|
|
Tweet |
Environmental News
Thu, 23 Feb 2012 Updated At 16:36:00 GMT
Is Trump wrong to pro
Donald Trump is drawing on his big guns to fight wind power and preserve
Footprints Bring Foss
Could it be that elephants are our superiors in matrilocal (mother-based
Fungal infection kill
Eastern Massasauga rattlesnakes are being killed by a rare fungal infec
First waterworld plan
Hubble observes a new 'super-Earth' planet, mostly made of water. GJ1214
Green Blogs
Mon, 20 Feb 2012 Updated At 14:55:33 GMT
Green Opinions
An overview of the fracking industry in South Africa and the environmental concerns associated with the process; the article also includes South Africa's potential frackers, written by Michelle Simon.Green Opinions >> South African Frackers
Green Living Blog
Whales can be harmed by shipping noise, a new study claims to prove for the first time.Green Living >> Ship noise 'can harm whales'
Ecotourism Blog
Translating to 'green island,' Isla Verde eco-chic hotel is a naturally inspired get-away set on the pristine shores of Lake Atitlan in Santa Cruz La Laguna, Guatemala.Ecotourism >> Isla Verde Eco-chic hotel in Santa Cruz La Laguna, Guatemala
Eco-Friendly Gadgets Blog
The worlds largest solar project in California isn't likely to hold the title for long thanks to a solar energy boom.Eco-Friendly Gadgets >> Cleaning up Electricity: California solar energy
Eco-Friendly Fashion Blog
Jewelry designer Jes MaHarry has pretty much made the job for potential engagement ring hunters easy offering unique, one of a kind and eco-friendly designs.Eco-Friendly Fashion >> Eco-friendly engagement rings by Jes MaHarry
The Environment
The Earth Times aims to provide you with current environmental news coverage and green blogs to give you the background information needed to better understand what can sometimes be enormously complicated and controversial environmental issues.
Our encyclopaedia or guide to environmental issues and to some extent environmental concerns, is a relatively new addition to the site that we hope will give you the knowledge to understand these global environmental issues in the rapidly changing world around you.
Written to be understandable, without the need to hold a degree in climate change science on the effects of global warming, biology or ecology, The Earth Times Encyclopaedia tries to make sense of these environmental problems, conservation topics and environmental issues that more and more people are becoming engaged and familiar with as they try to make a difference to our planet.
From untangling climate change to helping you find an environmental organization you can be happy supporting we do hope you find The Earth Times Encyclopaedia on environmental issues a useful resource to highlight environmental sustainability for a greener life.
We will be constantly adding to the contents of the encyclopaedia and hope it will complement our environment news when covering any issue relating to nature and the environment. If you do have any suggestions on environment related topics you would like to see added, we would love to hear from you.
The Earth Times - Serving the Planet.
Environmental Issues
Biodiversity
Biodiversity can be defined as a measure of the comparative diversity among organisms present in a particular ecosystem, biome or planet. However, biodiversity can also be described as the quantity of an environment’s species, genes and ecosystems.Biodiversity >>
Climate Change Issues
There are various issues involved in the long-term change in the distribution of weather patterns that is known as climate change. These include man made climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, ozone depletion, efficient energy use, fossil fuels and their phase-out in favour of renewable energy sources.Climate Change Issues >>
Conservation Issues
The conservation movement aims to protect natural resources such as animal and plant species and their habitats. Conservation is a fairly broad term and can be almost interchangeable with the idea of environmentalism or the environmental movement as a whole - it is safe to assume that all environmentalists want to conserve the natural environment. Conservation Issues >>
Coral Reefs
Underwater coral reefs are created when corals, which are colonies of tiny living animals, secrete calcium carbonate. Despite being found in waters that provide hardly any nutrients, coral reefs are among the world’s most diverse, albeit fragile ecosystems, being particularly sensitive to water temperature. Coral Reefs >>
Desertification
Desertification is the process by which habitable and fertile land turns into desert. Desertification can occur as a result of both destructive use of the land by humans and variations in climate, with possible causes including drought, deforestation and overgrazing. Desertification >>
Ecosystems
An ecosystem is an integrated biological environment that consists of all of the species that live in a particular habitat. It also includes the non-living, physical components and processes of that environment that the organisms are affected by and interact with, including air, sunlight, soil and water. Ecosystems >>
Endangered Species
An endangered species is one that is at risk of extinction. This could be due to insufficient numbers of that species remaining in order to reproduce enough offspring to ensure its survival, while changing predation or environmental parameters can also pose a threat to particular organisms. Endangered Species >>
Energy Issues
Issues exist regarding the generation and use of energy, including the environmental impact of energy sources such as fossil fuels, nuclear power, wind power, solar power and biomass. Related major energy issues include national energy policies, reliance on foreign energy sources and poorer countries’ energy needs. Energy Issues >>
Environmental Business
There are various environmental issues that are pertinent to businesses. These include energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, planning for the impacts of climate change, environmental permitting, the threat to businesses and their critical infrastructure from rising sea levels and flooding and water regulations. Environmental Business >>
Environmental Health
