MNN Green Roundup

Freecycle

2009-01-28T16:27:00.002-05:00

Great MNN article about our natural inclination to freecycle.

If you don't know what it is, here's their brief description:

Freecycle is one of the ways to focus on reducing waste by deciding to reuse. Learn about freecycle and how freecycle can help convince people to reuse.

Global warming could lead to more arctic energy

2008-11-20T11:55:00.002-05:00

Reuters reports that, according to the European Union, 'the Arctic offers new energy and fishing resources as a result of global warming and new technology' (Photo: Reuters).

Bush to relax endangered species regulations

2008-11-20T11:52:00.002-05:00

The USA Today reports that 'Animals and plants facing possible extinction could lose the protection of government experts who make sure that dams, highways or other projects do not pose a threat, under rules the Bush administration is set to put in place before President-elect Barack Obama can reverse them' (Photo: Reuters)

Auction of land in U.S. national parks for oil upsets environmentalists

2008-11-17T13:17:00.001-05:00

The International Herald Tribune reports that 'late on election day, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced a Dec. 19 auction of more than 50,000 acres of oil and gas parcels alongside or within view of Arches National Park and two other redrock national parks in Utah: Dinosaur and Canyonlands'. (Photo: Reuters).

California to plan climate change strategy

2008-11-17T10:00:00.000-05:00

The International Herald Tribune reports that California governor 'Arnold Schwarzenegger has instructed state agencies to prepare for climate change, especially rising seas, as they plan to replace, upgrade and repair the system of pipelines that distributes water around sewage treatment plants and low-lying airports, among other things'.

Future of coal burning plants uncertain

2008-11-14T10:15:00.001-05:00

The Associated Press reports that 'the fate of scores of new coal-burning power plants is now in limbo over whether to regulate heat-trapping greenhouse gases' after 'an Environmental Protection Agency appeals panel on Thursday rejected a federal permit for a Utah plant, leaving the issue for the Obama administration to resolve' (Photo: Reuters).

Setback for carbon-trapping technology in EU talks

2008-11-14T10:01:00.003-05:00

Reuters reports that 'Plans to put billions of euros of public funds behind cutting-edge technology to trap and bury global warming gases suffered at setback in European Union talks on Friday' (Photo: Reuters).

EPA Advisers Seek Perchlorate Review

2008-11-14T09:57:00.002-05:00

The Washington Post reports that 'the Environmental Protection Agency's scientific advisers have warned the agency that it should delay final action on its decision not to set a federal drinking-water standard for perchlorate, a chemical in rocket fuel, because the computer model underlying the decision may have flaws' (Photo: New York Times).

US officials to address security implications of warmer planet

2008-11-13T11:44:00.003-05:00

The New York Times reports that "As a new administration committed to addressing climate change takes office, intelligence and defense officials are laying plans to address the national security implications of a warmer planet" - having discussed in recent months "the impact on personnel, equipment and installations of extreme weather events, rising ocean temperatures, shifts in rainfall patterns and stresses on natural resources" (Photo: Reuters).

US Sugar to sell Florida 181,000 acres to save everglades

2008-11-12T09:04:00.002-05:00

The New York Times reports that "United States Sugar Corporation has agreed to sell 181,000 acres of farmland to the State of Florida for $1.34 billion in a slimmed-down deal intended to rescue the Everglades while letting the company stay in business" (Photo:Reuters)

Alaska's North Slope holds one of nation's largest recoverable natural gas deposits

2008-11-12T08:59:00.001-05:00

The Washington Post reports that "federal scientists have concluded that Alaska's North Slope holds one of the nation's largest deposits of recoverable natural gas in the form of gas hydrates, a finding that could open a major new front in domestic energy exploration" (Photo: Reuters).

Results may come soon in test of tree response to warming

2008-11-12T08:55:00.002-05:00

AP reports that "for more than a decade, the federal government has spent millions of dollars pumping elevated levels of carbon dioxide into small groups of trees to test how forests will respond to global warming in the next 50 years" and "scientists think they are on the cusp of receiving key results from the time-consuming experiments" though the "Department of Energy, which is funding the project, has told the scientists to chop down the trees, collect the data and move on to new research." (Photo: Reuters)

Bush's vision for protecting Pacific hits resistance

2008-11-04T12:37:00.001-05:00

"President Bush's vision for protecting two vast areas of the Pacific Ocean from fishing and mineral exploitation, a move that would constitute a major expansion of his environmental legacy, is running into dogged resistance both inside and outside the White House," the Washington Post reports. (Photo: Associated Press)

Financial crisis has lessons for climate fight

2008-10-30T09:21:00.002-04:00

Reuters reports that, according to a top carbon expert, 'the world still has the funds and ability to fight climate change and nations should not use the financial crisis to delay policies on tackling global warming' (Photo: New York Times).

