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Environmental News

February 26, 2010

12:53
An enormous iceberg in Antarctica plowed into a peninsula made of ice and snapped it off, creating a second gigantic iceberg. The new 48-mile-long floating island of ice could make life difficult for the penguin colony made famous by the movie March of the Penguins.
11:00
With global threats like ocean warming and acidification, it's a tough time to be a coral. Marine ecologists John Bruno and Elizabeth Selig analyzed over 8,000 coral surveys from all over the world to see if local management through Marine Protected Areas had any positive effect on coral.

February 25, 2010

22:00
The government is expected to decide next month whether a private developer can build the country's first offshore wind farm off Cape Cod, Mass. The project has been on a winning streak with court victories and state approvals, but it hasn't won the support of local officials or American Indians.

February 23, 2010

12:03
When it comes to climate change, some look at the facts presented and see a coming catastrophe, while others see a hoax. This difference in interpretation, social scientists say, has more to do with each individual's existing outlook than with the facts.
02:00
Some local chapters of environmental groups find themselves battling their national leadership over issues like natural gas. The national groups see natural gas as a less-harmful alternative to coal. But local groups fear the damage that gas production could bring to their fresh water and landscapes.

February 22, 2010

22:00
California's towering redwoods depend on coastal fog for much of their yearly water supply. But in a new study scientists report that the long-term health of these iconic trees may be in danger as weather changes could contribute to fewer days in the mist.
22:00
California is about to enact a law that requires new buildings to meet green standards. But advocates of historic preservation say these standards encourage the demolition of old buildings, while some environmentalists say the law isn't progressive enough.
13:00
A new study says paying less for hospital care doesn't necessarily mean you get lower-quality care. The study's lead author, Dr. Lena Chen, a clinical lecturer at the University of Michigan Health System, says they would like to understand why there is a "huge range" in costs between hospitals.
11:18
Climate scientists are on the defensive after doubt was cast on their objectivity. Most say the evidence for a warming world is still as strong as ever. But some now acknowledge they need to do some housecleaning and improve their public relations skills so skeptics don't glom on to mistakes.

February 21, 2010

13:00
George Lakoff, a professor of linguists at the University of California, Berkeley, and a specialist in "framing" the way language shapes the way we think, tells host Guy Raz that the future of climate change legislation depends on the words used to explain it.
13:00
Last year, Democrat Henry Waxman of California helped pass a climate change bill in the House of Representatives, the American Clean Energy and Security Act; its fate is unclear. On the Senate side, Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington and Republican Olympia Snowe of Maine have proposed a climate change bill as well, called the Carbon Limits and Energy for America's Renewal, or CLEAR. Host Guy Raz speaks with each of them about the possibility of climate change legislation passing through Congress this year.

February 19, 2010

12:00
On Tuesday, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and other state officials announced a lawsuit challenging the EPA in federal court for its recent finding that CO2 is a pollutant. The state is a major contributor of the gas, and Perry says the EPA's ruling threatens Texas businesses, farms and even churches.

February 18, 2010

05:50
Yvo de Boer resigning after nearly four years in which governments struggled without success to agree on a new global warming deal. His departure takes effect July 1, five months before 193 nations are due to reconvene in Mexico for another attempt to reach a binding accord.

February 16, 2010

22:00
So Volkswagen has this new concept car — give it two gallons of gas, and it will go 416 miles without a stop. But German engineers, meet your fuel-efficiency master: the honeybee.

February 15, 2010

13:00
The former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says collective global diplomacy rather than isolation is the preferred course of action when handling Iran and its nuclear program. Mohammed ElBaradei also says sanctions should not be the only tool while dealing with the Islamic republic.
02:00
Rising sea levels are destroying the fields and livelihoods of people on Sagar Island in the Bay of Bengal. Refugees arrived from a nearby island after it was swallowed up by waves. Scientists say climate change is a factor. Residents of the island, which is a sacred place for Hindus, say God is responsible.

February 14, 2010

22:00
With snow blanketing much of the country, the topic of global warming has become the butt of jokes. But most scientists who study the climate don't see a contradiction between a warming world and lots of snow.

February 12, 2010

11:00
A century after the Weather Bureau began to offer regular forecasts, the government is proposing the creation of a similar service focused on climate change and its effects. NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco discusses the proposed "National Climate Service."

December 30, 2009

08:00
A few years ago, trees started coming down across the road from Joan Graham's Michigan horse farm. She set in place a plan to conserve her land after her death by giving it to a conservancy. But just to be safe, she added a grave twist: She would have her body — and anyone else who wanted to join her — buried on the land.

December 28, 2009

13:14
Officials in Richmond, Calif., want to raise Chevron's taxes and are blocking refinery upgrades, pending environmental review. Chevron is California's largest greenhouse gas producer. While the company tries to improve its image, it's also hinting that it might be time to relocate.

Goldman Environmental Prize