Όμορφος Κόσμος...

Escaped pet Pythons causing decline in Everglades Wildlife

2012-02-02T05:12:00.000-08:00

ENN, February 01, 2012

Non-native Burmese pythons are believed to be the cause of severe mammal declines in the Florida Everglades, according to new research.
Also known as the Asiatic rock python, the Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) is a large constricting snake native to Asia. The exact origins of the pythons in the Everglades are unknown, but many have been imported into the United States through the pet trade, and some are likely to have escaped or been released into the wild. Read more...

Palm Oil Biodiesel and greenhouse gas emissions

2012-02-02T05:07:00.000-08:00

ENN, January 30, 2012

Greenhouse gas emissions from palm oil-based biodiesel are the highest among major biofuels when the effects of deforestation and peatlands degradation are considered, according to calculations by the European Commission. The emissions estimates, which haven't been officially released, have important implications for the biofuels industry in Europe. Read more...

Watch 131 Years of Global Warming in 26 Seconds

2012-01-28T03:49:00.000-08:00

Climate Central, January 25, 2012

From our friends at NASA comes this amazing 26-second video, depicting how temperatures around the globe have warmed since 1880. That year is what scientists call the beginning of the “modern record.” You’ll note an acceleration of those temperatures in the late 1970s as greenhouse gas emissions from energy production increased worldwide and clean air laws reduced emissions of pollutants that had a cooling effect on the climate, and thus were masking some of the global warming signal. The data comes from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, which monitors global surface temperatures. As NASA notes, “in this animation, reds indicate temperatures higher than the average during a baseline period of 1951-1980, while blues indicate lower temperatures than the baseline average.” Watch the video...

European Commission Aims to Cut Food Waste 50 Percent by 2020

2012-01-21T09:34:00.000-08:00

ENN, January 19, 2012

Europe may be facing much larger problem than what to do with its food waste. But being pushed through the European parliament is a bill that will have widespread significance. That is because food waste accounts for one of the largest sources of overall waste going to landfills. Per year, the average person throws away 300 kg (660 lbs) per year, and of this, two thirds is still edible. MEPs are railing against what they see as unsustainable levels of waste. Read more...

European Carbon Regulation for Airlines Takes Off

2012-01-10T10:17:00.000-08:00

ENN, January 04, 2012

2012 started with some good news. On Sunday, the European Union began charging all airlines flying into and out of Europe for their carbon emissions. Covering a third of all global flights, this new scheme is one of the widest-reaching measures adopted lately by any country or regional bloc to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Given all the hurdles and protest it faced, the fact that this scheme actually began is not just an incredible accomplishment for the EU, but also a bit of a miracle. The new scheme will make all airlines flying to, from or within the EU liable for their CO2 emissions. They will receive tradable carbon allowances, covering a certain amount of CO2 emitted each year, based on historic data. Carriers that exceed their limit will be able to buy allowances from other carriers that have emitted less than allowed. The EU believes this cap and trade scheme is the fairest way to cope with aviation’s contribution to global warming and incentivize airlines to reduce their footprint, which represents about 3 percent of global CO2 emissions. Read more...

2011: A bad year for rhinos

2012-01-10T10:06:00.000-08:00

Rhinos proaching numbers in South Africa

ENN, December 30, 2011

A record number of rhinos were poached this year in South Africa, home to the greatest number of the animals, as rising demand in Asia for their horns led to increased killings of the threatened species.At least 443 rhinos have been killed in South Africa in 2011, up from 333 last year, the national park service and conservationists said.
The street value of rhinoceros horns has soared to about $65,000 a kilogram, making it more expensive than gold, platinum and in many cases cocaine, as a belief - with no basis in science - has taken hold in recent years in parts of Asia that ingesting it can cure or prevent cancer. Read more...

Δραματική μείωση στις φώκιες λόγω της απώλειας πάγων στην Αρκτική

2012-01-05T19:00:00.000-08:00

In.gr, 05 Ιανουαρίου 2012

Ολόκληρες γενιές της περίφημης φώκιας της Γροιλανδίας πεθαίνουν λόγω της κλιματικής αλλαγής που συρρικνώνει τους πάγους της Αρκτικής, προειδοποιούν Αμερικανοί βιολόγοι, οι οποίοι μάλιστα ανησυχούν ότι οι πληθυσμοί δεν θα μπορέσουν να ανακάμψουν. Διαβαστε περισόττερα....

Most carmakers must further improve carbon efficiency by 2015

2011-12-27T11:57:00.000-08:00

EEA, December 20, 2011

Several carmakers need to make their fleets even more carbon-efficient in order to meet 2012 carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions target, according to updated data published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA). The data also show that almost all manufacturers must reduce emissions to meet 2015 targets under European legislation for new passenger cars, based on average CO2 emissions for each manufacturer. Read more...

Distance to 2012 target by individual manufacturers in 2010. The size of the bubble is proportional to the number of vehicles registered in Europe.

Frankincense May Be Doomed

2011-12-27T11:30:00.000-08:00

ENN, December 23, 2011

Frankincense has a long history as an ingredient in incense and perfumes, with references dating back to ancient Egypt. In the Bible, the Magi brought the fragrant resin as a gift to the baby Jesus, along with gold and myrrh -- and it remains part of the classic Christmas story. But frankincense, whose smell is sometimes described as sweet or spicy with a mix of lemon and pine, will soon become only a relic of the past if nothing is done to protect the trees that produce it, according to a new study. Read more...

Texas drought kills as many as half a billion trees

2011-12-23T08:59:00.000-08:00

ENN, December 21, 2011

The massive drought that has dried out Texas over the past year has killed as many as half a billion trees, according to new estimates from the Texas Forest Service.
"In 2011, Texas experienced an exceptional drought, prolonged high winds, and record-setting temperatures," Forest Service Sustainable Forestry chief Burl Carraway told Reuters on Tuesday. "Together, those conditions took a severe toll on trees across the state." He said that between 100 million and 500 million trees were lost. The tree loss is in both urban and rural areas and represents as much as 10 percent of all the trees in the state, Carraway said. Read more...

Three-quarters of English Channel sea birds contain toxic levels of plastic

2011-12-07T14:07:00.000-08:00

ENN, December 05, 2011

Data from studies monitoring the amount of consumer plastic eaten by sea birds suggest that levels in the North Sea are well above targets... and the figures are rising. For the most recent monitoring period, the target amount was exceeded in well over half the birds studied, with the English Channel being the worst affected region with 74% of birds over the threshold. Read more...

Coke Pulls Polar Bear Cans after Customer Confusion

2011-12-05T08:46:00.000-08:00

Environmental Leader, December 05, 2011

Coca-Cola has been forced to re-design cans meant to highlight its partnership with the World Wildlife Fund, after customers complained that the cans looked too much like those for Diet Coke. Coke unveiled the white cans emblazoned with silver polar bears on November 1, as it launched Arctic Home, a commitment of $2 million to WWF efforts to protect polar bear habitats. Coke also asked U.S. consumers to text in $1 donations, and pledged to match their gifts up to a total of $1 million.
But it was also the first time Coke changed the color of the can to support a cause, and the move appears to have backfired, with drinkers of Diet Coke – including diabetics – complaining that they bought the real thing instead, Time reports. Read more...

Industrial air pollution cost Europe up to €169 billion in 2009, EEA reveals

2011-12-02T11:55:00.000-08:00

EEA, November 24, 2011

Air pollution from the 10,000 largest polluting facilities in Europe cost citizens between € 102 and 169 billion in 2009. This was one of the findings of a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) which analysed the costs of harm to health and the environment caused by air pollution. Half of the total damage cost (between € 51 and 85 billion) was caused by just 191 facilities. Read more...

