Criminal syndicates from a small town in southern China are responsible for trafficking as much as 80 percent of all illegal ivory into the country, according to a report by the Environmental Investigation Agency. Undercover operatives tracked a two-ton shipment of tusks from Mozambique to the town of Shuidong, thereby revealing trade routes, rampant bribery, and the ability to smuggle other wildlife products, including pangolin scales and rhino horns. China has announced the closure of its legal ivory market, but EIA found the syndicates remained active as late as last month. 

Has Mexico finally taken the step that will save the vaquita from extinction? Or will it not be enough?

Check out Al Gore’s “Sequel” plus books about birds, disasters and pollution.

…and one really important reason why they should.

Increases in battery storage capacity will soon transform renewable energy. Battery manufacturing is expected to more than double by 2021, with China leading the charge in building new factories. US states, meanwhile, are already investing in battery storage to support the growth of wind and solar power. This battery boom will help utility-scale energy and individual consumers: a new study finds that batteries could allow solar households to start “defecting” from the power grid in a little over a decade. Just one question remains: where are we going to get the lithium for all of these batteries? 

The herbicide glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup, has been added to California’s list of chemicals known to cause cancer. The listing, which goes into effect on July 7, will require manufacturers to add package warning labels and similar warnings to be places around certain sites where large quantities of the weed killer have been applied. The World Health Organization had previous labeled glyphosate as a “probable” human carcinogen. The chemical is the most widely used pesticide in California – and in the entire world. Monsanto has said it will fight California’s designation in court. 

The Trump Administration announced the bears would lose their protection under the Endangered Species Act.

A new report finds that malnutrition, unsafe water, drought, floods and other environmental dangers affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

Today marks World Giraffe Day, an occasion to recognize Africa’s rapidly disappearing giants.

At least 21 percent of plant species are threatened with extinction, but much remains to be discovered.