“Today marks a very historic day for the three tribes that we have here,” said Craig Andrews, vice chairman of the Hopi Tribal Council, at the signing ceremony. 

“This is not just an Indian water settlement; it is an Arizona water settlement,” he added. 

The agreement stems from the recently introduced Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024, which would authorize the $5 billion to finance critical water infrastructure projects.  

That sum, which still must receive Congressional approval, would also settle the unresolved water rights claims of all three tribes in Arizona.  

Stressing the need to ensure economic prosperity and cultural preservation, Andrews described the terms as a “testament to the power of unity and collaboration in the face of water uncertainty.” 

This collaboration was first made official last Monday, when Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly (D), along with bipartisan, bicameral colleagues, introduced the legislation.  

If the bill becomes law, the funds will facilitate the acquisition, construction and maintenance of water development and delivery projects, including a $1.75 billion distribution pipeline.  

In total, the tribes would gain access to more than 56,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water each year, as well as specific groundwater rights and protections, per the bill.  

For reference, the average American household uses about one acre-foot of water on an annual basis.  

“Securing water rights for these tribes upholds their sovereignty and lays the path for their growth and prosperity through increased investment in water infrastructure,” Kelly said in a statement. 

“Ratifying this settlement honors our commitment to the tribes and helps secure our state’s water future,” he added.  

Welcome to The Hill’s Sustainability newsletter, I’m Sharon Udasin — every week we follow the latest moves in the growing battle over sustainability in the U.S. and around the world.

Amid threats like deforestation and wildfires, the Northern Hemisphere’s trees have maintained a critical role in the fight against climate change, a new study has found. 

These ecosystems have been reliably absorbing carbon dioxide for the past three decades, even as disruptions have endangered their ability to do so, according to the study, published on Wednesday in Nature.  

Storing carbon: Using long-term ground measurements and remote sensing data, the study authors found that forests consume an average of about 3.5 billion metric tons of carbon per year. 

• That’s equivalent to almost half of the carbon dioxide emissions created from burning fossil fuels.
• Nonetheless, destructive forces like wildfires and deforestation pose a grave threat to these carbon sinks. 

Tree-by-tree tracking: The multinational research effort — led by scientists at the U.S. Forest Service and the Woodwell Climate Research Center — involved 17 authors from 11 countries.  

“What sets this study apart is its foundation in extensive ground measurements — essentially, a tree-by-tree assessment of size, species, and biomass,” lead author Yude Pan, of the Forest Service’s Northern Research Station, said in a statement. 

Disturbing declines: The scientists found that boreal forests in the Northern Hemisphere have endured a 36 percent decline in their carbon sink capacity. 

• They attributed this plunge to a variety of factors, such as wildfires, insect outbreaks and soil warming.
• Tropical forests also experienced a 31 percent decrease in their ability to absorb carbon, but regrowth in abandoned agricultural and logged areas partially offset these losses. 

Not all is lost: Temperate forests have shown a 30 percent increase in their carbon sink capacity, largely due to extensive reforestation efforts — especially in China, according to the study.  

“These findings support the potential for improving protection and management of forests as effective natural climate solutions,” co-author Richard Birdsey, of the Woodwell Climate Research Center, said in a statement.