Bathtub-sized marine sponge rediscovered after a century of extinction

2011-11-30T03:25:00.000-08:00

ENN, November 23, 2011

Not found alive for over a century the evocatively named Neptune's cup sponge (Cliona patera) has been rediscovered off the shores of Singapore. Researchers with the environmental consulting DHI Group found the species during a routine dive. Although the specimen they found was small, the goblet-shaped sponge can reach nearly 5 feet (1.5 meters) high and the same in diameter. Read more...

The Social Dimension of Biodiversity Policy

2011-11-26T02:25:00.000-08:00

EU, November 23, 2011

A new EU-commissioned report has investigated the social value of biodiversity conservation, particularly in terms of its links to employment. It estimates that 35% of jobs in developing countries and 7% of jobs in the EU are dependent on ecosystem services. The value of biodiversity and its related ecosystems is becoming increasingly recognised in policy. Biodiversity is important in supporting vital ecosystem services (ES) such as provision of clean water, but can also provide social benefits, such as improved employment. The report focussed on the impact of biodiversity on employment and the value of biodiversity and the services provided for vulnerable rural people. Read the report...

Ορφανά αρκουδάκια στον δρόμο της επανένταξης στο φυσικό περιβάλλον

2011-11-18T05:10:00.000-08:00

In.gr, 18 Νοεμβρίου 2011

Έμειναν ορφανά από πολύ μικρή ηλικία και βρέθηκαν φοβισμένα και σε κακή κατάσταση σε περιοχές του Άργους Ορεστικού και των Τρικάλων. «Υιοθετήθηκαν» από τον Αρκτούρο και τώρα πλέον, έχουν φτάσει να ζυγίζουν 40 κιλά έκαστο, αφού τρώνε με... άγρια όρεξη μεγάλες ποσότητες από καρύδια, κάστανα, βελανίδια και φρούτα.
Ο λόγος για δύο αρκουδάκια, που είχαν εντοπισθεί, τον περασμένο Απρίλιο, σε ηλικία μόλις δύο μηνών και έκτοτε εντάχθηκαν σε πιλοτικό πρόγραμμα επανένταξης του Αρκτούρου, σε ειδικές εγκαταστάσεις στη Φλώρινα. Διαβάστε περισσότερα...

Warming Revives Dream of Sea Route in Russian Arctic

2011-11-07T04:50:00.000-08:00

The New York Times, October 17, 2011

ARKHANGELSK, Russia — Rounding the northernmost tip of Russia in his oceangoing tugboat this summer, Capt. Vladimir V. Bozanov saw plenty of walruses, some pods of beluga whales and in the distance a few icebergs. With an icebreaker leading the way, the Vladimir Tikhonov, carrying gas condensate, passed Cape Dezhnev in late August.
One thing Captain Bozanov did not encounter while towing an industrial barge 2,300 miles across the Arctic Ocean was solid ice blocking his path anywhere along the route. Ten years ago, he said, an ice-free passage, even at the peak of summer, was exceptionally rare.But environmental scientists say there is now no doubt that global warming is shrinking the Arctic ice pack, opening new sea lanes and making the few previously navigable routes near shore accessible more months of the year. And whatever the grim environmental repercussions of greenhouse gas, companies in Russia and other countries around the Arctic Ocean are mining that dark cloud’s silver lining by finding new opportunities for commerce and trade.Read more...

Is the environmental crisis caused by the 7 billion or the 1%?

2011-11-04T10:11:00.000-07:00

Grist, November 1, 2011

The world population surpassed 7 billion yesterday. But how much does that matter? Ian Angus and Simon Butler argue that the richest 1% are the real problem. Dave Foreman, on the other hand, contends that all people pose a threat to wild animals and ecosystems. Also: Bill McKibben weighs in on climate and population, and Roger Martin questions the ethics of having more than two kids.

Javan rhino driven to extinction in Vietnam

2011-11-04T09:26:00.000-07:00

ENN, October 25, 2011

WWF and the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) have confirmed that the Javan rhinoceros has been driven to extinction in Vietnam. The last known Javan rhino was found dead in the Cat Tien National Park in April 2010. It is thought that the last Javan rhino in Vietnam was a victim of poaching, as it was found with a bullet in its leg and its horn removed. The upsetting findings are presented in a new WWF report, 'Extinction of Javan Rhino from Vietnam'. Read more...

Belgium to Completely Phase Out Nuclear Power by 2025

2011-11-04T09:21:00.000-07:00

ENN, November 2, 2011

The small western-European country of Belgium currently has two commercial nuclear sites and a total of seven reactors. Nuclear energy accounts for over half of the nation's power consumption, a total of about 45 billion kilowatt-hours per year. Although typically quite fractured, Belgium's political parties have reached a consensus on nuclear power. The oldest reactors are to be shut down by 2015 and all nuclear reactors at both sites will be shut down by 2025. The plan is conditional on Belgium finding enough energy from alternative sources to prevent power shortages. Read more...

«Μεταλλαγμένα» κουνούπια απελευθερώθηκαν για πρώτη φορά στη φύση

2011-10-31T11:13:00.000-07:00

In.gr, 31 Οκτωβρίου 2011

Κουνούπια που είχαν τροποποιηθεί γενετικά στο εργαστήριο απελευθερώθηκαν για πρώτη φορά στο φυσικό περιβάλλον, στο πλαίσιο μελέτης μικρής κλίμακας για την καταπολέμηση του δάγγειου πυρετού στην Καραϊβική. Τα αποτελέσματα δείχνουν ότι η προσέγγιση αυτή μπορεί πράγματι να μειώνει τους πληθυσμούς των επικίνδυνων εντόμων. Όπως και η ελονοσία, ο δάγγειος πυρετός μεταδίδεται από τα τσιμπήματα μολυσμένων κουνουπιών -συνήθως κουνούπια του είδους Aedes aegypti, το οποίο απαντάται και στην Ελλάδα. Διαβάστε περισσότερα...

Προστατευόμενες περιοχές μένουν... απροστάτευτες

2011-10-27T10:39:00.000-07:00

Καθημερινή, 24 Οκτωβρίου 2011

λήθεια, πόσο προστατεύονται οι «προστατευόμενες» περιοχές; Η πρώτη ολοκληρωμένη αποτίμηση των 10 ετών λειτουργίας των φορέων διαχείρισης προστατευόμενων περιοχών αποκαλύπτει τον επιδερμικό και αποσπασματικό τρόπο με τον οποίο όλα αυτά τα χρόνια η πολιτεία αντιμετωπίζει μια από τις στοιχειώδεις υποχρεώσεις της για το περιβάλλον. Βασικά προβλήματα που αναδεικνύει η έκθεση της επιτροπής «Φύση 2000» είναι η απουσία φύλαξης των περιοχών, η έλλειψη σταθερής χρηματοδότησης και η ασυνέχεια των κρατικών πολιτικών. Διαβάστε περισσότερα...

Chain hotels beat independent rivals to go green

2011-10-27T10:28:00.000-07:00

ENN, October 25, 2011

Chain hotels are doing a better job of going green than their independent competitors, according to a new analysis by Washington State University researchers. The study, which started as an undergraduate honors project, found chain hotels are more likely to use energy efficient light bulbs; train staff to turn off lights, heaters and air conditioning in unoccupied rooms; buy in bulk to reduce packaging; use safer cleaners and chemicals; and give guests tips on how to save water and energy. Read more...

Calcutta leads world city list most at risk from climate change

2011-10-27T10:23:00.000-07:00

ENN, October 26, 2011

A major new mapping study, analysing climate change vulnerability down to 25km² worldwide, has revealed some of the world's fastest growing populations are increasingly at risk from the impacts of climate related natural hazards and sea level rise. Many of the countries with the fastest population growth are rated as 'extreme risk' in the Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI) released by risk analysis and mapping firm Maplecroft. These include the strategically important emerging economies of Bangladesh (2nd), Philippines (10th), Viet Nam (23rd), Indonesia (27th) and India (28th). Read more...

