![Vital Signs](https://vitalsigns.edf.org/sites/default/files/styles/1920x830_focal_point/public/2023-12/estero_nicola%20%281%29.jpg.webp?h=b81f31bd&itok=kUO1bAiM) Changing the story on climate. # VitalSigns [ ![Huge waves crashing in the background with people looking on in the foreground](/sites/default/files/styles/820x550_focal_point/public/2026-09/GettyImages-504692372%20%281%29.jpg?h=93f679ab&itok=_3PLHJ04) ](/story/years-el-nino-track-be-strongest-record-it-could-also-be-glimpse-our-climate-future "This year’s El Niño is on track to be the strongest on record. It could also be a glimpse of our climate future.") [ Extreme weather This year’s El Niño could be a glimpse of our climate future ](/story/years-el-nino-track-be-strongest-record-it-could-also-be-glimpse-our-climate-future "This year’s El Niño is on track to be the strongest on record. It could also be a glimpse of our climate future.") [ ![Brad Ohrt and Ruth McCabe stand in front of an oxbow wetland](/sites/default/files/styles/400x270_focal_point/public/2026-10/LztRCY5A%20%281%29.jpg?h=34bbd072&itok=aViW03tA) ](/story/brokering-deal-clean-water-americas-heartland "Brokering a deal for clean water in America’s heartland") [ Common ground Brokering a deal for clean water in America’s heartland ](/story/brokering-deal-clean-water-americas-heartland "Brokering a deal for clean water in America’s heartland") [ ![Two people installing a solar panel on a rooftop](/sites/default/files/styles/400x270_focal_point/public/2026-09/Gettyimages-1882736475%20%281%29%20%281%29.jpg?h=0d50045d&itok=TApKLdSO) ](/story/trump-administrations-attempts-stop-affordable-solar-power-have-put-tens-thousands-jobs "The Trump administration’s attempts to stop affordable solar power have put tens of thousands of jobs at risk. The economics of solar might save them anyway. ") [ Clean energy The economics of solar might save thousands of jobs ](/story/trump-administrations-attempts-stop-affordable-solar-power-have-put-tens-thousands-jobs "The Trump administration’s attempts to stop affordable solar power have put tens of thousands of jobs at risk. The economics of solar might save them anyway. ") - [ Big court win Trump DOE order to extend coal power plant operation is illegal, court says ](/story/trump-administrations-emergency-order-extend-coal-power-plant-operation-illegal-court-says "Trump administration’s “emergency” order to extend coal power plant operation is illegal, court says") - - [ Video Video Icon Why burping bovines are a big climate opportunity to watch ](/on-film/why-burping-bovines-are-big-climate-opportunity-watch "Why burping bovines are a big climate opportunity to watch") - - [ Quiz What's up with high electric bills? Test your energy smarts ](/story/energy-smarts-quiz "The Energy Smarts Quiz ") - - [ Oceans From Cuba, new clues to coral reef survival ](/story/cuba-new-clues-coral-reef-survival "From Cuba, new clues to coral reef survival ") - - [ Ask an expert Is advanced recycling the future of plastic or just greenwashing? ](/story/ask-expert-advanced-recycling-future-plastic-or-just-greenwashing "Ask an expert: Is advanced recycling the future of plastic or just greenwashing?") - - [All about electric vehicles](https://vitalsigns.edf.org/all-stories?topic=21&subcategory=75) - [Food and climate change](https://vitalsigns.edf.org/all-stories?topic=34&subcategory=37) - [Green jobs](https://vitalsigns.edf.org/all-stories?topic=30&subcategory=74) - [Extreme weather](https://vitalsigns.edf.org/all-stories?topic=21&subcategory=29) - [Green living](/go-green) ## Environmental news that matters, straight to your inbox ## On Film [ Documentaries that matter ](/on-film) const teaserOnFilm = { poster: `https://vitalsigns.edf.org/sites/default/files/styles/1920px_width_scale/public/2023-12/estero_nicola%20%281%29.jpg.webp?itok=tHsLyDL3`, primary: { slug: `846332790`, width: `16`, height: `9`, title: `On Film reel` }, secondary: { slug: `846332790`, width: `16`, height: `9`, title: `On Film reel` } } ![Two people hiking across some hilly green fields](/sites/default/files/styles/1920x830_focal_point/public/2023-12/GettyImages-597318409%20%281%29.jpg.webp?h=d07d10a6&itok=MHdzkMJW) ## Go Green Be part of the solution. Your complete guide to living green and making a difference. [View all](/go-green) - [ ![A row of people selling belongings out of the trunks of their cars](/sites/default/files/styles/400x270_focal_point/public/2023-12/GettyImages-126364160%20%281%29.jpg?h=94559b3b&itok=aFQ9j1y_) ](/story/cleaning-out-your-home-how-keep-your-junk-out-landfill "Cleaning out your home? How to keep your junk out of the landfill.")