CT Green Scene

Are Americans Greener Now More Than Ever?

While the Solyndra debacle may have cast a dull light on all things environmental, there is an upshot. According to a new study by GFK Roper Consulting in conjunction with SC Johnson via ENN, Americans are more environmentally conscious today than they were 20 years ago. OK, it took two decades to make a dent. But still, nice that it happened. 

Here are a few statistics: Seventy-three percent of Americans say they know a lot about environmental issues. Fifty-eight percent separate their trash and recycle on a regular basis. Eighteen percent have cut down on their regular automobile usage. Small things, big change.

A more comprehensive story was reported on PR Web. See the excerpt below.

Study Shows Americans Adopting Environment-Friendly Habits, Non-Profits Like Campus California Help These Trends by Bringing Together Business and The General Public
Richmond, CA (PRWEB) November 01, 2011

A new study published by GFK Roper Consulting shows that influencing mass behavior of Americans towards more environmentally friendly lifestyle is possible. The 2011 survey of over 2000 residents of the continental US shows positive changes in the knowledge and actions of Americans concerning the environment.

“According to the survey results knowledge about environmental issues and problems is on the rise and Americans are less likely to be confused over what is good and bad for the environment. About seven in 10 now say they know a lot or a fair amount about environmental issues and problems, up from about five in 10 during the mid-1990’s,” says in the conclusion of the GFK Roper Green Gauge study.

To read the original report, click here.

Fukushima Update

by Dr. Amy Wiesner

Almost 3 months after the earthquake and tsunami that caused devastating damage in Japan, it seems that, in the US, it’s not a major concern anymore. That certainly should not be the case.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the situation at the plant is still serious. Radioactive contamination is still occurring both by being released into the air and with the outflow of water from the four damaged reactors.

According to the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, Japan has now double the initial estimate of radioactive fallout and the government is evacuating to areas farther afield. The levels of radiation are nearing those reached in Chernobyl, the world’s largest nuclear disaster before this one. Chernobyl was thought to be more toxic because fires were involved, easily spreading the radioactive materials into the surrounding areas through the air. But the Fukushima disaster is now at severity level 7--the same level as Chernobyl.

The Plastic Purge

By Brittany Shutts
   
In light of this past Friday’s Earth Day, one of the most significant things you can do for the planet is to cut the excess plastic out of your life. It is detrimental to the health of humans and wildlife and piles up in U.S. landfills and oceans. Several companies are making a forward-thinking effort to cut back on plastic usage. They are eliminating packaging overkill and even replacing plastics with innovative biodegradable materials. (See last week’s Operation Trashdown for links to reduce, reuse, and recycle!)
   
Companies like Ford are investing in a groundbreaking alternative to plastic that comes from a surprising source: mushrooms. The material was designed by Ecovative and has been used since 2007. It is formed by growing mushrooms in agricultural by-products like corn, oat, or seed husks, producing a waterproof and fireproof mushroom foam solid that is completely biodegradable. Ford has plans to use the foam to eventually replace petroleum-based plastics in the bumper, side doors, and dashboard. Polymers made from mushrooms are also being used to form a new packing material to replace Styrofoam, which takes up a quarter of U.S. landfills.

Operation Trashdown

by Ilene Moyher

In honor of Earth Day April 22, 2011, let’s embrace "Operation Trashdown" as a way to help create a cleaner earth. Everyone can help by adopting the ‘less trash’ mindset in their shopping and daily routines. Three basics are:

• Reuse or recycle more than you throw away
• Consider product packaging – amount of packaging and whether it’s made of recycled or recyclable materials
• When buying, make choices based on where items will end up (in a landfill? recycled? a treasured keepsake? long usage life?)

Did you know that 38 billion water bottles end up in landfills every year, enough to circle the earth 150 times, and each bottle takes hundreds of years to decompose!  Most towns and venues offer recycling for these, so it’s an easy way to make a difference. Better yet, use your own bottle and water and save money, too. You can find this fun fact on the Today Show with Kathie Lee & Hoda. Click the link to see the segment for more ways to easily become greener.

Haiti Onward: Q&A with Heather Burns

by Brittany Shutts
   
The earthquake that devastated Haiti in January, 2010 resulted in a complicated set of challenges for a country already suffering from economic and political instability. Heather Burns, founder of the GreenScene blogs and a Connecticut resident, recognized a unique opportunity to apply sustainable solutions on a local level. Haiti Onward applies a similar approach to the GreenScene blogs, catalyzing a “collaboration based on principles and place,” but on a grander scale. Haiti Onward brings together 15 organizations and local stakeholders to efficiently resolve many of Haiti’s economic, environmental, and social challenges.
   
The initiative was recently nominated as a semi-finalist in the Buckminster Fuller Challenge for contributing a local solution to a global problem that can be replicated in other communities.

I spoke with her at length about the project.

Environmentalist Céline Cousteau Speaks at Fairfield University’s Open VISIONS Forum April 4

People and the Natural World: An Exploration of Connections 
Monday, April 4 at 8 p.m.

$45
Celine Cousteau, 
Granddaughter of the legendary Jacques Cousteau, ambassador of the environment and native cultures

World explorer and environmentalist Céline Cousteau, closes the popular Fairfield University lecture series Open VISIONS Forum (OVF) on Monday, April 4 at 8 p.m. when she speaks at the Quick Center for the Arts. Tickets are $45. This OVF event is an Arts & Minds presentation.

The name Cousteau is familiar to legions and is synonymous with underwater exploration. The OVF speaker is Jacques Cousteau’s granddaughter and Jean-Michel Cousteau’s daughter. She has pursued the family passion and made it her own and for OVF, she will speak on “People and the Natural World: An Exploration of Connections.”

Taking Out the Trash

By Brittany Shutts
    

It’s hard to beat Germany’s recycling system. Multicolored trash bins line the exceptionally clean streets of German cities where the citizens separate colored glass, paper products, packaging, and food and plant waste. There are even some bins for clothes, shoes, and scrap metal. Black bins are only for waste that doesn’t fit into any of the other categories. Seventy percent of the waste in Germany is recycled every year, whereas the U.S. only manages to recycle 28%.
   