Companies call for tougher climate action

2011-10-21T02:37:00.000-07:00

BBC News, October 21, 2011

Leaders of nearly 200 major companies around the world have called for tougher action on climate change.

The 2C Challenge, co-ordinated by the Prince of Wales Corporate Leaders Group, says that climate change puts society's future prosperity at risk. But the window to keep global warming below 2C has "almost closed", it warns. Companies signing up include UK retailer Tesco, energy provider EDF, electronics company Philips, chemicals giant Unilever, eBay and Rolls-Royce. Read more...

Swiss to shut down nuclear power plants by 2034

2011-10-06T04:05:00.000-07:00

EurActiv.com, September 30, 2011

The Swiss Senate's endorsement yesterday (28 September) follows a June vote by the lower chamber to back the gradual shutdown of nuclear energy plants recommended in May by the government, which has frozen plans for a new construction programme in the wake of the Fukushima atomic plant explosion.
Switzerland is following in Germany's footsteps, which decided in May that it will shut all its nuclear reactors by 2022. The Swiss government estimates that phasing out nuclear power in the Alpine country would cost up to SFr3.8 billion (€3.1 billion). Read more...

Το Παρίσι μπαίνει στην... πρίζα

2011-10-03T10:41:00.000-07:00

ΤΑ ΝΕΑ, 3 Οκτωβρίου 2011

Τέσσερα χρόνια αφότου λάνσαρε το Velolib, την πρωτοποριακή υπηρεσία ενοικίασης ποδηλάτων, το Παρίσι έθεσε χθες δοκιμαστικά σε εφαρμογή ακόμα ένα πιο φιλόδοξο πρόγραμμα, το Autolib, μια υπηρεσία ενοικίασης ηλεκτρικών αυτοκινήτων. Το στοίχημα, μεγάλο και επικίνδυνο τόσο για τον σοσιαλιστή δήμαρχο της πόλης Μπερτράν Ντελανοέ όσο και τον συνέταιρό του στο εγχείρημα, τον μεγαλοεπιχειρηματία - και προσωπικό φίλο του Νικολά Σαρκοζί - Βενσάν Μπολορέ. Διαβάστε περισσότερα...

Εγκαινιάστηκε το φωτοβολταϊκό πάρκο του Αερολιμένα Αθηνών

2011-09-28T14:22:00.000-07:00

Skai.gr, 28 Σεπτεμβρίου 2011

Εγκαινιάστηκε σήμερα, Πέμπτη, το φωτοβολταϊκό πάρκο του Αερολιμένα Αθηνών. Είκοσι οκτώ χιλιάδες φωτοβολταϊκά στοιχεία σε μια έκταση 160 στρεμμάτων θα εξασφαλίζουν το 9% της ενεργειακής ζήτησης του αεροδρομίου. Η συνολική ισχύς του είναι οκτώ μέγκα βαττ και θα παράγει κάθε χρόνο περίπου 11 εκατομμύρια κιλοβατώρες ηλεκτρικές ενέργειας, ποσότητα που αντιστοιχεί στην ετήσια κατανάλωση ηλεκτρικού ρεύματος 3.000 χιλιάδων κατοικιών.Διαβάστε περισσότερα...

Οι ποδηλάτες στις πόλεις «κινδυνεύουν από την εισπνοή αιθάλης»

2011-09-25T14:33:00.000-07:00

In.gr, 25 Σεπτεμβρίου 2011

Οι ποδηλάτες στις μεγάλες πόλεις εμφανίζουν αυξημένα επίπεδα αιθάλης στους πνεύμονες και ενδέχεται να αντιμετωπίζουν υψηλότερο κίνδυνο αναπνευστικών προβλημάτων, προειδοποιούν ερευνητές στη Βρετανία. To φαινόμενο «μπορεί να οφείλεται σε έναν αριθμό παραγόντων, όπως το γεγονός ότι οι ποδηλάτες αναπνέουν πιο βαθιά και πιο γρήγορα σε σχέση με τους πεζούς και βρίσκονται πιο κοντά στις εξατμίσεις των οχημάτων» αναφέρουν οι ερευνητές της Ιατρικής Σχολής του Λονδίνου. Διαβάστε περισσότερα...

Largest dam removal in U.S. history begins in Washington

2011-09-22T02:50:00.000-07:00

ENN, September 19, 2011

As a child, Adeline Smith, an elder in the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe who grew up along the Elwha River, saw how a hulking concrete dam choked off one of the most prolific salmon runs on earth. [..] Some 25 years later, Smith and 100 tribal members joined Washington Governor Chris Gregoire and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to watch as the first concrete was scooped away from the Elwha Dam over the weekend as part of the largest dam removal in U.S. history. Read more...

2011-09-22T02:20:00.000-07:00

ENN, September 14, 2011

Millions of people across the Horn of Africa are suffering under a crippling regional drought and tens of thousands have died during the accompanying famine. Refuge camps in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia are swelling with the hungry. The best hope in the short-term is food aid and logistical support, but in the longer term, dryland reforestation efforts may help improve food security, argues a new report from the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), which links human-caused land degradation, including deforestation, to intensified drought. Read more...

Read also: Converting rainforest to cropland in Africa reduces rainfall

Άγνωστο είδος δελφινιού κρυβόταν «κάτω από τη μύτη» των βιολόγων

2011-09-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

In.gr, 15 Σεπτεμβρίου 2011

Τα περίπου 200 δελφίνια που ζουν σε έναν κόλπο και σε κάποιες λιμνοθάλασσες της Αυστραλίας μπορούν τώρα να πηδούν από τη χαρά τους: Γενετικές και ανατομικές συγκρίσεις αποκαλύπτουν ότι το θαλάσσιο θηλαστικό δεν είναι αυτό που νομίζαμε και πρέπει να αναγνωριστεί ως νέο είδος ρινοδέλφινου.
«Είναι μια απίστευτα συναρπαστική ανακάλυψη καθώς μόνο τρία είδη δελφινιού έχουν περιγραφεί και αναγνωριστεί επίσημα από τα τέλη του 19ου αιώνα» σχολίασε η Κέιτ Τσάρλτον-Ρομπ, επικεφαλής της ερευνητικής ομάδας στο Πανεπιστήμιο Μonash της Αυστραλίας. Διαβάστε περισσότερα...

Court ruling challenges EU laws on GMO co-existence

2011-09-09T07:44:00.000-07:00

EurActiv.com, September 07, 2011

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled yesterday (6 September) that honey containing traces of genetically-modified (GM) products, even unintentionally, "must always be regarded as food produced from a GMO," paving the way for compensation claims to farmers whose crops were contaminated.The judgement follows legal action by a German beekeeper who sought compensation from the Bavarian government after he was prevented from selling his honey because it contained traces of GM pollen. Read more...

Amazon Deforesting Result

2011-09-09T07:04:00.000-07:00

ENN, September 06, 2011

62 percent of the area deforested in the Brazilian Amazon until 2008 is occupied by cattle pasture, reports a new satellite-based analysis by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and its Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa). The research found that 719,000 square kilometers or 17.5 percent of the Brazil had been cleared by 2008. Read more...

River Otters Bounce Back in England

2011-08-23T12:35:00.000-07:00

ΕΝΝ, August 18, 2011

The otter population in the England was dealt a serious blow in the 20th century. Around mid-century, environmentalists noticed the otter was disappearing from its natural river habitats. A study in the 1970s found that they could only be found in five percent of the sites where they once lived. The banning of certain pesticides and river cleanup programs turned around the otter's decline. A recent survey now shows the otter is back, inhabiting 60 percent of the roughly 3,000 locations they were once found. Read more...

