All Environment
Want to fight climate change? Build more nuclear power.Aging plants and competition from cheaper alternatives threaten the future of US nuclear power, the country's largest source of carbon-free electricity. Even with renewable energy, it will be exceedingly difficult to meet US climate change targets if much of American nuclear goes offline, Cunningham writes.
Threatened coral: Climate change puts 20 types at riskClimate change is one reason the US government is putting 20 species of threatened coral on a list of threatened species. The threatened coral are vital to the health of marine ecosystems, according to聽the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
How climate change could ruin your Hawaii vacationClimate change may just threaten your dream trip to Hawaii. A new report from the University of Hawaii says the state's tourism industry must start preparing for the effects of climate change.- Climate change: Is your opinion informed by science? Take our quiz!
Climate change has become a politically-charged, divisive issue, but the underlying science is relatively simple and has been around for more than 150 years. Do you know what causes global warming?
Train delayed again? Blame the oil boom.With oil production booming in the US, producers are increasingly turning to railways to get crude to refineries. And so much oil is hitting the rails that it's crowding out grain and coal 鈥� and even people.
UN climate change report warns of 'irreversible' impactsA draft UN climate change report finds that global warming could be irreversible, painting a harsh warning of what's causing global warming and what it will do to humans and the environment. It also offers ways to curb climate change.聽
Bear rescue: Man drives an hour to save injured cubAn Arizona man drove 80 miles to rescue an injured bear cub and bring it to a wildlife conservation center. It is unkown if the injured bear cub will be released into the wild.
California earthquakes may pose threat to nuclear plant, expert saysCalifornia earthquakes may pose a safety risk to the state's last operating nuclear plant, a senior federal nuclear expert says in a report obtained by the Associated Press. The report says no one knows whether the facility's equipment can withstand California earthquakes.聽聽聽
Who needs Keystone XL? Oil sands flow to US via loophole.As Keystone XL awaits a final decision from the Obama administration, at least one energy firm has found a loophole to ship controversial oil sands across the US border. The Keystone XL workaround could increase the flow of oil sands to the US by an additional 75,000 barrels per day without White House approval.聽
Climate change policies pay for themselves, study saysAn MIT climate change study released Sunday indicates the cost of slashing coal-fired carbon emissions would be offset by reduced spending on public health. The EPA-funded study examined climate change policies similar to those proposed by the Obama administration in June.聽
Oil trains face scrutiny; Alaska votes on oil taxes; Australia waffles on renewables [Recharge]Canada determined lax oversight and poor safety caused a deadly oil train explosion; Alaskans voted on a referendum they hope will revive falling oil production; Australia is shifting from renewable energy, just as it discovers oil offshore. Catch up on the week in global energy with Recharge.
Blue lobster is 'one-in-two-million' crustaceanBlue lobster caught by a fisherman in Scarborough, Maine Saturday. The blue lobster has been named Skyler and will be donated to the Maine State Aquarium.聽
In race for solar power, China is winningChina is cutting its dependence on carbon-heavy coal and replacing it with solar power at a breakneck pace, Topf writes. The world's top energy consumer added 3.3 gigawatts of solar power capacity between January and June.聽
For oil and wind, offshore is promised land 鈥� and muddled policyExtending the naton's oil and gas boom and wind power's technology to coastal waters makes logical sense. But it highlights the contradiction between President Obama's 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy and his environmental agenda.
National Zoo celebrates Bao Bao's first birthdayThe National Zoo in Washington marked the first birthday of panda cub Bao Bao, born from two pandas on loan from China. Bao Bao will celebrate with a cake of frozen juice and fruit.
Vin Diesel redirects ice bucket challenge: 'Plant a tree for Groot'Vin Diesel issues his own challenge to 'Plant a tree for Groot.' What kind of tree should it be?
Global warming 'hiatus': Scientists duel over which ocean steals some heatMany scientists say natural climate variability is behind a slowdown in the pace of global warming over the past 15 years. And the key to the variability is the way oceans can act as heat sinks.
West Virginia Senate test: Which candidate can cozy up closest to coal?Coal is the gold standard in West Virginia, where Senate candidate Natalie Tennant bashes her GOP rival for appearing on the campaign trail with out-of-stater Mitt Romney, who once said coal 'kills people.'
Will SeaWorld's larger whale pools quell 'Blackfish' backlash?After the documentary 'Blackfish' suggested that killer whales suffer in captivity 鈥� denting SeaWorld attendance 鈥� the park announced plans to enlarge their holding tanks. But will the move quell bad press?
On Alaska's oil tax referendum, Palin joins with liberalsWhile Alaska's governor and the industry want to keep a flat tax on the industry, Sarah Palin and liberal Democrats want to return to a sliding-scale system. Which plan brings more money to 聽Alaska depends on where oil prices head.