Huge ice chunks break away from Antarctic shelf
AP news reports here at Yahoo News: Massive ice chunks are crumbling away from a shelf in the western Antarctic Peninsula, researchers said Wednesday, warning that 1,300 square miles of ice — an area larger than Rhode Island — was in danger of breaking off in coming weeks.
The new US clean energy stimulus package
Will a new US clean energy stimulus package be a windfall for European companies like Vestas, Denmark's wind turbine powerhouse?, Spiegel Online reports here: The Obama administration is planning a huge stimulus package to kick-start clean energy investments. The plan already has European green energy companies laying the groundwork to reap benefits from the program. But will cheap oil kill it?
Report: Most Americans in areas with unhealthy air
AP reports here sat Yahoo News: LOS ANGELES - Sixty percent of Americans live in areas with unhealthy air pollution levels, despite a growing green movement and more stringent laws aimed at improving air quality, the American Lung Association said in a report released Wednesday.
German Environment Minister Gets Audience with Obama
Spiegel Online reports here: In a surprising move, Barack Obama met with Germany's environment minister in Washington on Monday. Sigmar Gabriel reportedly called on the Americans to make further reductions in CO2 emissions -- a move developing countries are also demanding before they agree to any cuts.
UK funds sea acidification study
Coral offers researchers an insight into the effects of ocean acidification, BBC News reports here: The UK government has launched an £11m ($16m) five-year research program into ocean acidification.
U.S. pledges to make up for lost time in climate fight
Reuters reports here at Yahoo News: WASHINGTON - The United States pledged to make up for lost time on Monday at a meeting of the biggest greenhouse gas polluters, as the world works toward sealing a U.N. pact in December to curb global warming.
Electric car plan in 'wilderness'
Electric cars could help the area cut carbon emissions, BBC News reports here: Electric or hybrid powered vehicles are being considered by a remote Highlands community in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint.
Study: SE Asia will be hit hard by climate change
AP reports here at Yahoo News: BANGKOK - Southeast Asia will be hit particularly hard by climate change, causing the region's agriculture-dependent economies to contract by as much as 6.7 percent annually by the end of the century, according to a study released Monday.
Toyota hopes innovative pace car can accelerate hybrid sales
USAToday reports here: "There's stodginess about hybrid technology among the public that we're trying to erase," Laukes said. "This is a way for us to demonstrate the hybrid used on the track is the exact same car you can buy at a showroom."
Gray whales granted rare reprieve
BBC News reports here: Oil firms shelve plans to carry out undersea seismic work to ensure the gray whales' breeding season is undisturbed.
'Climate change' forces Eskimos to abandon village
CNN reports here: The indigenous people of Alaska have stood firm against some of the most extreme weather conditions on Earth for thousands of years. But now, flooding blamed on climate change is forcing at least one Eskimo village to move to safer ground.
Gore: Congress must not bicker, act now on climate
AP reports here at Yahoo News: WASHINGTON - Former Vice President Al Gore, a leading voice on climate change, urged lawmakers Friday to overcome partisan differences and pass legislation to curb greenhouse gases.
California adopts landmark low-carbon fuel rule
Reuters reports here at Yahoo News: SACRAMENTO, California - California on Thursday adopted a first-ever rule to slash carbon emissions in automotive fuels, and spur the market for cleaner gasoline alternatives, after a last-ditch appeal to ethanol advocates who fought the plan.
'We Must Discuss Climate Change's Devastating Consequences Openly'
In this SPIEGEL interview, German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel, of the Social Democratic Party, discusses the prospects for climate protection in the economic crisis, the shortcomings of Obama's new emissions policies and the challenges to be faced in Copenhagen this December.
Obama pushes renewable energy, climate change laws
Reuters reports here at Yahoo News: NEWTON, Iowa - President Barack Obama said on Wednesday the United States must lead the world on renewable energy and pressed Congress to set greenhouse gas limits deemed crucial for the success of global talks on climate change.
