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California Caps Greenhouse Gasses
California becomes the first state to impose a universal cap on greenhouse gas emissions Wednesday when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signs into law a sweeping effort to curb global warming. |
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NASA's Mission Statement Altered
The public is made aware of the modification of NASA's Mission Statement. From 2002 until 2006, NASA’s mission statement was "to understand and protect our home planet; to explore the universe and search for life; to inspire the next generation of explorers ... as only NASA can." Dr. James Hansen, NASA climatologist, said the change might reflect White House eagerness to shift the spotlight away from global warming. |
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Kyoto Protocol Goes Live
The Kyoto Protocol that aims to slow down global warming takes effect without the participation of China or the United States. |
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Coral Reefs Threatened by C02
Israeli scientists at the Hebrew University of Jersusalem reiterate the prediction that increasing ocean acidity due to CO2 emissions will collapse the world's coral reefs in as little as 30 years from now.
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers say this will make it difficult for many coral organisms to produce skeletal and other hard parts. |
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US States Must Cut Air Pollution by 2008
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announces that the governors of 20 U.S. states must slash levels of tiny particles spewed by power plants, cars and other sources by 2008. The currently non-compliant states are clustered around the Midwest and between Washington, DC and New York. Midwest states are home to numerous coal-fired power plants. Other counties with unhealthy levels are in Southern California and near Atlanta, Georgia. |
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Philippines Suspends Logging
Philippines President Gloria Arroyo suspends logging and vows to punish law-breakers as the countryside reels from four deadly storms in the past two weeks. |
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EPA Moves to Protect Beaches
EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt signs a final regulation that helps improve the health of the nation’s beaches on coastal and Great Lakes waters. |
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Putin Signs Bill Ratifying Kyoto
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill confirming Russia's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. In May, Putin had pledged to speed up approval in return for EU support for Russia to join the World Trade Organization. |
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Nobel Peace Prize to Environmentalist
The Norwegian Nobel Committee announces that the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Professor Wangari Maathai for her "contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace." It marks the first time that an individual with an environmental focus has won the prize. |
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US Power Companies Sued
New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer announces that Eight states and New York City are suing five of the nation's power companies to force them to decrease carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming. |
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Poison Cows in California
Research completed by the Environmental Working Group shows that California cow milk may expose pregnant women and children to unsafe levels of the chemical perchlorate, which is a component of rocket fuel. It has been linked to thyroid damage, lowered IQ, mental retardation, loss of hearing and speech, and motor skill deficits. The perchlorate ingested by cows from their water and feed is passed along in milk. |
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VT Nuclear Plant Shut Down
The Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant was shut down Friday after a transformer caught fire in the non-nuclear part of the facility, officials said. The fire was put out, and no radiation was released |
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EPA Moving Against DuPont
EPA spokeswoman Cynthia Bergman announces that the EPA preparing to take "formal action against DuPont soon" over allegations that the giant chemical company failed to report possible health problems connected with a key ingredient used in making Teflon. |
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House: Permits Yellowstone Snowmobiling
The U.S. House of Representatives votes to protect snowmobiling in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and turned down a one-year moratorium on the killing of Yellowstone bison. |
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Report on Dangers of Nuclear Power in Georgia
The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy releases an in-depth report for policy makers to confront security, economic and environmental impacts caused by nuclear power reactors in and around Georgia. |
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U.S. Army Countermands Environment Cut
One day after Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) made public a U.S. Army directive to all base commanders to cut environmental programs, the Army issued a new order to countermand it. |
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EPA Expands Energy Star Program
In an effort to reduce air pollution caused by commercial building energy use, the EPA announces its expansion of the ENERGY STAR program to encourage energy efficient designs in new commercial buildings. Architects achieving this goal can apply the label "Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR." |
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Yale Poll: Environment Is An Issue
Yale University releases the results of a National Poll on the Environment. Of the 1000 polled, 84% say the environment will be a factor in their vote in November, while 5% consider it a "major factor." 50% say that the quality of the environment in the United States is getting worse. |
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Religious Groups Address Climate
The Wall Street Journal reports that leaders from a broad spectrum of religious groups joined leading scientists to press U.S. Senators for regulations to address the issues of climate change. |
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Solar Panel Legislation Approved
The California state Senate approves, by a 22-13 vote, legislation that would require housing developers to include solar panels on a certain percentage of new homes. The rule faces a vote in the state Assembly. |
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U.S. Announces Major Clean Air Act Settlement With Santee Cooper
U.S. Announces Major Clean Air Act Settlement With Santee Cooper |
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The toxicity of gases from the WTC ruins is revealed.
News is released that the burning ruins of the World Trade Center spewed toxic gasses "like a chemical factory" for at least six weeks after Sept. 11, 2001. |
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News of White House Modification of EPA Press Releases Breaks
News of the White House modification of EPA Press Releases regarding the 9/11 disaster. |
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Australian power company EnviroMission announces its "hopes" to build a 3,300-foot solar tower in southwest New South Wales. The glass at the base would span 4 miles and the tower would be twice the height of Malaysia's Petronas towers.
Australian power company EnviroMission announces its "hopes" to build a 3,300-foot solar tower in southwest New South Wales. The glass at the base would span 4 miles and the tower would be twice the height of Malaysia's Petronas towers. |
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Thick black fuel oil, leaking from the sunken tanker Prestige reaches the beaches of the picturesque Landes region near Bordeaux, France.
Thick black fuel oil, leaking from the sunken tanker Prestige reaches the beaches of the picturesque Landes region near Bordeaux, France. |
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A huge slick of fuel oil from the sunken tanker Prestige starts to wash up on the Galician coast - bringing more environmental devastation.
A huge slick of fuel oil from the sunken tanker Prestige starts to wash up on the Galician coast - bringing more environmental devastation. |
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Oil Tanker "Prestige" Sinks
The damaged oil tanker "Prestige" broke in two and disappeared beneath the waves some 75 miles off Spain's northwestern coast today with a 22 million gallon cargo of fuel oil on board. |
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The Bush administration reverses a ban on snowmobiles in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.
The Bush administration reverses a ban on snowmobiles in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. |
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Actor Charlton Heston says he has symptoms consistent with Alzheimer's
Actor Charlton Heston says he has symptoms consistent with Alzheimer's |
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Sustainable Development Summit Opens
The World Summit on Sustainable Development opens as South African President Thabo Mbeki welcomes delegates from 184 nations. Colin Powell, and not George W. Bush, represents the United States. |
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