Climate change, ecology, nature, environment, eco-friendly politics, non-profit projects, human rights, preservation, wildlife... all that we care about.
During a trip last month from the Portuguese capital of Lisbon to its second largest city Porto, in the north of the country, I noticed a lot of wind turbines dotting the landscape. I’m not the only one either.
The New York Times published a piece yesterday on Portugal’s green makeover. Wind, hydro, solar and wave [...]
A new survey of UK residents conducted by the University of Cardiff shows that public acceptance of climate change is alive and well in Britain.
From an article in the Guardian:
The survey showed that almost three-quarters (71%) of Britons are concerned about climate change. Some 78% think the climate is changing, which is down from 91% [...]
According to EPA and Eurostat figures, Denmark recycles 42% of its waste and burns 54% in heat and power stations. The US, by comparison, recycles 33% while only 13% is used in waste-to-energy incinerators. The majority of US trash – 54% – ends up in landfills, compared to only 4% in Denmark.
Denmark’s state-owned garbage burning [...]
Evolutionary biologist Olivia Judson is in full tree hugging mode this week in her opinion piece for the New York Times, in which she gives thanks and praises to the humble tree. Judson has bestowed the honor of April’s Lifeform of the Month upon the tree and provides us with some interesting facts that are [...]
The 12 day CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) meetings begin on Saturday in the city of Doha, capital of the Arab emirate of Qatar. The talks will attempt to hammer out transnational policies concerning the management and protection of animal and plant species that are threatened [...]
Species extinction is a hot issue. All the reasonably decent papers, TV nature shows and news programs are running stories on bluefin tuna, African elephants, tigers and fluffy polar bears more than ever before. Heck, the New York Times even ran a story about the greater sage grouse – a plains bird from the American [...]
The politicization of science class in the American public education system is nothing new, the main issue of contention being the teaching of evolution or natural selection in biology classes.
Recently, however, teaching climate change in state schools has come under fire from skeptics in much the same way that evolution in the science curriculum has [...]
Typhoons in October devastated agriculture and caused heavy damages to infrastructure in the Philippines. Now a drought is destroying crops and threatening electricity supplies in the Southeast Asian nation, the New York Times reports.
Nearly 400,000 acres of farmland have already been affected, and agriculture officials expect the drought to continue, perhaps until July.
–New York Times
The [...]
I guess that learning on the job is better than not learning at all.
According to a piece in the New York Times, European countries may rethink their biofuel policies based on a newly completed study by the European Commission. The results of this study factor in the greenhouse gas emissions of land clearing – when [...]
While the United States and other countries offer incentives for development in the renewable energy industry, China passes laws that require it. A New York Times article highlights the ways in which China is beating the pants off other nations when it comes to making clean energy. For example, China now leads the world in [...]
Water vapor, a potent heat-trapping gas, absorbs sunlight and re-emits heat into Earth’s atmosphere. Its concentrations in the stratosphere, the second of three layers in the atmosphere, appear to have decreased in the last 10 years, according to the study.
–New York Times
I read two articles discussing the relationship between water vapor and global warming on [...]
Frogs can’t seem to get a break. Yet another enemy of the vulnerable amphibians – at least in cold countries – is sodium chloride, or NaCl, which is used in many parts of the world to grit icy roads in the winter in order to make them more drivable. The problem is that it’s toxic [...]
Having already made great strides in renewable energy production in the form of massive wind and photovoltaic solar panel projects, China is now building solar power plants of another type: concentrating solar power. Concentrating solar plants use large numbers of mirrors which generate electricity by capturing heat and producing steam. Europe and the United States [...]
The unseasonably cold weather that has been plaguing parts of North America, Asia and Europe has no relationship to climate change and can be explained by Arctic oscillation, according to New York Times science reporter Kenneth Chang. Well that clears that up nicely, doesn’t it? No? Well, in an article from January 9th Chang explains [...]
The C.I.A is now working in cooperation with the U.S.’s top scientists, which include mainly academics, but also some from industry. The National Academy of Sciences, an ‘elite body that advises the federal government’, will be guiding the project, according to an article in the New York Times. The project gives the scientists access to [...]
Future migration patterns will most likely be affected ever increasingly by climate conditions such as drought, flooding and temperature. This is already the case in many parts of the world. But according to an article in the New York Times, what some experts expected to be large international migration due to climate change will probably [...]
Hi folks! With one day left at the climate summit and over 100 world leaders arriving tomorrow, we’ve assembled a few quotes, links and headlines from the UNFCCC in Copenhagen for your easy digestion and navigation. Topics include a conditional pledge of aid from the U.S., some hope (maybe) for the Earth’s forests and the [...]
On the electronic version of The New York Times, readers can participate in conversations and debate about a variety of subjects relating to the environment and climate change. To post you have to have an account and log in, but an account with the Times is not necessary if you’d just like to read.
Climate Change [...]
In a small city in East Texas, Dan Phillips builds charming rustic houses for low-income people. That’s remarkable enough in itself, but what’s really amazing is what he builds them out of: 80% waste material. These energy efficient, earth friendly’ homes are unique and eye-catching. Perhaps every detail isn’t done in the best of taste [...]
When I was a kid I used to hear stories about all sorts of creatures that mutated and grew to terrible proportions from being exposed to toxic radioactive waste. Giant alligators lived in the New York City sewer system, ferocious gangs of rats scurried underneath the Manhattan streets and packs of wild dogs roamed abandon [...]
And a raging debate on the genetic engineering of crops ensues!
Paul Collier, economist, Oxford University
– ‘Put aside Prejudices’
The debate over genetically modified crops and food has been contaminated by political and aesthetic prejudices: hostility to U.S. corporations, fear of big science and romanticism about local, organic production.
Vandana Shiva, activist and author
– ‘The Failure of [...]
The prestigious American newspaper is running a string of articles examining the worsening situation of America’s waters and what government agencies are doing about it. Featured are reports with titles such as ‘Debating How Much Weed Killer Is Safe in Your Water Glass’, ‘Health Ills Abound as Farm Runoff Fouls Wells’ and ‘Clean Water Laws [...]
