The announcement Wednesday of an agreement in the Senate almost instantly reset the role of the United States in the global effort to fight climate change.
A major new scientific report offers a road map for how countries can limit global warming, but warns that the margin for error is vanishingly small.
Hitting the targets could require a rapid shift to electric vehicles, the expansion of forests nationwide, development of complex new carbon-capture technology and many other changes, researchers said.
From a newly certified Whale Heritage Site to scenic byways for electric cars, five new initiatives suggest the travel industry may be envisioning a more responsible future.
Goals include ending sales of gas and diesel cars by 2030, achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and, perhaps, pleasing a new sensibility in Washington.