All Environment
Costs to counter global warming 'relatively modest'Shift from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy would cut consumption growth by only 0.06 percentage points per year, says IPCC chairman. Nuclear power and carbon-capture plants would supplement solar and wind in fight to contain climate change.
How much will shift to green energy slow growth? Not much, says UN.Radically shifting from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy will聽slow consumption by 0.06 percentage points per year in this century, according to a new draft report by the United Nations.- Is California the next fracking frontier?California's Monterey Shale formation contains more shale oil than anywhere else in the country, but its geology and dry climate make it difficult to extract. Extremely dry conditions are also taking a toll on California's power plants. 聽
Iran boosts oil output despite Western sanctionsIran's oil production is on the rise despite Western efforts to curtail it. More Iran oil has gotten the attention of聽the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which is charting a course for the future amid new sources of oil.
IMF: North American boom to keep oil prices lowA dramatic increase in US and Canadian oil production will push oil prices down, according to the International Monetary Fund. The growth in US shale oil and Canadian oil sands is already spilling over to the global marketplace.聽
Putin warns of gas shutoff. What are Ukraine's options?Russian President Vladimir Putin warned western leaders Thursday of a potential shutoff of natural gas supplies unless Ukraine pays off the billions it owes for Russian gas. There are alternatives to Russian gas, but the cutoff Putin threatens is a worst-case scenario for Ukraine and broader Europe. 聽
Will Ukraine crisis derail Russia's southern gas pipeline?Russia's plans to build a natural gas pipeline that bypasses Ukraine to the south is in doubt as the standoff between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate.
Gulf oil spill: how wildlife is still challenged four years laterA report released Tuesday describes ongoing difficulties for sea turtles, bottlenose dolphins, brown pelicans, and other species as a result of the Gulf oil spill in 2010.
Does a US oil boom mean lower gas prices?A rise in US oil production has helped keep gas prices lower, but perhaps not as low as US drivers expected.聽
Arctic sea ice on the decline, say researchersThe Arctic ice peak is hovering significantly below long-term averages dropping to its聽fifth-lowest level聽since satellite record keeping started in 1979.聽
Ukraine misses gas payment. How will Putin respond?Ukraine again missed a payment deadline late Monday on the natural gas it buys from Russia. Ukraine's debt to Russia over natural gas has led to supply cutoffs before, but there are other ways to resolve a long-standing dispute. 聽
How taking the 'perma' out of permafrost could accelerate global warmingAs permafrost thaws, it changes the composition of vegetation in the Arctic. This could accelerate global warming, say scientists
'Zombie' bass shocked, scooped for science'Zombie' bass:聽Biologists are conducting a study where they use 'electrofishing' to stun fish in Tennessee Valley Authority lakes.
Ukraine moves to crack Russia's hold on its nuclear powerIt's not just dependency on Russian natural gas that poses problems for Ukraine, it's also Russia's virtual monopoly on the fuel for Ukraine's nuclear reactors.聽
Progress WatchIsland night lizard: Another protected species back from the brinkThe island night lizard was delisted as an endangered species in the US this week, after three decades of restoration efforts. Its recovery highlights an increased success rate in reestablishing endangered species.
UN to oil industry: You can solve climate changeMajor oil and gas companies have an opportunity to lead the global fight against climate change, according to聽海角大神a Figueres,聽the United Nations' climate change chief. Traditional energy firms say they are already cutting emissions, but聽Ms. Figueres offered both environmental and economic reasons for doing more.
Grand Canyon: Bison hybrids trampling park lands, sacred sitesGrand Canyon bison: Some 350 bison now reside in the park but officials see them as a nuisance. The Grand Canyon bison have traveled into Mexican spotted owl habitat, knocked over walls at American Indian cliff dwellings below the North Rim, defecated in lakes and left ruts in wetlands,
San Bruno explosion case against PG&E could be hard to proveA federal grand jury indicted energy company PG&E in connection with a 2010 natural gas explosion in San Bruno, Calif., that killed eight. The move is unusual.
On energy, Ukraine's future holds promiseUkraine's energy sector is ripe for investment, Bensh writes, as it is on the verge of a transformation that will open up new opportunities in oil and gas.
Kerry to Russia: Don't use energy as a weapon in Ukraine crisisSecretary of State John Kerry reaffirmed support Wednesday for a more diverse European energy supply as a response to Russia over the Ukraine crisis. Some have called for the US to wield its own 'energy weapon,' but the Obama administration has focused more on European solutions.
