Coronavirus outbreak highlights threats to ecosystems and wildlife
Diseases passed from animals to humans are on the rise, as the world continues to see unprecedented destruction…
Conservationists set the record straight on COVID-19’s wildlife links
by: Liz Kimbrough and Mongabay • The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been characterized by the World…
Earth Hour 2020
On Saturday, 28 March at 8:30 p.m. local time, Earth Hour, one of the largest global grassroots movements…
World Water Day 2020
World Water Day, on 22 March every year, is about focusing attention on the importance of water. This…
WWF report reveals countries to be worst affected by loss of nature
If the world doesn’t act urgently to address the nature and climate emergency, the world stands to see…
Toxic Air: The Price of Fossil Fuel
by: Greenpeace A new report by Greenpeace reveals the cost of air pollution from fossil fuels and highlights…
Coronavirus outbreak highlights threats to ecosystems and wildlife
Diseases passed from animals to humans are on the rise, as the world continues to see unprecedented destruction of wild habitats by human activity. Scientists suggest that degraded habitats may encourage more rapid evolutionary processes and diversification of diseases, as pathogens spread easily to livestock and humans. The World Health Organization reports that an animal…
Conservationists set the record straight on COVID-19’s wildlife links
by: Liz Kimbrough and Mongabay • The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been characterized by the World Health Organization as a pandemic. As the virus spreads, so too does misinformation about its origins. • Rumors that COVID-19 was manufactured in a lab or that we know with full certainty which animal host passed the…
Earth Hour 2020
On Saturday, 28 March at 8:30 p.m. local time, Earth Hour, one of the largest global grassroots movements for the environment, will bring people together around the world to show their commitment to the planet. With global biodiversity declining at an unprecedented and alarming rate, up to one million species threatened with extinction and the…
World Water Day 2020
World Water Day, on 22 March every year, is about focusing attention on the importance of water. This year’s theme, ‘Water and Climate Change’, explores how water and climate change are inextricably linked. The idea for this international day goes back to 1992, the year in which the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development…
WWF report reveals countries to be worst affected by loss of nature
If the world doesn’t act urgently to address the nature and climate emergency, the world stands to see $10 trillion wiped off the global economy over the next 30 years A new report from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reveals for the first time the countries whose economies would be worst affected over the next…
Toxic Air: The Price of Fossil Fuel
by: Greenpeace A new report by Greenpeace reveals the cost of air pollution from fossil fuels and highlights solutions that can protect our health and benefit our communities. Air pollution generated from burning fossil fuels is attributed to approximately 4.5 million premature deaths worldwide every year, the report shows. Air pollution increases the incidence of…
World failing to provide children with a healthy life and a climate for their future
As climate and commercial threats intensify, WHO-UNICEF-Lancet Commission presses for radical rethink on child health No single country is adequately protecting children’s health, their environment and their futures, finds a landmark report released today by a Commission of over 40 child and adolescent health experts from around the world. The Commission was convened by…
January 2020 was Earth’s Warmest January on Record
By Brian Donegan (weather.com) • Earth had its warmest January on record in 2020. • Temperature departures in January were the highest ever recorded in any month without an El Niño. • Record warmth was found in parts of Scandinavia, Asia and Central and South America. January 2020 was Earth’s warmest January in 141…
PFAS Contamination of Drinking Water
New Detections of ‘Forever Chemicals’ in New York, D.C., Other Major Cities By: Sydney Evans, David Andrews, Ph.D., Tasha Stoiber, Ph.D., and Olga Naidenko, Ph.D. Environmental Working Group www.ewg.org New laboratory tests commissioned by EWG have for the first time found the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS in the drinking water of dozens…
Climate Fires and Political Flame Wars Rage
• Severe threats to our climate account for all of the Global Risks Report’s top long-term risks, with “economic confrontations” and “domestic political polarization” recognized as significant short-term risks in 2020 • It warns that geopolitical turbulence and the retreat from multilateralism threatens everyone’s ability to tackle shared, critical global risks • Without urgent attention…
Arctic Report Card: Record territory for warm temperatures, loss of snow and ice
Annual update charts ongoing impact of changing conditions on environment, communities NOAA’s 14th Arctic Report Card recounts the numerous geophysical and biological changes that occurred in the northern polar region during 2019, with near-record high air and ocean temperatures and melting of the Greenland ice sheet, low sea-ice extents, and shifts in the distribution…
Half of World’s GDP Moderately or Highly Dependent on Nature
The latest science tells us that about 25% of our assessed plant and animal species are threatened by human actions, with a million species facing extinction, many within decades Businesses are more dependent on nature than previously thought, with approximately $44 trillion of economic value generation moderately or highly dependent on nature Construction, agriculture, and…
Fashion customers want to purchase from retailers with strong environmental practices
Although more than three quarters of consumers would like to shop more from retailers with strong environmental values, only 39% would be willing to pay more for ethical brands, according to a new report. The report is the second in a series on Understanding and Influencing the Customer Journey for Fashion from law firm Penningtons…
UN Convention on Biodiversity Proposes Protection of at Least 30 Percent of the Planet by 2030
Protecting areas of particular importance for biodiversity The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity has released its ‘zero draft’ text proposal for a post-2020 global biodiversity framework. Featured in the text is a target to protect at least 30% of the planet — land and sea — by 2030. The draft text is a proposed…
2019 concludes a decade of exceptional global heat and high-impact weather
The year 2019 concludes a decade of exceptional global heat, retreating ice and record sea levels driven by greenhouse gases from human activities. Average temperatures for the five-year (2015-2019) and ten-year (2010-2019) periods are almost certain to be the highest on record. 2019 is on course to be the second or third warmest year on…
Marine life, fisheries increasingly threatened as the ocean loses oxygen
The loss of oxygen from the world’s ocean is increasingly threatening fish species and disrupting ecosystems, a new IUCN report warns. Ocean oxygen loss, driven by climate change and nutrient pollution, is a growing menace to fisheries and species such as tuna, marlin and sharks, according to the report released today at the UN Climate…
Greenhouse gas concentrations in atmosphere reach yet another high
Levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have reached another new record high, according to the World Meteorological Organization. This continuing long-term trend means that future generations will be confronted with increasingly severe impacts of climate change, including rising temperatures, more extreme weather, water stress, sea level rise and disruption to marine and land…
Cut global emissions by 7.6 percent every year to meet Paris Agreement target
On current unconditional pledges, the world is heading for a 3.2°C temperature rise Technologies and policy knowledge exist to cut emissions, but transformations must begin now G20 nations account for 78 per cent of all emissions, but 15 G20 members have not committed to a timeline for net-zero emissions On the eve of a year…
How the fossil fuel “production gap” hinders climate goals
The new Production Gap Report — produced by SEI, IISD, ODI, CICERO, Climate Analytics and the UN Environment Programme — shows that the world is on track to produce 120% more fossil fuels than can be burned under 1.5°C warming. The world is awash in fossil fuels. From the vast reservoirs of oil and gas…
Plastic Atlas demonstrates scale of plastic pollution crisis
The Heinrich Böll Foundation and the Break Free From Plastic movement have published the international English edition of the Plastic Atlas. The Plastic Atlas contains more than 49 detailed infographics covering a broad range of topics regarding the plastic pollution crisis looking along the entire value chain of plastic. The atlas highlights the scale of…
Coca-Cola, Nestlé and PepsiCo named top plastic polluters
Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and PepsiCo are the top 3 most identified companies in global brand audits for the second year in a row, according to a new report “BRANDED Volume II: Identifying the World’s Top Corporate Plastic Polluters.” Four hundred and eighty-four cleanups in over 50 countries and 6 continents, organised by the Break Free From…
Report calls on major food companies to use water resources more efficiently
Third edition of “Feeding Ourselves Thirsty” report reveals improved scores in water management practices from industry giants such as Mars, Incorporated and Unilever, but finds insufficient corporate action overall in an increasingly water-stressed world. Major food companies need to adopt far stronger practices to reduce their demands and impacts on limited water resources, according to…
Global solar PV market set for spectacular growth over next 5 years
The installation of solar PV systems on homes, commercial buildings and industrial facilities is set to take off over the next five years, transforming the way electricity is generated and consumed, according to the International Energy Agency’s latest renewable energy market forecast. These applications – known collectively as distributed PV – are the focus of…
