Climate Change

A mound of mulch surrounds a tree planted in a road partision. Parking blocks and a parked car as well as traffic can be seen in the background. There is a sign with the text, "This tree was planted throuh The Crossroads Street Tree initiative" and includes a QR code to learn more.

Urban Trees are Dying: Is Climate Change the Culprit?

The approach of fall in our region should mean a picturesque foliage display is also on the way, but more and more Kansas City trees are dying. While it’s uncertain what that could mean for urban foliage photo shoots, fewer urban trees will mean a hotter city if the issue isn’t addressed.  “We are anecdotally…

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In this Feb. 1, 2021 file photo, emissions from a coal-fired power plant are silhouetted against the setting sun in Kansas City, Missouri.

Kansas City Strikes Out on Big Bid for Sustainability Funds

The Kansas City area won’t get any of nearly $200 million it sought as part of a nationwide competition for $4.3 billion in federal sustainability grants.

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Denise Whitebread Fanning's yard tends to stick out among the rows of yards in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

Grass Lawns are a Landscape Staple, But an Environmental Reckoning Looms

Lawns have come to dominate our physical — and cultural — landscapes. Now concerns over environmental impacts are propelling changes.

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A view of Kansas City's skyline.

Kansas City Faces Fight as Feds Ponder Sustainability Grants

The Kansas City area faces stiff competition as it seeks nearly $200 million in federal sustainability grants to fund projects to address climate change.

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Eastern red cedars are taking over grasslands in the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma. In most temperate grasslands around the world, gaining a tree canopy won't help cool the planet.

Trees are Spreading Across the Great Plains, Making Climate Change Worse

We often think trees are good for the environment. But in the Midwest and Great Plains, they’re worsening climate change as woodlands take over grasslands.

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