UN chief calls for 'immediate' emission cuts to curb climate change

The head of the United Nations on Thursday called for “immediate, rapid and large-scale” cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to curb global warming.

US: Wolves may need protections after states expand hunting

The Biden administration said Wednesday that federal protections may need to be restored for gray wolves in the western U.S. after Republican-backed state laws made it much easier to kill the predators.

Climate change could force over 200 million people to move by 2050, report says

Climate change could push more than 200 million people to move within their own countries in the next three decades and create migration hot spots unless urgent action is taken in the coming years to reduce global emissions and bridge the development gap.

Invasive Japanese beetles threaten Yakima Valley growers

Thousands of invasive Japanese beetles have been caught in the Lower Yakima Valley this summer and pose a threat to the agricultural industry.

Pink and green: Auroras light up night sky in Tasmania, Alaska

The Southern and Northern lights pulled off spectacular shows in the skies over Tasmania and Alaska earlier this week.

Baby whale in J-Pod unwell, rule issued to keep boaters away

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued an emergency rule ordering commercial whale watch tours to stay farther away from an unwell baby orca to help her survive.

Record low numbers of steelhead returning to Columbia River

Record low numbers of steelhead are returning to the Columbia River this year, prompting conservationists and anglers alike to call for a halt to recreational fishing for the sea-run fish.

Wildfire smoke reaches North Pole for 1st time in recorded history

Smoke from dozens of wildfires burning in Russia reached the North Pole for the first time in recorded history, NASA said.

'Code red for humanity': UN climate change report warns of 'unprecedented' impacts

A U.N. report said Earth’s climate is getting so hot that temperatures will probably blow past a level of warming that leaders have sought to prevent.

Oldest male in Southern Resident orca KPod presumed dead

An orca is presumed dead after being found in distress last week in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, a body of water that separates Washington state from Canada, officials said.

Proposal to lay cables under Columbia met with skepticism

Can slicing a 100-mile trench into the bed of the Columbia River be good for the environment? The answer is a big yes, says a team of energy developers that proposes submerging power cables in the riverbed.

Satellite video shows smoke from western wildfires blowing across US

Video from space shows smoke from wildfires burning in the western U.S. blowing across the country, reaching as far as New York.

Heat wave 2021: Dangerous temperatures to again scorch northwestern US

The heat will bring triple-digit temperatures to many areas not accustomed to it, and officials are sounding the alarm to take additional precautions if necessary to stay safe and hydrated.

Drought emergency declared in Washington state

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday declared a statewide drought emergency because of poor water supply conditions and hot, dry conditions that have plagued the region.

Bootleg Fire: Smoke from Oregon blaze seen from space in satellite video

The Bootleg Fire incinerating part of southern Oregon is the largest wildfire currently burning the U.S., spreading across more than 200,000 acres.

Number of US wildfires so far in 2021 largest in a decade, fire center data says

The number of wildfires that have burned through the U.S. and continue to burn is the largest since 2011, according to data from the National Interagency Fire Center.

Smoke, extreme heat pose harsh test for West Coast vineyards

The heat wave that recently hit the Pacific Northwest subjected the region’s vineyards to record-breaking temperatures nine months after the fields that produce world-class wine were blanketed by wildfire smoke.

Renovations will let salmon species return to Lunds Gulch in Edmonds

New renovations will allow threatened salmon species to return to Lunds Gulch at Meadowdale Beach Park in Edmonds, Washington.