"Carbon army" hopes to grab slice of New Deal cash

2008-10-30T09:18:00.002-04:00

Reuters reports that 'A growing "carbon army" of environmentalists, bankers and investors has seized on official backing last week for major public spending announced in Britain and the United States' (Photo: Reuters).

China wants rich to pay for cleanup

2008-10-30T09:14:00.002-04:00

The Wall Street Journal reports that 'China issued a major policy on climate change Wednesday, acknowledging its own growing contribution to the problem and its increased vulnerability to a warming planet, but arguing that rich nations should pay poorer countries for the giant costs of cleaning up' (Photo: Reuters).

How parked cars could power the future

2008-10-30T09:05:00.000-04:00

LiveScience reports that before too long you might actually earn money from parking your car, as stationary electric vehicles could provide electrical storage for the nation's power grid (Photo: CNET).

Bush to loosen power plant pollution controls

2008-10-27T13:24:00.002-04:00

"The Bush administration is moving to adopt rules that would loosen pollution controls on power plants, by judging the plants on their hourly rate of emissions rather than their total annual output, people familiar with the matter said," the Wall Street Journal reports.

Risk of disease rises with water temperatures

2008-10-20T10:23:00.002-04:00

The Washington Post reports that scientists now believe 'it is a near-certainty that global warming will drive significant increases in waterborne diseases around the world' (Photo: Reuters)

European Nations Seek to Revise Agreement on Emissions Cuts

2008-10-17T11:28:00.003-04:00

The New York Times reports that the rising fears 'of a sharp worldwide economic slowdown are threatening a hard-won European plan on climate change that European leaders hoped would set an example for the rest of the world' (Photo: New York Times).

EU steps up battle to halt deforestation by 2030

2008-10-17T11:26:00.003-04:00

Reuters reports that 'EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said he wanted to reduce gross tropical deforestation by at least 50 percent by 2020 and halt global forest cover loss by 2030 at the latest'.

Doubt, Anger Over Brazil Dams

2008-10-17T11:26:00.002-04:00

The Washington Post reports that 'Brazil's plan to build dams in order to create a new energy source for the growing population is being widely criticized by social and environmental groups for its potential damage to the environment, river residents and nearby indigenous tribes' (Photo: Washington Post).

Green credits potential boon for emissions markets

2008-10-17T11:24:00.000-04:00

Reuters reports that, according to the head of a New Zealand-based carbon trading market, 'tradeable credits from saving forests, wetlands and endangered species is set to be a growth area for investors seeking to fight climate change' (Photo: Reuters).

EPA Places Stricter Regulations on Airborne Lead

2008-10-17T11:22:00.002-04:00

The Washington Post reports that the Environmental Protection Agency has 'tightened the regulatory limit on airborne lead for the first time in 30 years, lowering the legal maximum to a tenth of what it was on the grounds that it poses a more serious threat to young children than officials had realized' (Photo: Washington Post)

Arctic air temperatures climb to record levels

2008-10-16T11:37:00.000-04:00

Reuters reports that 'fall air temperatures have climbed to record levels in the Arctic due to major losses of sea ice as the region suffers more effects from a warming trend dating back decades' (Photo: Reuters).

Regional alliances enlist cap-and-trade approach to curtail greenhouse gases

2008-10-14T15:47:00.002-04:00

The Chicago Tribune reports that 'clusters of states on the East and West Coasts and in the Midwest are setting up marketplaces for electric utilities and other companies to buy and sell credits to emit carbon dioxide and other gases responsible for global warming' - an effort that will likely serve as 'blueprints for a national effort to fight climate change'. (Photo: Associated Press)

Indian Tribes See Profit in Harnessing the Wind for Power

2008-10-10T09:49:00.003-04:00

The New York Times reports that Native American tribes like the Rosebud Sioux in South Dakota are seeking to claim the wind as their inheritance by 'building turbine farms to harness some of the country’s strongest and most reliable winds' - creating in the process 'a new economic underpinning for the 29,000 tribal members whose per capita annual income is about $7,700, less than a third the national average'. (Photo: New York Times)

