Now more than ever, environmental solutions may seem out of reach. But they’re happening all over the country. This year, we’ll be highlighting one thing that’s working in every state.
Alabama
In Alabama, a Social Media Influencer Really Gets Wild
Kyle Lybarger built a loyal following online by talking about native plants and why biodiversity matters.
Arizona
Living Car-Free in Arizona, on Purpose and Happily
One community near Phoenix is taking a “completely different” approach to development.
Colorado
Bridges and Tunnels in Colorado Are Helping Animals Commute
The state has emerged as a leader in building wildlife crossings, which can save animals, money and human lives.
Connecticut
Shell Recyclers in Connecticut Are Helping Oysters Find Homes
A small team is rescuing a “ridiculous amount” of shells from restaurant trash bins and using them to rebuild oyster habitat in Long Island Sound.
Florida
In Florida, ‘Powerful Little Plants’ That Protect From Big Storms
A curious trend is underway in Southwest Florida. Young red mangroves trees, some with nicknames like Rosie, Penelope and Dingle, are being adopted and raised in backyard gardens, at restaurant host stands, beside bank teller windows and in school classrooms throughout Sanibel Island and the Fort Myers area.
Hawaii
At This Clinic in Hawaii, Nature Is the Medicine
The air is filled with birdsong, the land a tableau of soft greens and gentle light. This is Ho‘oulu ‘Āina, a 100-acre preserve with an unusual twist. Linked to a community health center, it is a place where patients come to heal the land, and themselves.
Idaho
They’re in Hot Water in Idaho. Here’s Why That’s a Good Thing.
Nearly 500 buildings in the state capital get their heat from a clean, renewable source located deep in the ground.
Illinois
An Illinois Building Was a Bird Killer. A Simple Change Made a World of Difference.
Chicago is one of the most dangerous cities in the United States for migrating birds, and a glassy lakefront conference center was especially lethal.
Indiana
In Indiana, Putting Up Solar Panels Is Doing God’s Work
A cluster of evangelical groups in the state is pushing for environmental action. Leaders say they’re following the biblical mandate to care for creation.
Louisiana
Fighting Louisiana Floodwaters With Patches of Green
Simple, affordable initiatives like rain gardens are helping to soak up water in New Orleans.
Maryland
Maryland Protected Nearly a Third of Its Land, and It’s Reaching for More
Nine states have set goals to conserve 30 percent of their land by 2030. Maryland got there first.
Massachusetts
Care About Food Waste? In Massachusetts, You Can Be a Compost Consultant.
America has a food waste problem: Rotten tomatoes and pizza boxes end up in trash dumps and produce a potent planet-heating gas called methane.
Minnesota
Minnesota Teens Are Fighting Climate Anxiety With Shovels
Run by teenagers, for teenagers, the Green Crew helps students get their hands dirty with projects like tree planting, trail restoration and invasive species removal.
Missouri
How a Funeral Director Brought Wind Power to Rural Missouri
Every year for nearly two decades, the small city of Rock Port has been producing more electricity from wind energy than it needs.
Nevada
Nevada Is All In on Solar Power
Lights pulsate. Numbers spin. Air conditioners battle the desert heat. The Las Vegas Strip is America’s emblem of excess — and extravagant energy use.
Oklahoma
How a Water Conservation Idea Won Over Oklahoma Farmers
Oklahoma has been exemplary at cleaning up its streams. By some measures, more than any other state.
Oregon
From Oregon, a Chocolate Cake That Changes Hearts and Minds
The Portland area is a hot spot for vegans, who have the most environmentally friendly diets. It has also yielded a game-changing dessert.
Vermont
This Vermont Soccer Team Plays for the Planet
The Vermont Green Football Club champions environmental work and draws sold-out crowds, with the help of free ice cream.
Virginia
Virginians Are Restoring a Forest Economy Built on Herbs and Tradition
Farmers have banded together to make the market for herbal supplements and remedies, part of Appalachia’s cultural heritage, more sustainable and more profitable.
West Virginia
How West Virginia is Pulling Pollution, and Rare Earths, Out of Its Streams
Abandoned coal mines had left waterways acidic and rusty orange. Local residents are cleaning them up, and recovering valuable minerals in the process.
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