One of the biggest differences between the systems in Germany and the U.S. is that it starts with the manufacturers. It is their responsibility to minimize the amount of waste that is created, recycle any unavoidable waste or convert it into energy, and dispose of waste that cannot be recycled without causing environmental harm. In contrast to the “polluter pays” principle, the U.S. uses the “consumer pays” principle, which requires taxpayer funding for waste management. Since businesses in Germany bear the financial burden, controlling waste and recycling becomes a greater priority.

Radiation Leak: Something to Worry About?

Thousands are rushing to pop iodide pills for fear of the radiation leaks at the Fukushima Daiichi plant after last week's catastrophic earthquake and resulting tsunami damaged cooling systems in the reactors. The word on the street is that folks on the West Coast are simply panicking. But are they? When the BBC reports that the Japanese emperor Akihito made a rare appearance to say he is "deeply worried" about the situation, perhaps things are a bit more dire than we're led to believe. Below is an excerpt from Reuters.

Workers briefly abandon Japan nuclear plant as crisis worsens
By Shinichi Saoshiro and Chisa Fujioka
TOKYO | Reuters--Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:38am EDT

"High radiation levels prevented a helicopter from flying to the site to drop water into the No. 3 reactor -- whose roof was damaged by an earlier explosion and where steam was seen rising earlier in the day -- to try to cool its fuel rods.

The plant operator described No. 3 as the "priority." No more information was available, but that reactor is the only one at Daiichi which uses plutonium in its fuel mix.

According to U.S. government research, plutonium is very toxic to humans and once absorbed in the bloodstream can linger for years in bone marrow or liver and can lead to cancer..."

To read more, click here.

Image courtesy of Greenpeace.org.

BP Gulf Oil SPill Still Causing Problems

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, results of frequent dives in December from researchers at the University of Georgia have some disturbing news. Only 10% of the oil residue left on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico has been dissolved by microbes. It was expected that more of it would be gone by now. In the meantime, animals that ordinarily would be thriving are dead or dying. See an excerpt below.

Scientist finds Gulf bottom still oily, dead
By SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer Seth Borenstein, Ap Science Writer – Sat Feb 19, 8:53 pm ET

WASHINGTON – Oil from the BP spill remains stuck on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, according to a top scientist's video and slides that she says demonstrate the oil isn't degrading as hoped and has decimated life on parts of the sea floor.

That report is at odds with a recent report by the BP spill compensation czar that said nearly all will be well by 2012.

At a science conference in Washington Saturday, marine scientist Samantha Joye of the University of Georgia aired early results of her December submarine dives around the BP spill site. She went to places she had visited in the summer and expected the oil and residue from oil-munching microbes would be gone by then. It wasn't.

"There's some sort of a bottleneck we have yet to identify for why this stuff doesn't seem to be degrading," Joye told the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual conference in Washington. Her research and those of her colleagues contrasts with other studies that show a more optimistic outlook about the health of the gulf, saying microbes did great work munching the oil.

"Magic microbes consumed maybe 10 percent of the total discharge, the rest of it we don't know," Joye said, later adding: "there's a lot of it out there."

Click here to read more.

Image courtesy of National Geographic.

Malloy taps Yale's Etsy as DEEP Head

Governor Dannel P. Malloy has asked Daniel C. Etsy, Yale University's director of the Center for Environmental Law and Policy and the Center for Business and the Environment, to head up the state's combined Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). Touted as one of the leading environmental strategists, Malloy hopes Etsy's appointment will signify "a clean energy future."

See the excerpt below from The Hartford Courant.

Gov. Malloy Taps Yale Professor To Head Combined Energy, Environment Department
By CHRISTOPHER KEATING, ckeating@courant.com
The Hartford Courant
1:23 p.m. EST, February 10, 2011

HARTFORD — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy this morning named Yale University professor and environmental expert Daniel C. Esty to lead his recently announced state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Esty, 51, serves as director of the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy and Yale's Center for Business and the Environment…

"Professor Esty's research has focused on 'next generation' regulation and the relationships between the environment and trade, competitiveness, governance, and development," according to his Yale biography.

Esty told reporters that it is "an honor to be asked to serve in this new role, to work with the governor on the consolidation that he has announced, and to insure that the people of Connecticut get lower-cost energy, a greater energy efficiency and really become leaders in the push toward a clean energy future.''

To read more, click here.

Image courtesy of Yale University. 

Fracking--soon to be a thing of the past?

In today’s news from Reuters, the EPA drafted a plan to determine if drilling for natural gas and oil in bedrock, shale, and tight sand—also known as “fracking”—is harmful to water supplies. In a previous article on this site, we discussed this topic in regard to the documentary Gasland, produced and directed by Josh Fox. One particularly telling scene from that indie film was a resident living in the Marcellus Shale area who lit his tap water on fire. So does fracking harm drinking water? Perhaps, that’s a rhetorical question.

See the excerpt below.

EPA releases draft plan for fracking study

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – “U.S. environmental regulators issued a draft plan on Tuesday outlining how they will determine whether a technique for drilling natural gas harms supplies of drinking water.

Congress commissioned the Environmental Protection Agency to study hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking", after complaints that the process pollutes water. The EPA is slated to make public initial results of the study by the end of next year.

The study will investigate reported instances of drinking water contamination in three to five sites across the country where fracking has occurred, the agency said in the draft.

In addition, the EPA will conduct two to three prospective case studies, to take samples before, during and after water extraction, drilling and production of gas…

Congressman Ralph Hall, chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, said in a statement that he would closely review the study because he felt fracking had been the subject of ‘misleading attacks.’

‘Natural gas is a vital resource, and hydraulic fracturing is a well-established process that is enabling greatly increased production of clean, affordable energy,’ he said.”

To read more of the article, click here.

Image courtesy of Zazzle.com.

Kids and PCBs

Think your kids are safe at school? According to this article in The New York Times, they may not be. Many of the schools in New York City have been found to contain harmful levels of PCBs. As a result, a growing number of parents are opting to keep their kids home. With medical evidence suggesting the physical and mental impairment caused from long-term exposure to PCBs, they have cause for alarm. See the excerpt below.

Parents Seek More Action on PCBs in Schools
By MIREYA NAVARRO
Published: February 3, 2011

"As the father of an 8-year-old attending Public School 36 on Staten Island, Richard P. Ghiraldi was alarmed to learn that students were being exposed to a known carcinogen.