Pint-Size Eco-Police

2008-10-10T09:46:00.002-04:00

The New York Times reports that, according to experts, there is 'a growing army of “eco-kids” — steeped in environmentalism at school, in houses of worship, through scouting and even via popular culture — who try to hold their parents accountable at home'. (Photo: New York Times)

Economic woes may give planet a breather

2008-10-07T12:48:00.002-04:00

Reuters reports that, according to Nobel Prize winning atmospheric scientist Paul J Crutzen, 'a slowdown in the world economy may give the planet a breather from the excessively high carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions responsible for climate change'. (Photo: Reuters)

25% of Wild Mammal Species Face Extinction

2008-10-07T09:21:00.003-04:00

The Washington Post reports that, according to a new comprehensive global assessment by '1,700 experts in 130 countries,' 'at least a quarter of the world's wild mammal species are at risk of extinction.' (Photo: Washington Post)

Studies Lift Hopes for Great Lakes Wind Turbine Farms

2008-10-07T09:04:00.003-04:00

The Washington Post reports that we may soon see '100,000 wind turbines rising from the Great Lakes off Michigan's shores...producing electricity for the entire Upper Midwest', as 'wind power advocates think a new study by the 'Michigan State University Land Policy Institute' might be 'a starting point for development of the world's first freshwater, offshore wind farms.' (Photo: Reuters)

Feds to mark out polar bear area

2008-10-07T09:01:00.002-04:00

USA Today reports that 'the federal government will designate 'critical habitat' for polar bears off Alaska's coast, a decision that could add restrictions to future offshore petroleum exploration or drilling,' as 'Federal law prohibits agencies from taking actions that may adversely modify critical habitat and interfere with polar bear recovery.' (Photo: Reuters)

Google search for cleaner energy unveiled

2008-10-03T13:33:00.004-04:00

Reuters reports that Google 'aims to do for the power grid what it did for the Web' by 'funding green technology and using its brand power to lobby for policy change'. (Photo: Reuters)

U.S. could create 4.2 million green jobs by 2038

2008-10-03T13:28:00.002-04:00

Reuters reports that 'the U.S. economy could generate 4.2 million new "green" jobs in the next 30 years, about 10 percent of all the jobs created'. (Photo: Reuters)

Bush's environment program draws fire

2008-10-03T13:26:00.002-04:00

Reuters reports that loose regulation, which has been blamed for 'ills ranging from the U.S. financial crisis to imports of tainted Chinese goods, is drawing increasing fire from opponents of the Bush administration's environment program'. (Photo: Reuters)

Harsh review of restoration in everglades

2008-09-30T15:58:00.002-04:00

The New York Times reports that 'the eight-year-old, multibillion-dollar effort to rescue the Everglades has failed to halt the wetlands' decline because of bureaucratic delays, a lack of financing from Congress and overdevelopment, according to a new report'. (Photo: New York Times)

Millions raised in greenhouse gas auction

2008-09-30T15:55:00.002-04:00

The Washington Times reports that 'power companies were the biggest spenders in the nation's first cap-and-trade greenhouse gas auction, raising nearly $40 million that will be spent by Northeast states on renewable and energy efficient technologies'. (Photo: Associated Press)

Lawmakers at Impasse on Incentives for Renewable Energy

2008-09-30T11:03:00.002-04:00

The New York Times reports that the House and the Senate are 'in a stalemate over proposals to provide tax incentives for the production and use of renewable energy, leaving the future of the nascent industry in limbo', as tax credits for 'investing in solar energy and producing wind energy will expire at the end of the year unless Congress resolves the impasse' (Photo: New York Times)

Bottled water at issue in Great Lakes

2008-09-29T11:55:00.002-04:00

The Washington Post reports that 'even as a 10-year campaign to block wholesale export of Great Lakes water came to a successful conclusion in Congress last week, some legislators and environmentalists vowed to continue their fight to close a 'bottled-water loophole,' a campaign that taps into a national debate over sales of H2O in disposable containers'. (Photo: Washington Post)