13-Year-Old Makes Solar Power Breakthrough by Harnessing the Fibonacci Sequence

2011-08-23T12:11:00.000-07:00

Inhabitat.com, August 19, 2011

While most 13-year-olds spend their free time playing video games or cruising Facebook, one 7th grader was trekking through the woods uncovering a mystery of science. After studying how trees branch in a very specific way, Aidan Dwyer created a solar cell tree that produces 20-50% more power than a uniform array of photovoltaic panels. His impressive results show that using a specific formula for distributing solar cells can drastically improve energy generation. The study earned Aidan a provisional U.S patent - it's a rare find in the field of technology and a fantastic example of how biomimicry can drastically improve design. Read more...

Mekong dolphins on brink of extinction

2011-08-20T11:45:00.000-07:00

ENN, August 18, 2011

The population of Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River numbers just 85 individuals and may be on the brink of extinction, according to research by WWF. The researchers also found that calf survival was very low and that the overall population is in decline. A small population living on the border of Cambodia and Lao People's Democratic Republic may be in an even more perilous situation, with just 7 or 8 individuals. This is the only area in Lao PDR where dolphins remain. Read more...

Shell admits Nigeria liability

2011-08-12T15:55:00.000-07:00

BBC News, August 12, 2011

Oil giant Shell has accepted responsibility for two devastating oil spills in Nigeria's Ogoniland region.

The Bodo fishing community sued Shell in the UK, alleging that spills in 2008 and 2009 had destroyed the environment and ruined their livelihoods. Their lawyer said they would seek hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for one of the world's "most devastating oil spills". Read more...

Not your grandma’s strawberries

2011-08-12T07:54:00.000-07:00

Grist, August 09, 2011

Your fruits and veggies are less nutritious than they used to be -- find out how much less with this handy interactive infographic. Plus: Check out an infographic illustrating how empty calories are cheaper than nutritious ones. Read more...

Third of freshwater fish threatened with extinction

2011-08-07T02:17:00.000-07:00

ENN, August 2, 2011

More than a third of freshwater fish are threatened with extinction, according to interim results from an IUCN Red List assessment. The preliminary results, revealed by scientists at the annual conference of the Fisheries Society of the British Isles at Bournemouth University, suggest that along with amphibians, freshwater fish may now be considered one of the most threatened groups of species in the world. Read more...

Lamb, beef and cheese have largest food footprint

2011-08-05T12:16:00.000-07:00

The Ecologist, July 27, 2011

US analysis highlights the high greenhouse gas emissions of popular animal products in comparison to alternatives like lentils, rice and tomatoes.

Food derived from methane-generating ruminant animals such as sheep and cows has the highest level of greenhouse gas emissions, according to research published in the US. The research, commissioned by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), was based on emissions from everything from the fertilisers used to grow animal feed to the processing and cooking of the final product. Read more...

Carmakers to get carbon credits for 'eco-innovation'

2011-07-29T03:52:00.000-07:00

EurActiv.com, July 26, 2011

Car manufacturers will receive CO2 emissions credits if their new cars are fitted with approved 'eco-innovations' under legislation adopted by the European Commission yesterday (25 July).

The credits, for innovations that reduce carbon emissions, will be usable within the EU's emissions trading scheme (ETS). Brussels hopes that the move will nudge the automobile industry towards meeting the Union's goal of limiting CO2 emissions from new cars to an average of 130 grams/km by 2015, around one fifth below 2007 levels. Read more...

Recession contributes to air pollutant emissions decrease in 2009

2011-07-29T03:42:00.000-07:00

EEA, July 27, 2011

Emissions of almost all main air pollutants fell across the EU-27 in 2009, according to the latest annual European Union air pollutant emission inventory report compiled by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Some pollutants decreased significantly compared to the previous year, with analysis showing economic recession to be an important factor in this reduction. The drop was most evident for sulphur oxides (SOx), with emissions falling by 21 % between 2008 and 2009. The annual EU-27 emission inventory reported to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) Convention confirms a long-term trend of decline for most air pollutants.

Sulphur oxide (SO_x) emissions have fallen the most since 1990 (–80 %), followed by carbon monoxide (CO) (–62 %), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) (–55 %) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x)(–44 %). Read more...

Maritime countries agree first ever shipping emissions regulation

2011-07-26T05:42:00.000-07:00

The Guardian, July 18, 2011

Countries have taken a first step towards reducing climate emissions from shipping with a global agreement to reduce energy use in new vessels from 2013 onwards. The belated action on Friday by 55 of the world's biggest sea-faring nations meeting at UN's international maritime organisation in London will force all ships over 400 tonnes built after 2013 to improve their efficiency by 10%, rising to 20% between 2020 and 2024 and 30% for ships delivered after 2024. The first ever regulation of emissions in shipping is expected to lead to greenhouse gas emission reductions of 45-50m tonnes a year by 2020. Read more...

Walgreens to Host 800 EV Charge Points; GM to Launch Smart Grid Pilot

2011-07-26T05:22:00.000-07:00

Environmental Leader, July 22, 2011

Pharmacy chain Walgreens plans to offer electric vehicle charging stations at about 800 locations across the country by the end of the year, making it the nation’s largest charging station retail host.
In other electric vehicle news, General Motors and OnStar will this year launch what they say is the first real-world pilot of smart grid solutions for electric vehicles.
Read more...

EU revamps fishing policy to save depleted stocks

2011-07-18T01:47:00.000-07:00

BBC News, July 13, 2011

The European Commission has unveiled major plans to reform the EU's fishing industry and stop catches being wasted. The proposal, due to take effect from 2013, would give fleets quota shares guaranteed for at least 15 years. "Discards" will be phased out - the practice whereby up to half the catch of some fish is thrown back into the sea to avoid going above the quota. The environmental group Oceana said the plan had "some positive" aspects but stronger measures were needed. It called the plan "an incomplete work that does not provide the urgently needed strong solutions to restore European seas and ensure the long-term sustainability of fishing". Read more...

Can the palm oil we eat ever be wildlife-friendly?

2011-07-16T07:31:00.000-07:00

The Ecologist, July 12, 2011

Conservationists battling to save Indonesia's rainforests are locked in a dispute over moves to make oil palm plantations more wildlife-friendly. Tom Levitt reports. Read more...

Soil Microbes Accelerate Global Warming

2011-07-16T07:13:00.000-07:00

ENN, July 13, 2011

ScienceDaily (July 13, 2011) — More carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes soil to release the potent greenhouse gases methane and nitrous oxide, new research published in this week's edition of Nature reveals. "This feedback to our changing atmosphere means that nature is not as efficient in slowing global warming as we previously thought," said Dr Kees Jan van Groenigen, Research Fellow at the Botany department at the School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, and lead author of the study. Read more...

Lego Drops APP Packaging After Greenpeace Campaign

2011-07-15T10:49:00.000-07:00

Environmental Leader, July 15, 2011

Lego has bowed to pressure from Greenpeace, reportedly agreeing to drop supplier Asia Pulp and Paper, and the toy company says it will only use packaging material certified by the Forest Stewardship Council from now on. The environmental group last month accused Lego, Hasbro, Mattel and Disney of using packaging material sourced from trees cleared out of the Indonesian rainforest. Greenpeace pressed all the toy companies to stop buying paper products from APP – which the group called the worst forest offender in Indonesia – and any companies connected to APP. The non-profit also called on the companies to implement new sustainable procurement policies for purchase of all pulp and paper products. Read more...

