Earth Focus

"Earth Focus" is an environmental news magazine featuring investigative reports and in-depth stories about our changing environment and how it affects people around the world. It's funded by Wallace Genetic Foundation, Marisla Foundation, Park Foundation, Farvue Foundation, Shared Earth Foundation, Cornell Douglas Foundation, Rachel's Network, National Science Foundation, and individual donors.

1. E6

   6. Urban Habitat

   8 years ago

   With so much biodiversity in the highly urban area of Los Angeles, species are thriving despite human interference, and in some cases because of it.

2. E5

   5. Future of Food

   8 years ago

   Communities and innovators all over the world are creating new sustainable food sources that are resilient to climate change and growing populations. In Madagascar, villagers are closing off marine areas to allow the fish supply to replenish at a natural pace. In San Diego, California, aquaculturists are exploring open ocean farming as a more sustainable model for the fishing industry.

3. E4

   4. Adaptation to Global Water Shortages

   8 years ago

   Anticipating future water needs, two regions on opposite sides of the world turn to technology for answers. Western Morocco is currently facing drought and groundwater mismanagement, but an ancient method of gathering moisture is being taught. In the Central Valley, California, the food basket of the world uses nearly 80% of the entire state's water supply despite inadequate clean water access.

4. E3

   3. City Planning

   8 years ago

   Two cities, San Francisco and Freetown, brace for climate change using vastly different methodologies. San Francisco's developers are building expensive real estate on floodplains as officials try to heed expert projections on future sea levels. A mudslide caused by torrential rains and deforestation in Sierra Leone shows the consequences of city planning that doesn't account for climate change.

5. E2

   2. Climate Migration

   8 years ago

   Populations are dramatically shifting as climate change drives migration. Droughts and floods are driving many people away from their rural, farming communities into big cities. We see how this is manifesting in Mongolia and examine the factors leading to the new community of Haitian people living in limbo at the border between Mexico and the U.S.

6. E1

   1. Sea Level Rising: Living with Water

   8 years ago

   Louisiana is learning from Hurricane Katrina. Forecasts are dire for Louisiana to experience the second-highest sea level rise in the world. There is a big movement brewing in New Orleans to build adaptive "resilience zones." In Southeast Louisiana, the native peoples of the Isle de Jean Charles have become the first U.S citizens moving within their homeland displaced by climate change.

"Earth Focus" is an environmental news magazine featuring investigative reports and in-depth stories about our changing environment and how it affects people around the world. It's funded by Wallace Genetic Foundation, Marisla Foundation, Park Foundation, Farvue Foundation, Shared Earth Foundation, Cornell Douglas Foundation, Rachel's Network, National Science Foundation, and individual donors.

1. E6

   6. Dying Oceans: Abalone Restoration In California

   7 years ago

   The ocean is a sponge for all the greenhouse gas emissions we produce, and entire aquatic ecosystems are beginning to collapse. Off the California coast, declining abalone populations are raising flags about ocean health and the lasting impact of rising sea temperatures, acidification and pollution. Teams of scientists, volunteers and businesspeople are collaborating to protect underwater species.

2. E5

   5. Lighting A Path: Embracing Solar Power

   7 years ago

   At the Barefoot College in Zanzibar, Muslim women who have traditionally been marginalized in the workforce are learning solar installation and bringing it back to their villages, which are primarily powered by candles and paraffin lamps. In East Los Angeles, formerly incarcerated individuals are finding green job opportunities as they transition underserved communities into solar power.

3. E4

   4. Dairy Alternatives: Rethinking Milk In California and Kenya

   7 years ago

   The realities of milk production are forcing dairy communities across the globe to rethink the dairy production process. In this episode, we travel to a village in Kenya where the commercialization of camel milk is proving a sustainable solution in the face of drought. In Northern California, the heart of the U.S. dairy industry is finding innovative alternatives to limit emissions and water use.

4. E3

   3. Building A Future: Lumber Poaching In Oregon and Brazil

   7 years ago

   Wood is found in countless products consumers use daily. In fact, lumber is connected to the world economy – a country’s lumber importation tends to rise in correlation with its gross domestic product. Following groups like “Guardians of the Forest,” we explore illegal lumber poaching in the forests of Brazil and Oregon, where citizens and scientists are working to combat illegal trade.