First US cap-and-trade emissions market opens

2008-09-26T09:38:00.002-04:00

Reuters reports that ten states in the U.S. Northeast have 'kicked off the country's first cap-and-trade market on greenhouse gas emissions', 'gaining accolades from environmentalists and many businesses but also eliciting concerns about how the states will spend the money the plan raises'. (Photo: Reuters)

Cities get too much blame for global warming

2008-09-26T09:35:00.002-04:00

Reuters reports that, according to a study published on Friday, 'cities often blamed for producing most of the world's greenhouse gas emissions actually generate just two-fifths or less' (Photo: Reuters)

China now world's biggest carbon polluter

2008-09-26T09:29:00.002-04:00

Agence France-Presse reports that according to a newly released study, 'China has leapfrogged the United States as the world's biggest carbon emitter and India is heading for third place', while 'global greenhouse-gas levels were scaling record peaks'. (Photo: Reuters)

Cambodia eyes nuclear plant

2008-09-26T09:26:00.001-04:00

The Associate Press reports that 'impoverished Cambodia hopes to build a nuclear power plant to meet its future energy needs and help offset its dependence on imported oil'

Palestinians protest against West Bank dumping plans

2008-09-26T09:24:00.002-04:00

Agence France-Presse reports that 'around 300 Palestinians protested on Friday in the West Bank against what they say is an Israeli plan to reopen a controversial toxic waste dump near important underground springs'. (Photo: Agence France-Presse)

Wal-Mart aims to curb plastic bag use

2008-09-26T09:22:00.000-04:00

Reuters reports that 'Wal-Mart Stores Inc will give out fewer plastic shopping bags, and encourage shoppers to reuse and recycle them, as the retailer aims to slash its plastic bag waste by a third worldwide by 2013'. (Photo: Reuters)

Chrysler enters the race to build green cars

2008-09-24T09:15:00.002-04:00

The New York Times reports that 'after seeming to fall behind in the race for alternative-fuel vehicles, Chrysler' has said 'it would produce an electric car for sale in 2010 and follow it up with a broad lineup of battery-powered vehicles" (Photo: Associated Press)

Burying CO2 could pay for itself by 2030

2008-09-22T12:40:00.003-04:00

Reuters reports, according to a new study, 'trapping and burying carbon dioxide from power plants could become viable without public funding by 2030, helping nations reduce their dependence on energy imports and meet climate goals'. (Photo: Reuters)

Birds decline seen sign of biodiversity crisis

2008-09-22T12:37:00.002-04:00

Reuters reports that, according BirdLife International, 'many of the world's most common birds suffered steep population drops over recent decades, a sign of a deteriorating global environment and a biodiversity crisis'. (Photo: Reuters)

EPA unlikely to set perchlorate drinking waters standard

2008-09-22T12:20:00.002-04:00

The Washington Post reports that 'the Environmental Protection Agency, under pressure from the White House and the Pentagon, is poised to rule as early as today that it will not set a drinking-water safety standard for perchlorate, a component of rocket fuel that has been linked to thyroid problems in pregnant women, newborns and young children across the nation'. (Photo: Reuters)

New system could help avert collapse of fisheries

2008-09-19T15:20:00.002-04:00

Reuters reports that U.S. researchers have proposed guaranteeing individual fishermen a share of the catch in order to help avert a global collapse of fisheries. (Photo: Reuters)

Euro climate exchange saw significant growth

2008-09-19T15:12:00.002-04:00

The Guardian reports that 'trading on European Climate Exchange increases by 150% in first six months of 2008, despite credit crunch'. (Photo: Reuters)

States Accuse Pentagon Of Threats Over Base Cleanup

2008-09-19T09:14:00.009-04:00

The Washington Post reports that, according to environmental officials from several states that have tried to force the Pentagon to clean up polluted military sites, the 'Defense Department has retaliated by reducing or withholding federal oversight dollars due them'. (Photo: Agence France-Presse)

Chicago outlines plan to slash greenhouse gases

2008-09-19T09:14:00.005-04:00

The Associated Press reports that Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley has announced a 'plan to dramatically slash emissions of heat-trapping gases, part of an effort to fight global warming and become one of the greenest cities in the nation'. (Photo: Associated Press)

Australia to launch ambitious global carbon capture institute

2008-09-19T09:14:00.002-04:00

Agence France-Presse reports that Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced that his country will launch a multi-million dollar international carbon capture and storage institute to fight global warming. (Photo: Agence France-Presse)

