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Genetically modified crops are making it easier for farmers to embrace low-till agricultural strategies, proponents say. The precise impact of GM crops is hard to quantify, however, with some analyses suggesting that farmers in the U.S. aren't changing their tilling habits

By the end of the century, scientists say, megafires-conflagrations that chew up at least 100,000 acres of land-will become the norm. Which makes them of critical interest to researchers. These infernos, once rare, are growing to sizes that U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell describes as "unimaginable" two decades ago. Five alone have consumed more than five million acres in central Alaska since June. Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado also experienced their worst wildfires in the past seven years.

Rising temperatures are increasing the number of "megafires" in the forests of the western U.S., experts say. Tackling and preventing such fires could require a significant shift in firefighting and forest conservation strategies. "These stresses are going to become more widespread," warned Craig Allen, a U.S. Geological Service forest ecologist. National Geographic News (free registration) (8/9) 

At the height of the Roman Empire, Rome's water management infrastructure was the envy of civilizations the world over. Today, while the city still enjoys abundant high-quality water sources, rainstorms of increasing intensity cause flooding that can hinder the city's ability to function. Exploring holistic, systems-based approaches to urban water challenges is an essential component of Resilient Rome's strategy process.

Developers in Japan built too many golf courses during a recent real estate boom, and now some of the under-used facilities are being converted into solar farms, with hundreds of thousands of solar panels lining former fairways and putting greens. Similar strategies are being considered in the U.S. as interest in the sport wanes

When it comes to selling products with an environmental benefit - or telling your corporate sustainability story well - words really do matter. Here at Shelton Group, we just completed our eighth annual Eco Pulse study of American consumers, and this year, we're offering a free special report that explores a topic critical to your communications strategy: the effectiveness of green jargon.

Seventh Generation is taking on much of the consumer-products industry and Washington with little more than kids in their undies and hats made from colanders and aluminum foil - otherwise known as the Toxin Freedom Fighters.

Seventh Generation is taking on much of the consumer-products industry and Washington with little more than kids in their undies and hats made from colanders and aluminum foil - otherwise known as the Toxin Freedom Fighters.

The European Union is requiring certain businesses to report on environmental strategies and programs. Here are 5 things you need to know

NRG Energy, Inc. has announced ambitious sustainability goals as part of its continued corporate growth strategy. NRG says it estimates that its new carbon-reduction goals will avoid approximately 3 billion tons of CO2 emissions by 2050.

Eighty-one percent of mainstream chemical producers say it's very or moderately important to be a front runner in sustainable chemicals, according to a survey by Genomatica and ICIS.

The Building Energy Exchange, a nonprofit to advance energy efficient technologies and lighting strategies in industry, opened in New York City's downtown Manhattan. The nonprofit serves as a hub for information and activities for building owners seeking energy savings.

Renewable energy and efficiency strategies are saving America's biggest companies well over $1 billion a year, according to a new report from Ceres and the World Wildlife Fund. Led by UPS, the 53 Fortune 100 companies that report carbon reductions saved $1.1 billion annually and slashed their carbon diozide emissions by the equivalent of 15 coal-fired power plants

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced a long-term seafood sustainability strategy in partnership with WWF - to increase its procurement of responsibly sourced seafood and eliminate the procurement of highly vulnerable seafood species. For the first phase of the partnership, Hyatt has set an initial goal of responsibly sourcing more than 50 percent of its inventory by 2018.

Conan O'Brien is working with the state of California and the Natural Resources Defense Council to develop a series of video public service announcements aimed at encouraging state residents to save water. That could be a successful strategy, since it focuses on humorous and upbeat messages rather than shaming people into saving water, writes Alexis Petru.

Walmart launched a new sustainable agriculture strategy emphasizing locally sourced produce, sustainability training for farmers, and supply-chain environmental assessments. The company will also seek to reduce food waste in stores, purchase sustainable palm oil, and avoid Brazilian beef linked to Amazon deforestation.

Ocean Conservancy on Wednesday released a report that proposes a four-point solution to cutting ocean plastic waste by 45 percent by 2025 with the ultimate goal of eradicating the issue by 2035. Stemming the Tide: Land-based strategies for a plastic-free ocean is a first-of-its-kind, solutions-oriented report in partnership with the McKinsey Center for Business and Environment that outlines specific land-based solutions for plastic waste in the ocean.

Low-lying European cities such as Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Hamburg, Germany, are preparing for rising sea levels, and their innovative methods could prove instructive for cities in similar predicaments around the world. One strategy: "building with nature" by using sand and marsh grasses to protect coastlines. 

Companies and consumers are increasingly gravitating toward "clean labels" that include simple, transparent and jargon-free information about products, often including their health and environmental impacts, writes Andrew Winston. "Neglecting the clean-label movement will cost you customers and workers; avoiding it as a purposeful strategy could destroy the company or a few careers," Winston warns

A growing number of billion-dollar companies are showing that sustainability can be a real driver of profits, writes Freya Williams. Companies such as Tesla, Chipotle Mexican Grill, IKEA, Nike and Whole Foods Market are making serious money through eco-friendly business models. "The green giants are turning a strategy of sustainability or social good into a billion-dollar business proposition, and profiting in the process," Williams explains

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has been developing these rules for several years as part of its multifaceted strategy to achieve the goals of AB 32, California's landmark greenhouse gas emission reduction program.  Read more: http://www.environmentalleader.com/2016/02/11/california-leads-on-reducing-methane-emissions-from-oil-gas-operations/#ixzz40U7HsATq

Ethical Corporation just launched an exclusive case study comprehensively detailing the circular economy work of one industry leader: Patagonia.