France nuclear power funding gets 1bn euro boost

2011-06-28T09:08:00.000-07:00

BBC News, June 27, 2011

France will invest 1bn euros (£0.8bn) in nuclear power despite warnings after the Fukushima disaster in Japan, President Nicolas Sarkozy says.The new investment will include a boost for research into nuclear safety. The French nuclear giant Areva is developing the fourth generation of reactors. France gets 80% of its electricity from nuclear power. Read more...

New Zealand right whale is returning home!

2011-06-28T08:56:00.000-07:00

ENN, June 27, 2011

After being hunted to local extinction more than a century ago and unable to remember their ancestral calving grounds, the southern right whales of mainland New Zealand are coming home. A new study published today has shown for the first time that whales from a small surviving population around remote, sub-Antarctic islands have found their way back to the New Zealand mainland. Before the onslaught of 19th century whaling, historical records suggest that up to 30,000 of these impressive whales once migrated each winter to New Zealand's many sandy, well-protected bays to give birth and raise their calves. Read more...

Life Cycle Assessment of EVs Reveals Startling Results

2011-06-28T08:49:00.000-07:00

TriplePundit, June 22, 2011

A number of articles published this week paint a negative picture of electric cars based on a British study published earlier this month. The study attempts a comparative life-cycle assessment (LCA) of conventional, hybrid and electric cars and prompted “downer” headlines such as, “Electric Cars May Not Be So Green After All” and “More Bad News For The Chevy Volt.”. The report was undertaken by consulting company, Ricardo and was released by the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership on June 8th. And contrary to the above headlines, the press release was considerably more upbeat, stating: “Electric and hybrid cars create more carbon emissions during their production than standard vehicles – but are still greener overall”. Read more...

O όρυξ ο αραβικός επιστρέφει από το χείλος της εξαφάνισης

2011-06-16T12:45:00.000-07:00

In.gr, 16 Ιουνίου 2011

Ο όρυξ της Αραβίας, ένα είδος αντιλόπης που πιστεύεται ότι ενέπνευσε τον μύθο του μονόκερου, έγινε ένα από τα λιγοστά ζώα που ανακάμπτουν στη φύση έπειτα από το σχεδόν ολοκληρωτικό αποδεκατισμό τους από τον άνθρωπο. Η IUCN (Διεθνής Ένωση για τη Διατήρηση της Φύσης), ο οργανισμός που εκδίδει την επίσημη Κόκκινη Λίστα των απειλούμενων ειδών, ανακοίνωσε την Πέμπτη ότι ο όρυξ μεταφέρεται από τη λίστα των «απειλούμενων» ειδών στη λίστα των «ευάλωτων». Η επιστροφή της θαυμαστής αντιλόπης στην Αραβική Χερσόνησο είναι το αποτέλεσμα ενός προγράμματος εκτροφής της σε αιχμαλωσία. Διαβάστε περισσότερα...

Recession and renewables cut greenhouse emissions in 2009

2011-06-15T11:15:00.000-07:00

EEA, May 31, 2011

Greenhouse gas emissions decreased very sharply in 2009, by 7.1 % in the EU-27 and 6.9 % in the EU-15. These most recent results, compiled by the European Environment Agency (EEA), confirm estimates made by the EEA last year. This decrease was largely the result of the economic recession of 2009, but also sustained strong growth in renewable energy.Read more...

The 10 deadliest cities for pedestrians in the United States

2011-06-15T11:05:00.000-07:00

Grist.org, May 24, 2011

Streets in the U.S. are designed not for people, but for cars. And it shows. From 2000 through 2009, some 47,700 pedestrians were killed by drivers. Transportation for America has released a new report and interactive map that shows which metro areas are deadliest. Read more...

On-line παιχνίδι ενεργειακής εξοικονόμησης

2011-05-23T03:30:00.000-07:00

H ΚΑΘΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ, 21 Μαΐου 2011

Ποιος είναι ο καλύτερος τρόπος να αλλάξoυμε τις «κακές» συνήθειες των παιδιών; Το παιχνίδι, φυσικά! Δεδομένου, μάλιστα, ότι τα δημοφιλέστερα παιχνίδια είναι πλέον τα ηλεκτρονικά, καταλαβαίνουμε, πώς το διαδικτυακό παιχνίδι enercities κέρδισε τις καρδιές πολλών μαθητών. Η διαδικτυακή εκπαιδευτική πύλη enercities πρόκειται για ένα παιχνίδι που απευθύνεται σε παιδιά με στόχο να τους μυήσει στα μυστικά της αειφόρου ανάπτυξης. To ζητούμενο είναι οι παίκτες να οικοδομήσουν μια βιώσιμη πόλη, προκειμένου να ανέβουν επίπεδα δυσκολίας, να συλλέξουν πόντους και εν τέλει να κερδίσουν! Διαβάστε περισσότερα...

Το πρώτο απόλυτα «πράσινο» κτίριο έφτιαξαν Νοτιοκορεάτες

2011-05-21T07:36:00.000-07:00

Ελευθεροτυπία, 20 Μαΐου 2011

Το πρώτο επαγγελματικής χρήσης κτίριο με μηδενική εκπομπή ρύπων και λειτουργία βασισμένη απόλυτα σε ανανεώσιμες πηγές ενέργειας, παρουσίασε σήμερα η Νότια Κορέα. Το έκτασης 2.500 τετραγωνικών μέτρων κτίριο που φιλοξενεί επιχειρήσεις, στο Ίντσιον, έξω από την πρωτεύουσα Σεούλ, κόστισε οκτώ εκατομμύρια δολάρια και εκμεταλλεύτηκε κάθε είδους τεχνολογία αιχμής προκειμένου να έχει το μίνιμουμ δυνατό αποτύπωμα στο περιβάλλον. Διαβάστε περισσότερα...

First Pipeline-Fed Hydrogen Refueling Station Opens in the United States

2011-05-15T05:21:00.000-07:00

ENN, May 11, 2011

May 10, Toyota celebrated the opening of the first pipeline-fed refueling station in the US. Located in Torrance, California, it is the first hydrogen station to be directly connected to an active industrial hydrogen pipeline. It will provide fuel for Toyota's as well as others fuel cell vehicle fleets in the Los Angeles area. The station is owned by Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), USA, Inc, and operated by Shell. The hydrogen pipeline is maintained by Air Products. Read more...

Climate change has spurred food prices

2011-05-15T05:02:00.000-07:00

ENN, May 06, 2011

Climate change cut global wheat and corn output by more than 3 percent over the past three decades compared to growth projections without a rise in temperatures, a study found on Friday. The impacts translated into up to 20 percent higher average commodity prices, before accounting for other factors, according to the paper published in the journal Science. Read more...

Germany’s Unlikely Champion Of a Radical Green Energy Path

2011-05-12T08:04:00.000-07:00

Yale 360, May 09, 2011

The disaster at the Fukushima plant in Japan convinced German Chancellor Angela Merkel that nuclear power would never again be a viable option for her country. Now Merkel has embarked on the world’s most ambitious plan to power an industrial economy on renewable sources of energy. Read more...

Facing the Dirty Truth About Recyclable Plastics

2011-05-09T09:40:00.000-07:00

Yale 360, May 05, 2011

The recyclable plastic bags you get at the green grocer are not biodegradable. But product life-cycle assessments, which are about to become more prominent in the marketplace, fail to consider whether those bags will break down in landfills or just end up as litter. Read more...