Last month, Mr. Ghiraldi and hundreds of other parents kept their children home from school for four days after tests showed that lighting ballasts — the devices that regulate electric current for fluorescent lights — were leaking the highly toxic chemical compounds known as PCBs onto the light fixtures and floor tiles.

'I was surprised they still had these old ballasts in schools,' said Mr. Ghiraldi, a paralegal. 'You’d think the custodians and the teachers would think it’d be a danger.'

Yet as he and other parents in New York City press doctors and government officials on the risks from the aging classroom fixtures, which remain in some 800 of 1,200 city school buildings, the answers have been frustratingly vague. Adding to the parental stress, the Bloomberg administration has disputed the urgency of replacing all of the T-12-style fluorescent lighting, estimating it would cost about $1 billion. Its negotiations with the Environmental Protection Agency continue.

There is no immediate health risk from PCBs lingering in schools, all are told, yet with one important caveat: the longer the exposure, the higher the risk."

Click The New York Times link above to read more.

Image courtesy of Seton.com. 

Audubon Highlights CO2 Effects On Ocean Food Web

Imagine a world without fish. It’s a frightening premise, and it’s happening right now.

To increase awareness about a very real and disturbing phenomenon called 'ocean acidification', The Menunkatuck Audubon Society, a local chapter and Audubon Connecticut, the state office of the National Audubon Society, will host a free public film screening of the highly-acclaimed film, A Sea Change. Chock full of scientific information, this is the first documentary about ocean acidification.

Staying Optimistic About Climate Change Policy

by Angela Hotaling

The 2010 climate change conference in Cancun has stirred up lots of controversy. The conference started on November 29th, culminating on December 10th. The 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which set emission reduction guidelines, will expire in December 2012 and there are pessimistic predictions for a legal continuation of the agreement.

Pessimism is a common theme of the media coverage overcastting the two week conference taking place in Cancun, Mexico. Last years summit in Copenhagen and its offspring, the Copenhagen Accord, has fallen short of making desired progress. There are many possibilities for what will come of all of this and those of us here who care about progress in climate change politics should really reflect upon the breadth of this issue.

Track Deforestation? It's a Snap!

Wondering what to do with 25 years worth of environmental satellite data? Leave it to Google. With their new Google Earth Engine, they can track environmental changes made to the planet  as easy as 1-2-3. Their data is based on NASA's LANDSAT technology and is used to monitor such things as deforestation and land use. A timely event for the talks in Cancun. See an excerpt below from Yale 360 and a link to the Environmental News Network with a more extensive look at the topic.

e360 digest
03 Dec 2010: New Google Earth Technology
 Allows Tracking of Environmental Changes

Google has unveiled an online technology that allows scientists and researchers to track and measure changes to the environment using 25 years worth of satellite data. Google Earth Engine, introduced during climate talks in Cancun, utilizes “trillions of scientific measurements” collected by NASA’s LANDSAT satellite, the company said. Google is already working on applications for tracking deforestation and mapping land use trends, including the creation of the most comprehensive scale map of Mexico’s forest and water resources ever made.

That project alone would have taken three years to process using a single computer, Google officials say, but took just one day using Google Earth Engine. “No one has ever been able to analyze that entire data set for Mexico, or even come close,” said Rebecca Moore, the project’s engineering manager. Google says it will offer 20 million CPU hours free to developing nations and scientific organizations to utilize the platform, which could emerge as a critical tool in the enforcement of such land management initiatives as the UN’s REDD program in which wealthier nations pay developing nations to preserve rainforests.

Click here for a link to ENN.com.

Image courtesy of NASA.gov.

Running out of fish?

Like seafood? So does everyone else, apparently. We're running out of sustainable fishing in our oceans. We essentially have nowhere left to go. According to an article in ScienceDaily, the University of British Columbia in collaboration with the National Geographic Society has conducted a study on the spatial expansion of global fisheries. The study indicated the "no fish left behind" mentality of corporate-run fisheries. That mentality is exactly why sources like bluefin tuna (as per a previous article on this site) are disappearing at an alarming rate and running the risk of becoming an endangered species. See an excerpt below from ScienceDaily.

'No Fish Left Behind' Approach Leaves Earth With Nowhere Left to Fish, Study Finds

ScienceDaily (Dec. 3, 2010) — Earth has run out of room to expand fisheries, according to a new study led by University of British Columbia researchers that charts the systematic expansion of industrialized fisheries.

In collaboration with the National Geographic Society and published in the online journal PLoS ONE, the study is the first to measure the spatial expansion of global fisheries. It reveals that fisheries expanded at a rate of one million sq. kilometres per year from the 1950s to the end of the 1970s. The rate of expansion more than tripled in the 1980s and early 1990s -- to roughly the size of Brazil's Amazon rain forest every year.

Between 1950 and 2005, the spatial expansion of fisheries started from the coastal waters off the North Atlantic and Northwest Pacific, reached into the high seas and southward into the Southern Hemisphere at a rate of almost one degree latitude per year. It was accompanied by a nearly five-fold increase in catch, from 19 million tonnes in 1950, to a peak of 90 million tonnes in the late 1980s, and dropping to 87 million tonnes in 2005, according to the study.

"The decline of spatial expansion since the mid-1990s is not a reflection of successful conservation efforts but rather an indication that we've simply run out of room to expand fisheries," says Wilf Swartz, a PhD student at UBC Fisheries Centre and lead author of the study.

Click here to read more of the article.

Image courtesy of ScienceDaily.

Bad News for the Birds and the Bees

According to a news release from Environmental New Network, the bird and bee populations have been dwindling because of pesticides containing nicotine. Neonicotinoids, a derivative of the substance, are essentially glued onto plant seeds which are then ingested by insects. When the insects die off, a primary food supply disappears for the birds. Bees are also affected because it interferes with their navigational systems so they neglect feeding and tending to larvae. See an excerpt below.

Modern Insecticides' Devastating Effects
From: David A Gabel, ENN
Published November 16, 2010 09:30 AM

"Like DDT before it, a new class of insecticides known as neonicotinoids is believed to be causing drastic population declines in bird species. It is so effective at killing insects, that it has deprived birds of their basic food. Some scientists also believe they are behind the decline in bee populations in Europe and the United States known as honey-bee Colony Collapse Disorder...

