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'Paign, Management
Industry launches campaign against Lieberman-Warner climate bill |
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20 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 8:05 AM on 20 Mar 2008 Energy industry and business trade groups have launched a concerted campaign against the Lieberman-Warner climate bill. The bill, which would establish a cap-and-trade system to reduce U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions, is much less stringent than some other climate bills in Congress, but Lieberman-Warner is so far the only one to pass out of committee; it's scheduled for a Senate vo ... |
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| Topics: business, climate, dumbassery , legislation, news (all these topics) |
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Salt for the Earth
Energy could be harvested from mixing of fresh and salt water |
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19 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 1:28 PM on 19 Mar 2008 Through an osmotic process we don't pretend to understand, the mixing of fresh and salt water at the world's river mouths produces enough energy to feed 20 percent of the world's electricity demand, say Dutch scientists. Could we start running our gadgetry on salt power? Small projects in Norway and the Netherlands are testing out ways to harvest estuary energy, but membranes needed ... |
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| Topics: energy, Netherlands, news, Norway, renewable energy (all these topics) |
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Power Up
Rise in U.S. power plant emissions outpaced electricity demand in 2007 |
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19 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 12:11 PM on 19 Mar 2008 Carbon dioxide emissions from U.S. power plants rose 2.9 percent from 2006 to 2007, according to data analysis by the Environmental Integrity Project. That's the largest annual increase in nine years and outpaced demand for electricity, according to the report. And the impact will last well beyond a year, warns EIP Director Eric Schaeffer: "Because CO2 has an atmospheric lifetim ... |
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| Topics: climate, energy, fossil fuels, greenhouse-gas emissions, James Hansen, news (all these topics) |
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Two Strikes and You're Out
Japan will shorten pro baseball games to cut emissions |
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19 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 10:34 AM on 19 Mar 2008 Japan's professional baseball league is aiming to reduce carbon emissions by using only renewable energy recycling everything aiming to shorten games by 12 minutes. Under new rules, no more than 2 minutes and 15 seconds may lapse between innings, and pitchers must throw the ball within 15 seconds of receiving it if no runners are on base. Baseball commissioners estimate that by sho ... |
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| Topics: climate, climate change mitigation, greenhouse-gas emissions, Japan, news, sports (all these topics) |
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Of Ice and Mendacity
Arctic losing older, thicker sea ice despite cooler temps this winter |
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19 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 7:48 AM on 19 Mar 2008 The Arctic is losing more of its older, thicker sea ice than in years past despite persistent cold weather throughout the Northern Hemisphere this winter, researchers said. Older sea ice tends to be thicker and have a lower salt content, making it more melt-resistant than new ice. In March, Arctic sea ice is usually at its largest extent and this year the area covered is a ... |
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| Topics: Arctic, news, scientific research (all these topics) |
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If I Were a Tibetan Man ...
Protests in Tibet partially spurred by environmental resentment |
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18 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 4:41 PM on 18 Mar 2008 Violent protests that rose this week against Chinese rule in Tibet were spurred in part by anger about environmental destruction in the Himalayas, an area that Tibetans consider sacred. A Beijing-to-Lhasa railway opened by the Chinese in 2006 has provided easy access for Chinese miners to the pristine Tibetan highlands, where they've begun digging up copper, iron, lead, a ... |
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| Topics: China, mining, news, Tibet, water conflicts (all these topics) |
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Flipper Them Off
State officials given OK to kill sea lions to protect salmon |
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18 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 2:22 PM on 18 Mar 2008 Oregon and Washington state officials will have the authority to trap and, if necessary, kill up to 85 of the sea lions that gobble up threatened salmon at the Columbia River's Bonneville Dam, the National Marine Fisheries Service announced Tuesday. Sea lions, which enjoy a robust population but are nonetheless protected under the 1972 Marine Mammals Protection Act, have been visiting ... |
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| Topics: dams, endangered species, fishing, National Marine Fisheries Service, news, Oregon, Washington, wildlife (all these topics) |
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Put a River in Your Tank
Electric cars could impact water supplies, says analysis |
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18 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 12:53 PM on 18 Mar 2008 Converting most U.S. vehicles to run on electricity could have an impact on water supplies, according to an analysis to be published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. Generating the needed electricity would require more water than producing gasoline, the report found -- that is, if the nation's electricity grid continues to be powered by coal and other fuels that ... |
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| Topics: cars, electric vehicles, energy, fossil fuels, news, placemaking, water crisis (all these topics) |
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Bunny Business
Some Easter trinkets test high for lead in small study |