Clean Air Cities: Healthy Air for Every Citizen
Nine out of 10 people around the world are breathing dirty air.(1) Not only does this lead to early death and increased disease, it impacts our economies and reduces opportunities for our citizens to thrive. It is the poorest and most vulnerable communities in our cities that are most at risk. Breathing clean air is…
Emerging pollutants poisoning our environment
According to the World Health Organization, antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today. A growing number of infections—such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, and salmonellosis—are becoming harder to treat as the antibiotics used to treat them become less effective. Antibiotic resistance leads to longer hospital stays, higher…
Choices made now critical for future of ocean and cryosphere
The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report highlights the urgency of prioritizing timely, ambitious and coordinated action to address unprecedented and enduring changes in the ocean and cryosphere. The report reveals the benefits of ambitious and effective adaptation for sustainable development and, conversely, the escalating costs and risks of delayed action. The…
Record greenhouse gas concentrations mean further warming
The tell-tale signs and impacts of climate change – such as sea level rise, ice loss and extreme weather – increased during 2015-2019, which is set to be the warmest five-year period on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere have also increased to record levels, locking in…
Amazon Co-founds The Climate Pledge
Commits to net zero carbon by 2040 and 100% renewable energy by 2030 Orders 100,000 fully-electric delivery vehicles, the largest order ever for electric delivery vehicles Invests $100 million in reforestation projects around the world to begin removing carbon from the atmosphere now Launches new sustainability website to report progress on commitments Amazon and…
United Nations announces 2019 Climate Action Summit ‘Clean Air Initiative’
Ahead of the upcoming 2019 Climate Action Summit, the United Nations, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) and Climate and Clean Air Coalition announced today the “Clean Air Initiative”, calling on governments at all levels to join the Initiative. The “Clean Air Initiative” calls on national and subnational governments…
Scientists call for action to avoid reversing the development gains of recent decades
Achieving human well-being and eradicating poverty for all of the Earth’s people—expected to number eight and a half billion by 2030—is still possible, but only if there is a fundamental—and urgent—change in the relationship between people and nature, and a significant reduction in social and gender inequalities between and inside countries, according to a new…
WHO calls for research into microplastics and a crackdown on plastic pollution
The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for a further assessment of microplastics in the environment and their potential impacts on human health, following the release of an analysis of current research related to microplastics in drinking-water. The Organization also calls for a reduction in plastic pollution to benefit the environment and reduce human exposure.…
July 2019 was hottest month on record
Polar sea ice melted to record lows Much of the planet sweltered in unprecedented heat in July, as temperatures soared to new heights in the hottest month ever recorded. The record warmth also shrank Arctic and Antarctic sea ice to historic lows. Climate by the numbers July 2019 The average global temperature in July…
Land is a Critical Resource, IPCC report says
Land is already under growing human pressure and climate change is adding to these pressures. At the same time, keeping global warming to well below 2ºC can be achieved only by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors including land and food, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said in its latest report. The…
Air pollution can accelerate lung disease as much as cigarettes
Air pollution—especially ozone air pollution which is increasing with climate change—accelerates the progression of emphysema of the lung, according to a new study led by the University of Washington, Columbia University and the University at Buffalo. While previous studies have shown a clear connection of air pollutants with some heart and lung diseases, the new…
28 companies worth $1.3 trillion step up climate ambition
Ahead of the UN Climate Action Summit, companies commit to set 1.5°C climate targets aligned with a net-zero future, challenging Governments to match their ambition. Twenty-eight companies with a total market capitalization of $1.3 trillion are stepping up to set a new level of climate ambition in response to a call-to-action campaign ahead of the…
Earth Overshoot Day 2019
Global Footprint Network promotes real-world solutions that #MoveTheDate, accelerating the transition to one-planet prosperity On July 29, humanity will have used nature’s resource budget for the entire year, according to Global Footprint Network, an international sustainability organization that has pioneered the Ecological Footprint. It is Earth Overshoot Day. Its date has moved up two months…
Renewable energy investment in 2018 hit $288.9 billion
• Global investment 11 per cent down compared to 2017, driven in part by falling solar costs • Renewable energy investment in most of the developing world increased 6 per cent to USD 61.6 billion, a record high • Investment in Europe rose 39 per cent to USD 61.2 billion Global investment in renewable energy…
Make Fashion Circular launches the Jeans Redesign
Leading fashion brands and manufacturers are to transform the way they produce jeans, tackling waste, pollution, and the use of harmful practices, thanks to new guidelines published by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The Jeans Redesign Guidelines set out minimum requirements on garment durability, material health, recyclability, and traceability. Based on the principles of the circular…
1 in 3 people globally do not have access to safe drinking water
New report on inequalities in access to water, sanitation and hygiene also reveals more than half of the world does not have access to safe sanitation services. Billions of people around the world are continuing to suffer from poor access to water, sanitation and hygiene, according to a new report by UNICEF and the World…
More Access to Electricity, but World Falling Short of Energy Goals
Despite significant progress in recent years, the world is falling short of meeting the global energy targets set in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for 2030. Ensuring affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030 remains possible but will require more sustained efforts, particularly to reach some of the world’s poorest…
WMO verifies 3rd and 4th hottest temperature recorded on Earth
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has officially evaluated temperature record extremes of 54.0 °C at two locations, one in Mitribah, Kuwait, on 21 July 2016 and a second in Turbat, Pakistan, on 28 May 2017. In its most intensive evaluation ever undertaken, the WMO Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes, has verified the Mitribah observation…
The lung is not the only organ affected by air pollution
The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) warns that air pollution exposure affects many organs beyond the lungs, posing a great risk to health. Outdoor fine particulate matter exposure is the fifth leading risk factor for death in the world, accounting for 4.2 million deaths and 103 million disability-adjusted life years lost according to the…
World Environment Day
Celebrated every year on June 5, World Environment Day is the United Nations’ biggest annual event for positive environmental action to encourage worldwide awareness of the need to protect our planet. Since the first World Environment Day in 1974, the event has grown to become a global platform for positive public outreach on the environment…
Global Environmental Impact of Plastics Reveals Severe Damage to Climate
Study Recommends Solutions, Including Phasing Out Single-Use Plastics In 2019 alone, the production and incineration of plastic will add more than 850 million metric tons of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere—equal to the pollution from 189 new 500-megawatt coal-fired power plants, according to a new report, Plastic & Climate: The Hidden Costs of a Plastic…
High Levels of Dioxins Found in Children’s Toys
Alarming levels of some of the most toxic chemicals, including brominated dioxins and brominated flame retardants, were found in consumer products made of recycled plastics sold in Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, the EU, India, Japan and Nigeria. Dioxins were measured in children’s toys and hair accessories at levels comparable to those found in hazardous wastes,…
IPBES Global Assessment
A definitive new global synthesis of the state of nature, ecosystems and nature’s contributions to people — the first such report since the landmark Millennium Ecosystem Assessment published in 2005, and the first ever that is inter-governmental — will be presented to representatives of 132 Governments for consideration of approval in May 2019. Prepared by…
Goldman Environmental Prize Honors Six Environmental Heroes
During its 30th anniversary year, award recognizes activists from Chile, North Macedonia, Liberia, Mongolia, Cook Islands, and the USA San Francisco Prize ceremony to include former Vice President Al Gore The Goldman Environmental Foundation today announced six recipients of the 2019 Goldman Environmental Prize, the world’s foremost award for grassroots environmental activists. Awarded annually to…
Global Deal for Nature
Conservation scientists, NGOs and indigenous leaders urge governments to adopt a “Global Deal for Nature” as a companion to the Paris Climate Agreement, to tackle the interlinked crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. A corresponding study establishes science-based conservation targets for the entire planet The private sector has continued to come together to mobilize…
State of Global Air 2019 Report
Exposure to Air Pollution Shortens Life of a Child Born Today by over 20 Months China Beginning to Make Progress, But South Asia’s Air Pollution, Health Impacts Continue to Worsen Worldwide Air Pollution Greater Health Risk Factor Than Malnutrition or Lack of Exercise, and Just Behind Smoking Exposure to outdoor and indoor air pollution could,…
