Is wind the next ethanol?

Repeating past mistakes has long been a part of Washington’s energy policy, but Congress used to wait a while before making the same blunder again. Not anymore. New legislation requiring wind energy closely resembles the ethanol mandate that sparked a backlash just last year.

UN chief urges action on rising climate change risk

UN chief Ban Ki-moon called for decisive action to reduce the growing impact of climate change as he launched on Sunday a global assessment of ways to minimise the risks from natural disasters.

“Gulf countries have so far been less exposed to disasters but rising sea levels threat

United States: Lawmakers Consider Statewide Tax on Disposable Shopping Bags

BANNING plastic bags has become a popular idea in several cities across the country, but some Connecticut lawmakers say their plan to impose a 5-cent tax on all disposable shopping bags not only would help the environment but would also pull in some cash for a state in deep fiscal trouble.

Brazil moves closer to legitimizing illegal land-grab in the Amazon

Brazil moved a step closer to approving a controversial law that would grant land title to 300,000 properties illegally established across some 600,000 square kilometers (230,000 square miles) of protected Amazon forest, reports AFP. The move may improve governance in otherwise lawless areas, but could carry a steep environmental cost without safeguards.

UN: Growth of slums boosting natural disaster risk

The rampant growth of urban slums around the world and weather extremes linked to climate change have sharply increased the risks from “megadisasters” such as devastating floods and cyclones, a U.N. report said Sunday.

Short-Term Air Pollution Exposure May Damage DNA

Breathing polluted air for even a short period of time can cause some genes to undergo reprogramming, which may affect a person’s risk of developing cancer and other diseases, say Italian researchers.

China: Empire of Carbon

I have seen the future, and it won’t work.

These should be hopeful times for environmentalists. Junk science no longer rules in Washington. President Obama has spoken forcefully about the need to take action on climate change; the people I talk to are increasingly optimistic that Congress will soon establish a cap-and-trade system that limits emissions of greenhouse gases, with the limits growing steadily tighter over time. And once America acts, we can expect much of the world to follow our lead.

Report says climate change threatens millions who live off sea

MANADO, Indonesia – Around 100 million people risk losing their homes and livelihoods unless drastic steps are taken to protect Southeast Asia’s coral reefs, which could be wiped out in coming decades because of climate change, a report said Wednesday.

Water Wars Strike Ahead of Predictions

Rainfall patterns altered by climate change and worsened only by inequity in the water distribution system has led to a water crisis in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. This has further led to a spurt in water related violence and in conflicts so shocking, we thought were predicted to take place only in the next 50 years.

Carbon tax plan could increase power bills

PADUCAH, Ky. — Power costs in Kentucky and Illinois would shoot up under federal carbon tax legislation targeting states heavily dependent on coal-fired electricity.

Indonesia: Logging moratorium `a must' to save Riau forests

The NGO Riau Forest Rescue Working Network (Jikalahari) is urging the central government to reform forestry policies and end land disputes to slow the pace of deforestation in the province.

Indonesia: Logging moratorium `a must’ to save Riau forests

The NGO Riau Forest Rescue Working Network (Jikalahari) is urging the central government to reform forestry policies and end land disputes to slow the pace of deforestation in the province.