Tag: environment
Drought could force Americans to rethink water use
The water system in the United States generally works so well that for many, it's invisible. The pipes lay hidden beneath the ground and when Americans turn on their faucets, the water flows at little cost. But as the U.S. experiences the worst drought in more than 50 years, perhaps it's time to conserve water....
Shell's Arctic drilling plan delayed by environmental concerns
Shell is ready to start drilling for oil in Alaska’s Chukchi and Beaufort seas. But environmental concerns and regulatory hurdles have chilled the oil company’s plans....
China turns to fracking to help meet growing energy demand
Hydraulic fracturing has recently emerged as an alternative source of energy in the United States. Now China, the world's largest energy consumer, is experimenting with it. The Chinese government hopes the controversial technology will help wean the country off dirty coal. ...
New research discovers high levels of caffeine in surprising areas of ocean, rivers
A group of scientists in the Pacific Northwest have been looking into where caffeine accumulates in our national water system. They found it not in areas of high population, but in areas with low population, where septic systems are the primary means of waste disposal....
London Olympics good example of sports' embrace of environmental stewardship
Environmental activists are celebrating as the sports world seems to be more comfortable with embracing environmental stewardship not only as a business necessity, but also as a way to engage fans. This Olympics, in particular, has been particularly environmentally friendly....
California's shark fin ban outrages restaurant owners, seafood dealers
In 2011, California lawmakers passed a law banning the controversial shark fin trade. Though the law doesn't go into effect until January, it's already sparked discontent among chefs and seafood distributors in San Francisco's Chinatown, where shark fin soup remains a popular delicacy. ...
Environmentalist says global climate catastrophe is inevitable without intervention
Catastrophic global warming can be staved off if humans can keep the climate from warming more than two degrees Celsius, and emit less than 565 Gigatons of carbon dioxide, some scientists believe. But environmentalist Bill McKibben says that's not enough. ...
U.S. launches program to clean up Vietnam-era Agent Orange contamination
The United States used millions of gallons of Agent Orange herbicide across Vietnam during the war there, in an effort to destroy the foliage that was giving its enemies cover. But, in the process, it contaminated the soil with dioxin and other chemicals that have persisted and continue to cause birth defects and health problems to this day....
Brazil taking tentative steps to protect marine biodiversity
Brazil's Amazon rainforest is renowned for its biodiversity. But the Atlantic waters off its coast are also home to incalculable numbers of animals for hundreds, if not thousands, of species. In recent years, Brazil has moved to protect those animals as well....
Experts say effects of U.S. drought likely to ripple across the globe
The effect of this summer's drought in the United States may well be felt around the world soon. That's because the U.S. is the world's biggest corn exporter. As harvests fall and prices rise, many of world's poor will feel the squeeze....
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