WMO Statement on the State of the Global Climate
The physical signs and socio-economic impacts of climate change are accelerating as record greenhouse gas concentrations drive global temperatures towards increasingly dangerous levels, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization. The WMO Statement on the State of the Global Climate in 2018, its 25th anniversary edition, highlights record sea level rise, as…
Earth Day – April 22
Each year upwards of 500 million people in 174 countries celebrate Earth Day, the largest secular holiday in the world. Earth Day is a great reminder for everyone otherwise just going about their daily lives that we should all be doing more to protect ecosystems, fight climate change and live greener lifestyles. According to Earth…
EWG’s 2019 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™
Kale, on List for First Time in a Decade, Ranks 3rd on Dirty Dozen™ Kale has higher pesticide residues than nearly all other produce found on supermarket shelves, according to the Environmental Working Group’s 2019 Dirty Dozen™. EWG releases the Dirty Dozen as part of its annual Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™, which analyzes…
UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion addresses damage of ‘Fast Fashion’
• The UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion is seeking to halt the environmentally and socially destructive practices of fashion. • The fashion industry is the second-biggest consumer of water and is responsible for 8-10 per cent of global carbon emissions – more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. • The launch event is…
Human Health in Dire Straights if Urgent Actions are not made to protect the environment
The most comprehensive and rigorous assessment on the state of the environment completed by the UN in the last five years was published recently, warning that damage to the planet is so dire that people’s health will be increasingly threatened unless urgent action is taken. The report, which was produced by 250 scientists and experts…
Make this the year of ‘transformative solutions’ to avert disastrous climate change: UN Deputy Chief
It is within our power to make 2019 the “year of transformative solutions” and “avoid the disastrous effects of climate change“, which threaten ecosystems, the global economy, health and security, the UN Deputy Secretary-General told delegates gathered in Nairobi for the UN Environment Assembly, in mid-March. Amina Mohammed said that she had been inspired by…
Human Activity in China and India Dominates the Greening of Earth
The world is literally a greener place than it was 20 years ago, and data from NASA satellites has revealed a counterintuitive source for much of this new foliage: China and India. A new study shows that the two emerging countries with the world’s biggest populations are leading the increase in greening on land. The…
Oil-Producing Countries Block Progress on Geoengineering Governance at UN
Under pressure from high-emitting, oil-producing countries, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) failed to advance a proposal to examine the risks of geoengineering technologies and to consider the need for a stricter governance framework. While many countries at the fourth UNEA meeting in Nairobi this week defended a precautionary approach that would build upon the…
Research highlights true impacts of plastics on our planet, ecosystems, people
The global fight against plastic pollution comes into sharp focus at the Fourth UN Environment Assembly this month in Nairobi, Kenya, with the launch of three reports each addressing different aspects of, and solutions for, the growing impact of plastics on the world’s marine environments. The report, Plastics and Shallow Water Coral Reefs, spotlights the…
Urgent action needed to tackle chemical pollution
• The size of the global chemical industry exceeded US$5 trillion in 2017 and is projected to double by 2030. • The benefits of action to minimize the adverse impacts of chemicals have been estimated in the high tens of billions of United States dollars annually. • International treaties and voluntary instruments have reduced the…
Meet six environmentalists who are changing the world
The application portal for the Young Champions of the Earth prize, is open. We present you with the story of six environmentalists who are already making waves and changing the world. We hope these stories will inspire and motivate you to apply. Find out if you have what it takes to be a Young Champion…
Plastic Threatens Human Health at a Global Scale
A new report released today reveals that plastic is a human health crisis hiding in plain sight. Plastic & Health: The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet, authored by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Earthworks, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), Healthy Babies Bright Futures (HBBF), IPEN, Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services (t.e.j.a.s.),…
The Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement 2019
The 2019 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement – often described as the ‘Nobel Prize for the Environment’ – has been awarded to climate scientists Michael E. Mann and Warren M. Washington. “The Tyler Prize Executive Committee is honored to recognize two outstanding scientists, who have not only advanced our knowledge of Climate Change, but also…
Dramatic Growth in Laws to Protect Environment, But Widespread Failure to Enforce
The first ever global assessment of environmental rule of law finds weak enforcement to be a global trend that is exacerbating environmental threats, despite prolific growth in environmental laws and agencies worldwide over the last four decades. Despite a 38-fold increase in environmental laws put in place since 1972, failure to fully implement and enforce…
World’s top green businesses revealed in the CDP A List
• CDP names over 140 corporations recognized as pioneers for action on climate change, water and deforestation. • Apple, Firmenich, Johnson & Johnson, L’Oréal, Mitsubishi Electric, Nestle, and Unileverare among the leaders. • CDP scored over 6,800 companies from A to D-; only the top 2% made the A List. Designed to harness the competitive…
Global shopping platform, Loop™ aims to offer zero-waste packaging options for the world’s most popular consumer products
A cadre of global companies from the plastics, chemicals and CPG value chain that has banded together to advance solutions to environmental plastic waste — a coalition of the largest consumer product companies, along with international recycling leader TerraCycle, today unveiled a first-of-its-kind, global shopping system called Loop™. The initiative is designed to change the…
Over the next 100 years the full impact that climate change is having on groundwater resources will become apparent in half of the world’s aquifers
The findings come from the first assessment of how long it could take groundwater to react to the impacts of climate change in different parts of the world. The regions most “sensitive” to changes in climate include humid and wet areas, such as the Amazon, Indonesia and parts of central Africa, the research shows. In…
Environmental Risks Dominate World Economic Forum Survey
Environmental risks continue to dominate the World Economic Forum’s annual Global Risks Perception Survey, accounting for three of the top five risks by likelihood and four by impact. Extreme weather topped the list, but there is mounting concern about environmental policy failure, with failure of climate-change mitigation and adaptation being the second major risk in…
Alliance to End Plastic Waste
An alliance of global companies from the plastics and consumer goods value chain today launched a new organization to advance solutions to eliminate plastic waste in the environment, especially in the ocean. The cross value chain Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW), currently made up of nearly thirty member companies, has committed over $1.0 billion…
Evidence on microplastics does not yet point to widespread risk
The best available evidence suggests that microplastics and nanoplastics do not pose a widespread risk to humans or the environment, except in small pockets. But that evidence is limited, and the situation could change if pollution continues at the current rate. This is the verdict of a group of experts, nominated by academies across Europe,…
Copernicus Climate Change Service reports that 2018 was an exceptionally warm year
C3S and CAMS are services of the European Union’s Earth observation programme Copernicus and are implemented by ECMWF. Their data provide the first complete, global picture of 2018 temperatures and CO2 levels. The results are in line with previous projections from WMO and the Global Carbon Project (GCP) for 2018. The temperature dataset of the…
Plastic recycling: an underperforming sector ripe for a remake
While there is no silver-bullet solution to the toxic tide of plastic surging into our oceans, recycling must form part of the answer. The problem, many experts say, is that current processes are not fit for purpose. The world produces around 300 million tons of plastic waste each year. To date, only 9 per cent…
Marine pollution crime: first global multi-agency operation
An international law enforcement operation against maritime pollution has revealed hundreds of violations and exposed serious cases of contamination worldwide. Codenamed 30 Days at Sea, the month-long (October 2018) operation saw some 276 law enforcement and environmental agencies across 58 countries detect more than 500 offences, including illegal discharges of oil and garbage from vessels,…
Health benefits far outweigh the costs of meeting climate change goals
Meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement could save about a million lives a year worldwide by 2050 through reductions in air pollution alone. The latest estimates from leading experts also indicate that the value of health gains from climate action would be approximately double the cost of mitigation policies at global level, and the…
Air pollution reduces global life expectancy by nearly 2 years
