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  • By 2013 Apple Will Use Only Green Power in its Main Data Center May 18, 2012
    Yale Environment 360 writes “…Apple Inc. has received approval to build two solar power installations at its main data center in North Carolina, allowing the technology giant to run the center entirely with renewable energy by next year. The two solar farms, which will cover 250 acres near its core data center in Maiden, N.C., will utilize high-efficiency solar cells and an advanced solar-tracking system provided by…” more
  • The Vital Chain – Connecting The Ecosystems of Land and Sea May 18, 2012
    Yale Environment 360 writes “…The new study is a particularly striking illustration of a pattern that scientists are finding around the world. Life on land and life in the ocean are bonded in unexpectedly powerful ways. While they may seem like separate realms, the well being of one depends on the other…study highlights why ecosystems on land and at sea can become linked. Nitrogen and other nutrients are often in scarce supply, and living things are very good at concentrating them and moving them from one place to another…” more
  • Boom and Bust – Renewable Energy's Future? May 17, 2012
    Breakthrough Institute writes “[by Alex Trembath]…Decades of government support for shale gas have been relegated to history; with shale drilling at full technological maturity, the shale gas boom continues without the prop of federal subsidies. The shale gas success is a parable for clean tech going forward. Federal policies will work best when they foster competitive markets, drive cost declines and performance improvements, and ultimately expire as industries reach cost-parity with conventional energy technologies. If smart and effective policy reforms are enacted, the growing pains of these young markets will…” more
  • Crucial State Incentives for Small Wind Turbines Still Need Work May 16, 2012
    Building Green writes “[by Martin Solomon]…As the small wind turbine market feels the pain of temporary holds on state incentive programs, turbine certification could bring the stability and improve the market’s reputation….This certification process aims to bring stability and growth to a market plagued by inconsistencies. As the popularity of the certification grows…” more
  • Saudi Arabia Launches Largest Renewable Energy Program May 15, 2012
    Globe Net writes “…Saudi Arabia is not known for thinking small. So when the oil-rich Kingdom announced a new initiative to expand the production of renewable energy, it laid out plans for what could become the most sweeping renewable energy undertaking in the world… big shift in the Kingdom by converting it into a country with sustainable energy system…” more
  • New Interactive Website Maps Distribution of Global Species May 11, 2012
    Yale Environment 360 writes “…The so-called “Map of Life” project — which Map of LifeThe “Map of Life”draws on millions of known locations of various species, expert range maps, World Wildlife Fund data, and the databases of individual scientists — allows users to view distribution records for any terrestrial vertebrate species or fish worldwide, and generate a listing of all species within a 50- to 1,000-kilometer range…” more
  • Social Media and Sustainability: Seven Key Lessons May 9, 2012
    Globe Net writes “[by Stephan Burckhardt]…At a panel on social media and Corporate Social Responsibility held…in Vancouver, BC, social media was confirmed as an essential tool to leverage discussions on sustainability into broader audiences…expert panelists from Microsoft…[1]…Social media is less about managing downside risk and more about listening to your key audiences…[2] Be authentic In the emerging social ecosystem, authenticity is key. Feeding the corporate line either falls flat, or worse, backfires…” more
  • Can We Live Without Fossil Fuels? May 9, 2012
    Building Green writes “[by Alex Wilson]…When we buy fossil fuels we generally send money out of the community to support large corporations and foreign governments…then with oil there’s the issue of how much it costs to protect our access to this resource—fundamentally, that’s what took us into Iraq. We are spending billions of dollars per week in the Middle East…If we accept that it would be a good thing to get off fossil fuels, how do we do that…” more
  • Japanese Tsunami Debris is Increasingly Washing Ashore in Alaska May 7, 2012
    Yale Environment 360 writes “…Debris from last year’s tsunami in Japan, including some potentially toxic materials, is increasingly being discovered along the Alaska coastline. Since January, millions of pieces of debris have washed ashore along the Alaska coast, from soccer balls and buoys to morotcycles and…To help state officials better understand the future threats, MCAF is urging mariners, fishing boats, and beachcombers to take photos when they spot debris and report it to their project and the federal government…” more
  • Could Natural Gas Leaks Blow Away its Green Advantage? May 7, 2012
    Miller-McCune writes “[by Paul Tullis]…Researchers find that harmful methane leaks into the air at twice the amounts estimated by the EPA…The recent boom in U.S. natural gas production has been hailed as the cure to all America’s ills. Gas, its boosters say, can reduce household heating expenses, enhance energy security, create jobs, and lower greenhouse gas emissions…” more
  • Japan Goes Nuclear-Free for the First Time in Four Decades May 4, 2012
