Latest News
Walruses don't need rafts, says U.S. government. -
As climate change shrinks the sea-ice sheet they typically rest on, the massive marine mammals have been coming ashore to Alaska by the thousands. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, however, has declined an environmental group's request that the agency build offshore platforms for the stranded animals (though, presumably it would have been quite a sight). Associated Press
The ocean is resilient, but there is a limit.
—Marco Lambertini, director general of the World Wildlife Fund International, discusses a new report that says overfishing and other threats have pushed ocean fish to the "brink of collapse." Between 1970 and 2012, their numbers fell by 50 percent.
The U.S. Department of Energy is giving its home-improvement jargon a makeover. -
To encourage greener homes, this translator renames "Drainage Tiles Wrapped in Fabric Filter” as "Anti-Clog Foundation Drain Technology” and "Solid State Lighting" into "Cool Lighting." Because why build a net-zero energy home when you can build an engineered comfort home? Oh, sounds pretty. Treehugger
Norway has been paying big bucks to save the Amazon. -
Back in 2008, the oil-rich Scandinavian country said it would give Brazil $1 billion on the condition it would conserve its tropical forests. The South American nation exceeded the goal of a 75 percent reduction in deforestation, and the final $100 million installment is now on its way. Reuters
A new report card ranks 25 top fast-food chains on their antibiotics use. -
Rampant overuse of antibiotics in livestock is giving rise to drug-resistant superbugs. Panera and Chipotle received A-ratings for their antibiotic-free meat offerings, but 20 companies got a failing grade. The flunkies, like Subway and Starbucks, either haven't taken action or haven't disclosed their policies. Time
Rich nations can't agree to nix coal subsidies. -
Ahead of the United Nations climate conference in Paris, the French government has announced it would stop credits for coal projects overseas. It wants other rich nations to follow suit, but industry pressure has led to a standoff. Reuters