Economy and Policy
Horseshoe crabs & red knots
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For 475 million years, horseshoe crabs have inhabited the Earth. Currently, their largest numbers are on the Eastern Seaboard, particularly in the Delaware Bay off the coasts of Delaware and New Jersey, where horseshoe crabs lay their eggs each spring. [Read more…] about Horseshoe crabs & red knots
Early warning for climate disasters
Climate scientists talk about “tipping points” for the calamitous consequences of global climate change. These are triggers for abrupt changes in the climate that could bring about a variety of disasters. [Read more…] about Early warning for climate disasters
When your sofa makes you sick
The New Year has brought a new law in California that could lessen the use of flame retardants in furniture. [Read more…] about When your sofa makes you sick
Getting toxic chemicals out of consumer products
When grocery shopping, many of us check the labels of the foods we’re buying to evaluate ingredients and nutritional information. But what about the many products we buy that contain chemicals we’re unfamiliar with – or that don’t come with labels at all? [Read more…] about Getting toxic chemicals out of consumer products
Localities declaring energy independence
In the last election, voters in Boulder, Colorado passed a measure giving the city permission to break ties with the local corporate utility and create a municipal electric utility that would aggressively pursue the fight against climate change. The progressive community was not satisfied with the green initiatives of Xcel Energy, the existing utility. [Read more…] about Localities declaring energy independence
Climate injustice
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As nations around the world grapple with the challenges of climate change, traumatic events such as the devastating typhoon in the Philippines can focus our attention on the complex issue of climate injustice. [Read more…] about Climate injustice
Clearing the stage
You might think that it would be easy to keep track of deforestation around the world. Does the landscape have trees, or not? Turns out, it’s not easy. Much deforestation is associated with small clearings that do not show up on aerial photographs. And, many times governments do not want to admit to the rates of deforestation that they tolerate. [Read more…] about Clearing the stage
Regulating fracking
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/EW-01-14-14-Regulating-Fracking.mp3|titles=EW 01-14-14 Regulating Fracking]
Hydraulic fracturing – better known as fracking – has driven a boom in natural gas production in the United States over the past decade. Fracking is also at the center of a raging controversy over its potential effects on public health and the environment. Despite these concerns, the federal government has left the issue of fracking regulation to individual states. [Read more…] about Regulating fracking
Tax: It’s a dirty word
Most economists agree that the best way to reduce the use of fossil fuels and lower the emission of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere would be to put a tax on carbon emissions. That would open a competitive market for alternative sources of energy, raise sorely needed government revenues, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. A carbon tax would even preserve the freedom to buy a big, low-mileage car, if you want one. [Read more…] about Tax: It’s a dirty word
Gold’s tarnished side
The price of gold has more than doubled in the past decade, as a flood of new buyers has entered the world’s commodity market. Gold is in demand for jewelry and as a hedge against erosion in the value of traditional currency. Lots of new effort is devoted to finding new deposits of gold and to mining old veins that were not economical just a few years ago. Big new mines are proposed in Alaska and Canada. [Read more…] about Gold’s tarnished side
Forest fragmentation
Scientists have long known that habitat fragmentation poses a threat to native species. It can lead to stress on the surviving animals, and weakened genetic fitness due to their smaller breeding populations. [Read more…] about Forest fragmentation
Schools and the environment
A group of public school systems across the country has formed an alliance to make schools more environmentally responsible and to help change nutrition and sustainability policies. Known as the Urban School Food Alliance, the group includes the public schools in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Orlando. [Read more…] about Schools and the environment
Let's reflect on our success stories
Sometimes people find me depressing to be around. I endlessly point out the impacts of rising human population and resource use, extinction of Earth’s biodiversity, air and water pollution, and climate change. When I really get going, I point out that these human impacts on our planet may threaten the continued persistence of our own species. [Read more…] about Let's reflect on our success stories
Cattle, prairie chickens, and compromise
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The protection of a bird called the lesser prairie chicken has inspired intense debate in Texas – between the government, environmentalists, oil and gas companies, and private landowners. [Read more…] about Cattle, prairie chickens, and compromise
Stopping by the woods on a snowy evening
I suspect that many of us have visited a natural area from our childhood only to find it paved over by a shopping center or converted to suburban development. Elected officials call this economic progress and applaud the added tax revenue. Ecologists call it sprawl. [Read more…] about Stopping by the woods on a snowy evening
Increasingly sustainable buildings
There is a growing trend in green buildings – construction that is eco-friendly, energy efficient, and sustainable. The most widely recognized designation is LEED or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. Its three levels are certified, silver, and gold, and these have been awarded to over 13,000 buildings in the United States. [Read more…] about Increasingly sustainable buildings
New records for greenhouse gases
According to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization, the three most significant greenhouse gases in the atmosphere all hit record levels in 2012. Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide levels all reached new highs last year. [Read more…] about New records for greenhouse gases
A new relationship with energy
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The demand for clean energy is accelerating and its use is increasing steadily. Last year, 49% of all new power plant investment in the U.S. was for renewables, in part because the costs of solar energy and wind energy have been dropping dramatically over the past five years. [Read more…] about A new relationship with energy
Energy efficient cities
