ENN rounds up the most important and compelling environmental news stories of the week. In the news April 16th - 20th: Melting glaciers, the greening of small business, lawnmower emissions limits, the flight of the bumblebees, and much more.
Top Ten Articles of the Week
In the news April 16th - 20th: Melting glaciers, the greening of small business, lawnmower emissions limits, the flight of the bumblebees, and much more.
1. Melting Himalayan Glaciers Pose Security Risk, UNEP Says
Global warming will cause the Himalayan glaciers to melt, leading to mass migration and possibly conflicts over valuable resources such as agricultural land and fresh water, the U.N. Environment Programme chief said. Achim Steiner, speaking ahead of the U.N. Security Council's first-ever debate on climate change, said that global warming should be considered a security issue as shortages of water and fertile land in the next 10 to 20 years may lead to conflicts.
2. Small Businesses Go Green, Using More Environmentally Friendly Products and Practices
The expression "going green" might have a gimmicky sound, but for small businesses, selling environmentally friendly products and services can be very profitable. And even companies whose line of work is more traditional can benefit from using green products and practices. Many company owners use environmentally friendly cars, recycle materials and buy biodegradable office supplies because they care about what happens to the environment.
3. EPA Proposing Limits to Lawnmower Emissions To Stem Pollution
Those polluting engine-powered mowers that are a staple of suburban lawn care would become much cleaner under emission limits proposed Tuesday. The regulators' proposal follows a long-running dispute between California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Missouri Republican Sen. Kit Bond, who has sought to block the change in order to protect a small-engine maker in his home state, Briggs & Stratton Corp.
4. Study Shows Sudden Sea Level Surges Threaten One Billion
More than one billion people live in low-lying areas where a sudden surge in sea level could prove as disastrous as the 2004 Asian tsunami. New mapping techniques show how much land would be lost and how many people affected by rapid sea level rises that are often triggered by storms and earthquakes, a U.S. Geological Survey-led team determined.
5. Biotech Seeks to Ease Reliance on Corn
The ethanol craze is putting the squeeze on corn supplies and causing food prices to rise. Mexicans took to the streets last year to protest increased tortilla prices. The cost of chicken and beef in the United States ticked up because feed is more expensive. That's where biotechnology comes in.
6. Scientists Fear Flight of Britain's Bumblebees
Britain's bumblebee population is under threat in a crisis that could wipe out entire species and have a devastating knock-on effect on agriculture, scientists say. The furry yellow-and-black creatures, essential for pollination, are being killed off by pesticides and agricultural intensification, which have cut back on hedgerows and removed their source of food.
7. Third World Crops Get $37.5 Million Gene Storage Aid
A $37.5 million seed storage plan will help safeguard crops vital for developing nations from global warming and other threats, the head of a U.N.-backed scheme said on Thursday. The cash, $30 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and $7.5 million from Norway's government, would preserve genes of crops grown in Africa, Asia and Latin America such as cassava, yams, bananas and rice.
8. EPA Agrees To Reduce Lead in Products for Children Because of Health Hazard
Companies that make or distribute toys, zippers and other children's products will face tougher government scrutiny to keep out any lead that could poison and kill children or harm their brain development. The EPA agreed to write up to 120 importing and manufacturing companies by the end of the month, instructing them to provide health and safety studies if any lead might be found in the products they make for children.
9. China Creates Artificial Snowfall in Tibet
China has succeeded in creating an artificial snowfall for the first time in Tibet to combat drought worries, state media reported Wednesday. The success proves it is "possible to change the weather through human efforts on the world's highest plateau," Yu Zhongshui, an engineer with the Tibet meteorological office, was quoted as saying by Xinhua News Agency.
10. UN Lauds Al Gore, Environment Leaders at Green Awards
The United Nations named former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and Olympics chief Jacques Rogge as recipients of environmental awards on Thursday, and urged more action to stop global warming. Gore, a dedicated climate crusader who starred in his 2006 global warming documentary "An Inconvenient Truth", was represented by actress and environmental activist Daryl Hannah.
Photo: A cow was given to a farming family in Malawi by a USAID-supported program. With income from the sale of the cow's milk, the family is now able to pay school fees for the children, and they are building a new house. Credit: A. Sparks/USAID/Africa Photo Library.
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