The effectiveness of this pesticide has certainly taken a toll on insects, but has taken a much more noticeable toll on birds. In Britain, the house sparrow population has declined by 68 percent since 1977. Since 1994, the common swift population has shrunk by 41 percent and the starling by 26 percent. Other birds affected include the spotted flycatcher, wood warbler, snipe, and song thrush.

Neonicotinoids are used on a level far lower than DDT was used back in its time, but since it is so efficient at killing insects, it is having the same effect. For that reason, it is loved by farmers in protecting their crops. The chemical also makes the plants more resistant to drought, low pH levels, heat stress, and viral infections."

To read more of this article, click here.

Image courtesy of ENN.com.

Reusable Bags the New Environmental Evil?

Can it be? The very bags we strut around town with believing we're doing good for the planet may contain harmful levels of lead, according to an article in yesterday's New York Times. More often than not, the bags are manufactured in China. The carbon footprint alone may be problematic for some. But many are afraid the lead may leach into the food we put inside them. We posed this same environmental question in a previous article on this site in January, 2009. See the NY Times excerpt below.

Even Reusable Bags Carry Environmental Risk
By MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM
Published: November 14, 2010

"They dangle from the arms of many New Yorkers, a nearly ubiquitous emblem of empathy with the environment: synthetic, reusable grocery bags, another must-have accessory for the socially conscious.

But the bags, hot items at upscale markets, may be on the verge of a glacier-size public relations problem: similar bags outside the city have been found to contain lead...

There is no evidence that these bags pose an immediate threat to the public, and none of the bags sold by New York City’s best-known grocery stores have been implicated. But reports from around the country have trickled in recently about reusable bags, mostly made in China, that contained potentially unsafe levels of lead. The offending bags were identified at several stores, including some CVS pharmacies; the Rochester-based Wegman’s grocery chain recalled thousands of its bags, made of recycled plastic, in September."

To read more, click here.

Image courtesy of GoGreen-Bags.com.

Get Your “Fracks” Straight

by Angela Hotaling

A biting controversial issue about the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing has recently caught my interest. Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is the process of extracting natural gas from under the earth’s surface. Wells are drilled deep into the ground and then water, sand, and chemicals are pumped at high pressures to break shale formations and release pockets of natural gas. The gas industry has exploded over the past several years creating jobs and supplying energy; however not without stirring up some very hot debate in the process.

Last week, The New York Times published an article about hydraulic fracturing. The article, written by Clifford Krauss and Tom Zeller Jr., says, “Natural gas currently satisfies nearly a quarter of the nation’s power needs. And with vast methane reserves now available in previously inaccessible layers of shale deep underground, its position as a cornerstone of the domestic energy supply may well be secured for decades--if the public supports it.”

Wind Farming with Google

by Susan Torres

The Atlantic Coast is getting a makeover. Within the next decade, a recent proposal could bring the country’s largest wind farm to the coast of Northern New Jersey down to Norfolk, Virginia. The project, the Atlantic Wind Connection, just got a big boost from Google.
    



The ubiquitous Internet company, along with New York based investment firm Good Energies, have pledged 37.5 percent of the estimated $5 billion dollars needed to fund the project. It’s estimated the first phase, which will run from the top of New Jersey to Delaware, will be completed in early 2016, according to the New York Times. This section alone will cost $1.8 billion dollars. Once completed, the Atlantic Wind Connection will be the country’s first offshore wind collection project.
   

Hungary Works Toward Emergency Dam by Tuesday

Here's the latest update on the toxic spill in Hungary courtesy of Reuters. Not surprisingly, human negligence is fingered as the culprit for environmental damage. Read an excerpt below.

Hungary state to take control of MAL after spill
By Gergely Szakacs
BUDAPEST | Mon Oct 11, 2010 9:23am EDT

"Disaster crews were racing Monday to finish an emergency dam to hold back a threatened second spill of the toxic mud, a by-product of alumina production, from the sludge reservoir owned by MAL.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban told parliament damages must be paid to those affected by the spill, jobs at the plant must be saved, those responsible must be held accountable and further risks at the company's sites should be identified.

'Hungary's largest ecological disaster was caused by human negligence, by allowing a hazardous material to escape from a plant built and operated by people,' Orban said.

'We need to bring the company responsible for the red sludge spill under state control, and its assets under state closure, until all of these four tasks are handled,' he told parliament.

Orban said a state commissioner would be appointed to take over control over MAL and manage its assets.

'In light of what happened, we have good reason to believe that there were people who were aware of the dangerously weakened state of the walls of the reservoirs, but driven by their private interests they believed they were not worth repairing and hoped that the trouble could be avoided.'"

To read more of the article, click here.

Image courtesy of Reuters.com.

Hot Summer? It’s About to Get a Whole Lot Hotter.

by Chitra Esther Chelladurai

Chitra is a sophomore at the University of Connecticut. She is highly interested in environmental science and fascinated by how the world works. Even though we are in the 21st century, she thinks more people should show concern for the earth and how we impact it. She would like to promote more awareness to illustrate why we need to care.

If you’re one of those that still deny global warming, take a closer look at Greenland. According to the Environmental News Network, the country's ice sheet is an extensive frozen body covering 660,235 sq mi, which is roughly 80% of the country’s surface. Scientists and researchers led by the University of Bristol say that their analysis on the geophysical and hydrological conditions beneath the Greenland massive ice sheet will help understand how it will respond to the climate change. In addition, this analysis will fundamentally help create a computer modeling of the ice sheet and foresee possible changes due to its erratic environment.  

Hazardous Waste Collections

Don't forget, certain Connecticut towns have their Hazardous Waste Collection coming up. Fairfield, Rocky Hill, Essex, and Bridgewater have their collections on Saturday, August 28th.

For other dates, locations, and times in September, October, and November, consult the CT DEP web site. See below for the most recent collections.

August 28th
New Haven
HazWaste Central Regional Water Authority
90 Sargent Drive

Fairfield
Veterans Park
Reef Road

Rocky Hill
Rocky Hill WPCF
80  Goff Brook Lane

Bridgewater
Public Works Facility
324 Hut Hill Road

Essex
Estuary Region HHW Facility
5 Dump Road
Route 9, Exit 4

Young Environmentalists Donate To Audubon for Gulf Oil Spill

Girls' lemonade stand raises more than $100 to help Audubon respond to the Gulf oil spill.

