New York City Council Approves Curbs on Greenhouse Gases

New York City Council Approves Curbs on Greenhouse Gases by Mireya Navarro, New York Times
Dec 9, 2009
Last Wednesday, the New York City Council passed a version of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's plan to reduce greenhouse gases. It is less costly than the initially proposed plan, but nevertheless, the owners of NYC's largest buildings will have to pay for ways to reduce their energy consumption. Bloomberg's initiative and goal for New York City is to reduce its carbon footprint by 30% by 2030. It is considered one of the leading plans nationwide to reduce harmful effects on the environment.

Atlantic Hurricane Season Ends Quietly

Atlantic Hurricane Season Ends Quietly The Associated Press, New York Times
Nov 30, 2009
From its start June 1, to the finish on November 30, not one Atlantic hurricane came ashore on US soil. In fact, only nine storms developed this whole season, with only three hurricanes. They stayed out over seas or weakened before making landfall. The 2009 season was on the lower end of the predictions, and could be a result of drier conditions.

Prairie Dogs Deemed Not Endangered

Prairie Dogs Deemed Not Endangered By: New York Times
Dec. 2, 2009
Black-tailed prairie dogs were denied protection under the Endangered Species Act on Wednesday after federal officials concluded the once prevalent species showed signs of rebounding. The EPA has also extended the use of prairie dog poison, but many disagree, such as the Audubon Society. Hopefully this native animal to the US will reach a full recovery

Trimming the Costs of Wind Power

Trimming the Costs of Wind Power
By: Kate Galbraitht
Dec. 6, 2009
Today, many environmentalist traveled to Denmark to see their array of windmills just off the coast. Denmark has been working on this project since 1991. Denmarks aim is that by 2020, 50% of their energy will be wind energy. Other countries are following suit, such as China, who built three 90-meter-high turbines were placed in Shanghai Harbor. In the United States, wind power advocates are eagerly awaiting the debut of offshore facilities.

The Rooftop Garden Climbs Down a Wall

The Rooftop Garden Climbs Down a Wall
By: Ken Belson
November 18, 2009
The Barthelmes Manufacturing Company sheet metal factory created the first "edible wall." They made it through metal panels filled with soil and seeds that can hang vertically. This is the latest development in green roof technology. Unlike green roofs, edible walls provide fruit, vegetables and herbs where limited space is. Edible walls can be built for a fraction of the cost of a normal garden, do not require greenhouses and requires far less maintenance.

Voracious Invader May Be Nearing Lake Michigan

Voracious Invader May Be Nearing Lake Michigan
By: Monica Davey
November 20, 2009

The Asian carp has swarmed its way from the Mississippi river up towards Lake Michigan. The Asian carp threatens much of the ecosystem surrounding the Lake Michigan area. Joel Brammeier believes that this is an emergency and that something must be done as soon as possible. Scienctist beleive that the carp made their way into Lake Michigan through the lock on the Calumet River.

Deadly Gas Flow Adds to a Lake's List of Perils

Deadly Gas Flow Adds to a Lake's List of Perils
by Josh Kron
November 5, 2009
New York Times

The city of Goma, Congo and the area around it is filled with dangerous zones such as volcanic eruptions and famine. But recently, scientists have discovered large quantities of methane and carbon dioxide under the surface and on the shores of Lake Kivu. The origin of the gas is most likely from the volcanic lava that flowed into the lake after eruptions. In 2009, 14 bodies have been reported to be found in the lake, death probably a cause of the toxic chemicals.

US and Chinese Group to Build Wind Farm

US and Chinese Group to Build Wind Farm
by John Collins Rudolf
New York Times
October 29, 2009

The US and China have teamed up to make a wind farm that will be located in western Texas, but financed mostly by China. The US will help give loans to China for paying for the 600 megawatt wind farm. It will be 36,000 acres large and provide enough energy to 135,000-180,000 Americans each year. The construction is estimated to begin in March 2010.

Mount Kilimanjaro Ice Cap Continues Rapid Retreat

Mount Kilimanjaro Ice Cap Continues Rapid Retreat
by Sindya N. Bhanoo
New York Times
11/2/09

Since 2000, the ice cap on top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania has declined a whopping 26 percent. However, they do not know if it can be attributed to global warming. More than 85% of the ice cover present in 1912 has disappeared. The ice has reduced in depth and in surface area.

Farmers Skirt Rules on BT Corn, Study Says

Farmers Skirt Rules on BT Corn, Study Says
by Andrew Pollack
New York Times
11/6/09

More than 25% of American farmers who grow genetically engineered corn are no longer complying with federal regulations about insect resistence. A risk that toxins will no longer be able to affect and kill the insects who feed off the corn is present. The BT corn is genetically modified to make certain toxins when insects feed on the plant. BT corn accounts for more than 55% of domestic corn.Critique: I usually think genetically modified food is gross, but it angers me that these farmers are not reporting their information. This is for the good of the American people, and they are being selfish.

