Environment

The Arctic’s Dangerous Combination of Environmental Toxicity and Genetic Vulnerability

2013-04-20T05:59:02-07:00

The Arctic is often perceived to be a pristine environment free of environmental toxins, however recent research reveals that this is not the case. There are many unique features associated with the distinctive flora and fauna of the Arctic and one of those defining characteristics is fragility.

Infographic: How Long to Decompose?

2013-04-16T02:50:03-07:00

From the Ocean Conservation Society, using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), this infographic is full of staggering and somewhat depressing facts like fishing line lasts up to 600 years before it biodegrades.

The Drivers of Hyper-Evolution

2013-04-11T11:24:21-07:00

When questions of modern evolution in our own species are suggested, they are often met with ethical barriers. But what about human influence on evolution of other species?

China’s Infinite-Growth Haze

2013-04-09T02:59:34-07:00

A few weeks ago, air quality at the U.S. embassy in Beijing registered 755 on a scale to 500. A thick, choking haze enveloped the entire city. You couldn’t see from one high-rise office tower to the next; flights were cancelled, some highways were closed, school children were kept indoors, hospital admissions soared.

How Much Water is there on Earth

2013-03-25T11:40:32-07:00

The graphic shows three blue spheres representing relative amounts of Earth's water in comparison to the size of the Earth. These images attempt to show three dimensions, so each sphere represents volume.

Reducing Water Use in the United States

2013-03-25T11:09:33-07:00

The United States is one of the world’s biggest users of water—many Americans use as much water as approximately 900 Kenyans. As a result, water resources in the U.S. are shrinking.

Fracking: A Tragic Waste of Water Resources

2013-03-25T11:09:33-07:00

The natural gas mining method known as hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" is another major source of water usage and a serious source of contamination. There are several ways of disposing of the water used in the process.

The Looming Threat of Water Scarcity

2013-03-23T03:14:04-07:00

Some 1.2 billion people-almost a fifth of the world-live in areas of physical water scarcity, while another 1.6 billion face what can be called economic water shortage.

Smog Pollution Mutes Chinese New Year Celebrations

2013-02-11T06:52:32-08:00

The Chinese Lunar New Year is usually celebrated with a barrage of fireworks, but this year due to serious smog pollution problems, Beijing has been forced to scale back celebrations.

Will More Trees Cause More Rain?

2013-02-08T09:06:33-08:00

It is commonly believed that destroying trees will influence the climate of a region. But scientific evidence to support that deforestation and afforestation influence local climate - affecting temperature and rainfall - has only just started emerging.

Environmental Success Stories: Mercury, SLCPs and Many More

2013-02-05T06:11:01-08:00

While many environmental success stories date back decades, we have also seen some major triumphs in the last year. Here is a summary of some of the greatest environmental achievements in U.S. history.

A Small Re-invention of Food Waste

2013-01-31T09:30:01-08:00

Americans waste a lot of food. Much of it reflects our system’s high standards in terms of raw product quality. A recent study showed that the avoidable food waste in the US accounts for roughly 29% of annual production.

Monitoring Air Quality for a More Sustainable Future

2013-01-30T09:57:01-08:00

News out of Beijing recently reported that the air quality has reached, and I quote, “Crazy Bad”levels. It serves as a warning that monitoring particulate matter is key to both environmental and public health.

UNEP Mercury Study: Levels of the Toxic Metal are Increasing

2013-01-25T12:32:01-08:00

A UNEP study released in January 2013 found mercury pollution in the top layer of the world’s oceans has doubled in the past century. In the past 100 years, man-made emissions have caused the amount of mercury in the top 100 metres of the world's oceans to double.

The State of Our Oceans: We are Headed Towards a Marine Mass Extinction

2013-01-24T07:48:01-08:00

Oceans are the defining feature of our planet and they are indispensable to life. People are also intimately connected to oceans whether we live inland or on the coast. One of the greatest threats to oceans comes from acidification.

China’s Pearl Industry: An Indicator of Ecological Stress

2013-01-23T09:19:32-08:00

China is the largest producer of cultured pearls in the world. But pearl farmers are now raising questions about their future as they are facing increasing ecological problems and are being excluded from industrialization strategies.

2012 Review of Forests and Trees

2013-01-23T06:48:01-08:00

In 2012 we saw some very significant findings related to the importance of forests for the health and well being of the planet. We also saw destructive trends that are compromising forests as well as efforts to undermine forests protections.

Legally Binding Treaty to Reduce Mercury Emissions

2013-01-15T02:31:01-08:00

On Sunday January 13 delegates from more than 130 nations began a final round of negotiations with the intent of creating the world's first legally binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions.

Tsunami Debris and Sustainability

2013-01-08T03:05:01-08:00

The tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011 is estimated by Japan’s Ministry of Environment to have washed away 5 million tons of debris, a significant portion of which has been drifting with the currents across the Pacific Ocean.

Transocean to Pay $1.4 billion for its Role in the Gulf Oil Spill of 2010

2013-01-05T03:44:01-08:00

On January 3, 2013, the Department of Justice announced that it has reached an historic settlement with Transocean for its role in the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The $1.4 billion settlement will be paid under the Clean Water Act for civil and criminal penalties.

Scrap Material Exports Are Booming in the U.S.

2012-12-26T03:57:17-08:00

Over 20 years, the recycling rate in the U.S. has gone from 10% to 30%. Related to this point, Progressive Economy has yet another interesting trade fact for us. Though a net importer, the United States does have sectors that export more than they import.

Recycling Rate Surpasses Waste in Washington

2012-12-26T02:55:02-08:00

The Evergreen State just got a little greener. According to the Washington State Department of Ecology, Washington’s recycling rate reached 50.7 percent in 2011. It is the first time that the state has reported a recycling rate of more than 50 percent

How Millions of Farmers are Advancing Agriculture for Themselves

2012-12-24T05:42:01-08:00

The world record yield for paddy rice production is not held by an agricultural research station or by a large-scale farmer from the United States, but by a farmer in the state of Bihar in northern India. Sumant Kumar, who has a farm of just two hectares in Darveshpura village, holds a record yield of 22.4 tons per hectare, from a one-acre plot.

Crunching the Numbers to Preserve Fertile Farmland

2012-12-14T14:07:01-08:00

Slimy patches of mud in potato fields or dry, cracked earth: whether parched or flooded, compromised soil makes it impossible for plants and crops to flourish. Whether a green, fertile patch of land will remain so in the future depends on the scale of soil erosion. It would take the loss of one ton of soil per hectare each year for arable land to turn into desert.

America at Risk from Rising Sea Levels

2012-12-04T09:41:17-08:00

Millions of Americans including people in Florida, Louisiana, California, New York and New Jersey are at risk from flooding. In total more than half of the US population in more than 285 cities may be at risk including NYC.