5. E2

   2. Avocado Wars: The Battle Over Water Rights In Chile

   7 years ago

   The popular demand for avocados, once considered an “exotic” item, is having a devastating impact on a drought-stricken community in Chile. Lying within one of the largest avocado producing regions in the country, Petorca avocado plantations are in a battle over water rights, where claims of illegal water diversion is creating civil unrest.

6. E1

   1. Fueling Change: Oil Extraction in Alaska & California

   7 years ago

   Global demand for oil and gas has long-lasting impacts on the communities that supply it. In Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, communities are at odds over an oil exploration and drilling plan that will boost the economy but have consequences on the environment. In California’s Kern County, mayors of two neighboring towns face off on economic benefits and health risks of oil production.

"Earth Focus" is an environmental news magazine featuring investigative reports and in-depth stories about our changing environment and how it affects people around the world. It's funded by Wallace Genetic Foundation, Marisla Foundation, Park Foundation, Farvue Foundation, Shared Earth Foundation, Cornell Douglas Foundation, Rachel's Network, National Science Foundation, and individual donors.

1. E3

   3. The Price of Gold in Peru

   6 years ago

   When Peru’s President Martín Vizcarra came to power in 2018, one of his first priorities was to gain control over the devastating outbreak of illegal gold mining operations. In February 2019, the government launched Operation Mercury, a decisive action to shut down an entire town built around an illegal gold mine.

2. E2

   2. Coal Mining in South Africa

   6 years ago

   South Africa faces a stark reality as the continent’s largest greenhouse gas emitter. More than 80% of power generation comes from coal, with 11 coal power plants turning the province of Mpumalanga into one of the most polluted areas of the world. As the world moves away from fossil fuels and major global investors pull out, renewable energy fights to forge the future.

3. E1

   1. Youth Activism

   6 years ago

   In 2019, sixteen children from across the world including Greta Thunberg filed a historical, global lawsuit petitioning the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child to hold five of the world’s leading economic powers accountable for inaction on the climate crisis. All 16 young people are alarmed by the changes they see in their homelands.

"Earth Focus" is an environmental news magazine featuring investigative reports and in-depth stories about our changing environment and how it affects people around the world. It's funded by Wallace Genetic Foundation, Marisla Foundation, Park Foundation, Farvue Foundation, Shared Earth Foundation, Cornell Douglas Foundation, Rachel's Network, National Science Foundation, and individual donors.

1. E3

   3. Fighting for Air

   4 years ago

   Over the last decade, the Inland Empire has become the most polluted city in the United States.  As e-commerce has exploded, so have toxic pollutants in the air. Tracing the supply chain from the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, all the way to the Inland Empire, this film investigates the struggle for clean air, where grassroots organizations are coming together to fight polluting giants.

2. E2

   2. For the Love of the Land

   4 years ago

   Discussing mental health has historically been taboo in many rural communities. As climate change pushes farmers, homesteaders and herders to the edge, this film pierces the mental health taboo through personal, poignant stories of struggle, resilience, and hope.

3. E1

   1. We Are Where We Live

   4 years ago

   In the United States, health and longevity are more often determined by zip code than by genetic code. Following both the patients and doctors of a local community health organization, this episode exposes the socio-environmental determinants of health in the primarily Latino city of South Gate, California.

"Earth Focus" is an environmental news magazine featuring investigative reports and in-depth stories about our changing environment and how it affects people around the world. It's funded by Wallace Genetic Foundation, Marisla Foundation, Park Foundation, Farvue Foundation, Shared Earth Foundation, Cornell Douglas Foundation, Rachel's Network, National Science Foundation, and individual donors.

1. E5

   5. Diablo Canyon: California's Last Nuclear Power Plant

   2 years ago

   Diablo Canyon ignites conversations about nuclear power in the state’s energy future. Challenged by extreme weather events and eyeing clean energy goals, California reversed its decision to close its last nuclear power plant. This is a set-back for anti-nuclear activists, welcome news for climate activists, and a minor detour in the YTT Northern Chumash’s journey to reclaim their ancestral lands.

2. E4

   4. Loving Joshua Tree

   2 years ago

   Love for Joshua Tree endangers the local life—both people and ecosystems. The allure of the high desert has drawn generations to the region, from socialites of the early 20th century to social media users today. Amid a boom of tourism and short-term rentals, conservationists and locals hope this love for Joshua Tree can be practiced more sustainably for everyone—and everything—that calls it home.

