Category Archives: Environment

World May Hit 2 Degrees of Warming in 10-15 Years Thanks to Fracking, Says Cornell Scientist

A sobering take on the impact of fracking on climate change.

Meltdowns, Waste, and War: Here Are the Real Risks of Nuclear

A recap of why not to like nuclear power.

Fast Fashion Juggernaut Rolls Along

The fast fashion cycle continues to accelerate, as sustainability concerns fall to the wayside. Algorithms are trotted out as a panacea for products that embed an offensive message.

Climate Policy: When Starting With the Most Expensive Option Makes Sense

Why much of what you thought you knew about climate change mitigation is wrong.

Plastic Watch: Great Pacific Garbage Patch Grows

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a major plastic accumulation zone located between California and Hawaii, is growing at a rate greater than previously believed, according to a new scientific paper published last week.

Aliso Canyon Disaster Highlights Risks, Inadequate Safety Rules Governing Natural Gas Storage

Report documents how the self-regulation fairy proved itself as inept in protecting the public from dysfunctional management decisions that compromised safety and led to the Alito Canyon natural gas disaster.

Biodiversity Plummets, Posing Grave Global Threat

Three years in the making, comprehensive UN report on declining biodiversity identifies this trend as a major threat to continued survival.

Humanity’s Meat and Dairy Intake Must Be Cut in Half by 2050 to Avoid Dangerous Climate Change

An update on meat consumption as an environmental hazard.

Gaius Publius: Why Climate Activists Must Include Supply-Side Restrictions in Their Recommended Policy Mix

Another important, indeed necessary, policy measure in the climate change toolkit.

Criminalizing Peaceful Pipeline Protests: Are Oil Billionaires Trying to Undermine Our First Amendment Rights?

RNN interview discussing oil funding of state measures to criminalize peaceful pipeline protest as ‘eco-terrorism’. Penalties up to 25 years in jail and $100 k in fines. Others to follow?

Bottled Water, Brought to You by Fracking?

A new reason not to like bottled water.

Puerto Rico Update: Forests, Power, Depopulation, and Privatization

Puerto Rico’s situation is causing Naomi Klein to rethink “shock doctrine.”

Melting Ice Could Release Hazardous Waste from Abandoned Cold War Site

Melting Greenland ice will release chemical and some radioactive nasties from an old US Cold War base. Expect more of this sort of thing.

Dire Consequences of Ignoring Trade in Climate Change Targets: On Track to 3.5 C Temperature Increase by 2100

Astonishingly, climate change accords like Kyoto and Paris ignore the impact of trade. That omission means our collective goose is cooked.

Inside the Trump Admin’s Fight to Keep the Keystone XL Approval Process Secret

The Trump Administration has been withholding documents in the ongoing suit against the Keystone XL pipeline.