Feature

The Tree of Life Is Falling Down

How one death-defying spruce became the mascot, tourist trap, and spiritual center of the Washington coast.

07/02/2025 By Allison Williams Photography by Mac Holt

Short King

Rainier Is Shorter Than We All Thought

Our mountain is shrinking, and the summit isn't where it used to be.

09/06/2024 By Allison Williams

Seattle Weather Blog

Fall, Winter, Summer? Seattle Is Skipping Spring This Year

Yes, it really was that cold in April. And yes, it really is going to be that hot in May.

05/12/2023 By Justin Shaw

ZEV or Bust

Can Washington Reach Its Zero-Emissions Vehicle Goal?

Washington policymakers rev up for a car overhaul by 2035.

03/17/2023 By Angela Cabotaje

Climate Change

The Past, Present, and Future of Nuclear in Washington

Can a controversial form of clean energy help save the planet?

01/10/2023 By Benjamin Cassidy

Big Ideas

At Ethan Stowell's New Chain, Climate Action Means Fried Chicken Sandwiches

The chef is a partner in Mt. Joy, a chicken chain that will serve crispy sandwiches with a sustainability agenda. A popup next week at Tavolàta on Capitol Hill offers a glimpse of the food.

10/04/2022 By Allecia Vermillion

Bogged Down

Can Annie Proulx’s New Book Meet Climate Crisis Urgency?

The former local’s book on environmental history—Fen, Bog and Swamp—aims to revitalize our views of wetlands.

09/27/2022 By Stefan Milne

Climate Change

A Lifeline for Coping with the Smoke

In At Home on an Unruly Planet, Madeline Ostrander lays out models of resilience for reckoning with the climate crisis.

09/22/2022 By Benjamin Cassidy

Get Off My Lawn

The Leaf Blower Ban Can't Come Soon Enough

City council passed a resolution to phase out the use of gas-powered leaf blowers over the next five years. It's about time.

09/12/2022 By Benjamin Cassidy

Heat Index

Is This Seattle’s Hottest Summer Ever?

Don’t pack up the fans. It’s not over yet.

08/17/2022 By Taylor McKenzie Gerlach

PSA

How to Keep Cool During a Seattle Heat Wave

It's no Heat Dome, but this week's weather forecast is still worth taking note.

07/26/2022 By Angela Cabotaje

Cool Data

How Many Households in Washington State Have Air Conditioning?

A new nationwide survey from the U.S. Energy Information Administration is our best clue yet, but still not the full picture.

07/07/2022 By Benjamin Cassidy

Explainer

The Different Shades of Tree Equity in Seattle Neighborhoods

As Seattle summers warm, some areas will need more leafy protection to fend off the heat.

06/07/2022 By Benjamin Cassidy Illustrations by Gage Murrey

Met Recs

May Pick: Our Blue Planet: Global Visions of Water at SAM

How can we be clear-eyed about the climate crisis without losing hope? The answer may lie with the arts.

05/05/2022 By Sophie Grossman

Conscience Clearing

How to Get Rid of Stuff in Seattle

Whether you’re moving out or just tidying up, it’s part of the city's ethos to discard responsibly.

04/21/2022 By Benjamin Cassidy

Power Players

The Most Influential Scientists, Doctors, and Environmentalists in Seattle

Health and climate champions who do the most vital work.

12/08/2021 By Angela Cabotaje

Green Field

A Seattle Therapist Sees the World's Climate Anxiety

Andrew Bryant’s practice at North Seattle Therapy and Counseling has drawn interest from near and far.

08/12/2021 By Benjamin Cassidy

Feature

Why Jay Inslee Chose to Stay in This Washington

The governor didn't ditch us for DC, instead opting to lead his home state through its worst public health crisis in a century. As he embarks on a rare third term, will Washington finally let him do the same in its response to climate change?

06/21/2021 By Benjamin Cassidy

Wonk Whirlwind

9 of Washington’s Most Extraordinary New Laws

From the historic to the boozy, the 2021 legislative session had it all.

05/31/2021 By Benjamin Cassidy

Climate Change

Environmental Justice Arrives in Washington State Law

Communities closest to pollution have sounded the alarm for decades. This year, Olympia finally said: We hear you.

05/17/2021 By Erin Wong