Environment

Photo and video journalist Steve De Neef may be based in Maine, but a desire to show sharks for what they are—majestic animals and critical players in the ocean food web—has taken him to the most remote reaches of the world. Read More

As you read this, the opportunity for Americans to voice their opinion on an extraordinarily biodiverse area of the Atlantic Ocean is closing. Aug. 15 is the final day to submit comments to the Department of Commerce on the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, which was established to safeguard an ecosystem teeming with sea life, including deep-sea corals that can take... Read More

In April, President Donald Trump directed secretaries at the Departments of the Interior and Commerce to review 27 national monuments, including the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, which was created in September 2016. On July 26, The Pew Charitable Trusts submitted a comment letter to convey its strong support of this marine monument and encourage decision-makers to... Read More

In a major win for marine life and Indigenous peoples, the Canadian government announced Aug. 14 that the richest marine habitat in the Arctic Ocean—off the northern tip of Baffin Island—would soon be protected and that the boundaries would be twice as large as originally planned. Read More

The three species of bluefin tuna that travel across enormous swaths of the world’s temperate oceans have gained legendary status among fishermen for their size, speed, power, and remarkable migrations. Atlantic, Pacific, and southern bluefin can weigh hundreds of pounds, swim more than 40 kilometres (25 miles) per hour, and live up to 40 years. Read More

Photo and video journalist Steve De Neef may be based in Maine, but a desire to show sharks for what they are—majestic animals and critical players in the ocean food web—has taken him to the most remote reaches of the world. Read More

As you read this, the opportunity for Americans to voice their opinion on an extraordinarily biodiverse area of the Atlantic Ocean is closing. Aug. 15 is the final day to submit comments to the Department of Commerce on the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, which was established to safeguard an ecosystem teeming with sea life, including deep-sea corals that can take... Read More

In April, President Donald Trump directed secretaries at the Departments of the Interior and Commerce to review 27 national monuments, including the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, which was created in September 2016. On July 26, The Pew Charitable Trusts submitted a comment letter to convey its strong support of this marine monument and encourage decision-makers to... Read More

In a major win for marine life and Indigenous peoples, the Canadian government announced Aug. 14 that the richest marine habitat in the Arctic Ocean—off the northern tip of Baffin Island—would soon be protected and that the boundaries would be twice as large as originally planned. Read More

The three species of bluefin tuna that travel across enormous swaths of the world’s temperate oceans have gained legendary status among fishermen for their size, speed, power, and remarkable migrations. Atlantic, Pacific, and southern bluefin can weigh hundreds of pounds, swim more than 40 kilometres (25 miles) per hour, and live up to 40 years. Read More

The Pew Charitable Trusts expressed concern today about the Bureau of Land Management’s recommendations for changes in the management of sage-grouse habitat on public lands across the West. These recommendations stem from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s order in June that directed an agency review team to assess federal and state conservation efforts that were the result of years of... Read More

The public comment period on 22 national land monuments proposed for possible modification or elimination has ended. Now Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has the task of weighing the enormous outpouring of submissions as he considers his recommendations to President Donald J. Trump, expected by the end of August. Read More

Please join The Pew Charitable Trusts for an online briefing of research examining the flood risk faced by public schools. Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States and affects nearly every facet of a community’s infrastructure. Read More

Why should we be concerned about shipping in Arctic waters? What would be the consequences of commercial fishing in the Arctic Ocean? How do we anticipate the effects of climate change in the far north?  Read More

Pew will host a panel discussion to examine the enormous fiscal challenge facing the National Park Service (NPS). It manages 417 sites, including all national parks and many national monuments and historical sites. Many are badly in need of repairs—on everything from crumbling roads to deteriorating historic buildings—totaling an estimated $11.3 billion.  Read More

It’s hurricane season—and extreme weather events are on the rise. Along with the catastrophic losses that families face after the flood is the economic burden on taxpayers through the National Flood Insurance Program. It’s the financial lifeline for those who carry flood insurance and an essential funding source for both disaster preparation and recovery efforts. However, the program is also $25... Read More

The nation’s 96,000 public schools are more than places of learning for the 50 million students who enter their doors each day. They often provide meeting space for community groups and shelter residents during and after severe storms. More than half were built in the last century for the baby boomer generation and were not designed for today’s changing weather conditions. When communities flood,... Read More

Thousands of meters below the ocean’s surface live the creatures of the deep seabed. The ocean floor is one of the least explored areas in the world. While it once was thought to be lifeless, new discoveries reveal many species thriving in waters so deep that in some cases self-generating bioluminescence provides the only light. Read More

The planet is facing increased environmental pressures—from warming oceans to species loss. At the same time, new tools such as satellite monitoring and forensic science continue to support conservation gains around the world. But will technology help save the Earth? Read More

Three-quarters of our planet is covered with water—and it’s this water that sustains life. But our liquid planet, home to half of the world’s known creatures and plants, is facing multiple threats, such as overfishing and commercial development. That’s why leading scientists say that 30 percent of our oceans should be protected. Host Dan LeDuc explores why this 30 percent data point is important... Read More