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Warehouse workers often labor in extremely hot conditions in California, as do many others who work indoors. The state has been considering new rules to protect them when temperatures soar to dangerous levels, but political headwinds have left the rules in limbo. Jae C. Hong/AP hide caption

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Jae C. Hong/AP

Morning traffic fills the SR2 freeway in Los Angeles, California. The EPA released new rules for vehicle emissions that are expected to cut tailpipe pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, which are fueling climate change. David McNew/Getty Images hide caption

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David McNew/Getty Images

In a boost for EVs, EPA finalizes strict new limits on tailpipe emissions

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Shell's petrochemical complex along the Ohio River in Beaver County, Pa., June 2022. Reid R. Frazier/The Allegheny Front hide caption

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Reid R. Frazier/The Allegheny Front

Taxpayer-funded petrochemical plants are polluting communities, report finds

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The scraggly cherry blossom tree known as Stumpy on March 15 in Washington, D.C. At high tide, the base of the tree's trunk is inundated with several inches of water. Jacob Fenston hide caption

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Jacob Fenston

So long, Stumpy. More than 150 of D.C.'s cherry trees have to go as water rises

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The first operating South Fork Wind farm turbine stands east of Montauk Point, N.Y., on Dec. 7, 2023. South Fork Wind, America's first commercial-scale offshore wind farm, is officially open. Julia Nikhinson/AP hide caption

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Julia Nikhinson/AP

West Maui is a center of the tourism industry, raising concerns in the community that developers will buy properties destroyed in the fire as they come up for sale. Ryan Kellman/NPR hide caption

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Ryan Kellman/NPR

After the fires, a Maui community tries a novel approach to keep homes in local hands

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Flares burn off methane and other hydrocarbons at an oil and gas facility in Lenorah, Texas in 2021. New research shows drillers emit about three times as much climate-warming methane as official estimates. David Goldman/AP hide caption

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David Goldman/AP

Oil and gas companies emit more climate-warming methane than EPA reports

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This type of staghorn coral (Acropora pulchra) appeared to benefit from the presence of sea cucumbers (Holothuria atra), a new study finds. Terry Moore/Stocktrek Images / Science Source hide caption

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Terry Moore/Stocktrek Images / Science Source

This often-overlooked sea creature may be quietly protecting the planet's coral reefs

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Texas investigators say the Smokehouse Creek Fire, the largest in state history, appears to be caused by a downed utility power pole. When it comes to increased risks of starting wildfires, Michael Wara professor at Stanford University says some utilities "are walking into a catastrophe." Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

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Scott Olson/Getty Images

Receding water in Utah's Great Salt Lake is seen on March 5. Environmentalists are suing the state to force water cutbacks to farmers to save the Great Salt Lake. Lindsay D'Addato for NPR hide caption

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Lindsay D'Addato for NPR

Farmers accused of drying up the imperiled Great Salt Lake say they can help save it

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A man looks out over the Colorado River near Page, Arizona on Nov. 2, 2022. The seven states that manage the river are divided about how to account for the impacts of climate change in new plans about sharing its water. Alex Hager/KUNC hide caption

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Alex Hager/KUNC

As a deadline approaches, Colorado River states are still far apart on water sharing

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Sandra Martínez Martínez shows the dirty tap water she and her family are using as toilet water at her home in the municipality of Ecatepec, in the State of Mexico, on Sunday. Toya Sarno Jordan for NPR hide caption

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Toya Sarno Jordan for NPR

Mexico City's long-running water problems are getting even worse

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A flare burns off methane and other hydrocarbons as oil pumpjacks operate in the Permian Basin in Midland, Texas. Burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas is the main driver of global warming. David Goldman/AP hide caption

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David Goldman/AP

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasts into space. On board is a satellite with a climate solutions mission. It's designed to detect methane, a potent planet warming gas. Courtesy SpaceX hide caption

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Courtesy SpaceX

A new satellite will track climate-warming pollution. Here's why that's a big deal

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Danny Luckman and Aidan Czerniak of Simply Installs Heating & Air Conditioning cut out and remove natural gas lines from a tattoo and piercing shop. To meet climate change goals, Ithaca, New York wants to switch from gas to electric in the city's 6000 buildings. Jeff Brady/NPR hide caption

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Jeff Brady/NPR

Getting off fossil fuels is hard, but this city is doing it — building by building

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