Global warming extinctions usually have people picturing the last polar bears or other furry critters disappearing. But the world of plants also will be decimated by climate change, and they're often overlooked. One new study Thursday says tens of thousands of plant species will likely go extinct as warmer temperatures and shifting rain patterns ruin their habitats. A second study looks at what the world loses when flowering plants blink out of existence. In many cases, it's not just not just one species that is lost, but a giant chunk of the evolutionary tree of life.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom's $20 billion Delta tunnel project has cleared a significant hurdle, but it still has major obstacles to overcome. The plan aims to reroute water from the Sacramento River to a reservoir, addressing water supply issues in California. Delta communities oppose the project, fearing it will harm the environment and local farms. Last week, the Delta Stewardship Council voted to require the Department of Water Resources to address two challenges. Newsom hailed the decision as progress, but other obstacles loom. Court rulings have upended financing plans, state regulators have yet to weigh in on critical water rights decisions, and water agencies are still deciding whether the tunnel will be worth the cost.