Ο Αµβρακικός κινδυνεύει να µετατραπεί σε «νεκρή θάλασσα»

2011-05-09T08:23:00.000-07:00

ΤΑ ΝΕΑ, 09 Μαΐου 2011

«Συστηµατικές υποβρύχιες µετρήσειςµας στον Αµβρακικό έδειξανότι ο κόλπος κινδυνεύει να γίνει νεκρή θάλασσα. Κάτω από τα 35 µέτρα βάθος δεν υπάρχει καθόλου οξυγόνο τους καλοκαιρινούς µήνες, ενώ και στα 25 είναι ελάχιστο, µε µεγάλες συγκεντρώσεις µεθανίου. Το βαθυσκάφος µας έφερε στην επιφάνεια εφιαλτικές εικόνες του πυθµένα...». Τα νέα από τον βυθότου Αµβρακικού είναι ανησυχητικά. Επιστήµονες του Πανεπιστηµίου Πατρών είναι ξεκάθαροι γιατη διαφαινόµενη οικολογική καταστροφή. Διαβάστε περισσότερα...

Rhinos in Nepal increase in number

2011-05-04T04:36:00.000-07:00

ENN, April 27, 2011

Nepal's rhinos are on the increase, according to recently released data from a three-week National Rhino Census in Nepal by WWF. There are now 534 rhinos in Nepal, marking an increase of 99 rhinos from the 435 recorded in the last census in 2008. Read more...

Πρωτάθλημα Εξοικονόμησης Ενέργειας (ΠΕΞΕ)

2011-04-20T02:20:00.000-07:00

Intelligent Energy Europe

Το Πρωτάθλημα Εξοικονόμησης Ενέργειας (ΠΕΞΕ) είναι ένας διαγωνισμός νοικοκυριών από όλη την Ευρώπη, με στόχο τη μείωση των εκπομπών CO2. Μπορείτε να λάβετε και εσείς μέρος στο Πρωτάθλημα Εξοικονόμησης Ενέργειας (ΠΕΞΕ)! Η συμμετοχή είναι εύκολη και δεν απαιτεί καμία ειδική γνώση. Δημιουργήστε τώρα τον δικό σας Λογαριασμό Εξοικονόμησης Ενέργειας, κάνοντας κλικ εδώ .

Wolves Taken Off the US Endangered Species List

2011-04-20T02:14:00.000-07:00

ENN News, April 14, 2011

For the first time ever, the US Congress has removed an animal from the Endangered Species List, a process typically done by a federal, non-political, science-based agency. The action by the US Congress sets a new precedent for altering the Endangered Species List based on political influence, enraging environmental groups. The removal would take effect in two western states that have known issues with wolves: Montana and Idaho. Wolves would now be managed by each state's wildlife agency, inevitably leading to commercial hunting. Read more...

Fewer penguins survive warming Antarctic climate

2011-04-20T01:58:00.000-07:00

ENN News, April 12, 2011

Two of the most well-known penguin species in Antarctica -- chinstraps and Adelies -- are under pressure because a warmer climate has cut deeply into their main food source, shrimp-like creatures called krill. Fewer of the juvenile penguins survive what scientists call their "transition to independence" because there isn't enough krill to go around, according to a study published on Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academic of Sciences.
The study found only 10 percent of young penguins survive the first independent trip back to their colonies from their winter habitat. Read more...

Motor boat turbulence kills zooplankton in estuaries

2011-04-19T07:53:00.000-07:00

BBC News, April 19, 2011

Turbulence generated by speeding motor boats kills significant numbers of zooplankton, a study has revealed for the first time. Experiments on copepods, tiny crustaceans that live and float in water, show that a third die in waters frequented by propeller-driven boats. That is significantly more than in bodies of water not used by boats.
Zooplankton play a crucial role in water ecology and their death may have hitherto unknown impacts. Details of the discovery are published in the Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. Read more...

Reversing roles, farmers sue Monsanto over GMO seeds

2011-04-11T06:01:00.000-07:00

Grist, March 31, 2011

Genetically modified seed giant Monsanto is notorious for suing farmers [PDF] in defense of its patent claims. But now, a group of dozens of organic farmers and food activists have, with the help of the not-for-profit law center The Public Patent Foundation, sued Monsanto in a case that could forever alter the way genetically modified crops are grown in this country. But before you can understand why, it's worth reviewing an important, but underreported aspect of the fight over GMOs. Read more...

Call on Romanian politicians to vote against killing stray animals.

2011-04-09T13:32:00.001-07:00

Call on politicians in Romania to vote against the draft bill which would legalise the extermination of stray dogs.
Unless something is done quickly a new law, due to be voted on in the Romanian parliament in the next few days, would clear the way for thousands of Romanian dogs to be destroyed over the next few months.
FOUR PAWS urges you to act now and help save the lives of thousands of stray animals! Send your letter of protest today! The bill will be discussed, debated and possibly even passed in the Romanian parliament on 12 April 2011.

https://www.secureconnect.at/4paws.org.uk/protest/110407/index.php

World Bank proposes to limit funding to coal plants

2011-04-09T07:01:00.000-07:00

ENN, April 5, 2011

Following years of criticism from environmentalists and some governments the World Bank has proposed new rules regarding carbon-intensive coal plants, reports the Guardian. The new rules would allow lending for coal-fired plants only to the world's poorest nations and would only lend after other alternatives, such as renewable energy, had been ruled out. Read more...

Garbage: To Burn or To Bury

2011-03-30T08:08:00.000-07:00

Renewable Energy World.com, March 29, 2011

Europe burns heaps of garbage, getting lots of electricity and some heat. The United States does not. Proponents say incineration shrinks the waste and produces heat and electricity while reducing the need for landfills and the diesel-drinking trucks tasked with taking trash to often-distant burial grounds.

These folks acknowledge that incinerators were rather dirty 25 years ago, but note that current air emissions are below Environmental Protection Agency standards. In a modern garbage incinerator, a complex set of filters removes heavy metals and other pollutants; high-temperature operation reduces the output of ultra-toxic dioxins.
On the other side, opponents say incinerators create global warming gases, still release toxins, divert money and attention from recycling, and tend to excuse extreme extravagance on the grounds that we can always turn our trash into energy. Read more...

Forget ‘Dark Green’ Shoppers – ‘New Consumers’ Will Drive Sustainability, Report Says

2011-03-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

Environmental Leader, March 25, 2011

Brands can no longer rely on “dark green”, hyper-ethical consumers to drive the growth of sustainability, but must engage a broad swathe of consumers making up 30 percent of the market, according to new research.
Brand consulting firm BBMG said a group of 70 million shoppers branded “New Consumers”, making up 30 percent of the U.S. population, will help sustainable brands to enter the mainstream while forcing large brands to accelerate their adoption of environmental initiatives.
These shoppers are “values aspirational” because they are as interested in sustainability as the hard-core “dark green” consumers. But they are also “practical purchasers” because they are forced to make pragmatic trade-offs every day, according to the BBMG report, Unleashed: How New Consumers Will Revolutionize Brands and Scale Sustainability. Read more...

Google HQ Installs First Wireless Electric Car Charger

2011-03-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

GreenTechies, March 23, 2011

The system is the first to offer consumers a simple way to charge their EVs with the ease of hands-free, automatic technology. Google is famous for giving the digital generation what it wants, so it only makes sense that the search giant would branch out into other technologies it feels are worth of its attention. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they would already be dabbling in smart grid technologies, and positioning themselves to be a leader in the future of both energy creation and distribution. Read more...

Expanding Forests in the Northern Latitudes

2011-03-25T11:03:00.000-07:00

ENN, March 23, 2011

According to a recent United Nations report, forested areas in Europe, North America, the Caucasus, and Central Asia have grown steadily over the past two decades. While tropical areas have steadily lost their forests to excessive logging and increased agriculture, northern areas have seen increases caused by conservation efforts. However, the long-term health and stability of northern forest lands may be imperiled by the effects of climate change. Read more...