    Yale Environment 360 writes “Japan will shut down its last working nuclear power station this weekend, culminating — at least for now — a national shift away from nuclear energy in the aftermath of last year’s Fukushima disaster…” more
  • Greenland Glaciers Moving More Slowly Than Previous Estimates May 4, 2012
    Yale Environment 360 writes “…new U.S. study says that Greenland’s glaciers are sliding into the sea more slowly than previously estimated, a finding that may indicate future sea level rise will not be as high as some projected worst-case scenarios. Using satellite data to track changes to 200 outlet glaciers from 2000 to 2011, a team of scientists calculated that Greenland’s glaciers accelerated by…” more
  • Top 10 Global Company Sustainability Leaders May 2, 2012
    Globe Net writes “…1: Puma despite operating in a sector at high risk for human-rights abuses…2: FirstGroup derives more than 90 per cent of sales from rail and bus services…and those with room for improvement [1] Apple, the world’s bigget company, gets a D inEIRIS’ sustainability ratings and lags behind other tech…[2] ExxonMobil, the world’s second biggest company, shows poor performance in…” more
  • Oil and Gas Companies See Offshore Wind Potential May 2, 2012
    Yale Environment 360 writes “…An increasing number of oil service companies are working with renewable energy companies to develop offshore wind projects in the North Sea as the region’s fossil fuel resources dwindle and demand for clean U.S. Fossil Fuel Boom….” more
  • Fukushima begins Restoration of Destroyed Coastal Forests May 2, 2012
    Yale Environment 360 writes “…Fukushima Prefecture will soon begin a nine-year restoration of coastal forests devastated by last year’s tsunami, including the planting of 4.6 million seedlings…the Fukushima government will begin collecting pine cones this year that officials hope will grow into the seedlings of new pine forests within two years…Without the pine forest, our community would have been destroyed,” said one 70-year-old woman who farms the area. “I am grateful to our ancestors…” more
  • How Clean is Your Cloud – Greenpeace Questions Green Clouds May 2, 2012
    ITworld writes “[by Beth Bacheldor]…Greenpeace’s new report, “How Clean is Your Cloud?” It’s a comprehensive report on the energy consumption and energy sourcing in the data centers of some of the largest tech companies, and delves into data center deployments of 14 of the leading players in the market. The international environmental organization has established what it calls the Clean Energy Index to evaluate and compare the energy related footprints of…” more
  • How the UN is Approaching Carbon Neutrality May 1, 2012
    Globe Net writes “…All UN bodies are required to estimate their GHG emissions, undertake efforts to reduce emissions and analyze the cost implications of purchasing carbon offsets. The emissions calculations used in the latest report were developed by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. “By championing a climate neutral UN, the various organizations…” more
  • Finding the Gold in Green May 1, 2012
    Andrew Winston writes “…The media seems intent on giving climate skeptics much more than equal time. Today the New York Times printed a cover story about the last arrow in the climate skeptics arsenal, the argument that cloud cover will adjust to a warming world and let more heat escape to space…” more
  • Ocean Garbage Patches: A Scientific Sifting April 27, 2012
    Miller-McCune writes “[by Matt Skenazy]…Our oceans are filled with trash. Oceanographers, environmentalists and biologists have been working for years to better understand the problem of, and solutions to, marine debris. In the current issue of Pacific Standard we highlight the problem of, and some possible solutions to, marine debris in “Swimming with Nurdles”…” more
  • Majority of Americans Link Extreme Weather and Climate Change April 19, 2012
    Yale Environment 360 writes “…More than two-thirds of U.S. adults believe global warming made several recent extreme weather events even worse, according to a new survey. According to the report, released by the Yale Project on Climate Forum…82 percent of respondents said they had experienced one or more types of extreme weather events in the last year, and 35 percent said they were personally harmed either a great deal or…” more
  • Toxic Chemicals that Lurk in Unfinished Wood Floors April 19, 2012
    Building Green writes “[by Jim Vallette]…Fortunately, today’s anti-sapstains used to treat lumber for wood flooring are not quite as poisonous as their mercury-based predecessors–but these biocides still introduce unnecessary, toxic chemicals into outdoor and indoor environments. In my role as senior researcher…” more
  • The Time is Come to Craft a New Energy Policy Framework April 18, 2012
    Breakthrough Institute writes “…Clean energy policy in America is at a crossroads. Federal support for clean tech is now poised to decline precipitously–unless policy makers and industry work together to enact smart reforms that can ultimately free clean energy from subsidy dependence and put clean tech sectors on a path to sustainable, long-term growth. A business-as-usual strategy of perpetual policy expiration and renewal is no longer sustainable. Yet neither is the immediate cessation of…” more
  • EPA Releases U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report April 17, 2012
