Ecology
Updated 30-year Reference Period Reflects Changing Climate
The U.S. Nationaceanic and Atmospheric Administration has updated the U.S. Climate Normals to the 1991-2020 baseline period to provide a most recent baseline for climate information and services to climate-sensitive sectors and a standard reference to compare variations in temperature,…
Biden Administration Releases US National Climate Plan
You’ve probably heard of the Paris Climate Agreement, the world’s hallmark climate action framework. At the core of the agreement are national climate plans, also known as Nationally Determined Contributions. But what exactly is that? Each country develops its plan to reduce…
Plastic is a climate, health and social justice issue
Companies like Coke, Pepsi and Nestle rely on single-use plastic, which is not only polluting the entire planet with waste, but helping to prop up the oil and gas sector and fueling climate change. For the fossil fuel industry, plastic represents…
This Is How CO2 Can Be Transformed Into Food for Animals
A British biotechnology start-up is converting industrial greenhouses gases into protein for animal fodder. The company uses a process it says can help to feed the world’s growing population while simultaneously being sustainable. Deep Branch uses micro-organisms to synthesize carbon…
Cleaning Up After Water Pollution
It is very difficult to reverse the effects of water pollution. Natural processes that cleanse the water can take years, decades, or even centuries, and even with costly technological processes, it can take years to remove all of the harmful…
Four Rivers And Wetlands We Love, And Can’t Afford To Lose
Water means different things to different people. For some, it nourishes livelihoods and drives local economies and for others it’s a source of recreation and reflection. Water is valued for a variety of reasons, but the common thread throughout is…
Urban Fish Ponds: Low-Tech Sewage Treatment for Towns and Cities
In the mid 20th century, whole cities’ sewage systems safely and successfully used fish to treat and purify their water. Waste-fed fish ponds are a low-tech, cheap, and sustainable alternative to deal with our own shit — and to obtain…