Pollution
Los Angeles Bans New Oil Wells, Plans to Close Existing Ones
The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously on Friday to ban new oil and gas wells in the city and eventually close existing ones
Stories by Anne C. Mulkern
Natural Disasters
Why California Wildfires Burned Far Less This Year
Though California has seen millions of acres burn from wildfires in recent years as a changing climate brings high temperatures and persistent drought, several factors led to a quiet 2022 fire season...
Climate Change
Report on California Climate Impacts ‘Paints a Pretty Grim Picture’
California is experiencing more wildfires, illness and drought as the impacts of climate change accelerate
Climate Change
California’s 2020 Wildfires Negated Years of Emission Cuts
Record-breaking wildfires released twice the amount of emissions that California cut between 2003 and 2019, though unlike fossil-fuel emissions, they can eventually be reabsorbed by vegetation...
Climate Change
Deadly Heat Dome Was a 1-in-10,000-Year Event
The record-smashing temperatures in the Pacific Northwest last year were an extraordinarily rare occurrence even in the age of climate change
Climate Change
A Climate-Fueled Heat Wave Tests California’s Power Grid
Officials are urging California residents to curtail their energy use as the state faces this summer’s highest chance of outages during record-breaking temperatures
Climate Change
Ongoing Megadrought Puts the West in ‘Uncharted Waters’
Scientists say the current drought in the West is the region’s driest 22-year stretch in more than 1,200 years
Climate Change
California Faces Summer Blackouts from Climate Extremes
Energy planners are working to increase the grid’s reliability to keep the power on during droughts, wildfires and heat waves
Climate Change
Little Snow Is Left in California, Setting Up a Dangerous Wildfire Season
As of April 1, statewide snowpack stood at just 38 percent of the average for that date
Natural Disasters
California Braces for Another Cataclysmic Wildfire Season
Blazes burned more than three million acres last year—nearly the size of Connecticut
Climate Change
Spikes in Air-Conditioning Use with Warming Could Tax Electric Grid
Without enough capacity to meet demand, energy utilities may have to stage rolling blackouts during heat waves
Fossil Fuels
Los Angeles Bans New Oil Wells and Will Phase Out Existing Ones
The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to end drilling in the city for public health reasons
Climate Change
California Presents Plan to Prevent Extreme Heat Deaths
The report follows a heat wave that killed hundreds across the western U.S. this summer
Renewable Energy
California Law Aims to Turn Food Waste into Renewable Energy
The program will be the nation’s largest attempt to reduce methane emissions from rotting food in landfills
Climate Change
Climate Change Magnified Recent California Deluge
The atmospheric river that soaked parts of the state is an example of increasing weather volatility
Climate Change
California Battles Historic Drought with $5.2 Billion
The state is using the money to upgrade drinking and wastewater systems, improve streamflows, and relocate vulnerable fish
Natural Disasters
‘Explosive’ Dixie Fire Could Become Biggest in CA History
Extremely dry conditions could help the blaze overtake last year’s August Complex fire as the record holder
Natural Disasters
New Wildfire Tactic: Help People Flee
California firefighters are updating evacuation maps and keeping routes free
Climate Change
Drought Threatens to Close California Hydropower Plant for First Time
Shutting down the plant, which has run continuously since 1967, would squeeze already tight electricity supplies
Climate Change
Soaring Temperatures and Wildfire Threaten California’s Power Grid
Residents were asked to limit energy use as another heat dome baked the region