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18 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 10:22 AM on 18 Mar 2008 If you're the Easter-trinket-buying type, beware: some pastel gewgaws may have high levels of lead, according to testing done by students at Ohio's Ashland University. Of 45 Easter-themed spinning tops, hair clips, sippy cups, and plastic eggs purchased at the fun-to-say Hobby Lobby, 13 exceeded the federal standards for lead in paint. But that shouldn't mean an end to all your Easter fun -- P ... |
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| Topics: green living, holiday, news, sports, toxics (all these topics) |
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Conflicts of Interest of Interest
House committee to investigate EPA panel members' conflicts of interest |
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18 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 7:22 AM on 18 Mar 2008 A House committee has opened an investigation into possible conflicts of interest concerning members of U.S. EPA expert panels that advise the agency on matters such as banning or restricting the use of certain toxic chemicals. The EPA stirred up controversy last year when it dismissed a toxicologist from a panel that was reviewing the potential health dange ... |
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| Topics: Congress, news, politics, toxics, US EPA (all these topics) |
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Nay, Cap'n
Ship pilot charged in San Francisco oil spill |
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17 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 4:58 PM on 17 Mar 2008 The pilot of the ship that spilled more than 50,000 gallons of oil into the San Francisco Bay in November has been charged with criminal negligence, harming federally protected birds, and violating the Clean Water Act. If found guilty, Capt. John Cota could face up to 18 months in jail and more than $100,000 in fines. source: Associated Press see also, in Grist: Group urges Congress to ban bunker fuel in ... |
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| Topics: endangered species, energy, litigation, news, oil, politics, San Francisco, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Whatever Floats Your Boat
Sail-powered cargo ship returns home, wave-powered vessel sets off |
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17 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 4:20 PM on 17 Mar 2008 A cargo ship partially powered by a gigantic kite-like sail has completed a 12,000-mile roundtrip voyage across the Atlantic. Captain Lutz Heldt, who says the ship used around 20 percent less fuel thanks to kite power, says, "We can once again actually 'sail' with cargo ships, thus opening a new chapter in the history of commercial shipping." Not to be outdone, ... |
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| Topics: business, energy, innovation, news, wind power (all these topics) |
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For Guinness Sakes
Climate change will make Ireland less green, says well-timed report |
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17 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 3:47 PM on 17 Mar 2008 It's St. Patty's day -- so you just knew someone would do a study on the impact of climate change on Ireland, didn't you? Sure enough, the Irish American Climate Project has issued a report entitled "Changing Shades of Green," warning that decreased rainfall could necessitate a nickname change for the Emerald Isle, and summer droughts could bring about Potato Famine ... |
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| Topics: climate, climate change impacts, Ireland, news (all these topics) |
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G20 Questions
G20 climate meeting ends, accomplishing nothing |
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17 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 2:31 PM on 17 Mar 2008 In case you've been wondering what happened at this weekend's gathering of the G20 biggest-polluting countries, the answer is: pretty much nothing. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair formally announced his goal to eke out a meaningful climate agreement, and declared, "We have reached the critical moment of decision on climate change. There are few, if any, genuine doubters left." There ... |
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| Topics: climate, international politics, news, politics (all these topics) |
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Tons of Work to Do
China, with emissions rising, urges developed countries to carbon diet |
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17 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 1:08 PM on 17 Mar 2008 China's greenhouse-gas emissions are rising far faster than expected, according to a new analysis to be published in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management. Researchers estimate that by 2010, China may spew 600 million more metric tons of greenhouse gases than it did in 2000; to put that in perspective, the total emissions reductions pledged by signatories to ... |
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| Topics: China, climate, greenhouse-gas emissions, news (all these topics) |
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Amazon Disgrace
Peruvian Amazon under threat from oil exploration, illegal logging |
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17 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 10:11 AM on 17 Mar 2008 There's no better way to start off a Monday than with depressing news from the Peruvian Amazon, which is under threat from both fossil-fuel development and illegal logging. Despite protests from environmental and human rights groups, Peru's government plans to auction off dozens of parcels of remote rainforest for oil and gas companies to explore. And in even more somber news, Per ... |
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| Topics: energy, fossil fuels, habitat loss, insanity, logging, news, Peru, rainforests (all these topics) |
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It's a Glac-Sure Thing
World's glaciers melting rapidly, report says |
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17 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 8:29 AM on 17 Mar 2008 The world's glaciers are melting quite rapidly and will likely cause all sorts of environmental problems, according to data from the World Glacier Monitoring Service. The WGMS tracks the health of 30 "reference" glaciers throughout the world and has said that their rate of melt has sped up significantly in recent years. Between 1980 and 1999, the glaciers shrunk an average of 11.8 inc ... |