Brussels wants no oil-fuelled cars in cities by 2050

2011-03-23T11:58:00.000-07:00

EurActiv.com, March 23, 2011

The European Commission plans to step up its battle against oil- and gas-fuelled cars, and is drawing up strict targets to halve their urban usage by 2030 and "phase them out by 2050," according to an EU road map on transport to be published on Monday (28 March) and seen by EurActiv. These objectives will play an instrumental role in achieving the more comprehensive target of cutting CO2 emissions from transport by 60% by 2050. Currently, a quarter of EU greenhouse gas emissions come from transport.
The Commission is therefore proposing an ambitious plan which eyes significant reductions of emissions especially in road transport, while it intends to increase rail traffic, on the grounds that is by far cleaner and more environment-friendly. Read more...

Valvoline Launches 50% Recycled Motor Oil

2011-03-18T14:57:00.000-07:00

Environmental Leader, March 16, 2011

Valvoline has introduced a 50 percent recycled motor oil, which will be available at retailers and through participating installers and oil change centers.
The company said that its NextGen brand of motor oil cuts down on fossil fuel use, lowering emissions and helping to ensure that used oil doesn’t make its way into the water supplies. The new product takes advantage of the latest innovative manufacturing processes, Valvoline said, to offer superior engine protection while reducing environmental impacts. Read more...

News at the North Pole Ozone Layer

2011-03-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

ENN, March 16, 2011

Unusually low temperatures in the Arctic ozone layer have recently initiated massive ozone depletion. The Arctic appears to be heading for a record loss of this trace gas that protects the Earth's surface against ultraviolet radiation from the sun. This result has been found by measurements carried out by an international network of over 30 ozone sounding stations spread all over the Arctic and Subarctic and coordinated by the Potsdam Research Unit of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in the Helmholtz Association in Germany. Read more...

Honeybee End?

2011-03-11T14:16:00.000-08:00

ENN, March 11, 2011

The mysterious collapse of honey-bee colonies is becoming a global phenomenon. Declines in managed bee colonies, seen increasingly in Europe and the US in the past decade, are also now being observed in China and Japan and there are the first signs of African collapses from Egypt, according to the report from the United Nations. Beekeepers in Western countries have been reporting slow declines of stocks for many years, apparently due to impaired protein production, changes in agricultural practice, or unpredictable weather. Read more...

Eco-farming can double food output by poor: U.N.

2011-03-11T14:08:00.000-08:00

Reuters, March 8, 2011

Many farmers in developing nations can double food production within a decade by shifting to ecological agriculture from use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, a U.N. report says.
Insect-trapping plants in Kenya and Bangladesh's use of ducks to eat weeds in rice paddies are among examples of steps taken to increase food for a world population that the United Nations says will be 7 billion this year and 9 billion by 2050. "Agriculture is at a crossroads," according to the study by Olivier de Schutter, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the right to food, in a drive to depress record food prices and avoid the costly oil-dependent model of industrial farming. Read more...

Costco, Sodexo Make Sustainable Seafood Pledges

2011-03-02T07:51:00.000-08:00

Environmental Leader, February 28, 2011

Food giants Sodexo and Costco have both committed to improve the sustainability of their seafood.Sodexo, the $21 billion food service company, has announced a goal for all its contracted seafood to be certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or the Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) by 2015. Under the plan, Sodexo will review all wild caught and farm raised seafood purchases and set short, medium and long-term goals with its contracted seafood vendors. Read more...

Sea turtles' migration mystery is 'solved'

2011-03-02T07:42:00.000-08:00

BBC News, February 25, 2011

Until now, how species such as loggerhead sea turtles manage to migrate thousands of miles across oceans with no visual landmarks has been a mystery.
Now researchers from the University of North Carolina believe they have found the answer. Loggerhead sea turtles appear to be able to determine their longitude using two sets of magnetic cues. It is the first time this ability has been shown in any migratory animal. This research is published in the journal Current Biology. Read more...

.Σκοτώνουν τους αργυροπελεκάνους

2011-02-22T13:40:00.000-08:00

ΤΑ ΝΕΑ, 22 Φεβρουαρίου, 2011

Δύο ισχυρά πλήγµατα δέχτηκαν µέσα σε µία εβδοµάδα οι αποικίες του αργυροπελεκάνου σε δύο από τα µεγαλύτερα εθνικά πάρκα της Ελλάδας. Στη λίµνη Βιστωνίδα βρέθηκαν 28 νεκρά πουλιά χτυπηµένα από λαθροθήρες, ενώ στον Αµβρακικό Κόλπο άγνωστοι τα έδιωξαν και στη συνέχεια κατέστρεψαν τις φωλιές και τα αυγά τους. Οιεπιστήµονες τονίζουν την ανάγκη να ενταθούν τα µέτρα προστασίας του παγκόσµια απειλούµενου είδους πουλιού, την ώρα µάλιστα που το 10% του πληθυσµού του ζει στην Ελλάδα. Διαβάστε περισσότερα...

Serengeti World Heritage Site in Grave Danger as Tanzanian Government Moves Forward With Highway

2011-02-21T12:14:00.000-08:00

Justmeans, February 13, 2011

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete directly contradicted his own government's study by claiming that a planned highway in the Serengeti National Park will not be the environmental disaster conservationists and scientists are claiming it to be. Speaking to the World Bank, President Kikwete gave the green light to the controversial highway project, saying that the "road to the south would not solve transport challenges of communities living on the northern side of the park." He once again claimed that "no tarmac road will be built through the Serengeti"-- an oft-cited statement designed to distract from the real issue at hand. Read more...

Climate science vs. climate economics

2011-02-18T13:34:00.000-08:00

Grist, February 09, 2011

As I see it, there are two incommensurate stories being told about climate change. I'm not talking about the largely fake debate between those who say climate change is happening and human-driven (scientists) and those who say it isn't (the GOP). I'm talking about two different ways of envisioning what we can expect in a climate-changed future, both of which exist among people who take climate change seriously. Sometimes they take up residence in the same head! Like, er, mine. But they don't fit together very well. One comes to us from science, the other from economics. Read more...

Arctic Roamers: The Move of Southern Species into Far North

2011-02-18T09:53:00.000-08:00

Yale 360, February 14, 2011

Grizzly bears mating with polar bears. Red foxes out-competing Arctic foxes. Exotic diseases making their way into once-isolated polar realms. These are just some of the worrisome phenomena now occurring as Arctic temperatures soar and the Arctic Ocean, a once-impermeable barrier, melts. Read more...

Ecuadorian Judge Hits Chevron with $8.6bn Ruling

2011-02-15T09:53:00.000-08:00

Environmental Leader, February 15, 2011

Chevron has been slapped with an $8.6 billion penalty, in what is suspected to be the largest environmental fine in history – and the amount could double.
An Ecuadorian judge yesterday ordered Chevron to pay $8.6 billion to clean up oil pollution in the country’s rain forest, the Wall Street Journal reports. This includes $5.4 billion to restore polluted soil and $1.4 billion to create a community health system, plus $860 million to plaintiff coalition the Amazon Defense Front. Read more...

Read also: Chevron's Ecuador Fine `Unenforceable,' Analysts Say

H&M Unveils Recycled and Organic Fashion

2011-02-14T07:35:00.000-08:00

Environmental Leader, February 11, 2011

H&M will debut a range of environmentally friendly fashion this spring, the retailer has announced.
The Conscious Collection, for men, women and children, is made from sustainable materials including organic and recycled fibers, H&M said. The collection will be on sale in all H&M stores from April 14.
Items in the collection will include blouses, tunics, T-shirts, dresses, skirts, blazers and trousers. These will be made from organic linen, polyester recycled from PET bottles and textile waste, and Tencel – which H&M describes as a “silky, renewable material produced with minimal environmental impact”. Read more...

