environment

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Sunscreen Hurts Coral Reefs
Sunscreen Hurts Coral Reefs
Jan 30, 2008 8:42 PM CST

Sunscreen Hurts Coral Reefs

Common ingredients can activate viruses that fatally bleach reef builders

(Newser) - Sunscreen might prevent a bad burn, but it might also be burning coral reefs, National Geographic reports. Four chemicals found in common lotions awaken viruses in algae living in coral, a new study finds; the algae then explode and can leave the reef without its food supply—causing it to...

Electric Roadster Ready to Roll
Electric Roadster Ready to Roll
Jan 25, 2008 2:00 PM CST

Electric Roadster Ready to Roll

Tesla's battery-powered vehicle meets federal safety standards

(Newser) - The long-awaited, all-electric Tesla Roadster has passed federal safety tests with flying colors and will finally go into production March 17—albeit with temporary transmissions on the first models, reports DailyTech. The interim transmissions mean the $100,000 Roadster will do zero to 60 in 5.7 seconds, instead of...

Whole Foods Sacks Plastic Bags
Whole Foods Sacks Plastic Bags
Jan 23, 2008 10:51 AM CST

Whole Foods Sacks Plastic Bags

It's back to paper in all 270 stores in the chain

(Newser) - After Earth Day on April 22, customers at any of Whole Foods' 270 stores will be taking home their groceries in a paper bag—unless they bring their own bag, reports the Austin American Statesman's Business Blog. The chain, concerned about the environment, is phasing out plastic bags. Experts say...

Ancient Antarctic Volcano May Be Linked to Warming

Scientists make 'unique' discovery beneath continent's massive ice sheets

(Newser) - The discovery of what scientists are hailing as the first evidence of a volcanic eruption under Antarctica’s massive ice sheet may be linked to climate change, the BBC reports. British researchers, who discovered evidence of a volcano by analyzing radar data from an air survey, believe the eruption likely...

Brits Debate Eco-Wisdom of Biofuels
Brits Debate Eco-Wisdom
of Biofuels
Jan 20, 2008 11:03 AM CST

Brits Debate Eco-Wisdom of Biofuels

Oil substitute may destroy rainforests, increase food prices

(Newser) - Biofuels may actually exacerbate the environmental problems they were meant to allay, reports the Observer, and a UK Parliamentary committee has released a report examining the possible effects. Using fuel made from crops like tallow and rapeseed may actually worsen greenhouse gas emissions, kill rainforests, and drive up food prices...

Beijing Bans Plastic Bags
Beijing Bans Plastic Bags
Jan 9, 2008 10:03 AM CST

Beijing Bans Plastic Bags

China outlaws use, manufacture of thin, disposable bags starting in June

(Newser) - The Chinese government says it will prohibit stores from distributing free, disposable plastic bags starting this June, reports the AP. Amid growing fears about the environmental future of the world's largest nation, Beijing is asking people to use baskets or cloth carriers instead of the thin plastic bags that been...

Electronics Show Struggles to Green Up

Energy-guzzling expo buys carbon offsets, touts greener gadgets

(Newser) - The massive Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, which kicks off Monday, is trying to beat its seriously "ungreen" rep by buying carbon offsets for the equivalent of 2.3 million gallons of gasoline it takes to power the extravaganza, the size of 35 football fields. It will also...

Off-Roaders, Greenies Spar Over Western Lands

ATV-riders also vie with quieter nature lovers

(Newser) - Outdoor enthusiasts are bickering with the feds and each other over the use of federally owned lands in Colorado, Utah, and Montana, the New York Times reports. Off-roading fans of motorcycles, pick-ups, and ATVs are butting heads with quieter explorers who hike or ride horseback and want to preserve the...

China Dumps Yangtze Dam Plan
China Dumps Yangtze Dam Plan
Dec 29, 2007 7:05 AM CST

China Dumps Yangtze Dam Plan

Huge dam project nixed but many more on the way

(Newser) - China has decided to scrap plans for a huge dam at Tiger Leaping Gorge on the Yangtze River, the Guardian reports. The dam would have left a popular tourist area underwater and forced 100,000 people from their homes. The decision is a rare victory for Chinese green activists, but...

Bali: What Was Accomplished?
Bali: What Was Accomplished?
Dec 16, 2007 11:00 AM CST

Bali: What Was Accomplished?