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| Topics: climate, climate change impacts, news, scientific research (all these topics) |
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Pros and Econs
EPA's economic analysis of climate bill relatively favorable |
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17 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 6:39 AM on 17 Mar 2008 The U.S. EPA has released its economic analysis of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2008, concluding that implementing the bill, which includes a carbon cap-and-trade system, would not significantly harm the U.S. economy over the next 20 years. The agency estimated the bill would likely cut U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions 11 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and about 56 percen ... |
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| Topics: business, carbon trading, climate, economy, news, US EPA (all these topics) |
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They'll Never Learn
EPA closure of research libraries was a stupid idea, says GAO |
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14 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 3:29 PM on 14 Mar 2008 The U.S. EPA decision to deal with a 2006 funding cut by closing several research libraries was not very well thought out, says a new report from the Government Accountability Office. To take just one example: The EPA promised to compensate for the closures by making information available on the internet, but due to copyright issues, only some 10 percent of the library system's doc ... |
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| Topics: Government Accountability Office, news, scientific research, US EPA (all these topics) |
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Diesel Do
EPA announces tough air-pollution standards for shipping industry |
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14 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 2:08 PM on 14 Mar 2008 The U.S. EPA Friday announced tough new diesel pollution standards for the shipping industry (perhaps to distract us from Wednesday's announcement of not-so-tough ozone standards.) The new standards for diesel trains and ships will begin to be phased in in 2015; when in full effect, they'll require a 90 percent reduction in soot emissions and an 80 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide emi ... |
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| Topics: air pollution, business, news, regulation, US EPA (all these topics) |
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Dioxane Another Day
Some 'green' products test positive for nasty chemical |
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14 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 12:14 PM on 14 Mar 2008 Nearly half of 100 consumer products claiming to be "natural" or "organic" tested positive for a carcinogenic petrochemical manufacturing byproduct, according to the Organic Consumers Association. The products tainted with scary-sounding 1,4-dioxane came from various well-known brands, including Alba, Jasön, Kiss My Face, Method, Nature's Gate, and Seventh Generation. ... |
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| Topics: green cleaning, green living, green products, news, toxics (all these topics) |
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Bush Whacked
President Bush interfered to weaken U.S. ozone standards |
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14 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 10:39 AM on 14 Mar 2008 President Bush interfered at the last minute to weaken the recently announced U.S. ozone standards, according to EPA documents. On Wednesday, the EPA set both the "public health" standard (how much ozone is in one place at one time) and the "public welfare" standard (consideration of the long-term effect of ozone) at the same level. Before Bush interfered, the agency planne ... |
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| Topics: air pollution, George Bush, health, jackassery, news, ozone, politics, regulation, US EPA (all these topics) |
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The B-Team
Tony Blair to lead international climate team |
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14 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 7:06 AM on 14 Mar 2008 Photo: Monika Flueckiger / World Economic Forum Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he's heading up a new international climate team with the goal of securing a meaningful agreement on climate change in the next two years. Blair said he thought he could get the major emitting countries of the world, including the United States and China, to agree to a plan to cut carbon emissions 50 percent by 20 ... |
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| Topics: climate, international politics, news (all these topics) |
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Well, That Changes Everything!
CEO settles the debate over whether Wal-Mart is green |
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13 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 5:04 PM on 13 Mar 2008 Is Wal-Mart an eco-angel or an eco-devil? CEO Lee Scott himself settles the debate, declaring at a Wall Street Journal conference: "We are not green." source: The Wall Street Journal From the Archives Drill Team. Alaska senators introduce legislation to open Arctic Refuge to drilling. The Fiber of Our Being. Legalizing hemp would help environ ... |
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| Topics: business, greenish companies, news, Wal-Mart (all these topics) |
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Drill Team
Alaska senators introduce legislation to open Arctic Refuge to drilling |
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13 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 4:22 PM on 13 Mar 2008 Photo: Madhav Pai The push to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is back on. Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Ted Stevens have introduced legislation that would allow drilling in the Refuge if oil should hit $125 a barrel for five straight days. (For those keeping track at home, oil prices Thursday hit a record high of $111 a barrel.) "I can't believe that they would ... |
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| Topics: Alaska, Arctic Refuge, legislation, news, oil, oil and gas drilling, politics (all these topics) |
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