Metal Toxins in LED Products

2011-02-14T07:24:00.000-08:00

ENN, February 11, 2010

LED lighting is the newest, most efficient form of lighting to hit the markets. It blows away even the most efficient compact fluorescent bulb, and is therefore, a much more expensive option. However, the benefits to the environment from LED's efficiency come with another environmental cost. A new study from the University of California (UC) Irvine shows that LED bulbs contain lead, arsenic, and a dozen more potentially hazardous substances. Read more...

New Zealand scientists record 'biodiversity breakdown'

2011-02-04T10:40:00.000-08:00

BBC News, February 4, 2011

Scientists in New Zealand say they have linked the modern-day decline of a common forest shrub with the local extinction of two pollinating birds over a century ago. They say the disappearance of two birds - the bellbird and stitchbird - from the upper North Island of the country has lead to a slow decline in common plants, including the forest shrub New Zealand gloxinia.
Ship rats and stoats imported into the country around the year 1870 are blamed for the birds' demise.
The researchers claim the study, published in the journal Science, offers rare experimental proof of a breakdown in a local ecosystem. Read more...

Nepal climate loan hit by opposition storm

2011-02-04T10:37:00.000-08:00

BBC News, February 3, 2011

A loan to be provided by multilateral banks to help Nepal fight the impacts of climate change has kicked off a controversy after it invited criticism from civil societies and non-government organisations. They say it is not fair to burden an already climatically vulnerable country like Nepal with loans in the name of dealing with climatic changes. There are also some supporters of the loan, mainly from few government ministries who argue that the money is good for the country in the long run. But even within the government's administration, there are conflicting positions. Read more...

Brazil Approves Construction of the Belo Monte Dam Project

2011-02-04T10:29:00.000-08:00

ENN, February 2, 2011

The proposed Belo Monte Dam in northern Brazil would be the third largest hydro-electric dam in the world in terms of electrical output. The dam would be 3.75 miles long and generate over 11,000 megawatts, which could power up to 23 million homes. Government officials say that the dam is an essential step in supplying energy to the nation's growing population. However, the project is rife with environmental conflicts. The project requires the clearing of 588 acres of Amazon jungle, the displacement of over 20,000 indigenous people, flooding a 193 square mile area, and drying up a 62 mile stretch of the Xingu River. Read more...

Sea Census Locates 1200 New Marine Species in World's Oceans

2011-02-01T14:11:00.000-08:00

ENN, January 26, 2010

A newly concluded Census of Marine Life, covering most of the world's seas and oceans, has discovered over 1,200 new species of sea creatures. The ten year study, completed in October, 2010, was composed of 3,000 scientists from 80 countries, including a few from Israel, and cost $370 million USD. The study was the first of its kind to make a thorough census and categorization of sea creatures, ranging from the smallest micro-biological specimens to the largest fish and mammals. Read more...

EU Carbon Market Suspended After ‘Theft’

2011-01-20T12:40:00.000-08:00

Environmental Leader, January 20, 2011

The European Union suspended most of its 72 billion euro carbon market yesterday after the suspected theft of 7 million euros of emissions permits from the Czech Republic’s carbon registry.
The EU halted most carbon market operations at all 30 member countries following the attack. It did not give a date for trade to resume, but said it would open the emissions trading scheme as each member state proved the security of its system, Reuters reported. Read more...

Εξοντώνουν και τα τελευταία ελάφια

2011-01-19T10:27:00.000-08:00

ΤΑ ΝΕΑ, 19 Ιανουαρίου 2011

Λαθροθήρες απειλούν µε αφανισµό τον τελευταίο φυσικό πληθυσµό ελαφιών στην Ελλάδα, ο οποίος βρίσκεται στη Ροδόπη και αριθµεί το πολύ 30 ζώα. Το άλλοτε διαδεδοµένοστη χώρα µας κόκκινο ελάφι βρίσκεται πλέον στη λίστα µε τα απειλούµενα είδη. Το παράνοµο κυνήγι αποτελεί τη σηµαντικότερη απειλή για την επιβίωσή του. Διαβάστε περισσότερα...

The impact of climate change on Europe's electricity demand

2011-01-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

Science for Environmental Policy, December 2010

The impact of climate change on electricity consumption is important to both adaptation and mitigation policies. New research has estimated that over the next 100 years climate change could cause up to a 20 per cent decrease in demand for electricity for heating in Northern Europe and up to a 20 per cent increase in demand for electricity for cooling in Southern Europe. Read more...

2010: The environment year in review

2010-12-31T00:55:00.000-08:00

The Guardian, December 27, 2010

From the 'greenest government ever' to Deepwater Horizon to the individuals of the year, John Vidal sums up the highs and lows of 2010. Read more...

Σούπα με ψιλοκομμένα πλαστικά ολόκληρη η Μεσόγειος

2010-12-31T00:46:00.000-08:00

In.gr, 30 Δεκεμβρίου 2010

Μικροσκοπικά σωματίδια πλαστικού, συνολικά γύρω στα 250 δισεκατομμύρια κομμάτια, επιπλέουν στα νερά της Μεσογείου, απειλώντας τα ζώα που τρέφονται με πλαγκτόν και γενικά όλο το τροφικό πλέγμα, προειδοποιούν θαλάσσιοι βιολόγοι που πραγματοποίησαν δειγματοληψίες. Τον περασμένο Ιούλιο, ερευνητική ομάδα από τη Γαλλία και το Βέλγιο συνέλεξε δείγματα νερού έξω από τις ακτές της Γαλλίας, της βόρειας Ιταλίας και της Ισπανίας, σε βάθος από 10 έως 15 εκατοστά. «Η χονδρική εκτίμηση είναι ότι υπάρχουν περίπου 250 δισ. μικροσωματίδια πλαστικού σε όλη τη Μεσόγειο» δήλωσε στο Γαλλικό Πρακτορείο ο Φρανσουά Γκαλγκανί, ερευνητής του Ifremer (Γαλλικό Ινστιτούτο για την Εξερεύνηση της Θάλασσας). Διαβάστε περισσότερα...

Freshwater wildlife thrives in cleanest rivers since Industrial Revolution

2010-12-31T00:40:00.000-08:00

The Guardian, December 31, 2010

Otters, water voles and species of freshwater fish which had all but vanished from waterways have made a dramatic recovery following the healthiest decade for rivers since the industrial revolution. The toxic effects of pesticides nearly wiped out the wild otter in the 1970s, but steady improvements in water quality mean their numbers are expected to make a full recovery. Otters may already have reached their maximum capacity in parts of the south-west of England, Cumbria and Northumbria. In the past 30 years, positive sightings have risen 10-fold, says a report by the Environment Agency. Read more...

Fiji Water Targeted in ‘Greenwashing’ Class Action Suit

2010-12-30T08:31:00.000-08:00

Environmental Leader, December 29, 2010

Fiji Water Company has been named in a class action lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, Calif. that alleges the company has profited by greenwashing claims that it’s water products are carbon negative—which means that the production, packaging and shipment of the water removes more carbon pollution from the atmosphere than it releases into it. The lawsuit was brought by the Newport Beach, Calif.-based Newport Trial Group on behalf of Desiree Worthington and other similarly situated individuals to seek restitution for “the false claims from which [Fiji Water Company has] richly profited.”. Read more...

EU signs off on carbon permits bonanza

2010-12-27T09:21:00.000-08:00

EurActiv.com, December 23, 2010

A new regulatory regime for dispensing around 100 billion euros of carbon permits has been approved by EU regulators, granting steelmakers and oil refineries free emission allowances in an effort to shield them from international competition after 2012. Fears that tighter controls on CO2 emissions in Europe will drive factories to relocate abroad has led the EU to grant sweeping exemptions for industries deemed to be at risk. Read more...