[5 ways to... ### Cleaning out your home? How to keep your junk out of the landfill. Decluttering? Here are some environmentally friendly ways to keep your junk out of the landfill. ](/story/cleaning-out-your-home-how-keep-your-junk-out-landfill "Cleaning out your home? How to keep your junk out of the landfill.") - [ ![A glass of water being filled](/sites/default/files/styles/400x270_focal_point/public/2023-12/GettyImages-563942283%20%281%29%20%281%29.jpg?h=3a91bebb&itok=ZBAgwCZC) ](/story/does-my-home-contain-lead "Does my home contain lead?")[Green living ### Does my home contain lead? Lead exposure is dangerous, especially for children. Here are the most common places to find — and remove — the lead from your home. ](/story/does-my-home-contain-lead "Does my home contain lead?") - [ ![A green compostables bin sits in the foreground while a sanitation worker throws a brown paper bag into the truck ](/sites/default/files/styles/400x270_focal_point/public/2023-06/GettyImages-107515496.jpg?h=6153646e&itok=uBsopzLZ) ](/story/5-ways-compost-if-you-dont-have-yard "5 ways to compost if you don't have a yard")[5 ways to... ### 5 ways to compost if you don't have a yard There are a growing number of options for people who want to compost even if they don't have a yard. ](/story/5-ways-compost-if-you-dont-have-yard "5 ways to compost if you don't have a yard") ![Green farmland in rural India](/sites/default/files/styles/1920x830_focal_point/public/2026-07/dreamstime_397308988.jpg.webp?h=b36f8884&itok=3ghoIoDh) ## Get exclusive content Do you enjoy bold, incisive environmental reporting? Support Environmental Defense Fund, the organization whose work inspires every Vital Signs story, and receive EDF's exclusive members-only magazine straight to your mailbox! [Join EDF](https://donate.edf.org/give/502101/#!/donation/checkout) [ ![The summer issue of Solutions titled India's new green revolution with green Indian farmland in the background](/sites/default/files/styles/500px_width_scale/public/2026-07/Screenshot%202026-06-23%20at%202.55.02%E2%80%AFPM.png?itok=byTbOQhX) ](https://donate.edf.org/give/502101/#!/donation/checkout) ![A group of penguins (which is called a waddle!) walking in shallow water on a beach](/sites/default/files/styles/620x330_focal_point/public/2023-12/Minden_00790225%20%281%29.jpg?h=680039f1&itok=oU2HgEeK) ## Together, we can! Vital Signs stories are inspired by Environmental Defense Fund, a global nonprofit working to protect public health and the environment. EDF finds the ways that work. You can help. [Get involved](https://www.edf.org/get-involved) ## EDF in the news [New York Times The coal industry asked for a rescue. Trump obliged. ](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/28/climate/coal-industry-power-plants-trump.html "The coal industry asked for a rescue. Trump obliged.") [NPR Methane emissions much higher than gas industry targets ](https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2024/09/12/methane-emissions-much-higher-than-gas-industry-targets-study-says/ "Methane emissions much higher than gas industry targets") [The New Yorker Can the Environmental Protection Agency survive Lee Zeldin? ](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/05/04/can-the-epa-survive-lee-zeldin "Can the Environmental Protection Agency survive Lee Zeldin?") [Newsweek Forget the guilt—eating seafood can help save the ocean ](https://www.newsweek.com/forget-the-guilt-eating-seafood-can-help-save-the-ocean-opinion-10962230 "Forget the guilt—eating seafood can help save the ocean")