Environment There's a seed shortage in WA. What does that mean for our beloved forests? Nearly half of Washington state is forested. That's 22 million acres of douglas firs, red alders, western hemlock, and ponderosa pine, to name a few. But as wildfires grow in both size and regularity, do we have enough seeds for our forests to recover? Alec Cowan Libby Denkmann
Climate Lawsuit alleging oil companies misled public about climate change moves forward The case brought by Baltimore is one of more than 20 similar lawsuits nationwide that seek to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for their role in climate change. Rebecca Hersher
Environment To get by in a changing climate, plants need animal poop to carry them to safety As the climate gets hotter, plants could need to move to new habitats. But animals that eat their fruit and help spread the seeds are disappearing. Lauren Sommer
Health 10 global crises to pay attention to in 2022, according to 'The New Humanitarian' The New Humanitarian has compiled its list of the conflicts, disasters and threats to watch this year. Editor Josephine Schmidt discusses how they came up with the list. Joanne Lu
Northwest energy generation continues to green up According to recent data from the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, coal plant closures in the Northwest and an increase in natural gas generation means fewer heat-trapping emissions recently contributed to climate change. Courtney Flatt
Environment Why 2021 was a whale of a year for orca sightings Last year was a banner year for whale watching in Washington state. That is as long as you weren't looking for the region's resident endangered orcas. John Ryan Katie Campbell
Climate When extreme rainfall goes up, economic growth goes down, new research finds Concentrated bursts of rainfall could mean flooding or disrupted supply chains, with the negative economic effects especially apparent in wealthier, industrialized countries, a German study has found. Rina Torchinsky
Climate Extreme weather in the U.S. cost 688 lives and $145 billion last year, NOAA says In an on overview published ahead of its full report, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said that 2021 ranked the third costliest on record for such events. Scott Neuman
Environment As carbon removal gains traction, economists imagine a new market to save the planet Carbon removal went mainstream in 2021. But the technology is still light years away from making a real difference combating climate change. A group of economists wants to help change that. Greg Rosalsky
Environment Sea level on steroids: Record tides flood Washington coastlines Some of the highest tides ever recorded hit Seattle and much of the Washington coast this week. John Ryan