UN chief appoints two new special envoys on climate change

2008-09-18T21:14:00.000-04:00

The Agence France-Presse reports that UN chief Ban Ki-moon has appointed two new special envoys on climate change, one of his top priorities. (Photo: Agence France-Presse)

Moving from deprivation diets to good food

2008-09-18T10:52:00.007-04:00

The New York Times reports that 'after decades of obsessing about fat, calories and carbs, many dieters have made the unorthodox decision to simply enjoy food again', 'shunning deprivation diets and instead focusing on adding seasonal vegetables, nuts, berries and other healthful foods to their plates'. (Photo: New York Times)

Hundreds of new species found on Australia's reef

2008-09-18T10:52:00.004-04:00

Reuters reports that Australian scientists have discovered hundreds of new coral and marine species on the Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo Reef which they say will improve monitoring reef biodiversity and the impact of climate change. (Photo: Reuters)

Germany opposes EU plans on carbon auctions

2008-09-18T10:52:00.001-04:00

Reuters reports that 'the German government wants to limit industry's required purchase of carbon emissions permits to a maximum of 20 percent a year between 2013 and 2020'.

South Korea to set up first carbon trading company

2008-09-17T14:28:00.006-04:00

Agence France-Presse reports that South Korea will set up its first carbon trading company to help regulate greenhouse gas emissions. (Photo: Agence France-Presse)

Hot year damages carbon uptake by plants

2008-09-17T14:28:00.003-04:00

Agence France-Presse reports that, according to newly published research, plants and soil can take up to two years to recover from an exceptionally hot year, a finding that has implications for the combat against global warming. (Photo: Agence France-Presse)

Tesla plans Silicon Valley electric car factory

2008-09-17T11:08:00.001-04:00

Reuters reports that California electric sports car-maker Tesla Motors is building a $250 million Silicon Valley plant to produce sedans that will roll onto U.S. highways in late 2010, the company said ahead of a Wednesday announcement. (Photo: Reuters)

Saphire raises over $100 million for algae crude

2008-09-17T11:04:00.002-04:00

Reuters reports that Sapphire Energy, which aims to squeeze "green" crude oil from blooms of one of the planet's oldest life forms, algae, has announced it now has over $100 million from investors. (Photo: USA Today)

Scientists experiment with space-based solar power

2008-09-17T11:00:00.002-04:00

Investor's Business Daily reports that scientists are touting a first-of-its-kind experiment in long-range, wireless power transmission - a crucial step toward meeting some of America's energy needs through space-based solar power.

Democrats Join the 'Drill, Baby, Drill!' Chorus

2008-09-17T10:56:00.002-04:00

Time reports that the House majority has passed legislation allowing offshore drilling, in an effort to neutralize a key Republican campaign issue. (Photo: Agence France-Presse)

NASA Eyes Nuclear Power for Moon Base

2008-09-17T10:53:00.002-04:00

SPACE.com reports that nuclear power could finally make its comeback - this time beyond Earth, as NASA has proposed a fission reactor in its future moon base.

EPA Lets Electronic Waste Flow Freely

2008-09-17T08:53:00.002-04:00

The Washington Post reports that, according to a new study by the Government Accountability Office, 'the Environmental Protection Agency has done little to curb the export of discarded electronic products containing hazardous waste, much of which ends up in poorly regulated countries and harms the environment and public health'. (Photo: Reuters)

Norway pledges up to US$1B for Amazon preservation

2008-09-16T14:45:00.002-04:00

The Associated Press reports that Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg has announced that Norway will give Brazil US$1 billion by 2015 to preserve the Amazon rain forest, as long as Latin America's largest nation keeps trying to stop deforestation. (Photo: Associated Press)

Arctic sea ice melt comes close, but misses record

2008-09-16T14:05:00.004-04:00

The Associated Press reports that crucial Arctic sea ice shrank this summer to its second lowest level on record, 'continuing an alarming trend'. (Photo: Reuters)

Nokia most ecofriendly electronics maker

2008-09-16T13:57:00.002-04:00

Agence France-Presse reports that Nokia, the world's leading mobile phone maker, 'earned the top spot in Greenpeace's ranking of big electronics manufacturers' eco-friendliness'. (Photo: Agence France-Presse)

CO2 regulation could hit 1 million U.S. firms

2008-09-16T13:00:00.002-04:00

Reuters reports that 'the prospect of U.S. regulation of climate-warming carbon dioxide has sparked a pre-emptive outcry from the Chamber of Commerce, which warned of bureaucratic gridlock if proposed limits are put in place'.