Loss of life expectancy is highest in Asia, exceeding 6 years in many parts of India and China; some residents of the United States still lose up to a year of life from pollution. Fossil fuel-driven particulate air pollution cuts global average life expectancy by 1.8 years per person, according to a new pollution index…
Carbon emissions from advanced economies set to rise in 2018 for first time in five years
The world’s advanced economies will see an uptick in their carbon dioxide emissions this year, bucking a five year-long decline, according to the International Energy Agency. Based on the latest available energy data, energy-related CO2 emissions in North America, the European Union and other advanced economies in Asia Pacific grew, as higher oil and gas…
Nations increasing wealth at the expense of environment
The Republic of Korea, Singapore and Malta come out on top of biennial survey of growth in the wealth of nations, the preliminary findings of which were presented by UN Environment and partners on November 26 in Paris. The Inclusive Wealth Report 2018, the full findings of which will be released in coming weeks, shows…
Dioxins found in plastic toys
A new study, “Toxic Soup: Dioxins in Plastic Toys”, shows alarming levels of very toxic brominated dioxins in eight toys and one hair clip made of recycled plastic stemming from electronic waste. Dioxin content in toys from Czechia, Germany, France, Portugal, Argentina, India and Nigeria was comparable to the levels found in previous studies in…
Renewables offer G20 countries the best opportunity to achieve climate goals
The IPCC special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C, released in October 2018, was unequivocal: urgent global action at an unprecedented scale and speed are needed if the world is going to avert catastrophic climate change. With only 12 years left to keep global temperature rise below 1.5% of pre-industrial levels, the…
Montreal Protocol assessment reveals healing ozone, untapped potential for climate action
The latest Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion reveals a healing ozone layer, global warming reduction potential, and options for more ambitious climate action. The quadrennial review from the Scientific Assessment Panel of the Montreal Protocol will be presented here at the 30th Meeting of the Parties to this historic accord. Its findings confirm first and…
Wyss Foundation Launches $1 Billion Campaign to Help Conserve 30% of the Planet by 2030
To confront the growing global conservation crisis, the Wyss Foundation announced today it is launching an unprecedented $1 billion campaign to help rapidly expand the proportion of the Earth’s lands and oceans that are conserved so current and future generations can drink clean water, breathe clean air, and experience the wonders of the natural world.…
WWF report reveals staggering extent of human impact on planet
• The Living Planet Index indicates that global populations of vertebrate species have, on average, declined in size by 60 per cent in just over 40 years. • The biggest drivers of current biodiversity loss are overexploitation and agriculture, both linked to continually increasing human consumption. • Runaway human consumption is severely undermining nature’s ability…
More than 90% of the world’s children breathe toxic air every day
Every day around 93% of the world’s children under the age of 15 years (1.8 billion children) breathe air that is so polluted it puts their health and development at serious risk. Tragically, many of them die: WHO estimates that in 2016, 600,000 children died from acute lower respiratory infections caused by polluted air. A…
Global Commitment to eliminate plastic pollution
A Global Commitment to eradicate plastic waste and pollution at the source has been signed by 250 organisations including many of the world’s largest packaging producers, brands, retailers and recyclers, as well as governments and NGOs. The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment is led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in collaboration with UN Environment, and…
Broad Class of Pesticides Puts Children at Risk for Reduced IQ, Learning Disabilities
Leading Scientists Call for EPA to Ban All Organophosphate Pesticides and Urge Comprehensive Steps to Protect Children On October 24 leading toxics experts released a scientific paper in the journal PLOS Medicine warning of the dangers widely-used agricultural pesticides pose to children’s health and development. The authors found that exposure to organophosphate pesticides, even…
Re-thinking production to boost circular economies
Value-retention practices such as re-manufacturing, refurbishment, repair, and direct re-use could cut industrial waste by between 80 and 99 per cent in some sectors. Greenhouse gas emissions could fall by 79 to 99 per cent across these sectors if value-retention practices were adopted. Embracing a circular economy can lead to new jobs and markets. Re-thinking…
International lead poisoning prevention week of action
From 21 to 27 October 2018 the international lead poisoning prevention week of action will take place, with a particular focus on eliminating lead paint. Lead poisoning is preventable, yet the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation has estimated that, based on 2016 data, lead exposure accounted for 540 000 deaths and 13.9 million years…
Over 90% of sampled salt brands globally found to contain microplastics
Over 90% of sampled salt brands globally were found to contain microplastics, with the highest number coming from salt sourced in Asia, according to a new study co-designed by Kim, Seung-Kyu, Professor at Incheon University and Greenpeace East Asia.[1] The study, which has been published in Environmental Science & Technology, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, analyzed…
IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5ºC
Limiting global warming to 1.5ºC would require rapid, far reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society, the IPCC said in a new assessment. With clear benefits to people and natural ecosystems, limiting global warming to 1.5ºC compared to2ºC coul d go hand in hand with ensuring a more sustainable and equitable society, the…
What are we doing about getting rid of all the plastic floating in the ocean?
Plastic in the ocean is a big problem that first came to widespread public attention in the late 1980s when mariners began sharing reports of what turned out to be a 1.6 million square kilometer garbage patch (that’s about three times the size of France) floating in the middle of the North Pacific about halfway…
Landmark Report Reveals Secret Fragrance Chemicals Linked to Harm
The Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP) has released a landmark report — Right to Know: Exposing Toxic Fragrance Chemicals in Beauty, Personal Care and Cleaning Products. The report exposes the presence of harmful fragrance chemicals linked to cancer, hormone disruption, reproductive harm, and respiratory toxicity that did not appear on the label. “BCPP’s report reveals…
Champions of the Earth Award
Six of the world’s most outstanding environmental changemakers will be recognized today with a Champions of the Earth Award, the UN’s highest environmental honor. This years’ laureates are recognized for a combination of bold, innovative, and tireless efforts to tackle some of the most urgent environmental issues of our times. The winners of the 2018…
Earth Overshoot Day
On August 1 humanity used nature’s resource budget for the entire year, according to Global Footprint Network, an international research organization. This date is called Earth Overshoot Day—the date when humanity’s annual demand on nature exceeds what Earth’s ecosystems can renew in that year. In other words, humanity is currently using nature 1.7 times faster…
Vertebrate population losses and declines: Earth’s ongoing mass extinction may be more severe than previously estimated
A new study suggests that Earth’s ongoing mass extinction episode is more severe than generally perceived. Rather than focusing on the complete extinction of entire species, researchers analysed the losses and declines of populations in a sample of 27 600 vertebrate species. Population declines and losses are often a prelude to species extinctions. Researchers also…
Addressing Climate Change, Secretary-General Says World’s Fate Is in Our Hands
Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks on climate change, in New York on September 10: Dear friends of planet Earth, thank you for coming to the United Nations Headquarters today. I have asked you here to sound the alarm. Climate change is the defining issue of our time — and we are at a…
Have we solved the ozone depletion problem and if so why can’t we get a handle on global warming as well?
Caption: Data from NASA shows a decrease in the seasonal ozone hole above Antarctica over the last decade thanks to the phase-out of CFCs and other ozone-depleting chemicals as called for under 1987’s landmark Montreal Protocol. Credit: Katy Mersmann/NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Global warming is certainly a hot subject in the news right…
Genetics and pollution drive severity of asthma symptoms
Finding may lead to a precision medicine approach in environmental health Asthma patients, with a specific genetic profile, exhibit more intense symptoms following exposure to traffic pollution, according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health and collaborators. The study appeared online in Scientific Reports. The research team, made up of scientists from the National…
Undervaluing ‘hidden’ benefits of rivers undermines economies and sustainable development
As floods and droughts ravage communities and countries worldwide, a WWF report published today highlights the capacity of healthy rivers to help mitigate these natural disasters but warns that all these ‘hidden’ benefits of rivers could be lost if they continue to be undervalued and overlooked. The Valuing Rivers report, released on the opening day…
How Forests Improve Kids’ Diets
Study shows forest conservation is a powerful tool to improve nutrition in developing nations A first-of-its-kind global study shows that children in 27 developing countries have better nutrition–when they live near forests. The results turn on its head the common assumption that improving nutrition in poorer countries requires clearing forests for more farmland–and, instead,…
With all the heat waves how could anyone claim that climate change isn’t anything to worry about?