It is a rite of summer for children throughout Greenwich: Set up a stand, mix some frosty pitchers of tart lemonade, and sell cups to friends and neighbors to earn some pocket money. But last week, three girls decided that their front yard lemonade stand could do more than earn them some spending money. 

Instead, they raised money to support response efforts to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, doing their part to help the millions of birds and other wildlife that call the Gulf home. They demonstrate that no matter how old you are, you can make difference in your community and the world.

For God's Sake, It's Still Gushing...

It is utterly inconceivable that in this day and age of technology we still have a gush of oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico. Now, the situation is made even worse by Hurricane Alex, listed as a category 2 whipping up waves that inhibit the clean up. Can this oil spill get any worse? Apparently so, according to articles posted this morning from the Associated Press and Reuters. The spill will break the record by surpassing the 140 million gallon mark. Not a record that should have been broken.

Read excerpts from today's news on the oil spill.

A Cure for Devil’s Water

by Amanda DeMatto

Fifty million American homes rest on soil that contains toxic levels of arsenic. Though this deadly element occurs naturally, often released in gaseous volcanic emissions, human activities like pesticide use have magnified its presence.

But for the past few years, scientists and citizens alike have been witnessing the fascinating ability of plants to slurp up and sequester heavy metals like arsenic. The Edenspace Corporation of Dulles, Virginia has brought a tropical Floridian fern to the backyards of many America citizens, who are much safer because of it.

Like Oil and Water

Kevin Costner is in the news, but not for his illustrious acting career. Having taken part in the Senate Committee for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, he has been trying to promote his contraption that separates oil and water. Fitting easily to any fishing boat, the idea is for companies like BP to keep it on hand like a fire extinguisher whenever there is a spill. Or, perhaps a better idea is to not have a spill in the first place. One can only dream.

Take a look at an excerpt from an article dated June 18th from the Associated Press below.

Kevin Costner wants cleanup devices near oil rigs
By ANN SANNER, Associated Press Writer – Fri Jun 18, 6:19 am ET

"...Costner said the device had been sitting at a Nevada facility for 10 years until BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles recently called him.

"He was excited," Costner said. "He told me that the machine worked. He told me that it was working against the dispersants, that it was handling the variations of oil mixtures and thickness present in the Gulf."

Costner said other small businesses like his have ideas that could be used in the oil spill relief effort.

"If we can find oil thousands of feet in the ground at depths that boggle the mind," Costner said, "then surly we have the technology to clean up our own mess."

To read more, click here.

Image courtesy of the Associated Press via Yahoo News.

Cormorant in a Coalmine

by Amanda DeMatto

It’s not unusual for Charlie Clarkson, an ecologist at the University of Virginia, to return from a day’s work caked, from brim to boot, in bird excrement. “It’s a very dirty, smelly job,” he chuckles, “but I like it.” He spends his summer days mucking about the islands that pepper the New York Harbor and Virginia’s Eastern Shore collecting bird vomit and feathers from the young nestlings of two seabird species: the double-crested cormorant and the glossy ibis.

There’s no doubt Clarkson’s job is offensive to the nose, but it’s importance as a novel approach for understanding why 90% of bird species are in decline supersedes its unpleasantness. The condition of the feathers and vomit provides clues about the health of the nestlings and the environment as it concerns all living things, even us. 

Oil: Slick or Sick?

For over a month, the top story has been the worst environmental mishap in years: BP still can't stop the oil spill. Admitting that the "top kill" method didn't work and their market shares taking a hit, things aren't looking up for a company that's active in over 30 countries, employs over 80,000 people and rakes in over $200 billion dollars a year, according to their web site.. See the excerpt below from Reuters via Yahoo News. Just to keep you updated, here's a little run-down of just how this oil spill has continued to wreak havoc.

Factbox: Developments in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill
Writing by Mary Milliken, Editing by Philip Barbara
Posted Tuesday, June 1, 2010

(Reuters) – Here are developments in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the largest in U.S. history:

SPILL CONTAINMENT EFFORTS

• After BP Plc said the complex "top kill" maneuver to plug its Gulf of Mexico oil well had failed on Saturday, it is moving to the next option -- the lower marine riser package cap, which will capture oil from the well rather than plug it.
• The company will know by the end of the week whether the new containment effort has worked, BP Managing Director Robert Dudley said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."

The Accidental Tourist?

Planning on a little fun in the sun this summer? Florida may not be the place to go this year. With the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf, the state fears the effects it will have on tourism. Some vacationers have already cancelled or postponed their plans this month. What will happen the rest of the summer? It remains to be seen. The following excerpt is from a May 19th article from The New York Times.

Florida Worries About Effect on Tourism
By CATHARINE SKIPP
The New York Times
Published: May 19, 2010

"In a state already reeling from foreclosures and unemployment, those whose livelihood depends on visitors lathered in sunscreen are trying to persuade tourists scared off by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to reconsider.

For now, Florida tourism is living and dying in 72-hour increments. While no oil from the spill — sheen, slick, blobs or balls — has washed ashore on Florida beaches yet, the state’s Department of Environmental Protection is guaranteeing such conditions for only three days at a time.

Hotel operators in the Panhandle say they are frustrated by headlines forecasting a “black tide” hitting Florida beaches."

To read more, click here.

Image courtesy of National Geographic.

Oil Slick

by Courtney Dumais

The recent oilrig explosion and leak in the Gulf of Mexico has left ocean lovers and environmentalists alike simply heartbroken. But more than that, it raises the questions of ecological impact, responsibility, as well as the reconsideration of plans to expand offshore drilling. 

On April 29th, nine days after the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded and caught fire, the Obama Administration deemed the explosion and subsequent oil leak an event of “national significance.” The explosion claimed the lives of 11 workers and The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates that about 200,000 gallons (5,000 barrels) of oil are leaking into the Gulf per day. Windy conditions have increased the rates of spread and oil has begun reaching land.

The Winds of Change Close to Home

by Susan Torres

An aspiring grown-up who loves all things concerning the environment, media, sports, current events, traveling, absurdity and general hilarity, Susan is living in and loving New York City. Having graduated from Northeastern University last May with a bachelor's degree in journalism and minoring in political science and history, she is currently proofreading for a translation services company and doing some freelance writing work on the side.

 
If you haven't been to Cape Cod, Massachusetts you really should. Even this jaded New Jerseyan has to admit it's a very pretty strip of beach with clear water that allows you to see your toes. On a good day, you can see for miles in all directions. According to an article dated April 28th in The New York Times, part of what you see will include wind turbines. The article highlights how, after nine years, Cape Cod will become the home of the nation's first offshore wind farm.
   
My home state of New Jersey also got good renewable energy news. A solar farm was recently approved in the town of Hamilton. The power company PSE&G will install 16,000 solar arrays over 16 acres while providing clean, renewable energy. In addition, New Jersey's The Star Ledger reports that the new installation will create 60 local union jobs.

CT Green

The Connecticut Post showed its green today with stories of particular interest:

Governor M. Jodi Rell rode on the train line from New Haven to Hartford with Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood. There is talk of a future high-speed commuter line between the two cities.

"The target date of 2016 for the New Haven-to-Hartford line to feature commuter and high-speed lines sounds far in the future. But there are deadlines to meet every step of the way, and the next governor, whoever it is, will need to maintain the state's focus, even as other matters inevitably take center stage."

Here's hoping Connecticut doesn't drop the ball on the rail line before 2016. To read more of the article, click here.

But area hospitals such as St. Vincent's, Bridgeport, and Griffin are not dropping the ball these days by ditching their polystyrene cups and plastic utensils. Since hospitals have a high carbon footprint, this is one way to lower it.

"In an effort to be more environmentally friendly, several hospitals are phasing out products made of plastic foam, which resists biodegradation and is not always accepted by recycling programs.

On July 1, St. Vincent's will begin replacing its non-green cups and the like with more environmentally sound paper products. Griffin Hospital in Derby is also planning to replace its foam products with 'green' items and will do away with plastic cutlery, in favor of starch-based products. Meanwhile, Bridgeport Hospital has already gotten rid of plastic foam trays, and is in the process of replacing plastic foam cups with the paper variety, as well as selling reusable mugs."

To read more, click here.

Images courtesy of the State of Connecticut and St. Vincent's, respectively.

An Earth Day Lecture from RFK, Jr

by Eileen Weber


Last night, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. spoke at Fairfield University’s Quick Center for a little over an hour about a range of environmental issues. Known for his passionate views on global warming and what we as a society can do about it, Kennedy spoke about renewable energy, excess waste and landfills, clean waterways, electric cars, and the role politics plays in our environment.
 
As part of the university’s Earth Week, Kennedy’s lecture kicked the activities off. Organized in part by Zachary Gross, a member of the Student Environmental Association, and Alexandra Roem, President of the Green Campus Initiative, the two students were pleased to have such a notable and prestigious environmental leader speak.
 
“The fact that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. lives his life as a champion of the environment makes him an ideal person to speak at Fairfield and energize the campus community during Earth Week,” said Gross in a university press release.

Green Food Tips for Earth Day

by Analiese Paik, Founder and Editor of the Fairfield Green Food Guide

One of the easiest ways to make Earth Day every day is to green your kitchen. Here are some delicious and fun ways to reduce your family's "foodprint" while eating well. Click here to view the video from this segment on News Channel 8’s Good Morning Connecticut Show.

Buy locally grown food from a farmers' market and learn to cook with the seasons.
 
Best-selling author, restaurateur and Wholesome Wave Foundation founder Michel Nischan's new cookbook, Sustainably Delicious, presents over 100 recipes for home cooks looking for delicious and nutritious ways to prepare seasonal food that is good for the environment, for animals, for farm workers, and for our tables. Michel advises us to "Eat what's available in season, celebrate variety, respect the land and eschew waste." His mission is to show that choosing local and sustainably grown food offers innumerable rewards, including some of the very best flavors Mother Nature has to offer. Who thought a humble parsnip could be this delicious?

Happy Earth Day to you….

by Courtney Dumais
           
Thursday, April 22nd marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Founded by former Senator Gaylord Nelson, the first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970. It marked the beginning of the environmental movement in the United States. On that day, under the leadership of Dennis Hayes, millions of Americans came together in the form of rallies and protests to promote preservation and to raise environmental awareness. The first Earth Day not only gained national attention, but it also resulted in the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a national organization charged with creating and maintaining a safe, clean environment.

Four decades later, environmental issues are more serious than ever before. Many factors such as population growth, increases in greenhouse gas emissions, and rises in average global temperatures, pose new threats to the future of the planet. According to Climate Change: A Reference Handbook by Kate Brash, David Downie and Catherine Vaughan, annual carbon dioxide emissions has increased over the past forty years by 80% and eleven of the past twelve years have been the warmest recorded.

The Greener Coast

by Courtney Dumais

Hello from San Francisco!  I arrived here in the Bay area a week ago and have been greatly surprised and impressed with the city’s eco-friendliness. San Francisco seems one step ahead of the green curve, encouraging conservation and passing laws to ensure the future sustainability of the city.

Immediately I noticed the crisp, clean air and, at a closer glance, saw electric buses, hybrid cars and compost bins. That’s right, compost bins. In addition to the trash and recycling bins, San Francisco residents also place a green compost bin at the end of their driveways.

These bins are only one of the city’s many initiatives to reduce its’ carbon footprint and become more sustainable. The San Francisco Department of the Environment and Commission on the Environment work together to develop programs and suggest policies to reduce wastes, toxic material and emissions as well as to improve air and water quality and to increase efficiency in transportation and energy use.

The Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance, effective in October 2009, requires residents to separate trash, recyclables and compostables into respective bins. This ordinance is part of the city’s goal of diverting 75% of waste from landfills by 2010 and achieving zero waste by 2020.

Electric Bus

by Eileen Weber

Getting from Point A to Point B may be a little greener these days for some schools and universities. Hybrid buses are being used for transportation here in Connecticut and as far away as Wyoming.

According to IC Bus, an Illinois-based subsidiary of Navistar, Inc., the largest manufacturer of school buses in the country, the average school bus uses over 1,700 gallons of fuel annually. The average hybrid, however, uses less than half that at 600 gallons. The hybrid buses also reduce emissions up to 40%.

Here are some other amazing statistics IC Bus would like you to know: The daily fuel cost of transporting a child to school by private vehicle costs $3.68 while the same child taking the bus only costs 73 cents; One school bus has the capacity to take 36 cars off the road, with a total of 17.3 million cars every year; If 10% more children rode the bus, another 300 million gallons of fuel would be saved annually.

These quick, little facts may not pop into your head when you see a big yellow bus belching exhaust in front of you at the stoplight. But many school officials are seeing buses as a way to be greener and cleaner.

Fairfield University Goes Green

by Courtney Dumais

For the last five years, students, teachers and administrators at Fairfield University have joined together in an attempt to reduce the school’s carbon footprint. A major step took place in about three years ago with the installation of a Cogeneration power plant, known on campus as the “COGEN.” The plant, referred to by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as a combined heat and power plant (CHP), cleanly and efficiently generates and produces power and thermal energy. In the University’s case, the COGEN produces almost enough electricity to power the entire campus.

As a result of the COGEN, Fairfield University has reduced its’ emissions of three major greenhouse gases: sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide.  The plant is an integral part of the University’s sustainability initiatives and it successfully embraces the Jesuit mission to be good stewards of the Earth through social awareness and moral responsibility. 

In a previous article on this site, we discussed the Jesuits commitment to the environment with their recently renovated residence. The building incorporates closed loop geothermal heating and cooling system 400 feet underground, a roof garden that can absorb up to 95% of rainfall, and sustainable bamboo flooring.

Why Wait? E-Cycle Now!

by Margaret Bota
 
On January 1, 2011, there will be a disposal ban for all e-waste in Connecticut. This means that you will no longer be able to throw your e-waste in the trash. Why have a restriction like this? Because too many people are dumping their electronics in the garbage. But the good news is we don't have to. Environmentally conscious citizens and businesses unite! E-cycle now!
 
The State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) plans to implement the bill for four years. While still in progress, this bill will do two things: Ban all covered electronic devices (CEDs) larger than a pager from landfills and incinerators; Change the way companies and consumers will dispose of their e-waste.
 
The reason for this ban is that lead, mercury, cadmium and brominated flame retardants are among the toxins in e-waste. When these electronics become obsolete at the end of life (EOL), they can cause waste problems if not properly managed.

Doing it the old-fashioned way

Getting back to the basics may be all the environment needs. Read this article from The Burlington Free Press in Vermont. From planting your own garden or reusing items to save money, previous generations have something to teach us with their waste-not-want-not point of view.

Dad's Depression-era advice: Slow down, and the environment benefits, too
by Matt Sutkowski, Free Press Staff Writer
The Burlington Free Press
Sunday, January 31, 2010

"If I really want to learn to live a green life, I need look no further than to my dad, Henry 'Red' Sutkoski, who has lived in West Rutland almost all of his life.

Dad turns 90 in April, and he’s a treasure trove of memories dating back to the Calvin Coolidge presidency. He grew up with his parents and six siblings in West Rutland in the 1920s and 1930s, a town then largely supported by the marble industry. He was 9 years old when the stock market crashed in 1929, and he has vivid recollections of the Great Depression.



Dad loves to tell stories of his childhood, and I love listening to them. They are always interesting and entertaining. But when I asked him last week to repeat many of his stories for my article on how Depression-era people were accidental environmentalists, I realized he offers lessons on how to live 'green.'"

Click here to read more.

Image courtesy of HappyNews.com.

Malawi: Farmers become filmmakers

by Simone Pipek

Climate change affects all of us. As an avid reader of this website – or for that matter as someone who hasn’t been hibernating for the last ten years – you are well aware of this fact. We realize there is something wrong with rising seas, stronger and more frequent storms like Hurricane Katrina that decimated New Orleans in 2005, and increased drought due to higher temperatures. Yet for those in a modern world, the climate change’s effects are not as devastating as they are for third world countries, whose economy and survival strongly depends on the rain seasons.

Take Malawi, for example. Located in southern Africa the country is among the world's least developed and most densely populated. Its economy is heavily based in agriculture, with a largely rural population, which in this respect, leads to the conclusion that heavier though shorter rain falls with increased flooding, followed by extreme drought requires the population to change their habits in cultivating and growing food and animals to survive.

Drop the Bottle

by Courtney Dumais

We grab one for the road, on the way to the gym, or simply to quench our thirst. It’s a luxury many of us take for granted. But this little culprit is really just a wolf in sheep’s clothing: The single-use plastic bottle.  It may be convenient, but it’s an environmental nightmare.

Though some eco-friends have switched from the plastic bottle to a reusable bottle, many are guilty of succumbing to the ease of purchasing a bottle of water or a case from the supermarket. Many ask, so what? What could possibly be so terrible about a nice cold bottle of water? Well I’ve outlined a few reasons to drop the bottle. 

The production, transportation and disposal of plastic water bottle containers creates a surprising amount of environmental harm. We visited that topic in a previous article on this site. Manufacturing plastic water bottles requires large quantities of petroleum and the chemical polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to make the bottles. Energy to fill the bottles, to ship them to consumers, to refrigerate; and landfill space to dispose of them all take their toll.

Green Energy Options in the Home

by Courtney Dumais

Courtney is a junior at Fairfield University. She is currently enrolled in the Environmental Studies program with an emphasis on ecology, environmental justice, ethics, and policies as well as sustainable development. She is our newest intern at CTGS.

With these long, cold winter days, heating your home becomes a high priority. It also comes with a high economic and environmental price tag. The U.S Department of Energy estimates that heating and cooling systems in the United States emit about 150 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. According to The Center for Resource Conservation, Americans use twice as much energy as necessary to heat their homes. And this heat, which escapes through cracks and leaks, costs about $450 per year.
In the United States, heating alone accounts for approximately 40% of energy bills. In Connecticut, that percentage is even higher. More than half of the average energy bill is spent on home heating. Add high gas and oil prices to that, and your wallet is a whole lot lighter.

To help the average homeowner during these chilly months, I’ve compiled a few simple, effective measures to help reduce the impact this winter. Some of them are obvious, such as unplugging unused electronics. But other less evident solutions can make a noticeable difference as well.

