Economy and Policy
Replacing diesel in island countries
The economies, societies and ecosystems of small island countries have been burdened by the need to import fuels throughout the fossil fuel era. Most of these countries generate their electricity using imported diesel fuel, which is extremely expensive, vulnerable to disruption, and environmentally damaging.
Cigarette butts
When we talk about the hazards of cigarettes, we typically focus on health risks – lung cancer, heart disease, or the dangers of secondhand smoke.
A solar landfill
When landfills have reached their capacity, their contents are capped in order to isolate the wastes and contaminants within. Hazardous waste landfills utilize specialized liners in order to prevent leakage and once they are capped off, they are monitored for decades for any gas or leached materials. Sometimes the sites can be reused for such things as parks or parking lots, but all too often they become no-mans-lands that serve no purpose. [Read more…] about A solar landfill
The price of ivory
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The demand for ivory in Asia is reaching epic proportions, fueling organized crime and threatening the future of the African elephant. [Read more…] about The price of ivory
Tides in the Bay of Fundy
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/EW-08-21-14-Tides-in-the-Bay-of-Fundy-.mp3|titles=EW 08-21-14 Tides in the Bay of Fundy]
The Bay of Fundy is on the Atlantic coast on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in Canada. It is the site of several national and provincial parks as well as the location of major ports for the pulp and paper industry. But the Bay of Fundy’s greatest claim to fame is that it may have the largest tidal range in the world. [Read more…] about Tides in the Bay of Fundy
Waiting to feel climate change
Even though the scientific evidence for the dangers of human-made climate change is overwhelming at this point, there is still plenty of skepticism about it among ordinary people and, unfortunately, among policy makers. An important factor in this situation is that we don’t experience climate; we experience weather and weather is highly variable. [Read more…] about Waiting to feel climate change
Urban mining
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Mining precious metals like gold, silver and these days copper is extremely costly as well as being energy-intensive, environmentally harmful, and dangerous. We continue to seek precious metals because they are not just used for ornamentation; they are essential parts of modern electronic devices. [Read more…] about Urban mining
No energy bills
A net-zero energy house is one that creates as much energy as it uses over the course of the year. It is a home that doesn’t pay any energy bills. [Read more…] about No energy bills
Tracking fishing boats
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The Global Ocean Commission has released an eight-point plan aimed at protecting the high seas. Two-thirds of the ocean is considered ‘high seas,’ meaning it lies outside of a national territory. The goal of the GOC is to ensure effective management of these areas, safeguarding them from threats like overfishing. [Read more…] about Tracking fishing boats
Galapagos green
The Galapagos Islands are famous for inhabitants like giant tortoises, marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies. Nearly the entire archipelago is a national park that carefully preserves this unique environment. But the Galapagos is also home to over 30,000 people living on four of the islands and involved in the tourist trade, in farming and fishing, and in local businesses. The human inhabitants need electricity and, like most islanders, have mostly gotten it from diesel generators. [Read more…] about Galapagos green
An ammonia economy
The world’s leading automakers are betting on hydrogen-powered cars as the future of personal transportation. These are electric cars that use fuel cells as the source of electricity instead of batteries. [Read more…] about An ammonia economy
Neonicotinoid pesticides
Neonicotinoid pesticides have been known for some time to pose a threat to bees and other pollinators. In fact, last year the European Commission imposed a two-year moratorium banning them on plants that attract bees. But now, research suggests they are a danger to everything from lizards to shellfish. [Read more…] about Neonicotinoid pesticides
True food
Genetically modified organisms – or GMOs – are a hot topic in the food industry. More than 70% of packaged foods sold in North America contain genetically modified ingredients. More than 88% of corn, 94% of soybeans, and 90% of cotton in the U.S. are grown from GMO seeds. And all of these figures are rising. [Read more…] about True food
Renewables growth continues
For the first five months of 2014, renewable energy sources accounted for 54% of the new electrical generating capabilities installed in the United States. Just about all the other new installations were natural gas plants. Although coal-fired plants are still the largest source of electricity in the country, no new coal plants have come on line this year. [Read more…] about Renewables growth continues
Solar-powered Germany
At the start of June this year, Germany set a new record by producing 50% of its electricity needs with solar panels. Solar panels in that country of over 80 million people produced over 23 gigawatts of electricity on the afternoon of June 9th, which corresponded to 50.6% of the nation’s demand for electricity. [Read more…] about Solar-powered Germany
Illinois microbead ban
Last month, Illinois became the first state to ban the sale of cosmetics containing plastic microbeads. [Read more…] about Illinois microbead ban
Insect defense report card
During last spring’s report card season, a little known government program received its grades. The program is aimed at defending our nation against the imported insects and diseases that harm trees, forests, and local economies. [Read more…] about Insect defense report card
Solar grid parity
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One of the most common complaints about solar power is that it is too expensive and that the only reason it gets deployed at all is by virtue of government subsidies and tax credits. Historically, there was some amount of truth to this criticism but the times they are a-changing. [Read more…] about Solar grid parity
Renewables changing of the guard