It certainly is hard to believe that anyone would be able to disregard the signs that human-induced climate change is starting to have a deleterious effect on our environment and our quality of life around the planet. Here in the United States, fully one-fifth of our land mass is currently sweating through record summer heat…
Reporting on the State of the Climate in 2017
International report confirms 2017 was among the three warmest years on record A new State of the Climate report confirmed that 2017 was one of the three warmest years in records dating to the mid-1800s. Last year was one of the warmest years on record despite the lack of a short-term warming El Niño influence…
Public Finance for Energy in Africa Focuses on Fossil Fuels
Each year, approximately $20 billion from government-backed financial institutions around the world flows to energy projects in Africa. According to a new analysis by Oil Change International, nearly 60 percent of this finance from 2014 through 2016 went to support fossil fuel development, compared to 18 percent for clean energy projects. Less than 2 percent…
Some Common Food Additives May Pose Health Risks to Children
New report calls for stronger federal food safety requirements and outlines ways families can limit exposure to chemicals used to process, package and preserve everyday foods that aren’t adequately proven safe With growing evidence that some chemicals found in food colorings, preservatives, and packaging materials may harm children’s health, a new American Academy of Pediatrics…
New Chilling Prospects report shows lack of cooling access threatens health, prosperity and the climate
Report reveals major risks to vulnerable populations and global economy if investment and greater action not taken on access to sustainable cooling solutions Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) today released Chilling Prospects: Providing Sustainable Cooling for All – the first ever report to quantify the growing risks and assess the opportunities of the global cooling…
International Plastic Recycling Groups Announce Global Definition of Plastics Recyclability
In an effort to provide a consistent metric to guide the efforts of sustainability for plastics in the Circular Economy, two of the leading global international recycling organizations have developed a global definition governing the use of the term “recyclable” as is relates to plastics packaging and products. In the joint announcement, Ton Emans, President…
What can I do to help bees back from massive die-offs in recent years?
Major declines in populations of bees in North America and beyond is a big problem for farmers who depend on this free natural pollinator to help fertilize their crops that end up as food on our tables. According to the non-profit Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), $15 billion a year in U.S. crops—including apples, berries,…
Pope Francis, environmental leaders forge vision for global action
Environmental leaders, activists and advocates gathered at the Vatican on July 5 with Pope Francis to kick off a two-day Vatican-organized conference with a sense of urgency and unity. Together they hope to emerge with a momentum for greater action and a shared vision for protecting our planet. Inspired by the third anniversary of the…
How do the big gadget-making companies stack up these days regarding their environmental footprint?
While some gadget-makers are already prioritizing greener sourcing and operations, others have a long way to go. The international environmental advocacy group Greenpeace has been keeping track of the tech industry’s progress on sustainability for more than a decade, and its advocacy over the years has helped pushed several leading players to take stock of…
Sea ice loss and wave action trigger rapid ice shelf disintegrations in the Antarctic
A new study finds that when Antarctica’s massive ice shelves lack a protective buffer of sea ice, ocean swells from the north flex the shelves and can weaken their stabilizing seaward edge. Regular inundation by summer meltwater as the seaward edge breaks away can also contribute to rapid ice shelf disintegration. Because ice shelves slow…
Is Recycling Really In Trouble?
You might have heard a few scary things about recycling lately, like news headlines hinting at its demise. The industry is certainly at a crossroads but is not doomed to collapse if we mend its malfunctions. We’re going to break down what is happening and how your actions are essential in repairing recycling. Why…
New Coalition on health, environment and climate change
The heads of the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Environment and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have launched a new global coalition on health, environment and climate change. One of its overall goals is to reduce the annual 12.6 million deaths caused by environmental risks, and especially air pollution. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, UN Environment…
Governments need to act to encourage plastic recycling markets
Plastic recycling is failing to reach its full potential as low recovery rates of plastic waste, poor quality of recycled plastic and a lack of price incentives are holding back secondary plastic markets, according to a new OECD report. Given rising public concern over plastic pollution, governments should act urgently to encourage more and better…
Countdown to World Environment Day is On
World Environment Day is celebrated annually on June 5th. • India is the global host of WED 2018, with celebrations across the country and events scheduled around the world. • This year’s theme is “Beat Plastic Pollution: If you can’t reuse it, refuse it”. With World Environment Day 2018 just over 10 days away, communities…
Air conditioning use emerges as one of the key drivers of global electricity-demand growth
The growing use of air conditioners in homes and offices around the world will be one of the top drivers of global electricity demand over the next three decades, according to new analysis by the International Energy Agency that stresses the urgent need for policy action to improve cooling efficiency. A new IEA report –…
NASA Satellites Reveal Major Shifts in Global Freshwater
In a first-of-its-kind study, scientists have combined an array of NASA satellite observations of Earth with data on human activities to map locations where freshwater is changing around the globe and to determine why. The study, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, finds that Earth’s wet land areas are getting wetter and dry areas are…
Industry leaders join forces to Make Fashion Circular
At the Copenhagen Fashion Summit, some of the biggest names in fashion are joining forces to create a thriving industry based on the principles of a circular economy. Make Fashion Circular builds on the vision outlined in the Foundation’s 2017 report A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning fashion’s future. Today Dame Ellen MacArthur announces the industry…
Clean Trillion Investment Goal in Sight and Achievable, New Ceres Report Says
Analysis highlights expanding landscape of clean energy investment opportunities As global clean energy transition takes hold and the market matures, a new Ceres report released today finds that the “Clean Trillion” – the goal of an additional $1 trillion investment in clean energy per year through 2050 – is eminently feasible. The report, In Sight…
Certification Schemes Are Offering A False Promise of Sustainability
New report finds most schemes failing to achieve any protection for the environment. Many certification schemes which supposedly help consumers make environmentally friendly decisions are actually standing in the way of greater sustainability and should undergo serious reform, according to a new report. The findings come in new research from the Changing Markets Foundation, which…
9 out of 10 people worldwide breathe polluted air
Air pollution levels remain dangerously high in many parts of the world. New data from WHO shows that 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants. Updated estimations reveal an alarming death toll of 7 million people every year caused by ambient (outdoor) and household air pollution. “Air pollution threatens us…
Over 7 Billion People Face Unsafe Air: State of Global Air 2018
One in Three Globally Face a “Double Burden”: Exposed to Household Burning and Outdoor Air Pollution Air Pollution Leading Environmental Cause of Death Worldwide Seven billion people, more than 95% of the world’s population, live in areas of unhealthy air, according to a new global study. Air pollution is the leading environmental cause of…
Goldman Environmental Prize Honors Seven Environmental Heroes
Award recognizes activists from Colombia, France, Vietnam, the Philippines, South Africa, and the United States The Goldman Environmental Foundation has announced seven recipients of the 2018 Goldman Environmental Prize, the world’s largest award for grassroots environmental activists. Awarded annually to environmental heroes from each of the world’s six inhabited continental regions, the Goldman…
Evidence for Alzheimer’s, Suicide Risks from Air Pollution
photo by: Lilian Calderón-Garcidueñas A University of Montana researcher and her collaborators have published a new study that reveals increased risks for Alzheimer’s and suicide among children and young adults living in polluted megacities. Dr. Lilian Calderón-Garcidueñas said her group studied 203 autopsies of Mexico City residents ranging in age from 11 months to 40…
Global goals on energy access, renewables and efficiency will not be met without accelerated ambition
The world is not on track to achieving energy-related Sustainable Development Goals, according to a new series of Policy Briefs launched today at the United Nations. Supported by data and analysis from the International Energy Agency, this series of 27 Policy Briefs provides the latest assessment of where the world stands on goals for universal…
Why on earth would cans and other food storage containers contain toxic BPA?