    Globe Net writes “…The final report shows overall emissions in 2010 increased by 3.2 percent from the previous year. The trend is attributed to an increase in energy consumption across all economic sectors, due to increasing energy demand associated with an expanding economy, and increased demand for electricity for air conditioning due to warmer summer weather during 2010. Total emissions of the six main greenhouse gases in 2010 were…” more
  • A Scientist Decides to Fight Back on Climate Change April 12, 2012
    Yale Environment 360 writes “[by Michael E Mann]…What to do about climate change necessarily involves questions about economics, fairness, and policy. But it also involves ethics. We are making decisions today that will impact the world our children and grandchildren inherit. What sort of legacy do we want to leave them…” more
  • How Emissions Decline in the Real World April 11, 2012
    Breakthrough Institute writes “[by Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus]…One of the first questions anyone seeking to understand global warming should ask is this: how do emissions decline in the real world? The short answer is that they mostly don’t. As nations develop, emissions go up. The one major exception is during economic recessions and depressions, when energy use temporarily declines before continuing its vertiginous climb. What does decline is the amount of emissions per unit of…” more
  • Loss of Large Predators Altering Forest Ecosystems April 10, 2012
    Yale Environment 360 writes “…scientists at Oregon State University (OSU) found that the loss of mammalian predators in forest ecosystems across North America, Europe and Asia — including killings to prevent ranching conflicts — has allowed an increase in populations of moose, deer, and other large herbivore species, which in turn has impaired the growth of young trees. According to the researchers, population densities of large herbivores were six times…” more
  • The Folly of Big Agriculture – Why Nature Always Wins April 9, 2012
    Yale Environment 360 writes “[by Verlyn Klinkenborg]…A reasonable agriculture would do its best to emulate nature. Rather than change the earth to suit a crop — which is what we do with corn and soybeans and a handful of other agricultural commodities — it would diversify its crops to suit the earth. This is not going to happen in big agriculture, because big agriculture is irrational. It’s where we expose — at unimaginable expense — our failure to grasp how…” more
  • 2011 was a Record Year for Economic Loss Due to Global Catastrophes April 4, 2012
    Globe Net writes “In a year that saw fewer earthquakes, mudslides, droughts and famines than the year before, the monetary loss from 2011’s catastrophic events reached a record $380 billion, surpassing the 2005 record of $220 billion. There were 820 natural catastrophes globally in 2011, causing 27,000 deaths. Most of these were from earthquakes and flooding… Compounding the problem is the length of time required for communities to recover…” more
  • Which Nations Have Reduced Carbon Intensity the Fastest? April 4, 2012
    Breakthrough Institute writes “[by Jesse Jenkins]…A Breakthrough Institute Analysis of historic decarbonization rates in OECD nations, from 1971-2006…the world’s economies must rapidly decarbonize, reducing the amount of CO2 produced for each unit of economic activity at greater than 4 percent per year (IEA 2010)…” more
  • Senate Agrees to End Big Oil Subsidies After Watching Polar Bear Film April 3, 2012
    CleanTechies writes “[by 3BL Media]…It’s not right. It’s not moral. And I’m calling on all Americans, Democrats and Republicans, to take a stand to defend the Arctic from future oil and gas drilling. If we’re going to subsidize any energy, it must be clean, renewable and respect the environment.” McConnell’s office released a statement saying the senator will be offering his considerable political clout to support Greenpeace’s efforts to protect the Arctic and bring the message to a new audience…” more
  • 10,000 Simulations Show Warming Range of 1.4 to 3 Degrees by 2050 April 3, 2012
    Science Daily writes “…A project running almost 10,000 climate simulations on volunteers’ home computers has found that a global warming of 3 degrees Celsius by 2050 is ‘equally plausible’ as a rise of 1.4 degrees. The study, the first to run so many simulations using a complex atmosphere-ocean climate model, addresses…” more
  • Scientists Clone Elm Trees That Survived Dutch Elm Outbreaks April 2, 2012
    Yale Environment 360 writes “…Using tissue samples collected from shoot tips and dormant buds, researchers at the University of Guelph in Canada …isolate germplasm with desired traits — including resistance to Dutch elm disease…for future elm breeding and biotechnology programs, which could lead to a revival of the species in its former habitat….It may also serve as a model to help propagate and preserve thousands of other endangered plant species at risk of extinction across the globe…” more
  • Study Shows Some Corals More Resilient to Increased Acidification April 2, 2012
    Yale Environment 360 writes “…According to the scientists, coral species with skeletons made of aragonite — including the well-known Porites and Acropora corals — contain molecular “pumps” that enable them to regulate internal acid balance. Corals that form calcite skeletons, however, do not have this mechanism. Also…” more
  • Bill Gates Says: Make Energy Cheap, Clean March 29, 2012
    Breakthrough Institute writes “…But it’s not enough to make energy cheap — we have to also make it clean, Gates said. He warned that global warming could be a “disaster” for the global poor because it would make agriculture in tropical areas “virtually impossible.”…” more
