Tag: earth’s future
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One of the most worrisome predictions about climate change may be coming true
Two years ago, former NASA climate scientist James Hansen and a number of colleagues laid out a dire scenario in which gigantic pulses of fresh water from melting glaciers could upend the circulation of the oceans, leading to a world of fast-rising seas and even superstorms. Hansen’s scenario was based on a computer simulation, not hard data…
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7 things we’ve learned about Earth since the last Earth Day
Our understanding of Earth — and how we’re changing it — just keeps expanding. Earth Day turns 48 today, April 22, and Google is celebrating it with a Google Doodle of conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall, who nudges us in a video a “do our part for this beautiful planet.” When Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-Wisc.) founded Earth Day in 1970, his hope was…
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Biodiversity and Nature’s Contributions Continue Dangerous Decline, Scientists Warn
Biodiversity and Nature’s Contributions Continue Dangerous Decline, Scientists Warn Human well-being at risk. Landmark reports highlight options to protect and restore nature and its vital contributions to people Biodiversity – the essential variety of life forms on Earth – continues to decline in every region of the world, significantly reducing nature’s capacity to contribute to…
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‘Dead zone’ in Gulf of Mexico will take decades to recover from farm pollution
A new study says that even in the ‘unrealistic’ event of a total halt to the flow of agricultural chemicals the damage will persist for 30 years. The enormous “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico will take decades to recover even if the flow of farming chemicals that is causing the damage is completely…
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What Does China’s ‘Ecological Civilization’ Mean for Humanity’s Future?
Imagine a newly elected president of the United States calling in his inaugural speech for an “ecological civilization” that ensures “harmony between human and nature.” Now imagine he goes on to declare that “we, as human beings, must respect nature, follow its ways, and protect it” and that his administration will “encourage simple, moderate, green,…
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No Children Because of Climate Change? Some People Are Considering It
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/05/climate/climate-change-children.html Add this to the list of decisions affected by climate change: Should I have children? It is not an easy time for people to feel hopeful, with the effects of globalwarming no longer theoretical, projections becoming more dire and governmental action lagging. And while few, if any, studies have examined how large a role climate change plays in people’s childbearing decisions,…
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Trump administration could be sued over pesticide threat to orca and salmon
Fishing industry and environmentalists mull lawsuits EPA tried to delay report detailing chemicals’ harm to wildlife Commercial fishermen and environmental groups could file lawsuits against the Trump administration, if it fails to follow a recommendation by one of its own agencies to protect salmon, sturgeon, orca and other endangered species in the Pacific north-west. The National…
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World’s biggest wildlife reserve planned for Antarctica in global campaign
Vast 1.8m sq km fishing-free zone would protect species, such as penguins, leopard seals and whales, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/13/worlds-biggest-wildlife-reserve-planned-for-antarctica-in-global-campaign
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Creating a Sustainable Future: 5 Essential Reads
Much news about the environment in 2017 focused on controversies over Trumpadministration actions, such as proposals to promote more use of coal and budget cuts at relevant federal agencies. At the same time, however, many scholars across the U.S. are pursuing innovations that could help create a more sustainable world. Here we spotlight five examples from our 2017 archives. https://www.ecowatch.com/sustainability-innovations-2017-2520468655.html…