GM unveils plug-in Chevy Volt

2008-09-16T12:54:00.002-04:00

Reuters reports that General Motors Corp has 'unveiled the production version of its much-anticipated Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in electric car that is the centerpiece of the automaker's effort to move away from gas-guzzling SUVs'. (Photo: Reuters)

Antarctic ozone hole already larger than in 2007

2008-09-16T10:34:00.003-04:00

Reuters reports that, according to the U.N. weather agency, 'the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica has already surpassed its 2007 size this year, and is set to keep growing for another few weeks'. (Photo: Reuters)

House to vote on offshore drilling Tuesday

2008-09-16T10:19:00.002-04:00

Reuters reports that, according to a Democratic aide, 'the House of Representatives is expected to vote on Tuesday on a comprehensive energy package that would open most of the U.S. coastline to offshore drilling' (Photo: Reuters)

Judge Reverses Plan to Expand Snowmobile Access in National Parks

2008-09-16T09:57:00.003-04:00

The Washington Post reports on a major victory for environmentalists, as a federal judge 'overturned the Bush administration's plan to allow hundreds more snowmobiles to traverse Yellowstone and other iconic national parks each winter'. (Photo: Associated Press)

States Aim to Cut Gases by Making Polluters Pay

2008-09-16T09:51:00.003-04:00

The New York Times reports that 'ten states from Maryland to Maine are about to undertake the nation's most serious effort yet to tackle climate change, putting limits on carbon dioxide emissions from utilities and making them pay for each ton of pollutants'. (Graphic: New York Times)

10 Ways Global Warming Could Hurt Your Health

2008-09-15T16:58:00.003-04:00

US News features a story on the changes scientists have observed that are impacting individuals' health and have also created models to predict where we might be headed and offers a sampling of what we could be discussing with our doctors in the decades to come. (Photo: Reuters)

New flight navigational technology is greener

2008-09-15T11:57:00.002-04:00

The Associated Press reports that Federal Aviation Administration officials gathered Friday to promote new flight and navigational technologies that reduce fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions while also decreasing passenger delays. (Photo: Reuters)

Vietnam launches locally made ethanol-blended gasoline

2008-09-15T11:51:00.002-04:00

Agence France-Presse reports that oil giant PetroVietnam has announced the country's launch of a locally made ethanol-blended gasoline with the view to 'ensure national energy security and reduce the economy's dependence on oil products.' (Photo: Reuters)

Presidential hopefuls hint at China climate policy

2008-09-15T11:49:00.002-04:00

Reuters reports that Presidential contenders John McCain and Barack Obama both vowed to press China on trade and to work with it on climate change if elected, and Obama said he would make shifting Beijing's currency policies a priority. (Photo: Reuters)

California ballot measures tout cleaner energy

2008-09-15T11:45:00.000-04:00

The Associated Press reports that two California ballot measures will promise to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lead to cleaner electricity and vehicles.

Nuclear industry looking for a wave of new hires

2008-09-15T11:44:00.003-04:00

The Associated Press reports that the man in charge of the country's nuclear regulatory agency has said the United States needs a generation of new scientists, engineers and skilled workers to staff, build and monitor what could be dozens new power plants.

China mulls green tax to curb pollution

2008-09-15T11:44:00.002-04:00

Reuters reports that, according to the official China Daily, China is studying whether to impose an environmental tax on polluters to cut their emissions. (Photo: Reuters)

Japan's carbon trade targets to be voluntary

2008-09-15T11:42:00.001-04:00

Reuters reports that Japanese companies taking part in a trial carbon trading system to be launched next month will work to voluntary reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions, rather than mandatory ones. (Photo: Reuters)

French 'picnic tax' to his plastic cutlery

2008-09-15T11:39:00.004-04:00

Reuters reports that France's environment minister has announced that the country will tax plastic cutlery to try to encourage consumers to buy more eco-friendly products, and Paris is planning to expand the measure to include several other items. (Photo: Reuters)

Brussels would allow state aid for carbon capture

2008-09-15T11:36:00.002-04:00

Reuters reports that a European Commission official has said that Brussels would look favorably at member states giving financial support for plants to test almost carbon-free power production, which could help fight climate change. (Photo: Reuters)

Australia seeks to lower carbon emissions from cars

2008-09-15T11:30:00.000-04:00

Reuters reports that the Australian government has issued a discussion paper on reducing automobile carbon emissions, with recommendations such as providing financial incentives for manufacturing low-emission cars.