Environmental health is an area of public health that concerns the health effects on humans of aspects of the natural and built environment. Issues in environmental health include indoor and outdoor air quality, food safety, noise pollution control, safe drinking water and housing. Environmental Health >>
Environmental Organisations
Environmental organisations aim to analyse, monitor or protect the environment in case of its degradation or misuse, or to lobby on environmental issues. Environmental organisations can be charities, trusts, governmental or non-governmental, and may operate on a local, regional, national or global basis. Environmental Organisations >>
Environmental Disasters
Environmental disasters are disasters caused to the natural environment by human activity. Environmental disasters caused by industrial activity, agriculture, pollution or the depletion of natural resources can have a significant impact on a region’s biodiversity, agriculture and economy, often leading to the deaths of animals and plants. Environmental Disasters >>
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of catching or attempting to catch fish. The long-term sustainability of present levels of fishing has been questioned in recent years due to issues like overfishing, bycatch, fishing discards due to Government quotas and guidelines, climate change, marine pollution and fish farming. Fishing >>
Genetic Engineering
Genetic engineering involves the deliberate and somewhat unnatural manipulation by humans of an organism’s genetic structure. This modification results in changes in the affected organism’s characteristics, with one of the most controversial and best-known applications of genetic engineering being genetically modified food. Genetic Engineering >>
Sustainable Transport
Sustainable transport or ‘green transport’ can be defined as a method of transport that has a low environmental impact. Obvious examples of sustainable transport include walking and cycling. Other sustainable transportation methods are green vehicles such as hybrid or electric cars, car pooling or sharing, transit oriented development and systems for urban transport that combine fuel-efficiency, space-saving and the encouragement of healthy lifestyles.Sustainable Transport >>
Habitat Loss & Degradation
Habitat loss and degradation involve a natural habitat being rendered functionally unable to support a present species. This process leads to a reduction in biodiversity due to the tendency for the species for which a given site was a natural habitat to be displaced or destroyed. Habitat Loss & Degradation >>
Mass Extinction
Mass extinction can be defined as a sudden decrease in the total number of species in a comparatively short time period. There have been five mass extinction events in the last 540 million years that involved the deaths of more than half of all animal speciesMass Extinction >>
Natural Disasters
Natural disasters are disasters caused by natural hazards such as floods, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides or tornados. Natural disasters involve substantial physical damage, injuries and/or loss of life, and occur when natural hazards meet the vulnerability of the affected population. Natural Disasters >>
Oceans
Oceans are very large bodies of saline water that are principal parts of the hydrosphere. Along with smaller seas, oceans make up the continuous body of water that is known as the World Ocean. See below for our guide to the environmental issues associated with oceans and the marine life who inhabit them.Oceans >>
Pollution
Pollution is the process by which harmful substances or products are introduced into the natural environment. Pollution, which can come in the form of chemical substances or energy such as heat, noise or light, causes disorder and instability to ecosystems. Pollution >>
Nuclear Issues
There are various environmental issues that concern nuclear power. Although nuclear energy provides environmental benefits, for example in the form of zero carbon dioxide emissions and no notable nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxides or particulates, its spent fuel is radioactive and can still cause environmental damage. Nuclear Issues >>
Recycling
Recycling can be defined as making used or waste materials suitable for reuse by processing them into new products. Compared to virgin production, recycling allows for a reduction in energy usage, air pollution, water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling >>
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is energy that is derived from naturally replenished, or renewable, natural resources such as wind, rain, ocean tides or sunlight. Sources of renewable energy, which is also referred to as soft energy, include both traditional and new renewables such as geothermal, modern biomass and biofuels. Renewable Energy >>
Rainforests
Rainforests are defined as forests that experience heavy annual rainfall. Rainforests are referred to as such if they receive a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm (68-78 inches), and are generally found close to the sea or in the mountainous regions that receive the most rain. Rainforests >>
Waste Issues
There are various issues associated with the management of waste, including in its processing, collection, transport, disposal, recycling and monitoring. Major waste issues include rubbish collections, the use of plastic carrier bags, the amount of waste sent to landfill, electronic or e-waste and the management of hazardous or toxic waste. Waste Issues >>
Extreme Weather
Extreme weather is the term used to describe historically extreme weather conditions. It is often unseasonal, and can come in such forms as heat waves, cold waves, floods, wildfires, cyclones or tornadoes, with a given event being determined as extreme on the basis of its climatological distribution.Extreme Weather >>
Food & Water Security
Food and water security can be defined as the availability to a population of a sufficient quantity and quality of nutritious food and potable water. To be food-secure and water-secure means living neither in hunger or thirst, nor in fear of starvation or severe dehydration.Food & Water Security >>
- Business News
Green Business Expo Shows How Sustainability Matters ...
