One in five plant species face extinction

The Guardian, September 29, 2010

One in five of the world's plant species – the basis of all life on earth – are at risk of extinction, according to a landmark study published today.
At first glance, the 20% figure looks far better than the previous official estimate of almost three-quarters, but the announcement is being greeted with deep concern. The previous estimate that 70% of plants were either critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable was based on what scientists universally acknowledged were studies heavily biased towards species already thought to be under threat. Read more...

Largest offshore wind farm opens off Thanet in Kent

BBC News, September 23, 2010


The world's biggest offshore wind farm off Kent has been officially opened. Swedish energy giant Vattenfall said the 100 turbines are expected to generate enough electricity to power 200,000 homes. Energy Secretary Chris Huhne is visiting the project, which has been built seven miles (12km) off Foreness Point in Thanet. Construction work at the £780m [1 bn euros] wind farm began two years ago and was completed in June. Read more...

'Lost' frogs found after decades

BBC News, September 22, 2010


A mission aimed at rediscovering amphibian species thought to be extinct has yielded its first results. Conservationists have turned up live specimens of two West African frogs and a cave-dwelling salamander from Mexico. The salamander was last seen in 1941, and was rediscovered by abseiling into caves deep in the forest. The expeditions are partially designed to bring attention to the plight of amphibians around the world, with a third of species at risk of extinction. Read more...

Who's On Board With The Copenhagen Accord?

USCAN


January 31, 2010 marked the deadline for parties to the Copenhagen Accord to submit their respective plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. While the UNFCCC Secretariat has signaled this is not a hard deadline, the inclusion of this date, and countries' reaction to it, will provide an indication of whether the Copenhagen Accord can lead to a fair, ambitious and binding agreement to solve the climate crisis. USCAN is tracking media reports and UNFCCC submissions on how countries are engaging with the accord and associated emissions reduction commitments. Read more...

How Peru's wells are being sucked dry by British love of asparagus

The Guardian, September 12, 2010

Asparagus grown in Peru and sold in the UK is commonly held up as a symbol of unacceptable food miles, but a report has raised an even more urgent problem: its water footprint. The study, by the development charity Progressio, has found that industrial production of asparagus in Peru's Ica valley is depleting the area's water resources so fast that smaller farmers and local families are finding wells running dry. Water to the main city in the valley is also under threat, it says. It warns that the export of the luxury vegetable, much of it to British supermarkets, is unsustainable in its current form. Read more...

Freshwater turtles face 'bleak future'

BBC News, September 10, 2010

Freshwater turtles are in catastrophic decline, according to a new analysis by Conservation International (CI).

The group says more than a third of the estimated 280 species around the world are now threatened with extinction. The unsustainable collection of turtles for food and to supply a lucrative pet trade are the key drivers behind the fall in numbers. Habitat loss as a result of river-damming for hydro-electricity is another major concern. Read more...

Methane Reduction from Cattle

ENN, September 09, 2010

Methane is a significant green house gas that can lead to global warming. It is also commonly produced by many animals including humans and cattle. Cow belches, a major source of greenhouse gases, could be decreased by an unusual feed supplement developed by a Penn State dairy scientist. Read more...

Landfill could be greener than recycling when it comes to plastic bottles

The Ecologist, September 08, 2010

For regions with adequate space and little recycling infrastructure, disposing of bottles in landfill generates a lower carbon footprint than recycling or incineration. The ubiquitous PET bottle, used around the world to package drinks, may best be buried after use rather than burnt or reconverted into a second-life product. Read more...

NYC sky-scrapers dim lights to help migratory birds

BBC News, September 02, 2010

A growing number of New York sky-scrapers are switching off their lights to help reduce the number of birds hitting the high-rise buildings.The "lights out" project - organised by NYC Audubon - runs until 1 November, when migratory birds are expected to have completed their autumn migrations. The Empire State and Chrysler buildings are among those dimming their lights.An estimated 90,000 birds each year are killed in the city as a result of striking glass-fronted buildings. Read more...

Αποσύρεται ο λαμπτήρας πυράκτωσης των 75 watt

ΤΑ ΝΕΑ, 01 Σεπτεμβρίου 2010

Από σήμερα αποσύρεται ο πλέον συνήθης στη χρήση λαμπτήρας πυράκτωσης των 75 watt, η παραγωγή και οι εισαγωγές του οποίου στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση παύουν, με τα καταστήματα να καλούνται πλέον να διαθέσουν τα αποθέματά τους.  Διαβάστε περισσότερα...

Greenland's prime minister lambasts Greenpeace for raiding Arctic oil rig

The Guardian, August 31, 2010

The prime minister of Greenland has accused Greenpeace of threatening the safety of oil workers and the environment after four activists forced a controversial deep-sea exploration rig in the Arctic to shut down today. Just before dawn, the four campaigners used three high-speed inflatable boats to evade the Danish navy before clambering on to the British-owned rig and slinging mountaineering-type platforms beneath it about 15 metres above the sea. The raid forced the Edinburgh-based oil exploration firm Cairn Energy to suspend drilling, escalating tensions between the Greenlandic government and Greenpeace. Read more...