The winning projects of a global competition for innovative carbon-free and resilient urban projects were announced in Oslo and sent to us by C40 CITIES. Have a look.
Originally published by NexusMedia. by Marlene Cimons It was predictable that one day Adisa Azapagic, who studies the carbon footprint of various foods, would get around to chocolate. Little was known about the environmental impact of producing that guilt-and swoon-inducing pleasure, and for many, ignorance was bliss. “My husband wasn’t amused when I suggested he consider
Death By Chocolate Read More 👉
The status quo is widepread environmental destruction. We have the solutions, but some people prefer the status quo. For now, they are getting their way.
Rachel Carson’s influential book Silent Spring, which documented the effects of the indiscriminate widespread use of pesticides on the environment, was published back in 1962, nearly 60 years ago now. Since that time, the book has often been cited as one of the drivers behind environmental action and regulation of various kinds. Following the release,
For the past decade, researchers have been experimenting with switching individual genes on and off to determine what effect they have on growing trees. But they say they can now model the effects of switching all 21 lignin genes on or off in the lab, which will greatly reduce the amount of time needed to “design” trees that are suitable for particular purposes.
Smart Wood: Bio-Engineering Trees For Specific Purposes Read More 👉
The processes by which fertile topsoil is created are slow ones, to put it in mild terms. Generally speaking, the timespans necessary to turn glacial rock dust into something that agricultural crops can possibly grow in aren’t relevant when considered from the perspective of what’s needed to plant this year’s crops. The processes by which
Topsoil Fertility Decline & Soil Erosion — A Few Musings Read More 👉
Scientists in Japan have discovered massive quantities of rare earth minerals in the seabed around remote islands in the Pacific, enough to meet the world’s needs for hundreds of years.
Treasure Trove Of Rare Earth Elements Found Off Coast Of Japan Read More 👉
Despite the presence of a record number of people working to count the insects, this year’s population census for monarch butterflies wintering in California has fallen to a 5-year low, according to a new report.
The world’s coral reefs are being sickened by plastic and micro-plastic pollution and debris — everywhere from the Great Barrier Reef to the Caribbean — according to a new study published in the journal Science.
Plastic Pollution Is Sickening World’s Coral Reefs, Study Finds Read More 👉
Pope Francis recently gave a passionate call for the Amazon to be protected from big business and “consumerist greed” — while in Peru, on a tour of Latin America.
Pope Francis Calls For Amazon To Be Protected From Big Business & “Consumerist Greed” Read More 👉
An ocean dead zone is an area where there is not enough oxygen dissolved in the water to allow aquatic creatures to breath. To put it in perspective, imagine a person locked in a sealed chamber in which the level of oxygen is slowly but steadily decreased until they lie gasping for breath until they
Ocean Dead Zones Multiplying Rapidly, Threatening Food Source For Hundreds Of Millions Read More 👉
The lawsuit that was filed by environmental groups in response to Norway’s announcement of plans to continue oil exploration in the Arctic has been dismissed by a court in Oslo. What that means is that the court ruled that the argument that such oil exploration was in violation of “people’s right to a healthy environment”
A federal audit has found that India’s government has only spent well under a quarter of the funds available to it for cleaning up the Ganges River over the last 2 years – with the audit determining that poor financial management and planning were then primary causes. To provide specifics, the audit — performed by
The coastline of Kenya has been a hotspot for tourism and fishing activities for a quite a while now — with the region also being home to fair numbers of sea turtles. Recent years, though, have made the region home to significant quantities of plastic trash and debris — much of which eventually washes into
The Danish startup POND has found a way to replace traditional resin in different materials with biodegradable resin. They are at least 95 % biobased and fully degradable in nature. They are suitable to bind all natural fibers such as flax, hemp, pineapple, palm leaves, and cotton resulting in making fully biodegradable products. (Image credit: pond.global)
Bioplastics — The Real Deal Or a Scam? It Depends On Priorities Read More 👉
I would endeavor today to be sanguine and say something righteous and hopeful this holiday season. The closer one looks at the state of our world, the more reason there is for concern. We look and see many things that need to change, and we wonder if perhaps it is too late to change them. Perhaps we
Holidays with the Skywalkers Read More 👉
It is estimated that since the advent of the agricultural revolution Earth lost approximately half of its trees, and according to a recent survey as reported by Nature (the magazine), earth currently has only about three trillion trees. Image by UNclimatechange (some rights reserved) There are several organizations that are hard at work to plant back
Mapping The Global Efforts To Restore The World’s Forests! Read More 👉
New algorithms make it possible for scientists to predict the effect of injecting sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere to cool the planet. Is that a good thing?