Environmental positives can help your business even in hard times. Dozens of progressive businesses from all over South London gathered last Friday at the Green Business Expo.
Read the full Story >>
- Climate News
Gauging the Effects of Climate Change on Corals and Coral Extinction ...
A new study looks at how coral responds to climate change. Living corals at risk are urgent problems for scientists struggling to cope with our growing coral reef conservation problems.
Read the full Story >>
- Conservation News
King Penguin Genetic Diversity Recovers on Macquarie Island ...
Macquarie Island was used as a penguin blubber oil extraction site. Efforts by conservationists have helped King Penguin populations recover in both number and genetic diversity. The Macquarie Island ghosts of the King Penguin.
Read the full Story >>
- Energy News
Oyster wave power devices approved in Scotland ...
Approval has been given to test the first array of nearshore wave power units in Orkney that could power more than 1,000 homes. Two new Oyster wave converters will join a similar unit at Orkney's European Marine Energy Centre and connected to the onshore hydroelectric plant.
Read the full Story >>
- Health News
Avocado compound helps fight hospital bacteria ...
A natural compound from a Chilean avocado plant has been found that helps antibiotics fight the common Staphylococcus infection, which is the biggest source of an infection following an operation.
Read the full Story >>
- Nature News
Discovery of New Legless Amphibians ...
New family of tailless burrowing caecilian tetrapod amphibians has been discovered, but Chikilidae have no legs.
Read the full Story >>
- Politics News
Majority of English countryside 'at risk from planning reforms' ...
Proposed planning reforms could put 55% of the English countryside at risk from development, warns the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
Read the full Story >>
- Pollution News
One year on and a bleak future for the people of Fukushima ...
The slow process of decontaminating the area around the damaged nuclear plant at Fukushima and the uncertainty of many of the local population ever being able to return to their homes.
Read the full Story >>
- SciTech News
Human-generated Noise Affects Nestling Birds ...
A new study researching the effects of human based noise on nestling birds has just been published. Tree swallows for example can be subject to human-generated noise in cities.
Read the full Story >>
- Going Green News
6 eco-woes and 6 green balms for 2012 ...
Environmental woes may abound, but so, too, does hope. Six of 2012's most pressing environmental worries also have possible solutions within grasp - if we can just learn to wean ourselves off our addiction to economic 'growth'.
Read the full Story >>
Green Google tops Cool IT Leaderboard
Google has come out top in the latest Cool IT Leaderboard ranking of the use and leadership of clean energy by leading IT companies, says Greenpeace International.
Previous Business environmental news headlines:
Unique fish are dealt a dodgy deal
For three species in the family Notthenioidae, a bleak outlook once again threatens. Climate change is about to deal a double evolutionary deal on a group of Antarctic animals that have adapted well to the icy environment only to lose out to global warming.
Previous Climate environmental news headlines:
New sanctuaries for rare freshwater dolphins in Asia
Three new wildlife sanctuaries, created in the giant Sundarbans mangrove forest, in Bangladesh, will help protect endangered Irrawaddy and Ganges River dolphins.
Previous Conservation environmental news headlines:
Shale gas, the 'clean bridge' to nowhere?
The boom in shale gas production has left US gas prices near record lows. But those low prices are threatening the switch to no-carbon renewables, like wind and solar, as utilities switch to gas in preference. Many are worrying that the shale gas boom is a dangerous distraction, as reserves forecasts are slashed.
Previous Energy environmental news headlines:
Boys Faces and Fingers
Boys', post-natally, have large concentrations of testosterone, then it rapidly decreases to the same level as girls. Particular effects have now been noted on the digits and robustness of face in 4-11 year-old boys. The relationship between the index (2D) and ring (4D )fingers is controlled by two special alleles (named Homeobox).
Previous Health environmental news headlines:
New Species of Miniature Chameleon Discovered in Madagascar
Cute chameleons created in genetic isolation. New Species of Miniature Leaf Chameleon (Brookesia micra) discovered in Northern Madagascar. On a small islet to the north of Madagascar, four new species of chameleons have followed the Malagasy trend and gone miniature.
Previous Nature environmental news headlines:
Obama Rejects Keystone XL Pipeline
Obama rejected the proposal for the Keystone XL pipeline after months of pressure from citizens concerned about environmental and social justice.
Previous Politics environmental news headlines:
Deepwater damage limited by bacteria and 'geography of the Gulf'
Gulf geography helped bacteria to breakdown harmful compounds leaking from the site of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, and quantity estimates have been confirmed.
Previous Pollution environmental news headlines:
Chimpanzee Altruism
When we help each other, it's often voluntary and we can offer varying forms of understanding. Whether our closest relative can concur with his fellow chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) when aiming for a goal could be a crucial question.
Previous SciTech environmental news headlines:
UK retailers beat green targets
Many of the UK's best-known retailers have beaten targets on cutting waste, energy and water use, but environmental groups say even more can be done.
