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Environmental News
Wed, 16 May 2012 Updated At 14:56:44 GMT
Elephant seal adventu
Northern elephant seals migrate throughout the north-east Pacific. They
American forests in p
America's national forests continue to deteriorate, and a proposed switc
Air pollution linked
Even a short fall in air pollution can improve heart health, a study und
Forest service taking
A crew of 18 is conducting a 1 1/2-year survey of Ohio's forests using a
Green Blogs
Mon, 14 May 2012 Updated At 14:26:16 GMT
Green Opinions
New row bubbles over Scottish independence debate: who will foot bill for extensive North Sea clean-up when oil finally runs out?Green Opinions >> Another Sticky Mess
Green Living Blog
Geothermal energy powering heating and air conditioning systems will be featured in the Homearama Charity House this year.Green Living >> Geothermal energy featured in the Homearama charity house
Ecotourism Blog
BAOBAB Travel has recently become the first UK-based Africa travel specialist to have a portfolio of South African itineraries certified as Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) travel packages.Ecotourism >> BAOBAB Travel joins Fair Trade Tourism pioneers
Eco-Friendly Gadgets Blog
Free energy saving power management software for your PC or laptop. Save energy and money by downloading free energy saving computer software.Eco-Friendly Gadgets >> Free Energy Saving PC software
Eco-Friendly Fashion Blog
Founded last year by friends, EE Cuffs creates unique handmade jewelry from recycled and repurposed materials such as magazines, glass, fabric, petals, leaves and seashells.Eco-Friendly Fashion >> EE Cuffs: The stylish solution to fashionably green
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 >>
Hydraulic Fracturing
It goes by a number of names - 'hydraulic fracturing', 'shale gas extraction', 'hydrofracturing' or 'hydrofracking' and of course 'fracking'. But what exactly is fracking, and why has it become such an environmental issue hot potato?
Hydraulic Fracturing >>
Global Warming
The effects and consequences of global warming are already weighing down on the natural world and humanity. Those consequences are likely to become unmanageable if action for dealing with global warming continues to be pushed over the horizon.
Global Warming>>
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 >>
Overfishing
Overfishing is a serious environmental issue and is essentially catching too many fish. This depletes the adult fish population and does not leave enough fish to breed and restock their numbers so that they can be sustainable.
Overfishing >>
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.
- Business News
First all-electric SUV unveiled: Toyota RAV4 EV ...
Toyota has unveiled the first all-electric SUV, the RAV4 EV, at a Los Angeles Electric Vehicle symposium, which features excellent efficiency and performance.
Full Article
- Climate News
New system to verify urban CO2 cuts ...
A new system of measuring urban carbon dioxide levels could help verify reductions if a global treaty to limit emissions is ever agreed.
Full Article
- Conservation News
The manners of mantas ...
Manta ray migration, habitat and conservation. How manta rays migrate between upwellings, blooms and fish spawning has been investigated using satellite tracking technology.
Full Article
- Energy News
Solar hat-trick for Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) ...
Solar company Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) has won two prestigious industry awards and has just produced its five millionth solar panel.
Full Article
- Health News
Childbirth - A natural function or a grave risk ...
Childbirth, although a perfectly natural function, carries a grave risk particularly in the developing world, where chronic global malnutrition can put maternal mortality rates as high as one death for every eleven births.
Full Article
- Nature News
The soaring habits of Golden Eagles ...
Migrating golden eagles use thermals and wind when flying to conserve energy. Wind farm developments have an impact on soaring bird species as a study on movements of golden eagles in flight shows.
Full Article
- Politics News
Sewage 'Right to Know' Groundbreaking Legislation ...
An overburdened sewage system may collapse under the strain. This can lead to health and ecological contamination, affecting surface and groundwater resources, essentially our drinking water supplies.
Full Article
- Pollution News
Great Pacific Garbage Patch plastic particle content up 100-fold ...
Plastic particle content has increased 100-fold in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch since the 1970s. Plastic content in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre off the California coast is causing changes to sea creatures like sea skaters, who are laying their eggs on discarded plastic rubbish.
Full Article
- SciTech News
Where, how and what do an ant and a pitcher plant exchange? ...
Mutual benefits of a relationship between an ant species and pitcher plant; mutualism. Only one of the 120 species of the Nepenthes genus has been found so far to use a single plant - ant species within its tissues to help out.
Full Article
- Going Green News
Unsustainable pressures on Earth, says Living Planet Report ...
Population growth and rising consumption of Earth's natural resources are putting security and human health at risk, according to the 2012 WWF Living Planet Report.
Full Article
Laid-off US SolarWorld workers receive government aid
Manufacturing staff laid-off from SolarWorld's Californian factory, which folded after competition from illegally subsidised Chinese solar panels, are eligible for Government aid.
Previous Business environmental news headlines:
Geoengineering: Paint particles plan to fight climate change
A geoengineering solution to climate change. Fine titanium dioxide particles transported into the upper atmosphere by giant balloons could help combat climate change, says a UK chemical engineer.
Previous Climate environmental news headlines:
Threatened jaguars prey on endangered green turtles
Panthera onca versus Chelonia. Threatened jaguars preying on endangered green sea turtles and other marine turtles is giving conservationists a headache in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica.
Previous Conservation environmental news headlines:
Largest solar energy installation in West Virginia completed
The largest array of solar panels in West Virginia has been completed. The 1671 solar panels will help power a financial centre of the American Public University System.
Previous Energy environmental news headlines:
Three Score Years and Ten
Medical Science has extended the length of human life, but not always to the good.
Previous Health environmental news headlines:
The Grey Whale in the Eastern Pacific
The grey whale was once one of the most hunted whales in the Pacific. The present population of grey whales is recovering but shows random genetic diversity.
Previous Nature environmental news headlines:
Los Angeles voters want more solar power
Most Los Angeles voters want more renewable energy to be generated in the city, especially rooftop solar power, according to a new survey.
Previous Politics environmental news headlines:
EV Project: Electric Vehicles save a million gallons of petrol
Data gathered from 24 million miles of Electric Vehicle journeys shows they have saved a million gallons of petrol and 8,700 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
Previous Pollution environmental news headlines:
History of a giant salamander (Dicamptodon tenebrosus)
Ecology of coastal giant salamanders, (Dicamptodon tenebrosus). Research into the genetic structure and history of giant salamander populations in the United States and Canada.
Previous SciTech environmental news headlines:
Go 'Shwopping' and recycle at Marks and Spencer
UK retailer Marks & Spencer unveils new Shwopping recycling campaign. M&S is encouraging shoppers to become shwoppers by donating unwanted clothing to Oxfam every time they buy new clothes and help reduce landfill waste.
Previous Going Green environmental news headlines:
