ENN: Press Releases

CCS awareness higher on Prairies than the rest of Canada

Calgary, Feb. 8, 2012 -- Public awareness and acceptance of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) as a tool to combat climate change is higher in Saskatchewan and Alberta than the rest of Canada, concludes a national survey released today by Carbon Management Canada (CMC) and the International Performance Assessment Centre for the Geological Storage of CO2 (IPAC-CO2).

Mexican Gray Wolf Numbers in Wild Increase for Second Year in Row

SILVER CITY, N.M.— Pup births boosted the number of endangered Mexican gray wolves in the wild in the Southwest for the second year in a row, according to a new census conducted by federal, state and tribal agencies.�The 58 wolves counted in New Mexico (26) and Arizona (32) compare to the 50 counted a year ago and the 42 wolves counted at the beginning of 2010. More importantly, the number of breeding pairs increased from just two in each of the preceding annual counts to six in 2011.

California Protects Vanishing High Sierra and Southern California Frogs Under State Endangered Species Act

SaCRAMENTO, Calif.— The California Fish and Game Commission voted unanimously today to designate two species of native frogs inhabiting high-elevation lakes in the Sierra Nevada and Southern California mountain ranges as threatened and endangered species under the state’s Endangered Species Act.

Tara Oceans expedition arrives in New York

The French scientific research vessel Tara will arrive in New York on 5th February for a week-long stay.�Tara Oceans�is a three-year, 70,000-mile mission across the Atlantic, Pacific, Antarctic and Indian oceans to investigate the impact of global warming on biodiversity and marine life.

Government Delay, Drought Prompts Renewed Push for Protection of Klamath River Chinook Salmon

PORTLAND,�Ore.— Conservation groups filed a formal notice of intent to sue the National Marine Fisheries Service Wednesday for failing to decide, as legally required, whether upper Klamath River chinook salmon deserve protection under the federal Endangered Species Act. In response to a January 28, 2011 petition from the groups, the Fisheries Service determined in April 2011 that the salmon may warrant protection and began a status review that was supposed to be completed within one year of the petition. The petition review comes at a perilous time for Klamath salmon as fears of a major drought linger.

GLOBAL SCIENTIFIC CRUISE THAT STUDIED HEALTH OF OCEANS IS SUBJECT OF EXPLORERS CLUB PUBLIC LECTURE
Meet Tara Ocean's Crew, View Art Inspired by the Mission 7 p.m., Monday, February 6, 2012, 46th East 70th Street, New York City

NEW YORK, N.Y. (Jan. 31, 2012) – The crew of Tara Oceans, a 118foot schooner visiting New York’s East River from February 5 to 11, will be the focus of a public lecture at The Explorers Club, 46th East 70th Street, at 7 p.m., Monday, February 6, 2012.

Shawnee National Forest Plan Would Trade Away Endangered Bat Habitat for Strip Mining

HARRISBURG, Ill.— Conservation groups submitted comments Monday opposing a proposal by the Forest Service to trade away a parcel of the Shawnee National Forest that is home to two kinds of endangered bats to a subsidiary of Peabody Energy Company. The company intends to strip-mine the parcel for coal.

Obama's Forest Service Weakens National Forest Wildlife Protections

WASHINGTON— The U.S. Forest Service released a new proposal Thursday for the nation’s 193-million-acre national forest system that will weaken rules protecting fish and wildlife from logging, livestock grazing, mining and off-road vehicles. The new proposal, which was released as part of the final environmental impact statement for the rule, is the Forest Service’s fourth attempt since 2000 to revise nationwide regulations governing national forests.

Oxnard, Pittsburgh Join Growing List of U.S. Cities Calling for Federal Action on Global Warming

OXNARD, Calif.— Oxnard, Calif., and Pittsburgh, Penn., have joined Seattle, Wash., Albany, N.Y., Boone, N.C., and other cities across the country urging the Obama administration and the Environmental Protection Agency to use the Clean Air Act to reduce carbon and other pollutants to address the increasingly urgent global climate crisis.

Rattlesnake Roundup in Georgia Switches to Humane Wildlife Festival

ATLANTA— The Center for Biological Diversity, Coastal Plains Institute, Protect All Living Species and One More Generation sent a letter to the Evans County Wildlife Club Tuesday praising its recent decision to change its rattlesnake roundup in Claxton, Ga., to a wildlife festival where snakes will be celebrated instead of collected by the hundreds and butchered for their meat and skins.

Sanctions Sought Against Canada Over Unsustainable Polar Bear Hunting That Violates International Treaty

WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity, a U.S. conservation group, filed a formal request Monday with the U.S. Department of the Interior to initiate trade sanctions against Canada for violating the 1973 Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears, a treaty among the five nations within the range of the polar bear.

40,000 Square Miles of Ocean Protected for Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtles

SAN FRANCISCO— The National Marine Fisheries Service finalized protection of 40,000 square miles of critical ocean habitat off the shores of Washington, Oregon and California Friday for the endangered Pacific leatherback sea turtle.

