Vibrant Environment
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World Ocean Day unites communities around the globe to celebrate the ocean, our intricate relationship with it, and the urgent work needed to protect it. First celebrated in 1992, this year marks the 33rd anniversary of this UN-recognized observance. This year’s theme—Strong Marine Protected Areas for Our Blue Planet—serves as an opportunity to take stock of the progress we have collectively made and set the course for global ocean management and conservation in the years ahead.
May is American Wetlands Month, a time to recognize the ecological, economic, and social importance of wetlands. Established in 1991 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in partnership with federal, state, tribal, local, and non-profit organizations to promote wetland conservation, this annual observance presents an opportunity to celebrate these critical ecosystems and explore opportunities to strengthen their protection.
More than seven billion meals are served each year to the nation's 45.4 million children enrolled in K–12 public schools. These schools are substantial generators of food waste in the United States; in 2019, the U.S.
Accounting for nearly half of the planet’s surface (or about two-thirds of its ocean), the high seas are a critical component of Earth’s oceanic ecosystem.
In December 2025, the International Criminal Court (ICC) Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) issued its Policy on Addressing Environmental Damage Through the Rome Statute which sets out how the OTP may use its powers and mandate to investigate and prosecute international crimes with an environmental dimension, and to support national efforts to prosecute such crimes.
When I was a graduate student, I attended a conference session on the sediment record of the Arctic Ocean. Over the course of the conference, I heard experts debate, vigorously, the pros and cons of using the chemical elements protactinium and thorium to estimate the age of Arctic sediments, where the region’s sedimentary features preclude a more conventional dating approach. Let’s just say there were some diverse viewpoints.
By Federal Register notice with a short comment period ending February 17, EPA has proposed a major revision to a longstanding Clean Water Act program that for decades has given the states substantial regulatory oversight over the water quality impacts of activities conducted pursuant to a federal license or permit.
By Taalin RaoShah, By Sofia O'Connor
Recreational and commercial fishing in The Bahamas sustains over 25,000 jobs and generates over $1 billion annually in economic activity, equivalent to roughly 20% of the country’s GDP.
As the need to transition away from fossil fuels accelerates, a key debate has gained renewed political traction: are environmental reviews slowing the deployment of renewable energy projects?