Empty Promises Over Sand Mining, Barbuda
As sand mining in Barbuda continues, concerns mount as to when this practice will ever finally stop. Sand mining is a direct cause of erosion, and impacts local wildlife, it causes problems for those who rely on fishing for their livelihoods, as well as the destruction of picturesque beaches.
Scientists Call For Development Goals To Protect Earth
Development can no longer focus exclusively on improving people’s lives. Countries must now link poverty eradication to protection of the atmosphere, oceans and land, said a group of international scientists in a comment piece published in the journal Nature.
NOAA Considers Effects Of Oil And Gas Activities On Marine Animals And Alaska Native Communities,
NOAA announced that it is seeking comments on a supplemental draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for oil and gas activities in the Arctic Ocean. The draft includes analysis on how a broader range of potential offshore oil and gas activities could affect the environment, with a specific focus on marine mammals and the Alaska Native communities that depend on the animals for food and cultural traditions.
It’s Move It or Lose It in Path of a Nor’easter
As a nor’easter pounded Plum Island, Mass., this month, moving trucks were being filled with belongings from damaged homes. Officials say some houses should be moved away from the coastline.
Pig Corpses Spark Questions, But Chinese Government Gives Few Answers
The pig carcasses, about 14,000 of them, have been floating down rivers that feed into Shanghai for nearly two weeks. The city’s residents have been told not to worry, and not much else..
US Pushes For Antarctic Marine Protections
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called for the establishment of increased protections in two parts of the Southern Ocean around Antarctica.
Petroleum Use, Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Automobiles Could Drop 80 Percent by 2050
A new National Research Council report finds that by the year 2050, the U.S. may be able to reduce petroleum consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent for light-duty vehicles, cars and small trucks, via a combination of more efficient vehicles.
The World’s Largest Concentrated Solar Power Plant, Big Picture
The world’s largest concentrated solar power plant, Shams 1, launched on Sunday, representing a major milestone in the development of renewable energy in the Middle East. Taking three years to build, the $600m plant is located in Abu Dhabi’s western region, the heart of the UAE’s hydrocarbon industry.
New Water-Quality Test May Prevent Unnecessary Beach Closures
A new rapid water-quality test may prevent beaches from being closed by providing accurate same day results of bacteria levels, according to a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey.