National Park erupting in a hydrothermal explosion right next to tourists on a boardwalk.
8 months ago
VIDEO: Video shows tourists flee as Yellowstone geyser erupts
9 months ago

Contaminated water shuts down popular beach hot spots

Several states, from New York to California, have been forced to close down stretches of their shores due to high levels of bacteria in the water.
9 months ago
VIDEO: Contaminated water shuts down popular beach hot spots
9 months ago

Environmental protesters spray 'orange powder paint' on Britain's Stonehenge

Environmental protesters sprayed what appeared to be orange powder paint across part of Britain's Stonehenge on Wednesday.
9 months ago
Climate protesters spray orange material on Stonehenge in the United Kingdom on June 19, 2024.
9 months ago

A look at sustainable alternatives to paper towels

ABC News Consumer Correspondent Becky Worley puts some options to the test that could be better for the planet and your wallet.
9 months ago
VIDEO: A look at sustainable alternatives to paper towels