Earth Day 2009: For a greener future
Roundup To mark the annual celebration, CNET reports here that they create a green electronics guide, a new weekly show focusing on eco-living, and tips on how to reduce your carbon footprint.
Earth Day: Climate Change Fact Sheet
Earth Day: Climate Change Fact Sheet
From Earthday.net's Press Room:
- By 2030 the number of automobiles in the world will increase by 50%.
- According to Chevron, the world consumes two barrels of oil for every barrel discovered.
- It took 125 years to consume the first trillion barrels of oil – the world will consume the next trillion in only 30 years, according to Chevron.
- By 2030 the world will consume 47% more oil than it did in 2003.
- During the last one hundred years the global temperature has warmed between 0.7-1.5°C.
- It is predicted that global temperatures in 2100 will be 1.4-5.8°C warmer than they were in 1990.
- The current pace of sea-level rise is 50% faster then in the last century.
- Scientists estimate the sea level will rise by 3.5-34.6 inches by 2100.
- Much of the United States has already warmed, by as much as 4°F.
- The five warmest years over last century have likely been: 2005, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004. The top 10 warmest years have all occurred since 1990.
- Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, carbon dioxide (a green house gas linked to climate change) in the atmosphere has increased by 35%.
- Diseases such as malaria are predicted to spread as the world grows warmer, due to the carriers of disease spreading out over a larger geographical area.
- Of particular concern is the stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. A sudden collapse would raise sea levels 16-20 feet, though the likelihood of such a collapse before the year 2100 is low. (more)
Obama Marks Earth Day With Energy Plan Pitch in Iowa
The Voice of America reports here: U.S. President Barack Obama is heading to the state of Iowa Wednesday to give an Earth Day message that pitches his plan for alternative energy development.
No price hike on 2010 Prius; cheaper model to come
AP reports here at Yahoo News: NEW YORK - Toyota Motor Corp. said it won't change the price tag on its next-generation Prius when the hybrid hits U.S. showrooms in late May and will release an even cheaper version later this year, as the automaker aims to compete with the latest hybrid from rival Honda Motor Co.
Millions pledged to stop general bee decline
CNN reports here: LONDON, England - A British consortium pledged Tuesday to spend up to £10 million ($14.5 million) in research grants to find out what is causing a serious decline in bees and other pollinating insects.
Why Germany Is Behind in the Race for Electric Cars
Spiegel Online reports here: Motorists in the US or China who buy electric cars receive hefty subsidies from the state. But Germany, where the car was invented, is not supporting the vehicles of the future -- and risks being overtaken.
Green technologies that could have a big impact
The pace of change surrounding technology in clean energy and efficiency hasn't been this fast in years. As Earth Day nears, CNET News.com takes a measure here of which areas look most promising.
A year of living the green life
CNET News.com reports here their Martin LaMonica spent the past year in a multifamily competition to lower household energy use. He finds a little effort goes a long way.
UN atomic chief warns of nuclear power dangers
AFP reports here at Yahoo News: BEIJING - The head of the UN atomic watchdog warned here Monday that the world's growing appetite for nuclear energy could lead to dangers associated with unsafe technology and weapons proliferation.
Electric scooter hoping to spark eco two-wheelers
CNN reports here: KLD Energy Technologies is teaming up with Vietnamese motorbike manufacturer Sufat to produce an affordable electric-powered scooter that has a performance just as good as a normal petrol powered bike.
Agreement reached on common plug for electric cars
AFP reports here at Yahoo News: Leading automotive and energy companies have reached agreement on a common "plug" to recharge electric cars, a spokeswoman for German energy company RWE said Sunday.
'Green Nobel' for forest champion
BBC News reports here: A campaigner who fought a mining deal in the Gabonese rainforest receives a international environmental prize.