Global warming could cost Ohio its buckeyes

2008-09-15T11:25:00.000-04:00

The Associated Press reports that environmentalists have said that climate change might push the growing range of Ohio's iconic buckeye tree out of the state.

In A Warmer World, Alaskan Villages Melt Away

2008-09-12T16:50:00.003-04:00

National Journal reports that some of Alaska's native villages are literally disappearing, as the state has become the "tip of the spear" on global warming. (Photo: National Journal)

Study finds recent global warming unprecedented in 1,300 years

2008-09-12T16:30:00.002-04:00

McClatchy Newspapers reports that a new scientific study adds evidence that temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere fluctuated a bit over time, but that the sharp increase during the past few decades is bigger than anything in at least 1,300 years. (Photo: Reuters)

Nitrogen emerges as the latest climate change threat

2008-09-12T14:22:00.001-04:00

McClatchy Newspapers reports that scientists are raising alarms about yet another threat to Earth's climate and human well-being - nitrogen, a common element essential to all life. (Photo: Reuters)

Experiment boosts hopes for space solar power

2008-09-12T14:13:00.002-04:00

SPACE.com reports that a former NASA scientist has used radio waves to transmit solar power a distance of 92 miles (148 km) between two Hawaiian islands, an achievement that he says proves the technology exists to beam solar power from satellites back to Earth.

Spain to set up climate change research institute

2008-09-12T11:51:00.002-04:00

Agence France-Presse reports that, according to Spanish Environment Minister Elena Espinosa, Spain, among the nations in Europe most affected by desertification, will set up a climate change research institute in the northeastern city of Zaragoza. (Photo: Agence France-Presse)

Russia says it must stake claim to Arctic resources

2008-09-12T11:00:00.001-04:00

Reuters reports that the secretary of Russia's Security Council, speaking at an unprecedented session of the council held on a desolate Arctic island, said that Russia must stake its claim to a slice of the Arctic's vast resources.

EU seeks to limit use of biofuels

2008-09-12T10:55:00.002-04:00

Agence France-Presse reports that European parliamentarians on Thursday approved EU plans to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent but called for stricter limits to be set on the controversial use of biofuels. (Photo: Agence France-Presse)

$25K for YouTubers' green ideas

2008-09-12T10:49:00.003-04:00

CNET reports that the X Prize foundation, the same nonprofit behind the $30 million Google Lunar X Prize, wants to use YouTube as an idea factory - creating an eco challenge called 'What's your crazy green idea?' where users dream up a world-changing idea to stop global warming, post a two-minute YouTube video about it, and it could be worth $25,000.

Antarctic winter ice gets bigger while Arctic shrinks

2008-09-12T10:42:00.002-04:00

Reuters reports that the amount of sea ice around Antarctica has grown in recent Septembers in what experts say could be an unusual side-effect of global warming. (Photo: Reuters)

A fuel cell gadget charger

2008-09-12T10:30:00.000-04:00

CNET reports that the Medis 24-7 Power Pack, a new portable liquid fuel cell charger for small gadgets, can provide 30 hours of talk time on an average mobile phone or 60 to 80 hours of play time on an average iPod.

Money shines on thin-cell solar makers

2008-09-12T10:10:00.000-04:00

CNET reports that the money flow is ample proof that thin-film solar cells is where the action is going, as SoloPower is raising almost $200 million to ramp up manufacturing of its thin-film solar cells.

House to vote next week on offshore drilling

2008-09-12T10:03:00.003-04:00

Reuters reports that, according to Democratic leaders, the House of Representatives could vote next week on energy legislation that would open nearly all of the U.S. coastline to offshore drilling while repealing some tax breaks for oil companies. (Photo: Reuters)

Most Europeans 'very concerned' by climate change

2008-09-12T10:00:00.004-04:00

Agence France-Presse reports that according to a major EU poll, most Europeans are very concerned about climate change though a sizable minority feel they do not know enough to help counter it. (Photo: Agence France-Presse)