Green Wherever You Go

by Eileen Weber

Last week, my husband and I flew down to Florida with the kids. We were helping my father-in-law move to an assisted living facility. Along the way, I found little pockets of environmental friendliness popping up in unexpected places.

For one, we flew on Continental Airlines out of Newark, NJ. The moment we walked into the terminal, there was no way to miss the colossally huge banner promoting Eco-Skies, the airline’s green initiative. Continental has increased their recycling program, offered a carbon offset program in conjunction with Sustainable Travel International (STI), a non-profit organization that promotes environmental conservation, and they have been working on using biofuel since last year to decrease carbon emissions.

Green Skiing

For all those ski bums out there, here's something to consider: Some ski resorts are more environmentally friendly than others. It's not whether they use CFLs in their lighting fixtures or waterless toilets. It's not their fabulous recycling program, either. It's how they construct their runs--are they graded or cleared? That makes all the difference. See the excerpt below from this morning's New York Times:

Not All Ski Slopes Are Environmentally Equal, Study Concludes
by Sindya Bhanoo
Published January 11, 2010

"Ski resorts are not as fun for the environment as they are for skiers. The damage to forested hills caused by the construction of ski slopes is obvious. Trees are cut down, ground is cleared, and the resulting slopes are maintained as the foundation for a yearly carpet of snow.

Some ski slopes, however, are more environmentally friendly than others, according to a new study. Cleared ski runs, where trees and other tall, woody plants are cut down to open skiing pathways, cause less damage to the natural ecosystem than graded ski runs, which are bulldozed, leaving little or no vegetation or shrubs.

'Cleared slopes are actually more like forests than graded slopes,' said Jennifer W. Burt, the lead author of the study, published in last month’s issue of Ecological Applications. 'This was an unexpected result of our research,' said Dr. Burt, who studied ski slope construction as part of her doctoral research. On cleared runs, seed banks are left intact, and small shrubs remain undamaged. Also left intact are the top layers of the soil, which support plant growth and more robust and diverse vegetation, which in turn support wildlife.

Machine-graded runs, on the other hand, remove topsoil and vegetation, significantly damaging the ecosystem."

To read more of the article, click here.
To read a previous article on this site about green ski resorts in the Northeast, click here.

Image courtesy of The New York Times.

CIA Sharing Environmental Data

The CIA is using satellite intelligence to discern the extent of climate change. There are friends and foes of this issue. When this kind of technology is at their fingertips, why not get a little help from the federal government? On the other hand, others argue with war in the Middle East and terrorists setting themselves on fire on Christmas Day, the CIA may have better things to do with their time. Below is an excerpt from The New York Times.

CIA Is Sharing Data With Climate Scientists
by William J. Broad
Published January 4, 2010

"The nation’s top scientists and spies are collaborating on an effort to use the federal government’s intelligence assets — including spy satellites and other classified sensors — to assess the hidden complexities of environmental change. They seek insights from natural phenomena like clouds and glaciers, deserts and tropical forests.

The collaboration restarts an effort the Bush administration shut down and has the strong backing of the director of the Central Intelligence Agency. In the last year, as part of the effort, the collaborators have scrutinized images of Arctic sea ice from reconnaissance satellites in an effort to distinguish things like summer melts from climate trends, and they have had images of the ice pack declassified to speed the scientific analysis."

To read more, click here.

Image courtesy of The New York Times.

Commentary: Copenhagen

by Michael A. Cuomo

First steps can be frustrating. The climate accord reached early last Saturday morning in Copenhagen is a first step toward achieving a comprehensive, enforceable agreement among members of the United Nations. But while the accord furthers the dialogue of influential players such as China, India, Brazil, the EU and the U.S., it fails to come through with specific targets for the reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions. Instead, it contains a vague promise to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. 

Feelings were mixed about the end results of the summit. Gordon Brown described the negotiations as "frustrating” and the Obama administration hailed the meeting as an “important breakthrough.” Most notable among the accord’s successes: A commitment by wealthier countries to provide an annual fund of $100 billion by 2020 to countries who do not have the financial resources to develop their industries. With little to no financial backing, these countries must simultaneously follow ever stricter environmental regulations. 

Balancing the needs of developing versus developed nations has been a sticking point at previous climate summits. Developing nations have been hesitant to sign an agreement that may cripple their economic advancement. Industrialized nations, on the other hand, have been disdainful of granting more achievable emissions restrictions to their less developed neighbors.

Ski Green

by Eileen Weber

Feel like schussing down the mountains of soft powder with the wind in your hair this winter? You’re not alone. Every skier on the planet waits with bated breath to hit the slopes. But there’s one thing many don’t realize: What an energy hog ski resorts are.

From the snow machines, to the ski lift, to the amount of lighting required, ski areas use an exorbitant amount of energy. But some facilities are taking it upon themselves to do something about it.

Realizing that it’s a little incongruous to promote the great outdoors only to slowly ruin it with energy-hogging practices, turning to renewable energy sources sounds like a fine idea. There are several in Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California that have already done so. But unless you’re planning on increasing your carbon footprint by taking a trip out there some time soon, it might be best to take a look at what we have locally in New England

NY Times: The Road to Copenhagen

With the upcoming climate summit scheduled to start on December 7th in Copenhagen, news of more carbon dioxide hitting the atmosphere is no surprise. This story from today's New York Times is no exception. By draining the canals in Indonesia, the country has become one of the biggest offenders when it comes to greenhouse gases.

"Canals — used legally and illegally — extend from surrounding rivers nearly into the peninsula’s impenetrable core. By slowly draining and drying the peat land, they are releasing carbon dioxide, contributing to making Indonesia the world’s third biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, after China and the United States."

"Forests like the one on the Kampar Peninsula are at the center of a growing battle over the shape of a new climate treaty and efforts to curb the destruction and degradation of forests. Though countries are expected to reach only a broad agreement at next month’s summit meeting in Copenhagen, governments, scientists, businesses and environmentalists are already arguing over what kinds of forests should qualify as carbon reducers and what kinds of projects should be rewarded financially."

To read the entire article, click here.

To read what Boston GreenScene had to say about the upcoming summit, click here.

To read a previous article on CT GreenScene about the benefits of planting trees and how it affects our environment, click here.

Image courtesy of India's Top News.