Amazon.com Earth Day Sweepstakes
Five first-place winners will receive two ENERGY STAR-qualified powerhouses: a Toshiba laptop and a Brother multifunction printer. Fifteen second-place winners will receive the Brother printer.
For more details on Amazon.com Earth Day Sweepstakes please see this page here!
66 All-Natural Cleaning Solutions
Nicole Sforza recommends here at Realsimple.com: Tackle countless chores with common household items (like toothpaste and salt). (more)
Green-jobs czar Van Jones plugs energy innovation
CNET News.comreports here : Jones, founder of the Green for All organization and author of the "Green Collar Economy," is best known for advocating job creation for low-income people in clean-energy businesses, such as weatherizing homes or installing solar panels.
Earth Day a reminder what to do year-round
The Stargazette reports here: "This week's celebrations a reminder that environmental protection is a full-time job." - (more)
Forests as carbon sinks 'at risk'
BBC News reports here: Forests' role as massive carbon sinks is "at risk of being lost entirely", a global assessment warns.
Obama to regulate 'pollutant' CO2
BBC News reports here: The US government is to regulate carbon dioxide emissions, having decided that it and five other greenhouse gases may endanger human health and well-being.
EPA poised to declare dangers of greenhouse gas
Reuters reports here at Yahoo News: WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to declare on Friday that greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide endanger human health and welfare, environmental and congressional sources said.
Obama unveils high-speed passenger rail plan
CNN reports here: President Obama unveiled his administration's blueprint for a new national network of high-speed passenger rail lines Thursday, saying such an investment is necessary to reduce traffic congestion, cut dependence on foreign oil and improve the environment.
West Africa faces 'megadroughts'
BBC News reports here: Droughts lasting centuries occur regularly in West Africa, scientists find - and another one is coming, climate change or not.
First Solar to build Nevada photovoltaic plant
AP reports here at Yahoo News: NEW YORK - Solar manufacturer First Solar Inc. said Wednesday it will build the largest photovoltaic power plant in the U.S. near an existing facility in Nevada.
Spam 'uses as much power as 2.1m homes'
The Guardianreports here at its website: More than 80% of the world's email traffic is now spam and the transmission and receipt of unwanted email gobbles up 33bn kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, according to anti-virus software specialist McAfee. That is the equivalent of the electricity used by 2.1m US homes.
Algae Could 'Supply Entire World with Aviation Fuel'
Although oil prices have fallen rapidly, the airline industry is still clamouring for alternative fuel sources. In this interview with SPIEGEL ONLINE here, chief Boeing environmental strategist Billy Glover explains how a giant mass of algae may fuel jets in the future.
Solar tsunami data will predict Earth havoc
CNN reports here: NASA scientists say new data provided by twin spacecraft analyzing the sun will help them more accurately predict how so-called solar tsunamis wreak havoc on our planet.
The world could run out of oil in 20 years
Spiegel Online reports here: The world could run out of oil in 20 years. This grim scenario is not the prediction of environmentalists, but of Michel Mallet, the general manager of French energy giant Total's German operations. In an interview, Mallet calls for radical reduction of gas consumption and a tax on aviation fuel.
Germany Bans Cultivation of GM Corn
Spiegel Online reports here: Germany has banned the cultivation of GM corn, claiming that MON 810 is dangerous for the environment. But that argument might not stand up in court and Berlin could face fines totalling millions of euros if American multinational Monsanto decides to challenge the prohibition on its seed.
Study: Cuts in greenhouse gas could lessen warming
AP reports here at Yahoo News: WASHINGTON - A new scientific study finds that the absolute worst of global warming can still be avoided if the entire world cuts emission of greenhouse gases the way President Barack Obama and Europe want.
Biomass 'worse than fossil fuels'
BBC News reports here: Biomass power could become one of the worst emitters of greenhouse gases, the Environment Agency (EA) has warned.
