What You Should Be Reading on Earth Day

For 45 years, the world has taken time every April 22nd to celebrate the pale blue dot and advocate global and local efforts that promote environmental and ecological protection. In the spirit of Earth Day, here are some of WIRED’s favorite stories that shed light on the fragile nature of, well, nature, and illustrate the need for all of us to work together to protect the natural world and all the things us humans need from it.

Renewables Aren’t Enough. Clean Coal Is the Future
Charles C. Mann
Mann’s April 2014 feature story argued that the United States should follow one Chinese coal company’s example and bury extracted carbon dioxide underground as a method of carbon capture and storage. That rankled many of our readers’ sensibilities, but it’s a compelling read on a far-out solution to climate change.

Apple Aims to Shrink Its Carbon Footprint With New Data Centers
Steven Levy
There’s only so much ordinary citizens can do to help reduce carbon emissions. For substantial change to occur, the world’s industry leaders will have to take charge and think big—the way Apple is doing by pushing its facilities to be powered entirely by renewable energy. And the company is getting close.

Our E-Waste Problem Is Ridiculous, and Gadget Makers Aren’t Helping
Christina Bonnington
Although much of life these days is lived on the Internet or in the cloud, the devices that let us access these virtual worlds are still physical. And throwing these devices out in favor of new versions comes at a big environmental cost. Bonnington’s feature from last December details how electronics makers are dropping the ball.

Apocalypse Not: Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Worry About End Times
Matt Ridley
An oldie, but a goodie. Whether it’s Skynet becoming self aware, death by climate change-driven floods and drought, or a zombie virus that rages around the world, prophetic signs of ultimate doom are constantly flung about. Ridley tells us to get a grip, and explains why the world will go on.

The Most Ancient and Magnificent Trees From Around the World
Zachary Slobig
Seriously: Just look at these trees, and see the nature at its most unreal and beautiful, from England to Yemen.

April 22, 1970: Tell Your Mother You Love Her
Tony Long
The oral history of the first official Earth Day in 1970. Even 45 years ago, people recognized the need to safeguard Mother Nature from its own residents.

Using Smart Satellites to Monitor Deforestation from Space
Klint Finley
Environmental organization World Resource Institute is turning to artificial intelligence to monitor deforestation. By using machine vision algorithms to spot the early signs of deforestation, the organization hopes to help activists and political leaders intervene before greater damage is done.

Inconvenient Truths: Rethinking What it Means to Be Green
Wired Staff
In 2008, we rounded up a set of 10 green heresies—environmental stances that humans will have to lay aside in order to protect the planet from global warming. Click for surprisingly counterintuitive takes on the value of air conditioning, organic produce, carbon trading, and urban living.