If you like the occasional can of tomato soup or diced pears, chances are you’re walking around with trace amounts of bisphenol A (BPA) in your bloodstream. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 90 percent of us are walking around with trace amounts of this toxic synthetic chemical—commonly used as…
Apple now globally powered by 100 percent renewable energy
As part of its commitment to combat climate change and create a healthier environment, Apple has announced its global facilities are powered with 100 percent clean energy. This achievement includes retail stores, offices, data centers and co-located facilities in 43 countries — including the United States, the United Kingdom, China and India. The company also…
Earth Day Network Announces Focus of 2018 Global Earth Day
Earth Day Network, the organization that leads Earth Day worldwide on April 22, has announced that Earth Day 2018 will focus on mobilizing the world to End Plastic Pollution, including creating support for a global effort to eliminate single use plastics along with uniform regulation for the disposal of plastics. EDN will educate millions of…
An end to electronic waste: United Nations organizations highlight their commitment
Organizations from the United Nations system, most active in addressing the global e-waste challenge, signed a Letter of Intent paving the way for coordination and collaboration on United Nations system-wide support for e-waste management. The signatories organizations included: UN Environment, the International Telecommunication Union, United Nations University, International Labour Organization, the Basel and Stockholm Convention,…
Research finds plastic particles in bottled water
New research at the State University of New York at Fredonia into bottled water is garnering international attention. The research — led by Dr. Sherri Mason, a professor of chemistry and chair of the Department of Geology and Environmental Sciences at Fredonia — found microscopic particles of plastic (microplastics) in nearly all major brands of…
Global Energy and CO2 Status Report
Global energy demand rose by 2.1% in 2017, more than twice the previous year’s rate, boosted by strong global economic growth, with oil, gas and coal meeting most of the increase in demand for energy, and renewables seeing impressive gains. Over 70% of global energy demand growth was met by oil, natural gas and coal,…
Earth Hour 2018 switch-off will take place on March 24 @ 8:30pm (New York)
Earth Hour, World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) landmark movement, is set to once again unite millions of people around the world to show their commitment to the planet. As our one shared home faces the dual challenge of climate change and plummeting biodiversity, the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment aims to mobilize individuals, businesses…
World looks to nature-based solutions for urgent water challenges
The theme of this year’s World Water Day is “Nature for Water”, focusing on nature-based solutions to the water challenges in the 21st century. More than 2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water and more than double that number lack access to safe sanitation As more than 2 billion people lack access to…
Draft Fourth National Climate Assessment and Second State of the Carbon Cycle Report
The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) asked the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to review the draft Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4) – a congressionally mandated report that evaluates the state of climate science and the broad range of impacts of climate change in the United States every four years – and…
IPCC anniversary highlights 30 years of climate change and scientific knowledge
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is marking its 30th anniversary with a series of events highlighting advances in climate science and fundamental changes in the climate system. The 47th session of the IPCC opened in Paris on 13 March, with special commemorative events hosted by the Government of France. The session will hear…
National Toxicology Program draft report on Bisphenol A
One of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s highest priorities is our role in ensuring the safety of the foods that Americans consume. We base our regulatory decisions on robust science so consumers can feel confident about the foods they eat. The FDA looks at all available scientific evidence when reviewing the safety of foods…
Emissions trading around the world ICAP Status Report 2018
• With the launch of the initial phase of its national emissions trading system (ETS), China has overtaken the EU as the world’s largest carbon market, covering more than three gigatons of CO2e. Since 2005, the share of global emissions capped by an ETS has tripled from 5% to almost 15%, covering more than seven…
Health community demands new urgency on air pollution
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) have called upon policy-makers in the EU and wider European Region to take decisive action to clean up the air for the benefit of citizens, as improving air quality offers a huge environmental health opportunity in Europe. Indoor and outdoor air pollution continues…
Banks’ climate shortcomings could undermine Paris Agreement warn investors
• $2 trillion investor group engage with 59 of world’s largest banks. New report criticizes banking sector’s “skin deep” attempts to capture climate risks and opportunities. • 54% of banks support the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), but pace of alignment is too slow. A new report examining climate management by 59 of…
Brewer sets new ambition to reduce carbon emissions
* 2014 Carbon Footprint – data based on 80% of the HEINEKEN volume, representative for the total carbon emissions of the company. Carbon footprint data is updated every three years, the next update will be in 2018. HEINEKEN has announced its ‘Drop the C’ program for renewable energy. With ‘Drop the C’ the company…
What is Regenerative Agriculture?
Dear EarthTalk: What is so-called Regenerative Agriculture and why are environmentalists so bullish on it? — Jess Mancuso, Montgomery, PA Regenerative Agriculture (RA) describes farming and grazing practices that help reverse climate change by rebuilding the organic matter in soil and restoring degraded soil biodiversity. “Specifically, Regenerative Agriculture is a holistic land management practice that…
High exposure to radiofrequency radiation linked to tumor activity in male rats
High exposure to radiofrequency radiation (RFR) in rodents resulted in tumors in tissues surrounding nerves in the hearts of male rats, but not female rats or any mice, according to draft studies from the National Toxicology Program (NTP). The exposure levels used in the studies were equal to and higher than the highest level permitted…
Environmental peacebuilding researchers receive prestigious Al-Moumin Award
Shared environmental interests and cooperative action can be used to build trust, establish shared identities, and transform conflict into peace. Fifteen years ago, Ken Conca, Professor at American University’s School of International Service, and Geoffrey Dabelko, Professor and Director of the Environmental Studies Program at Ohio University, introduced and examined this idea in their book,…
Is it greener to take showers or baths?
Dear EarthTalk: Can you settle this age-old question for me once and for all: Is it greener to take showers or baths? And how can I save water either way? — Tim Jackson, Queensbury, NY Like most good questions, it depends… The main variables are how long the shower takes and the flow rate…
Assessing the Global Climate in 2017
For the globe, 2017 was the third warmest year on record and the warmest year without an El Niño present. The globally averaged temperature over land and ocean surfaces for 2017 was the third highest since record keeping began in 1880, according to NOAA scientists. December’s combined global land and ocean average surface temperature departure…
UN Environment and WHO agree to major collaboration on environmental health risks
UN Environment and WHO have agreed a new, wide-ranging collaboration to accelerate action to curb environmental health risks that cause an estimated 12.6 million deaths a year. Today in Nairobi, Mr. Erik Solheim, head of UN Environment, and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, signed an agreement to step up joint actions to combat…
China in 2017 Continued to Position Itself for Global Clean Energy Dominance
As U.S. Steps Aside, Beijing’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ Gains Traction China continued to be the world’s dominant force in the building and financing of clean energy technology globally in 2017, according to a report published today by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). The report, “China 2017 Review: World’s Second-Biggest Economy…
Seasonal variation in indoor air quality in office buildings
A new study aimed at increasing knowledge of indoor air quality (IAQ) in recently built or refurbished office buildings has found that levels of pollutants are mostly within World Health Organization (WHO) air-quality guidelines(1), however they vary between seasons. In addition, some levels of particulate matter were found to exceed WHO guideline values. The OFFICAIR…
NASA Study: Proof of Ozone Hole Recovery
For the first time, scientists have shown through direct satellite observations of the ozone hole that levels of ozone-destroying chlorine are declining, resulting in less ozone depletion. Measurements show that the decline in chlorine, resulting from an international ban on chlorine-containing man-made chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), has resulted in about 20 percent less ozone depletion…
How bottle deposits help beat plastic pollution
Cheap, light and mould-able into myriad shapes, plastic bottles have conquered the world. Unfortunately, they have also become the kings of trash, accumulating at a mind-boggling rate to create one of the biggest pollution headaches or our age. As the economic and environmental cost of this waste dawns on us, so the quest for a…
Is the train the greenest form of mass transit?
