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Archive for December 10th, 2014
Wetlands Face More Invaders With Climate Change
Posted by Nature World: None Given on December 10th, 2014
Nature World: Invasive species are becoming more and more of a problem, especially as climate change warms parts of the Northern Hemisphere, making regions more habitable for invaders. This is particularly true for wetlands, a new study finds, where changing temperatures are tipping the scales in favor of nonnative plant species.
The study, published in the journal Ecological Applications, details how factors like changing surface-water temperature, rainfall patterns, and river flow is contributing to the rise...
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23 New Species Wait for Endangered Species Act Protection
Posted by Nature World: Brian Stallard on December 10th, 2014
Nature World: The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) recently released a new appraisal of plant and animal status, naming 23 new species that have been added to the list of candidates for Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection.
With these latest additions, there are now 146 different species that could get ESA protection in the near-future. However, it's important to note that being on this list does not necessarily mean that the named plants and animals are in immediate danger. Instead, it simply...
What’s role climate in sociopolitical disasters?
Posted by Mother Nature Network: Gerri Miller on December 10th, 2014
Mother Nature Network: It's not your imagination that heat waves, hurricanes, floods and droughts are occurring more frequently and with greater intensity. Global warming is at the root of the problem, but its impact goes beyond the environment. As the PBS special "Extreme Realities: Severe Weather, Climate Change, and Our National Security" explains, "severe weather is the new normal," and it is having catastrophic domino effect on the geopolitical landscape. Part of the "Journey to Planet Earth" series, the PBS program...
New Studies Close in Methane Leaks and Bolster Calls Strong EPA Rules
Posted by New York Times: Andrew Revkin on December 10th, 2014
New York Times: A new peer-reviewed analysis of sources of leaks in natural gas drilling and well operations strongly bolsters growing calls for the Environmental Protection Agency to settle on regulations cutting wasteful, harmful emissions of methane from both new and existing oil and natural gas wells. Methane is the main constituent of natural gas but also a powerful heat-trapping gas that is often accompanied by other pollutants that can worsen local air pollution. The study, by researchers at the University...
Thousands in Lima march for planet
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on December 10th, 2014
Agence France-Presse: Thousands of people marched in central Lima against the abuse of Earth's resources Wednesday, urging ministers haggling over a world climate deal to ensure a global switch to 100-percent clean energy by 2050.
Students, environmentalists, workers, women's defenders, anti-poverty activists and indigenous groups joined the "People's Climate March" in the Peruvian capital, chanting "Water yes, gold no! The water is ours!"
The colorful line of festive protesters snaked its way from El Campo de Marte...
Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells ‘High Emitters’ Methane Gas
Posted by EcoWatch: None Given on December 10th, 2014
EcoWatch: Natural gas has been sold to us as the environmentally friendly fossil fuel compared to gas or coal since it doesn’t release carbon emissions. We’ve learned that’s not true, since drilling for natural gas can release methane, a far more potential greenhouse gas in contributing to climate change. Now there’s some more bad news regarding the methane that’s a byproduct of oil and gas drilling operations, including fracking operations. Two studies found that the amount of methane leaked by oil and gas...
US House gives Great Lakes cleanup 5 more years
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on December 10th, 2014
Associated Press: The U.S. House approved a five-year extension Tuesday of a Great Lakes cleanup program that has pumped more than $1.6 billion into removing toxins, battling invasive species and making progress on other longstanding environmental threats. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has drawn rare bipartisan support in Congress since President Barack Obama started it in 2010. It has funded about 2,200 grants for water quality projects across the eight-state region. Among them: dredging sediments laced...