New Algorithms Improve Accuracy Of Geoengineering Projections. Is That A Good Thing? Read More 👉
Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels grew at a record pace in 2016, to 403.3 parts per million (ppm), up from 400.0 in 2015, the UN World Meteorological Organization just revealed as part of its annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin. The growth rate in atmospheric carbon dioxide in 2016 was thus around 50% faster than the average of
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Levels Grew At Record Pace In 2016, UN Says Read More 👉
While everyone is talking about electric cars and autonomy as a huge disruptor to the global economy, there is another elephant in the room that not many people seem to notice — lab-grown meat! A few days ago news broke that China bought $300 million worth of lab-grown meat from three Israeli-based companies — SuperMeat,
Talk About Disruption — Lab-Grown Meat Has Arrived! Read More 👉
The modern world has a problem of overspecialization. The limits of extrapolating generalized truths from what can be observed in limited contexts and over limited periods of times have become more and more apparent in recent years as the blowback of the industrialized way of life, and its associated ways of thinking and interacting with
While the murder of anti-deforestation activists and environmentalists is nothing new in most parts of the world nowadays, the recent news that a plane carrying members of Brazil’s special environmental protection forces recently crashed due to “unexplained” causes does still stand out. Image by CIFOR (some rights reserved) If nothing else — I’d there was foul-play involved,
A dead zone larger than New Jersey is expected to appear in the Gulf of Mexico later this year. Similar dead zones are found in the Great Lakes and the Chesapeake Bay. A report by Mighty, a global environmental group headed by Henry Waxman, a former US Congressman, claims the dead zones are the result
Massive Dead Zone In Gulf Of Mexico Blamed On Meat Industry Read More 👉
Honeybees that are exposed to field-realistic (real-world, in other words) levels of neonicotinoid pesticides die earlier than those that are not — thereby reducing overall colony health — according to a new study led by York University. “A worker honeybee has been fitted with a RFID on its back so researchers can record when it
The connection between the related systems in our life, known as the food, energy, and water Nexus– is key to a more sustainable future. An upcoming event in Idaho brings together experts on the subject.
Food, Energy, & Water Nexus to be Discussed at August Event Read More 👉
If tree-climbing goats themselves don’t seem very interesting, consider that their actions are directly related to one of the world’s currently most popular bodycare ingredients, argan oil, and that these tree-climbing caprine creatures help replant argan forests by spitting out the seeds with their cud.
Tree-Climbing Goats Plant New Argan Trees By Spitting Their Seeds Read More 👉
Wave power could be one of the world’s most abundant source of renewable energy, as oceans cover more than 70% of the earth’s surface and hold onto a large amount of energy. But what needs to be done so that the world’s oceans can become attainable, sustainable energy resources? And how can wave power become competitive
Pros and Cons of Wave Power | Wave Power Advantages Read More 👉
Petitions delivered to Japanese Embassies in Germany and Switzerland today decry the use of tropical wood as part of Tokyo Olympics construction.
An upcoming film will show the wonder and increasing deforestation of the Romanian virgin forests. A Kickstarter campaign will make it possible.
Virgin Forests and their Unique Biodiversity: A Film in the Making Read More 👉
Ocean acidification created by continuing anthropogenic climate change will result in a collapsing food web, according to new research from the University of Adelaide. The new findings are the result of analysis focused around determining the effects of climate change on the world’s fisheries, and on overall marine biodiversity. Image via NOAA “Humans rely heavily
Ocean Acidification To Bring Collapsing Food Web Read More 👉
The Trump administration is reviewing plans for offshore natural gas and oil drilling in the Pacific. There have been no new wells of the Pacific Coast of the United States since 1984.
Trump Considers Opening Pacific Coast To Oil Drilling Read More 👉
A new study finds permafrost melting is happening sooner and faster than expected, putting the earth in danger of significantly higher temperatures if the Paris climate accords are not adhered to.