National Council for Science and the Environment Presents Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland
Dr. Brundtland Honored for Decades of Leadership in Science, Policy and the Environment

Washington, DC (January 20, 2012) – The National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) yesterday honored Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland with the NCSE Lifetime Achievement Award during the 12th National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment being held here this week.

Dunes Sagebrush Lizard Named One of 10 U.S. Species Most Threatened by Fossil Fuel Development

MIDLAND, Texas— The dunes sagebrush lizard, a small, rare lizard that lives only in Texas and New Mexico, was named one of 10 U.S. species most urgently threatened by fossil fuel development in a report released Thursday by the Endangered Species Coalition.

Lawsuit Seeks Endangered Species Act Protection for Alabama Shad

WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service Wednesday over its denial of Endangered Species Act protection to the Alabama shad. The shad was once so abundant that it supported commercial fisheries in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Indiana and Iowa, but because of a combination of dams, pollution and habitat destruction is now rarely found in most of its former range.

New Rule Bans Import of Four Constrictor Snake Species

Bethesda, MD: At the urging of numerous members of Congress and conservation groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) issued a final rule yesterday listing four species of large, non-native constrictor snakes as “injurious” under the Lacey Act.

Community Environmental Center of Queens joins Queens Library Foundation on a $250,000 "Greening Libraries" project

Queens, NY – January 17, 2012 – Running libraries cost-effectively and in an environmentally responsible way are important goals, so it comes as excellent news that the Queens Library Foundation is partnering with the not-for-profit Community Environmental Center (CEC) of Long Island City, Queens, to bring energy retrofits and green education programs to five branches of Queens Library. Queens Library has among the highest usage in the nation.

Director of Task Force Energy Addresses USS Bonhomme Richard Sailors and Families During Family Day Cruise

SAN DIEGO (NNS) – Addressing the Sailors and families of the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) on January 12 during the ship's Family Day Cruise, Rear Admiral Philip Cullom, Director of the Navy’s Task Force Energy (TFE), praised the crew for their leadership and sacrifice in serving the nation.� The ship will depart San Diego in February to become the forward deployed ship in Sasebo, Japan, replacing the USS Essex.

Fast action climate mitigation measures can prevent 0.5�C of global warming and help avoid the 2�C danger limit
Measures target two air pollutants and can also save nearly five million lives a year

Washington, DC, 12 January – A new study in Science to be published 13 January identifies 14 fast action measures to reduce air pollutants that can deliver major benefits for climate, public health, and agriculture.� The measures reduce emissions of black carbon and ground-level ozone, preventing 0.5�C of warming by 2050, half of the warming otherwise expected.�� The reductions in ozone are achieved by cutting its precursor methane. The 14 measures also save up to 4.7 million lives per year, while increasing crop yields up to 135 billion metric tons.

Grand Canyon's Million-acre Uranium Mining Ban Finalized

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz.— Conservation groups are applauding the Obama administration’s final decision Monday protecting 1 million acres of public land around Grand Canyon National Park from new uranium mining.�Monday’s Interior Department “record of decision” establishes a 20-year ban on new uranium mining and mining of current claims without valid permits across 1 million acres (more than 1,500 square miles).

Top Officials to Confront Interface of Environment and Security in January Conference
Hard-hitting domestic and international topics to be addressed

WASHINGTON, DC (1/5/2012) – Administrators and directors of government agencies, leaders of global nonprofit institutions, international diplomats, military admirals, and international foundation and development communities are tasked with addressing the interrelationship between environment and security issues at the National Council for Science and the Environment’s (NCSE’s) “Environment and Security” conference on January 18-20, 2012 in the nation’s capital.

The Native American Sustainable Housing Initiative (NASHI) at the University of Colorado (College of Architecture and Planning) Partners with Tribal College to Design and Build Sustainable Homes on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

(Boulder, CO. - January 5, 2012) - The Native American Sustainable Housing Initiative (NASHI) is an interdisciplinary collaboration of faculty, students and volunteers at the University of Colorado seeking to improve housing conditions on Tribal lands through research, education and outreach activities (www.nashidesignbuild.org/).

20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition call for papers open!

As a valued member of the global Biomass Community you are very welcome to submit your paper and participate in this large specialised biomass event in Europe in 2012.

CLIMATE RIDE GRANTS MORE THAN $300,000 TO 25 ORGANIZATIONS
Climate Ride Expands Green Grant Program by 262% over 2010; New Structure Benefits the Most Influential Environmental and Bicycle-related Nonprofits

MISSOULA, MT – December 19, 2011: Climate Ride, the national bike ride for sustainable solutions, has announced that it will grant $300,031 to 25 nonprofit beneficiary organizations this week. The funds were raised during two cycling events in 2011 – Climate Ride NYC-DC last May and Climate Ride California last October.

EPA approves alternatives for super-greenhouse HFC refrigerants

Washington, D.C., 16 December 2011 – The U.S. EPA took a major step this week towards reducing the fastest growing greenhouses gas in the United States by approving three low global warming potential (GWP) hydrocarbon alternatives to hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants.� HFCs are known as super-greenhouse gases because many of these man-made refrigerants have a global warming potential hundreds to thousands of times greater than CO2.