So what can we do about this? Big oil and its supporters have the same answer they always have: Drill even more. Worse yet, they are now using dangerous and unconventional forms of drilling that are even more carbon pollution-intensive, like dirty tar sands oil. And the more we drill, the more we continue our dependence on oil — and you pay for this dependence every time you fill up the gas tank.

MORE LIKE THIS: Climate News // Feature // Oil and Gas

What would you do if you lived on an island 1.5 meters above sea level and faced the dangers of climate change? A new film shows how in the island nation of the Maldives, one brave leader is helping make climate change a global human rights issue.

MORE LIKE THIS: Feature // Sea Level Rise

Trump’s reaction to an offshore wind farm within view of his investment might say something about the way “the Donald” conducts his business, but it’s also symbolic of where the renewables debate currently lies.

MORE LIKE THIS: Clean Energy // Clean Technology // Feature

As an ardent foodie, I was concerned to see the results of a new study last week. The study warns that oyster production may decline due to rising carbon dioxide levels. Researchers found that higher levels of carbon dioxide in ocean water made the water more acidic and reduced the ability of oyster larvae to develop shells. This impaired the ability of oysters to grow at a normal pace, and led to a decline in yield.

MORE LIKE THIS: Feature // Food Security

A new poll was released today which, according the New York Times, “shows that a large majority of Americans believe that this year’s unusually warm winter, last year’s blistering summer and some other weather disasters were probably made worse by global warming.”

MORE LIKE THIS: Climate News // Extreme Weather // Feature

Last week, a group of young citizens sat in Courtroom 17 before the federal District Court in Washington, D.C. They were there for a hearing in a lawsuit commenced in May 2011 by Alec Loorz, one of our own Climate Presenters; four other teens from California and Virginia; and two environmental nonprofit organizations. What do they want out of this lawsuit? To hold the U.S. government accountable for preserving the atmospheric public trust.

MORE LIKE THIS: Climate News // Feature // Local Action

Will warm springs and late frosts mean the end of sugar maples? No. But the scientists also found that yellow birch and American beech trees – which are slower to leaf out than sugar maples, even when temperatures are high – aren’t as sensitive to frost. Meaning that as spring comes earlier in the year because of climate change, birch and beech may replace sugar maples in some locations.

MORE LIKE THIS: Feature // Food Security

In many ways it’s been a beautiful spring, but something about it just hasn’t been right. The cherry blossoms here in D.C. bloomed early, the bright pinks and reds of the azaleas at the Masters were missing, and it seems like allergy season is taking on a whole new meaning.

MORE LIKE THIS: Extreme Weather // Feature

We visited a community of Maasai who are already suffering from impacts of climate change as droughts have become more frequent and severe. Normally the short rainy season occurs from late October through November, and the long rains go from March through June. We arrived just after the long rains had started. Even so, the local papers were again warning that there will be food shortages because of drier conditions.

MORE LIKE THIS: Extreme Weather // Feature // Food Security // Water Supplies

Can you think of other examples in which the natural world has served for such inspiration? Where else in nature can we look to support our metamorphosis from a fossil-fuel to clean-energy economy? Leave a comment and let us know.

MORE LIKE THIS: Feature // Wildlife