Polar Bear Habitat Proposed for Alaska

Polar Bear Habitat Proposed for Alaska
by John M. Broder
October 22, 2009
New York Times

The Interior Dept. of the US proposed over 200,000 miles of Alaskan land for the conservation of polar bears. The area, which contains sea and ice, is home to two polar bear populations numbering over 3,500. Polar bears have been threatened since May 2008, due to global warming. However, at the same time, they are still allowing companies to drill in Alaska. Its some what redundant because the needs for human survival is more important than polar bears. There is so much ice and sea that the polar bears can migrate to. If you ask me, the polar bears are being greedy jerk faces. Anyways black bears are better.

Fill It Up With Electricity, Please

Fill It Up With Electricity, Please
by Matthew L. Walk
October 20, 2009
New York Times

Finally, after many years of planning, electric cars are predicted to become the next popular thing within the next coming years. After the 1970's energy crisis, carmakers played with the idea of electric cars, but did not understand its concept until now. There is approximately over a million Toyota Prius models on the road right now, and GM has released its plan for a new kind of electric car. The Chevy Volt will run 40 miles on battery, and then on electricity.

E.P.A. Moves to Curtail Greenhouse Gas Emissions

E.P.A. Moves to Curtail Greenhouse Gas Emissions
By John M. Broder
New York Times

The Obama administration announced that it was moving forward on their new rules for regulations on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and large industrial facilities. The EPA believes that they are ready to move forward with a cleaner America. The new rules, would place the burden on 400 power plants, by requiring them to prove that they have applied the best available technology to reduce emissions or they'll suffer consequences.

Hopefully these power plants that are going to be rebuilt will help out the environment immensly, by cutting down the greenhouse gas emissions. Obama is really pushing for a more efficient method of obtaining power, without harming the environment

A Greenhouse Gas That Is Already a Commodity

A Greenhouse Gas That Is Already a Commodity
By Andrew C. Revkin
New York Times

For many years, environmental groups and experts on the human involvment of the planet’s greenhouse effect have tried to turn carbon dioxide into a product by giving it a price. Through a so-called cap and trading system, those making cuts in emissions can profit by selling their extra credit to those who cannot afford to cut their own gas releases as quickly.

It seems as if everytime a small problem with the environment, a larger one pops up. As a short term problem, we are trying to reduce the melting of the Artic ice. However, the carbon dioxide emissions will still be increasing.

U.S. Blocks Oil Drilling at 60 Sites in Utah

U.S. Blocks Oil Drilling at 60 Sites in Utah John M. Broder
October 8, 2009

The Department of Interior stopped oil drilling in 60 out of 77 drilling sites in Utah. The seventy seven sites cover around 100000 acres of land in eastern and southern Utah. Drilling for oil in these spots has a potential of harming the wildlife in the area where they are drilling and had to be stopped. Conservation groups had sued the companies in charge and hope that they will soon stop drilling in all of the 77 areas.

This is good that the new Obama administration is trying to do things to save the environment and the wildlife by undoing the factors that where put in place through the Bush administration. Also if there is no reason to drill for oil we should not do it because it takes a lot of land to do it. And it will disrupt wildlife

Walruses Suffer Substantial Losses as Sea Ice Erodes

Walruses Suffer Substantial Losses as Sea Ice Erodes
Andrew C. Revkin
October 2, 2009



Recently, the walrus population has just recovered from over 50 years of being over hunted when a new, and greater threat now threatens their existence. There is a large decrease of the ice surrounding the coastal sea. This is where walruses spend most of their time. Because of this they are now migrating towards the rocky shores of the United States and Russia. With the sea ice melting the walruses have become very cramped on the shores where they are now going to. Their over crowded shores are a large amount of walruses have been found dead do to being trampled and crushed.
I think that it is bad, this is because the humans is one of the biggest cause for global warming. It effects all other animals and slowly kills them.eed to try and reverse the effects of global warming so we can save the populations of animals that have been effected by global warming.

Arctic Shortcut Beckons Shippers as Ice Thaws

Arctic Shortcut Beckons Shippers as Ice Thaws
by Andrew E. Kramer and Andrew C. Revkin, September 10, 2009

Summary: Two German ships, the Beluga Foresight and the Beluga Fraternity, are on the final stretch of their journey from South Korea to Siberia. Due to global warming, the Arctic ice has melted, which has allowed the ships to use a new shipping route. Although the icebergs were once common, the ships journeyed through the Northeast Passage safely, with the aid of two Russian icebreaker ships.

Critique: Although the existence of this passage is economically beneficial for Asia, in environmental terms this is horrible. Global warming is threatening the sea levels and animals, including us humans.

Following Trash and Recyclables on Their Journey

Following Trash and Recyclables on Their Journey
by: Mireya Navarro, September 16, 2009

Summary: Karin Landsberg of Seattle went rummaging through her trash and recycling bin and pulled out several materials. Some of these include a can of beans, and a compact fluorescent light bulb. She and her companions glued electronic tracking devices onto them, seeing if the item will be buried in a landfill or actually recycled. One goal of this unusual experiment, is to give people a sense of their actions on the environment in a way that would make them change their habits, said Carlo Ratti, director of the lab at MIT.

Critique: Although this is a silly experiment, it is also an important one. This is because not only will people learn where their trash is going, this experiment will influence people to find a safer alternative