I always assumed the train was the greenest form of mass transit, but a friend told me I would be better off taking the bus. Could this be true? — Jane McNeil, New York, NY Most of us assume that train travel—whether for getting around town, commuting to work or for long hauls—is the most…
Trouble sleeping: indoor air pollution could be a factor
I’ve been having trouble sleeping and my doctor suggested that indoor air pollution could be a contributing factor. Do you have any tips for how to improve my home’s air quality without breaking the bank? — Jennifer Abromovitch, Putney, VT The key to a healthy indoor environment is clean air, but many of the finishes…
Three-quarters of mercury releases have occurred since 1850
A new study has, for the first time, estimated total anthropogenic releases of mercury over the last 4 000 years, up to 2010. Overall, the study estimates that a total of 1 540 000 tons of mercury have been released; three-quarters of this since 1850, and 78 times more than was released through natural causes…
How Our Environmental Laws Have Failed Us and What We Can Do About It
By Maya K. van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper, Leader of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Author of The Green Amendment, Securing Our Rights to A Healthy Environment. Forty-seven years ago, on April 22, 1970, communities around the nation marched to defend the earth. They brought banners, signs, chants, and a realization that environmental degradation damages every…
Arctic saw second warmest year on record
A NOAA-sponsored report shows that the warming trend transforming the Arctic persisted in 2017, resulting in the second warmest air temperatures, above average ocean temperatures, loss of sea ice, and a range of human, ocean and ecosystem effects. Now in its 12th year, the Arctic Report Card, released today at the annual American Geophysical Union…
Leaders from government and business call for action to unlock trade in clean tech
Air pollution is the biggest environmental health risk of our time, affecting more than 90 per cent of the global population on a daily basis. But the good news is that we are developing the tools we need to tackle this problem: clean technologies hold immense potential to fight against pollution. They also offer new…
Antimicrobial resistance from pollution among biggest health threats
• Human antibiotic use up 36% this century; antibiotic use in livestock to grow 67% by 2030. • Up to 75% of antibiotics used in aquaculture may be lost into the surrounding environment. • Antimicrobial resistance one of six emerging areas of concern highlight in UN Environment Frontiers Report Growing antimicrobial resistance linked to discharge…
Guiding Principles on Reducing Methane Emissions
BP, Eni, ExxonMobil, Repsol, Shell, Statoil, Total and Wintershall have committed to further reduce methane emissions from the natural gas assets they operate around the world. The energy companies also agreed to encourage others across the natural gas value chain – from production to the final consumer – to do the same. The commitment was…
International Resource Panel Report
• International Resource Panel Report says material resource use expected to reach nearly 90 billion tonnes in 2017, and may more than double from 2015 to 2050 • Without greater resource efficiency, Sustainable Development Goals will not succeed • Resource efficiency policies and initiatives can cut resource use 26 per cent, and reduce greenhouse gas…
Allergens widespread in largest study of U.S. homes
Allergens are widespread, but highly variable in U.S. homes, according to the nation’s largest indoor allergen study to date. Researchers from the National Institutes of Health report that over 90 percent of homes had three or more detectable allergens, and 73 percent of homes had at least one allergen at elevated levels. The findings were…
No one safe from global pollution without concerted action
• UN Environment calls for concerted global action on pollution based on its most comprehensive assessment to date of the links between pollution, health and ecosystems • Every part of the planet and every person is affected by pollution, the world’s largest killer • Solutions are within our grasp, but require new policies, enhanced public…
Catholic voices challenge governments to raise their game on climate change
The Catholic network CIDSE calls on governments to up the stakes when it comes to the engagement needed to ensure the success of the Paris climate agreement and seize the climate challenge as the opportunity to put us on course towards a just transition that leaves no one behind. A new paper, Climate Action for…
Pesticide Residue Levels Remain Low
In a report issued on November 6, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found that 98% of domestic and 90% of imported foods tested in FY 2015 were compliant with federal pesticide residue limits. Pesticides combat pests that may affect crop yield in human and animal food crops. Certain trace amounts of pesticides, or pesticide…
The Deep and Long Lasting Effects of Drought
New data highlights hidden impact of changing climate and erratic rainfalls. Repeated droughts around the world have shockingly large and often hidden consequences, destroying enough farm produce to feed 81 million people every day for a year, damaging forests, and threatening to trap generations of children in poverty, according to a new report from the…
Pollution linked to nine million deaths worldwide in 2015
• Air pollution is the biggest contributor, linked to 6.5 million deaths in 2015, while water pollution (1.8 million deaths) and workplace-related pollution (0.8 million deaths) pose the next largest risks. • Almost all pollution-related deaths (92%) occur in low- and middle-income countries, and in rapidly industrializing countries (such as India, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Madagascar…
Expert panel identifies unacceptable toll of food and farming systems on human health
Industrial food and farming systems are making people sick in a variety of ways, and are generating staggering human and economic costs – according to a major new report from the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food). Decisive action can be taken on the basis of what we know, the Panel found,…
Solar PV grew faster than any other fuel in 2016
New solar PV capacity grew by 50% last year, with China accounting for almost half of the global expansion, according to the International Energy Agency’s latest renewables market analysis and forecast. For the first time, solar PV additions rose faster than any other fuel, surpassing the net growth in coal. Boosted by a strong solar…
Is it true that dogs and cats are major contributors to climate change?
Dear EarthTalk: Is it really true that our dogs and cats are major contributors to climate change, and if so what can we do about it? — Carmen Santiago, Newark, NJ Unfortunately, our beloved dogs and cats do produce shockingly high amounts of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. According to a recent study…
Air Pollution Cuts 3 Years Off Lifespans In Northern China
Innovative study finds a well-intentioned home heating policy contributed to higher pollution in Northern China, shaving years off hundreds of millions of lives. There are currently an estimated 4.5 billion people around the world exposed to levels of particulate air pollution that are at least twice what the World Health Organization (WHO) considers safe. Yet,…
Was Hurricane Harvey caused by global warming?
Dear EarthTalk: Was Hurricane Harvey caused by global warming? – Tom Dell, Bern, NC The short answer is no. No single hurricane or weather event can be directly linked to the general phenomena known as climate change. “Climate change does not cause things, because climate change is not a causal agent,” writes David Roberts on…
Could global warming be a factor in the evolution of species?
Dear EarthTalk: Could global warming really already be a factor in the evolution of wildlife species? — Vince Dominick, Camden, NJ No doubt the quickly changing climate is already triggering various evolutionary shifts in a wide range of species. And while we can’t be sure just how different wildlife species will adapt (or not),…
The U.S. Climate Alliance and Related Actions
Author: Richard Nunno Editor: Brian La Shier The United States Climate Alliance is a bipartisan group of U.S. states that have pledged to uphold the 2016 Paris Agreement on climate change within their borders. The goal of the Alliance is to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions 26-28 percent from 2005 levels by 2025 and…
State of the Climate in 2016
The 27th annual State of the Climate report has confirmed that 2016 topped 2015 as the warmest year in 137 years of record keeping. The report found that most indicators of climate change continued to follow trends of a warming world, and several, including land and ocean temperatures, sea level and greenhouse gas concentrations in…
World governments make citizens pay billions to destroy their own health
The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) has launched the report Hidden Price Tags: How ending fossil fuel subsidies would benefit our health providing the first-ever comparison of fossil fuel subsidies and the costs to health associated with air pollution from fossil fuels. ● New HEAL report shows how fossil fuel subsidies support an industry that…
The Hidden Costs of Bottled Water
By Molly Connell Slowly the month of Plastic-free July is over, which is an annual challenge since 2011 in order to increase awareness of the consequences of plastic pollution and to reduce or eliminate plastic waste. Reduce is a key word because many think that as long as we collect our garbage separated into recyclables…
FDA to Reduce Nicotine in Tobacco Products
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced a new comprehensive plan for tobacco and nicotine regulation that will serve as a multi-year roadmap to better protect kids and significantly reduce tobacco-related disease and death. The approach places nicotine, and the issue of addiction, at the center of the agency’s tobacco regulation efforts. The goal…
Why do antimbacterial products with triclosan get such a bad rap?
