Environmental Policy News

September 9, 2016

Not One, but Four Giraffe Species

A Tenth of World's Wilderness Lost Since 1990s

Largest Reforestation Program: Harm Wildlife?

Ocean Warming: Impacts On Nature and Humans

Latest Headlines

updated 12:27am EDT

Saskatchewan Uranium Mining Emits Few Greenhouse Gases, Study Shows

Sep. 8, 2016 — The mining and milling of Canadian uranium contributes very few greenhouse gases to nuclear power’s already low emissions, a research group ... read more

Smart Buoy for Measuring Water Pollutants

Sep. 8, 2016 — All over the world, lakes, rivers, and coastal waters are threatened by high nutrient inputs. Nitrate or phosphates from waste-waters or fertilizers causes eutrophication. ... read more

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Sep. 7, 2016 — Want to help mitigate global climate change? Grow some veggies. According to a new study, turning lawn into a vegetable garden can reduce greenhouse ... read more

Future Fisheries Can Expect $10 Billion Revenue Loss Due to Climate Change

Sep. 7, 2016 — Global fisheries stand to lose approximately $10 billion of their annual revenue by 2050 if climate change continues unchecked, and countries that are most dependent on fisheries for food will be the ... read more

Aerosol Emissions in East Asia Driven by Consumption in Developed Countries

Sep. 6, 2016 — Much of the influence on climate from air pollution in East Asia is driven by consumption in the developed countries of Western Europe and North America, according to research by atmospheric ... read more

Farming Adaptations Needed to Combat Climate Change to Impact Crop Yields in 2050

Sep. 6, 2016 — As the globe continues to spin toward a future with higher temperatures, crop yields will likely decrease if farmers do not ... read more

Study Demonstrates Seasonality of Bird Migration in Response to Environmental Cues

Sep. 6, 2016 — For the first time, a study shows that remote sensing data from weather surveillance radar and on-the-ground data from the ... read more

Critically Endangered Whales in Russia Recovering

Sep. 6, 2016 — The critically endangered western gray whale population that feeds in Russia's Far East waters is slowly showing signs of recovery, but their numbers and range are still at risk from industry ... read more

Nutrient Pollution Is Changing Sounds in the Sea

Sep. 6, 2016 — Nutrient pollution emptying into seas from cities, towns and agricultural land is changing the sounds made by marine life -- and potentially upsetting navigational cues for ... read more

3-D Elevation Maps of Alaska for Released for White House Arctic Initiative

Sep. 1, 2016 — Less than one year after President Barack Obama announced a White House Arctic Initiative that included better mapping of the area, a team of researchers has released the ... read more

23 States Sue The EPA Over A CO2 Emissions Regulation

Some Coral Reefs Thriving, Says Report

Giant Pandas Could Soon Be Removed From The Endangered Species List

Volkswagen Outlines Impact of Emissions Scandal

Time Window for Action to Limit Climate Change Is Closing Rapidly

Sep. 1, 2016 — The window of opportunity for limiting climate warming up to 2°C is closing rapidly. However, a reinforcing upward spiral of national government policy, non-state actions and transformative ... read more

Motivating Eco-Friendly Behaviors Depends on Cultural Values

Aug. 31, 2016 — The specific cultural values of a country may determine whether concern about environmental issues actually leads individuals to engage in environmentally friendly behaviors, according to the new ... read more

Study Assesses Climate Change Vulnerability in Urban America

Aug. 31, 2016 — One of the first efforts to systematically assess how cities are preparing for climate change shows that city planners have yet to fully assess their vulnerability to climate change, leaving serious ... read more

Data Shows Increasing Political Polarization on Climate Change

Aug. 30, 2016 — A new article discusses increasing partisan polarization of American attitudes towards climate change. The article details the escalation of partisan polarization, particularly towards environmental ... read more

Environmental DNA Uncovers Biodiversity in Rivers

Aug. 30, 2016 — Researchers have used 'environmental DNA' to determine the biodiversity of a river. Previously, this involved collecting and identifying all the organisms living in it. Using environmental ... read more

High Seas Fisheries Management Could Recoup Losses Due to Climate Change

Aug. 30, 2016 — Closing the high seas to fishing could increase fish catches in coastal waters by 10 percent, helping people, especially the most vulnerable, cope with the expected losses of fish due to climate ... read more

A Changing Sun, a Changing Climate?

Aug. 29, 2016 — The sun's impact on our planet's climate has recently been a hotly debated topic in the context of climate change. The controversy around this issue has led scientists across Europe to dig ... read more

Research Priorities for the Field of Atmospheric Chemistry

Aug. 26, 2016 — Increasing energy demands and expanding industrial and agricultural activities worldwide are changing the composition of the atmosphere and contributing to major global challenges like climate change ... read more

Predictive Tool Vital to Sustainable Environmental Futures

Aug. 26, 2016 — A new predictive tool, which for the first time combines human perception of the environment with land-use planning and socioeconomic data, could help governments mitigate the impact of climate ... read more

Blending Wastewater May Help California Cope With Drought

Aug. 26, 2016 — Researchers have developed an economic model that demonstrates how flexible wastewater treatment processes which blend varying levels of treated effluent can create a water supply that benefits crops ... read more

Hurricanes Are Worse, but Experience, Gender and Politics Determine If You Believe It

Aug. 25, 2016 — Despite ample evidence that Atlantic hurricanes are getting stronger, research found that people's view of future storm threat is based on their hurricane experience, gender and political ... read more

Biofuels Increase, Rather Than Decrease, Heat-Trapping Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Aug. 25, 2016 — A new study challenges the widely held assumption that biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel are inherently carbon ... read more

Hay Fever from Ragweed Pollen Could Double Due to Climate Change

Aug. 24, 2016 — Climate change could cause new hay fever misery for millions of people across Europe -- according to a new report. Hay fever is a common allergic condition that is caused by an allergy to pollen -- ... read more

Global Climate Models Do Not Easily Downscale for Regional Predictions

Aug. 24, 2016 — One size does not always fit all, especially when it comes to global climate models, according to climate researchers who caution users of climate model projections to take into account the increased ... read more

Climate Change: Trade Liberalization Could Buffer Economic Losses in Agriculture

Aug. 24, 2016 — Global warming could create substantial economic damage in agriculture, a new study finds. Around the globe, climate change threatens agricultural productivity, forcing up food prices. As the ... read more

Humans Have Caused Climate Change for 180 Years

Aug. 24, 2016 — An international research project has found human activity has been causing global warming for almost two centuries, proving human-induced climate change is not just a 20th century ... read more

Human Footprint Surprisingly Outpaced by Population and Economic Growth

Aug. 23, 2016 — The global impact of human activities on the natural environment is extensive, but those impacts are expanding at a slower rate than the rate of economic and population ... read more

Biological Invasions Threaten Developing Countries

Aug. 23, 2016 — Invasions from alien species such as Japanese knotweed and grey squirrels threaten the economies and livelihoods of residents of some of the world's poorest nations, new research ... read more

Climate Change May Extend Ozone Season in the Southeastern US

Aug. 22, 2016 — Extreme weather conditions associated with climate change may extend the ozone season in the Southeastern United States as drought-stressed trees emit more of the precursor compound that helps form ... read more

Pro-Nuclear Countries Making Slower Progress on Climate Targets

Aug. 22, 2016 — A strong national commitment to nuclear energy goes hand in hand with weak performance on climate change targets, researchers have ... read more

Thursday, September 1, 2016