Ensia

Ensia is a magazine showcasing environmental solutions in action. It's based at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

coal

Here's what you need to know about carbon pricing

As the world weighs strategies for keeping climate change in check, more and more countries, communities and businesses are embedding the cost of carbon into the goods and services that produce it.

Here's what you need to know about carbon pricing
a solar panel farm in China

Energy and food together: Under solar panels, crops thrive

Energy and food together: Under solar panels, crops thrive
Coatepeque Lake is seen from a road in the town of El Congo, El Salvador, Sept. 6, 2017. The color of the water in the Coatepeque lake has changed due to the proliferation of Cyanobacteria and non-identified minerals.

Around the world, the environment is finally getting its day in court

Around the world, the environment is finally getting its day in court
Fish in a tank

After decades of work, Americans may soon be eating genetically engineered salmon

After decades of work, Americans may soon be eating genetically engineered salmon
Grass in soil

Figuring out why certain soils keep plant parasites at bay could be a boon for agriculture around the globe

Figuring out why certain soils keep plant parasites at bay could be a boon for agriculture around the globe
Sammy Kang’ete, an intern from Kenya

Small farmers from around the world learn how they can grow far more food

In the hills north of San Francisco, a new form of farming is taking root. It's called biointensive farming, and it has the potential to give small farmers a much bigger impact on the global food supply.

Small farmers from around the world learn how they can grow far more food
Xiaolangdi Reservoir

Paying more attention to the weather could help stretch our existing water supplies

New York City drew the reservoir down to an unprecedented level last winter — but only because forecasting told city official that it would soon be able to refill with an unprecedented amount of snowmelt.

Paying more attention to the weather could help stretch our existing water supplies
A European honey bee carries pollen back to its hive.

With pollinators in decline around the world, conservationists turn to traditional farmers for answers

The crisis over the death of pollinators is not unique to the US. But around the world, old techniques are being revived to save bees, butterflies and other pollinators on the very of collapse.

With pollinators in decline around the world, conservationists turn to traditional farmers for answers
Alfalfa fields

Scientists think GMO crops may help us deal with climate change

Some plants do better at responding to drought the second time around. Scientists want to figure out how they "remember" — and if there's something we can do for other types of plants to give them a similar benefit.

Scientists think GMO crops may help us deal with climate change
Fort Myers Beach

As apps and online tools connect users with the outdoors, we walk a fine line between enhancing and degrading nature

Smartphone apps are becoming increasingly indispensable when we interact with nature. Websites too. But what's all that technology doing to our relationship with nature?

As apps and online tools connect users with the outdoors, we walk a fine line between enhancing and degrading nature
Shipping containers

How we can shrink the environmental cost of moving our stuff from source to market

Goods and resources move across the global market — raw materials to factory, finished goods from factory to market. But all that moving comes at a cost to the environment.

How we can shrink the environmental cost of moving our stuff from source to market
Nest thermostat

Why energy-saving settings may be bad for the environment

That eco setting seems great in theory, but many consumers turn away from it, using more energy-intensive savings and actually doing the opposite of what the feature was intended for.

Why energy-saving settings may be bad for the environment
Beef for sale

Global meat consumption will soar by 2024. But what meat is eaten makes a big difference in the impact.

Meat consumption is set to rise dramatically over the next 10 years. But not all meat has the same environmental impact.

Global meat consumption will soar by 2024. But what meat is eaten makes a big difference in the impact.
Salt marsh

Computer models that help oceanside cities plan for their future also hold hope for a threatened coastal ecosystem

The salt marshes are an invaluable resources for protecting endangered species.

Computer models that help oceanside cities plan for their future also hold hope for a threatened coastal ecosystem
An illustration by Erin Dunn

The complex nature of GMOs calls for a new conversation

Why do the merits or demerits of GMOs grab more headline space than systemic food and agriculture concerns? Food systems researcher Maywa Montenegro breaks down the debate.

The complex nature of GMOs calls for a new conversation