Dear EarthTalk: Why do antibacterial soaps and other products with triclosan get such a bad rap from health and environmental advocates? — Wanda Caravan, Hartford, CT Antibacterial soap products aid in killing bacteria. But rumors that they are no more effective in doing so than traditional soap and water, coupled with concerns that such products…
TOXMAP
TOXMAP® is a Geographic Information System (GIS) from the Division of Specialized Information Services of the US National Library of Medicine® (NLM) that uses maps of the United States and Canada to help users visually explore data primarily from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and Superfund Program. There are two…
2.1 billion people lack safe drinking water
2.1 billion people lack safe drinking water Some 3 in 10 people worldwide, or 2.1 billion, lack access to safe, readily available water at home, and 6 in 10, or 4.5 billion, lack safely managed sanitation, according to a new report by WHO and UNICEF. The Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) report, Progress on drinking water,…
Launch of “America’s Pledge”
Initiative will compile and quantify efforts from U.S. states, cities, businesses and other actors to address climate change in alignment with the Paris Agreement California Governor Jerry Brown and Michael Bloomberg have launched America’s Pledge on climate change, a new initiative to compile and quantify the actions of states, cities and businesses in the…
Volvo’s embrace of electric cars
EarthTalk® From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: Does Volvo’s embrace of electric cars signal the beginning of the end of the gas-powered internal combustion engine? ¬– Macy Vigneault, New Orleans, LA Volvo has announced that it will only sell hybrid and electric cars beginning in 2019, signaling a shift in…
Leading Weather Presenters Boost Climate Communication
Leading Weather Presenters Boost Climate Communication Climate Without Borders Launched in Brussels (Brussels, 27 June 2017) – An international group of weather presenters on Tuesday officially launched the organization Climate Without Borders in Brussels, designed to connect, equip and empower other weather presenters around the world to accurately report and inform audiences about climate science…
As You Sow Report: Glyphosate Poses Threat to Human Health and the Food System
As You Sow Report: Glyphosate Poses Threat to Human Health and the Food System In-depth report on glyphosate, a key ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup®, provides recommendations for business, investors, and the public Oakland, CA – June 6, 2017 – Rising use of glyphosate, the world’s most heavily applied herbicide, is putting the population at risk of…
What’s the latest in greener booze?
Dear EarthTalk: What’s the latest in greener booze? Are there any good organic beers, wines or liquors out there? — Mike Richardson, Norwalk, OH Perhaps no other industry has responded to the greening of consumer preferences quite like beverage producers. From wine to beer to spirits, greener choices made from local and organic ingredients and…
Dirty fashion: new report reveals top brands buying viscose from factories that are wreaking havoc on the environment
Some of the world’s largest fashion brands, including Sweden’s H&M and Spain’s Inditex/Zara, are buying viscose from highly polluting factories, reveals a report published today. An investigation into the production of viscose, a man-‐made fibre widely used in the textile supply chain, has uncovered evidence of the deadly impact of dangerous chemicals and noxious gases…
World Environment Day – June 5
June 5 is World Environment day. Man is both creature and molder of his environment, which gives him physical sustenance and affords him the opportunity for intellectual, moral, social and spiritual growth. In the long and tortuous evolution of the human race on this planet a stage has been reached when, through the rapid acceleration…
Baby teeth link autism and heavy metals, NIH study suggests
Baby teeth from children with autism contain more toxic lead and less of the essential nutrients zinc and manganese, compared to teeth from children without autism, according to an innovative study funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health. The researchers studied twins to control genetic…
Pope urged President Trump to keep the U.S. in the Paris climate accord.
EarthTalk® From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: I heard that the Pope urged President Trump to keep the U.S. in the Paris climate accord. Since when has the Catholic church been involved in environmental politics? — Janine Morse, Rome, NY Concern for the health and well-being of the planet has…
New Study Shows Americans’ Deep Appreciation for Nature, Barriers to Connection
Contact with nature is an important part of growing up and linking Americans to one another; competing priorities and other factors impede getting outdoors. The findings from an unprecedented national study of Americans’ relationship to nature reveal an alarming disconnection, but also widespread opportunities for reconnecting. The results are prompting nature conservation, environmental education, and…
Is it true that fuel cell cars are finally available for mainstream drivers in the U.S.?
EarthTalk® From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that fuel cell cars are finally available for mainstream drivers in the U.S.? — Jack Mixson, Wilmington, DE For years, green car enthusiasts have been heralding the dawn of a new era of pollution-free driving powered by fuel cells, which…
Is extraction of lithium for batteries worse for the environment than fracking?
EarthTalk® From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: Is the extraction of lithium for lithium ion batteries really worse for the environment than fracking? — Mitch Newhouse, Oak Park, IL In a world of modern technology, lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are hard to escape; they’re in cell phones, laptops, and basically anything…
Report: Fortune 500 Companies Accelerating Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency Efforts
Clean energy actions saving companies $3.7 billion a year, cutting annual carbon pollution equivalent to 45 coal-fired power plants. WASHINGTON, DC, April 25, 2017 – Despite efforts in Washington to sideline action on climate change, a growing number of Fortune 500 companies are taking increasingly ambitious steps to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, procure…
Goldman Environmental Prize Honors Six Heroes of the Environment
Award recognizes activists from Australia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, India, Slovenia, United States SAN FRANCISCO, April 24, 2017 — The Goldman Environmental Foundation today announced the six recipients of the 2017 Goldman Environmental Prize, the world’s largest award for grassroots environmental activists. Awarded annually to environmental heroes from each of the world’s six inhabited…
Safer Choice Label for Safer Chemical-Based Products
Finding cleaning and other products that are safer for you, your family, and the environment should be easy — that’s why we developed our new Safer Choice label. We all play a role in protecting our families’ health and the environment. Products with the Safer Choice label help consumers and commercial buyers identify products with…
Who are some of the greener movie stars and what are they doing to fight for the planet?
EarthTalk® From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: Who are some of the greener movie stars out there today and what are they doing to fight for the planet? — Stacey DiGiorno, Chevy Chase, MD While a handful of Hollywood A-listers—Robert Redford, Meryl Streep and Ed Begley Jr., to name a…
Renewable energy sources could be cheaper than fossil fuels within 10 years
3 April 2017 – A new United Nations-backed report has revealed overwhelming consensus that renewable power will dominate in the future, with many experts saying that even large international corporations are increasingly choosing renewable energy products either from utilities or through direct investment in their own generating capacity. “[The report] is meant to spur discussion…
What is meant by “environmental justice” and how is it under assault Trump’s administration?
EarthTalk® From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: What is meant by “environmental justice” and how is it under assault in the new Trump administration? — Mike Garner, New Orleans, LA Environmental justice is defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all…
If Neil Gorsuch is confirmed to the Supreme Court, what will be the implications for environmental and climate policy?
EarthTalk® From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: If Neil Gorsuch is confirmed to fill the vacant seat on the Supreme Court, what will be the implications for environmental and climate policy? — Jim Metcalf, Newark, DE Environmental leaders aren’t particularly jazzed about Neil Gorsuch as Donald Trump’s nominee to fill…
Who are the great environmental visionaries of our own day and age?
EarthTalk® From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: The environmental movement was built on the philosophies of people like Henry David Thoreau, Aldo Leopold and Rachel Carson. But who are the great environmental visionaries of our own day and age? — Betsy Englund, Boston, MA Thoreau, best known for his book “Walden,”…
TSCA Fluoride Petition Denial
On November 23, 2016, a Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) section 21 petition was submitted by the Fluoride Action Network, Food & Water Watch, Organic Consumers Association, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, Moms Against Fluoridation, and certain individuals. The general object of the petition is to…
Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis
The annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis shows releases of toxic chemicals into the air fell 56% from 2005-2015 at industrial facilities submitting data to the TRI program. The TRI tracks the management of certain toxic chemicals that may pose a threat to human health and the environment. U.S. facilities in different industry sectors…
Sun Exposure
The sun emits energy over a broad spectrum of wavelengths: visible light that you see, infrared radiation that you feel as heat, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation that you can’t see or feel. UV radiation has a shorter wavelength and higher energy than visible light. UV radiation is classified as a human carcinogen, according to the…
Trichloroethylene (TCE) – New Proposed Rulemaking from US EPA
Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a volatile organic compound widely used in industrial and commercial processes and has some limited uses in consumer and commercial products. EPA identified significant health risks associated with TCE use in aerosol degreasing and for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities. EPA has preliminarily determined that these risks are unreasonable risks. To…