Planned Florida city aims for solar self-sufficiency
CNET News.comreports here : One of the world's biggest photovoltaic projects is planned for southwest Florida. Florida Power & Light will spend $350 million to build a 75-megawatt photovoltaic solar plant at a planned city, Babcock Ranch, near Fort Myers, the company announced Thursday.
Report: Ethanol raises cost of nutrition programs
AP reports here at Yahoo News: WASHINGTON - Food stamps and child nutrition programs are expected to cost up to $900 million more this year because of increased ethanol use.
Inventor turns cardboard boxes into eco-friendly oven
CNN reports here: * Inventor Jon Bohmer has created a $5 oven made out of cardboard boxes, * Design uses 2 boxes, and an acrylic cover that lets in sun's rays and traps them, * Award-winning oven has gone into production in a factory in Nairobi.
Obama looks at climate engineering
AP reports here at Yahoo News: WASHINGTON - The president's new science adviser said Wednesday that global warming is so dire, the Obama administration is discussing radical technologies to cool Earth's air. John Holdren told The Associated Press in his first interview since being confirmed last month that the idea of geoengineering the climate is being discussed.
EU: Earth warming faster
Reuters reports here at Yahoo News: OSLO/BONN - Global warming is likely to overshoot a 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 F) rise seen by the European Union and many developing nations as a trigger for "dangerous" change, a Reuters poll of scientists showed on Tuesday.
Amazon.com Earth Day Sweepstakes
Five first-place winners will receive two ENERGY STAR-qualified powerhouses: a Toshiba laptop and a Brother multifunction printer. Fifteen second-place winners will receive the Brother printer.
For more details on Amazon.com Earth Day Sweepstakes please see this page here!
Salazar: Eastern wind could replace coal for power
AP reports here at Yahoo News: ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Windmills off the East Coast could generate enough electricity to replace most, if not all, the coal-fired power plants in the United States, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Monday.
UK biodiversity still in decline
BBC News reports here: Biodiversity in the UK is continuing to decline according to statistics released by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
How Solar Energy Is A Fast Track To A Home Based Business
American Chronicle reports here: A green collar job would revive the solar manufacturing base in this country and provide opportunity to people who otherwise might not be able to make a good living or who may have recently lost a job. (more)
Ice bridge ruptures in Antarctic
BBC News reports here: An ice bridge that holds in place an ice shelf the size of Jamaica snaps, heightening concern over the impact of global warming.
World's first biodegradable chewing gum
CNN reports here: British authorities and environmental groups were welcoming the launch this week of the world's first biodegradable chewing gum, which they say could help save some of the millions spent on clearing up the mess ordinary gum creates. (more)
Obama climate plans face long route for passage
Reuters reports here at Yahoo News: "A U.S. Senate vote this week rejected an effort to put climate-change legislation on a fast track, making it harder for Congress to put limits on greenhouse gas emissions this year." (more)
Study: Arctic sea ice melting faster than expected
AP reports here at Yahoo News: WASHINGTON - Arctic sea ice is melting so fast most of it could be gone in 30 years. A new analysis of changing conditions in the region, using complex computer models of weather and climate, says conditions that had been forecast by the end of the century could occur much sooner.
Virus battery could 'power cars'
BBC Newsreports here : Viruses have been used to help build batteries that may one day power cars and all types of electronic devices.
Can the Iberian lynx Still Be Saved?
Can the World's Most Endangered Cat Still Be Saved?, Spiegel Online reports here: Without help, the Iberian lynx could become the first cat species to go extinct since the saber-toothed tiger. A breeding program in Spain has begun a race against time.
Climate change to bring more whale beachings
AFP reports here at Yahoo News: SYDNEY - Experts studying the mass beaching of whales along Australia's coast have warned that such tragedies could become more frequent as global warming brings the mammals' food stocks closer to shore.
Europe will suffer despite climate measures
AFPreports here at Yahoo News: Europe must prepare both for more floods and drought caused by climate change, regardless of the measures taken to combat it, EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas warned Wednesday.