Developed and developing nations agree to work to end global warming

(Newser) - Dismantling the “Berlin Wall of climate change”—the idea that rich nations alone should lead the fight against global warming—was the big breakthrough at the UN climate change conference in Bali, reports Time. It made it possible for the US, after a bruising confrontation and near-collapse of...

Go Green on Christmas, Tree Huggers Say

Greenies call real trees more eco-friendly than plastic variety

(Newser) - You can be eco-friendly this holiday season without turning into Scrooge, the Smithsonian reports. For those considering Christmas trees, environmentalists claim real trees are actually better for the environment than the plastic variety, which emit harmful dioxins when created or when on fire.

Exxon Plans $1B Floating Refinery
Exxon Plans $1B Floating Refinery
Dec 12, 2007 8:51 AM CST

Exxon Plans $1B Floating Refinery

Platform 4 miles off New Jersey would supply natural gas for 5M

(Newser) - In an effort to bypass project-stalling terrestrial opposition, Exxon yesterday said it plans a $1 billion floating liquid natural-gas refinery 20 miles off New Jersey's coast, Market Watch reports. The project, which could open by 2015, would supply enough natural gas for 5 million residential customers in New York and...

Korea Struggles to Clean Spill
Korea Struggles to Clean Spill
Dec 9, 2007 5:00 PM CST

Korea Struggles to Clean Spill

Government declares state of disaster

(Newser) - A crew of 7,000 struggled to contain the worst oil spill in South Korean history today, the New York Times reports. The government declared a state of disaster as volunteers hauled buckets of oil from a 12-mile shore, fighting headaches and nausea from the stench. The coast guard set...

Oil Slick Reaches South Korean Shore

Worst spill in country's history threatens scenic coastline, maritime park

(Newser) - Emergency workers in South Korea are struggling to contain a 12-mile-long oil slick that has reached an ecologically sensitive shoreline on the Korean west coast. The oil spilled when a barge broke loose from the tug that was pulling it, and slammed into a Hong Kong-registered supertanker. The spill threatens...

Rocker Takes Stage as Australia's Eco Minister

Ex-Midnight Oil frontman's new job sign of Labor Party revolution

(Newser) - Singer Peter Garrett, the menacing frontman of '80s punk rock band Midnight Oil, is now Australia's new environment minister.The appointment of the towering, hyperactive Garrett signals the new Labor government's aggressive makeover after 12 years of conservative leadership and the importance it places on global warming, the London Times...

New Aussie PM Vows to Go Green, Mum on Iraq

(Newser) - New Australian PM Kevin Rudd, who won in a landslide over conservative John Howard yesterday, spoke with President Bush by phone but remained mum on his immediate plans for 500 Aussie combat troops in Iraq, reports Reuters. Rudd, a cerebral, Chinese-speaking ex-diplomat, said he’d travel to next month’s...

Rich Nations Break Climate Vow to Poor

$1.2B pledge to developing countries is mostly forgotten

(Newser) - Several of the world's richest nations have forgotten about a $1.2 billion pledge to help developed countries cope with climate change, the Guardian reports. The group has doled out less than $185 million so far to help them plan for global warming, defend against floods, and boost conservation. "...

Japan Sends Mixed Signals on Whale Hunt

It cites tradition but denies tribe's bid to fish for salmon

(Newser) - Japan has a ready defense for its internationally maligned whale hunt: Whaling is integral to Japanese culture, embedded in the country's traditional diet, literature, and religion. Yet this argument looks questionable in light of the Japanese government's refusal to allow indigenous people to continue their traditional salmon fishing, writes Bruce...

Motor City Going for Green
Motor City Going for Green
Nov 24, 2007 3:02 PM CST

Motor City Going for Green

Automakers blame environmental concerns for falling sales

(Newser) - Auto industry bigwigs at the Reuters Auto Summit in Detroit this week seem finally to have gotten the message on cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles; one after another they cited going green (or at least greener) as the path to more competitive cars and trucks. GM honcho Robert Lutz admitted that...

Ecowarriors' New Tool: Google Earth
Ecowarriors' New Tool: Google Earth
Nov 15, 2007 11:34 AM CST

Ecowarriors' New Tool: Google Earth

Conservationists use app to highlight local environment concerns

(Newser) - The Wall Street Journal looks at environmental nonprofits that are harnessing Google Earth to connect consumers with the effects of their purchasing choices. One example, Appalachian Voices, has integrated data from coal mining companies with Google mapping to allow users to see where their power comes from: the specific mountaintops...

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