3. E3

   3. The Tortoise, the Raven, and Us

   2 years ago

   Ravens threaten Mojave Desert tortoises, and solutions call on shifts in human behavior. While they are one of the smartest birds in the world, their success can pose an existential threat to other wildlife. Scientists and community members work to provide solutions to this increasing environmental problem, which are revealing deep insights into humanity in the process.

4. E2

   2. Transforming the Los Angeles River

   2 years ago

   A transformed L.A. River is envisioned by the communities that live at its edge. In the process, residents also must reconcile with the river channel's past. From artists in Elysian Valley, to store owners in Chinatown, to Indigenous leaders, these communities are working to ensure everyone is included in new plans for the river's 51 miles.

5. E1

   1. Reimagining the Los Angeles River

   2 years ago

   The L.A. River is reimagined through explorations of history, hydrology, and architecture. Designs by local visionaries hope to transform the channel in new ways that benefit both the environment and people. But some residents along the river wonder if these changes will bring more harm than good to their communities.

"Earth Focus" is an environmental news magazine featuring investigative reports and in-depth stories about our changing environment and how it affects people around the world. It's funded by Wallace Genetic Foundation, Marisla Foundation, Park Foundation, Farvue Foundation, Shared Earth Foundation, Cornell Douglas Foundation, Rachel's Network, National Science Foundation, and individual donors.

1. E4

   4. Combating Climate Change with Trees

   1 year ago

   Community organizations are planting trees in long-neglected neighborhoods to cool them down. These efforts are aiming to create healthier, more sustainable environments across Southern California.

2. E3

   3. San Clemente Island: Protecting Land & Sea

   1 year ago

   Southern California’s San Clemente Island is home to both endangered species and critical naval activities. Learn how military and conservation missions have come to operate in complete harmony.

3. E2

   2. The Cost of Fast Fashion

   1 year ago

   “Fast fashion,” a phenomenon where clothing can be purchased and delivered almost instantaneously, is followed from the wash machine to a recycling option reimagining ways to reduce the impacts on climate and the environment.

4. E1

   1. Rewiring California: Outages & Innovation

   1 year ago

   Across California, communities and companies are tackling power outages and wildfires by upgrading outdated infrastructure—from burying power lines in La Jolla to building solar microgrids on tribal lands. Learn how local efforts are shaping a safer, more resilient energy future.

"Earth Focus" is an environmental news magazine featuring investigative reports and in-depth stories about our changing environment and how it affects people around the world. It's funded by Wallace Genetic Foundation, Marisla Foundation, Park Foundation, Farvue Foundation, Shared Earth Foundation, Cornell Douglas Foundation, Rachel's Network, National Science Foundation, and individual donors.

1. E2

   2. Examining the Impact of Sound on Marine Life

   6 months ago

   As ocean industrialization increases underwater noise from shipping, naval activity, and energy development, scientists are racing to understand how sound affects marine life. Off Catalina Island, marine mammal experts are gathering new data on how small whales and dolphins respond to Navy underwater exercises—research that could shape how sound beneath the waves is managed to reduce harm.

2. E1

   1. LA’s Stadiums Confront Their Environmental Impact

   6 months ago

   Every year, millions of people visit Los Angeles stadiums – driving economic benefits, but also higher emissions, waste, and energy use. To address these climate change issues, venues like the LA Memorial Coliseum and Crypto.com Arena are testing innovative sustainability solutions, from food waste reduction and cup recycling to water conservation and energy storage.

"Earth Focus" is an environmental news magazine featuring investigative reports and in-depth stories about our changing environment and how it affects people around the world. It's funded by Wallace Genetic Foundation, Marisla Foundation, Park Foundation, Farvue Foundation, Shared Earth Foundation, Cornell Douglas Foundation, Rachel's Network, National Science Foundation, and individual donors. This season is merely for including Earth Focus Shorts

1. E1

   1. Weathering the L.A. River Unsheltered

   2 years ago

   Extreme heat and flood events pose a growing threat for people experiencing homelessness on the L.A. River. The impact of climate change is complex, but community members are finding a way forward with emergency response skills, inclusive modeling to reimagine the channel, and volunteer programs serving the day-to-day needs of unhoused people, especially during climate change disasters.