Permafrost Melting Could Add Huge Amounts Of Green House Gases To Atmosphere Read More 👉
The Gila River, one of the last wild rivers in the western US, is under threat from proposals for development and diversion. The Heart of the Gila documentary promises to deliver a compelling visual journey along the Gila, while also educating us about the importance of using good science and hard data to make the
We were recently treated to a preview screening of the film “Kombit” which unpacks the work being done by way of a partnership between the non-profit “Smallholder Farmers Alliance” and the Timberland company in Haiti. Haiti has a major issue with deforestation with over 98% of the nation stripped of trees as a direct result of
‘Kombit’ Documents the Struggle to Reforest Haiti (Film Review) Read More 👉
The noted anti-deforestation and environmental rights activist Isidro Baldenegro was murdered in the northern state of Chihuahua in Mexico on Sunday. Baldenegro was killed by gunmen who subsequently fled the scene, one of which has reportedly been identified but not yet detained. The murder follows not too long after the March 2016 murder of the
Noted Anti-Deforestation Activist Isidro Baldenegro Murdered In Chihuahua (Mexico) Read More 👉
Despite some common presumptions on the matter, it seems that most deforestation occurring in the Congo Basin is the result of only a small share of locals, and those that are taking part aren’t doing so for self-sufficiency but rather to “increase their quality of life,” according to a new study from the University of
The ocean acidification that’s now occurring, as a result of increasing anthropogenic levels of carbon dioxide emissions, will led to cascading losses of biodiversity in many marine habitats and ecosystems, according to new research from the University of British Columbia and its partners. The new work is some of the first to investigate the likely
Specific coral genotypes (“individuals”) can live for more than 5,000 years (at the least) according to new research from the National Marine Fisheries Service, Penn State, and Dial Cordy & Associates. The findings — based on research focused on elkhorn corals (Acropora palmata) living around Florida and in the Caribbean — mean that corals are
The recent announcement of the recipient of the Wave Energy Prize marks another step toward global disruption of the reliance on fossil fuels.
Wave Energy Converter Prize is Awarded to AquaHarmonics Read More 👉
Deforestation events and mass tree deaths — whether through drought, heat, and insect infestations — can have significant effects on global climate patterns, according to new research from the University of Washington. To put that another way, while deforestation and mass-deaths of trees can cause the complete upheaval of the local environment, effects also include
To the eyes of a land mammal, the deep ocean is a strange place. The colors, shapes, movements, and animal behaviors are quite different. With that in mind, the team of the Nautilus deep-sea submersible has a nice collection of videos and images on its website free for perusing. Here are some of the best
In an example of how little is actually known about what goes on in the world’s oceans, researchers recently discovered 500 “new” (newly discovered, that is) methane vents off the west coast of the US. “It appears that the entire coast off Washington, Oregon and California is a giant methane seep,” commented RMS Titanic discoverer
Even deep sea animals, such as sea cucumbers, hermit crabs, and squat lobsters, are now ingesting microplastics pollution, according to a new study from Bristol and Oxford universities. The findings are the result of work down by researchers working in the mid-Atlantic and south-west Indian Ocean on the Royal Research Ship (RRS) James Cook. What
Deep-Sea Animals Found To Now Be Ingesting Microplastics, Research Shows Read More 👉
Permanently protecting nearly 5,000 square miles of underwater canyons and mountains, the first national marine monument in the Atlantic Ocean was designated by President Barack Obama on September 15, 2016. Formed millions of years ago by extinct volcanoes and sediment erosion, seamounts and sea canyons are some of the oldest and most mysterious locations on
First Atlantic Ocean Marine Monument Designated by USA Read More 👉
Originally published on EdenKeeper.org Retreating onto the uncharted territory of today’s “climate refugees,” the entire indigenous community of Shishmaref, Alaska, is losing the land under its feet. Shishmaref has a population of around 600 members of the Native American Inupiat Tribe, located on Sarichef, a tiny island north of the Bering Strait. For over 400
Alaska’s Inupiat Climate Refugees Need a New Home Read More 👉
Unchecked development causes many urban crises with water problems. Troubles such as too much impervious infrastructure are overwhelmed when strong storms arrive. A recently reported crisis in St. Petersburg, Florida — “The Calamity of the Century” — examines one of the many water problems of this complex environmental conundrum in South Florida. The plight of the Gulf Coast
Originally published on EdenKeeper.org Navigating through the icy waters of the Arctic, the Greenpeace ship “Arctic Sunrise” is delivering solar panels to the Inuit community of Clyde River, Nunavut. Delivering solar panels and a team to install the systems for the Clyde River community is Greenpeace’s way of offering a better solution to meet increasing
Inuit People & Greenpeace Demand #SolarNotSeismics Read More 👉
Very high levels of man-made pollutants and toxic chemicals — including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) — have been found in animals living in some of he deepest oceanic trenches in the world, according to brand new as yet unpublished research. The work involved the collection of small shrimp-like creatures, including Hirondellea