  • Earth Hour Organized by World Wildlife Fund is on March 31, 2012 March 29, 2012
    CA Technologies writes “For one hour on Saturday, March 31, from 8.30 p.m.-9.30 p.m. local time, darkness will descend over the world. From Sydney to Sao Paulo; Los Angeles to London, office buildings, homes, sports arenas, and government facilities will all go dark for Earth Hour…” more
  • Common Herbicide a Threat To Great Barrier Reef, Report Says March 27, 2012
    Yale Environment 360 writes “… the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority called a decline in the quality of water in catchment areas one of the greatest threats facing the reef….the widespread use of the chemical and the length of time it persists in the environment pose a significant threat. “Just to sort of explain how toxic this stuff is, just one gram in four Olympic-sized swimming pools is enough to damage sea grass,” …” more
  • Social Innovation: The Power of Sewage March 26, 2012
    CleanTechies writes “[by Sangeeta Haindi]…this new social innovation technology by Professor Logan works through a device that combines a fuel cell with other technologies to convert waste water treatment stations into power plants and provide the power for entire water grids. By bringing the two technologies together, Professor Logan and his team produced 0.9 kilowatt-hours of electricity per kilogram of organic waste. In contrast, sewage treatment usually consumes…” more
  • The Green Button is Approaching Critical Mass March 26, 2012
    The Energy Collective writes “[by Jim Pierobon]…NOW, we’re getting somewhere with the Green Button Initiative. Nine investor-owned utilities from across the country have jumped on board enabling an updated total of about 27 million households to access their electricity usage data. This is a huge step forward for motivated consumers to better understand how they can save on their energy bills and then share their experiences with friends and neighbors. Just last week…” more
  • Putting a Price on Trees, Grass and Air March 22, 2012
    Globe Net writes “…There is a growing need for full-cost pricing, a system that adjusts market prices to reflect not only the direct cost of goods and services, but also their impact on this country’s natural capital,” says the report author, Nancy Olewiler, the Director of the SFU School of Public Policy. The study suggests that for full-cost pricing to succeed, it’s up to…” more
  • Soldiers Get Solar Training Before Heading to War March 22, 2012
    The Energy Collective writes “[by Nino Marchetti]…For the first time, U.S. Army soldiers are receiving specialized training on how to use generators with solar-power capability before heading to Afghanistan…The military has been deploying green gear in Afghanistan for a while…Getting energy from the sun translates to savings but more importantly it can trim the amount of fuel that…” more
  • If the Whole U.S. Followed California March 21, 2012
    Clean Technica writes “[by Zachary Shahan]…California, a state that’s historically been at the cutting edge of environmental and climate policies, continues to take bold steps in order to address climate change.Climate studies and projections indicate that California will be hit hard by climate change, losing a great deal of its snow pack (a vital source of freshwater), and experiencing at least one meter of sea level rise by…” more
  • Global Redesign of Earth System Governance Imperative says 32 Social Scientists March 19, 2012
    EurekAlert writes “[by Arizona State University]…Some 32 social scientists and researchers from around the world…have concluded that fundamental reforms of global environmental governance are needed to avoid dangerous changes in the Earth system. The scientists argued in the March 16 edition of the journal Science that the time is now for a “constitutional moment” in world politics….the world is nearing critical tipping points in the Earth system, including on climate and biodiversity, which…” more
  • Global Sea Level Likely to Rise as Much as 70 Feet for Future Generations March 19, 2012
    EurekAlert writes “[by Rutgers University]…Even if humankind manages to limit global warming to 2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F), as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recommends, future generations will have to deal with sea levels 12 to 22 meters (40 to 70 feet) higher than at present, according to research published in the journal Geology…The difference in water volume released is the equivalent of melting the entire Greenland and West Antarctic Ice Sheets, as well as…” more
  • Calif to Canada West Coast Electric Highway Well Under Way March 19, 2012
    Clean Technica writes “[by Charis Michelsen]…west coast just became part of electric vehicle history – a 160-mile stretch has just gotten 8 new fast-charging stations as part of the new West Coast Electric Highway. Spaced 20-25 miles apart…stations start at California’s northernmost border and head north…by the end of the year, going all the way up to the Canadian border…company making the stations…provides a driver with…” more
  • Stone from Age-Old Coral Reefs and Seashells Give up their Secrets March 16, 2012
    EurekAlert writes “[by National Science Foundation]…Average global sea-level rose eight inches since the 1880s, and is currently rising an inch per decade, driven by thermal expansion of seawater and melting of glaciers and ice sheets, including the still mostly intact ice in Greenland and West Antarctica…” more