Environment http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1025&ft=1&f=1025 Breaking news on the environment, climate change, pollution, and endangered species. Also featuring Climate Connections, a special series on climate change co-produced by NPR and National Geographic. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:24:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Environment http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1025&ft=1&f=1025 How A Used Bottle Becomes A New Bottle, In 6 Gifs Recycling old bottles into new bottles is surprisingly complex. We visited a recycling plant and a bottle factory to see the whole process. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:24:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/06/11/190668206/how-a-used-bottle-becomes-a-new-bottle-in-6-gifs?ft=1&f=1025 http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/06/11/190668206/how-a-used-bottle-becomes-a-new-bottle-in-6-gifs?ft=1&f=1025 Recycling old bottles into new bottles is surprisingly complex. We visited a recycling plant and a bottle factory to see the whole process.

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]]> Water Wars: Who Controls The Flow? So often, we take water for granted. But it's not always where we need it, or there when we need it. Two rivers on opposite sides of the country — the Chattahoochee in the South and the Klamath in the far West — may provide lessons for the inevitable and growing dispute over how we manage our most precious resource. Sat, 15 Jun 2013 18:19:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/15/192034094/rivers-run-through-controversies-over-who-owns-the-water?ft=1&f=1025 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/15/192034094/rivers-run-through-controversies-over-who-owns-the-water?ft=1&f=1025 So often, we take water for granted. But it's not always where we need it, or there when we need it. Two rivers on opposite sides of the country — the Chattahoochee in the South and the Klamath in the far West — may provide lessons for the inevitable and growing dispute over how we manage our most precious resource.

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]]> Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn Talks Climate and Carbon Like any major city near a coast, Seattle likely won't be immune from rising sea levels and other effects of global warming. Mayor Mike McGinn discusses the city's plans for addressing climate change, including his push to divest Seattle's pension funds from fossil fuel investments, and the city council's plan to make Seattle carbon neutral by 2050. Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/14/191614356/seattle-mayor-mike-mcginn-talks-climate-and-carbon?ft=1&f=1025 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/14/191614356/seattle-mayor-mike-mcginn-talks-climate-and-carbon?ft=1&f=1025 Like any major city near a coast, Seattle likely won't be immune from rising sea levels and other effects of global warming. Mayor Mike McGinn discusses the city's plans for addressing climate change, including his push to divest Seattle's pension funds from fossil fuel investments, and the city council's plan to make Seattle carbon neutral by 2050.

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]]> Denis Hayes on Being Green Since his days as head of the Solar Energy Research Institute under President Jimmy Carter, Denis Hayes has been pushing to add more renewable energy sources to the country's energy portfolio. Hayes discusses the current U.S. market for renewables such as solar and wind, and gives his take on where he sees America's energy future headed. Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/14/191614372/denis-hayes-on-being-green?ft=1&f=1025 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/14/191614372/denis-hayes-on-being-green?ft=1&f=1025 Since his days as head of the Solar Energy Research Institute under President Jimmy Carter, Denis Hayes has been pushing to add more renewable energy sources to the country's energy portfolio. Hayes discusses the current U.S. market for renewables such as solar and wind, and gives his take on where he sees America's energy future headed.

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]]> With Climate Change, No Happy Clams Carbon emissions are slowly acidifying ocean waters, forcing marine life to adapt. Oysters and other shellfish, for example, may have a harder time building their shells, according to NOAA's Richard Feely. At Quilcene, Washington's Taylor Shellfish Hatchery, research director Benoit Eudeline says he's already seeing those effects. Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/14/191614377/with-climate-change-no-happy-clams?ft=1&f=1025 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/14/191614377/with-climate-change-no-happy-clams?ft=1&f=1025 Carbon emissions are slowly acidifying ocean waters, forcing marine life to adapt. Oysters and other shellfish, for example, may have a harder time building their shells, according to NOAA's Richard Feely. At Quilcene, Washington's Taylor Shellfish Hatchery, research director Benoit Eudeline says he's already seeing those effects.

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]]> Why Bill Gates Is Investing In Chicken-Less Eggs Investors like Gates are betting that our planet can't sustain the current rate of growth in animal-based foods for too much longer. Products like Beyond Eggs, a plant-based substitute, are designed to fill the void. Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:59:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/06/13/191029875/why-bill-gates-is-investing-in-chicken-less-eggs?ft=1&f=1025 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/06/13/191029875/why-bill-gates-is-investing-in-chicken-less-eggs?ft=1&f=1025 Investors like Gates are betting that our planet can't sustain the current rate of growth in animal-based foods for too much longer. Products like Beyond Eggs, a plant-based substitute, are designed to fill the void.

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]]> What Bird Flocks And Fish Schools Can Teach Us About The Future Birds flock. Insects swarm. Fish swim in schools. These are all examples of collective behavior, a concept that has fascinated scientists for decades. For a recent piece in <em>Wired Magazine</em>, science writer Ed Yong explains what this research could tell us about predicting the future. Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/13/191348007/what-flocks-of-geese-and-fish-can-teach-us-about-the-future?ft=1&f=1025 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/13/191348007/what-flocks-of-geese-and-fish-can-teach-us-about-the-future?ft=1&f=1025 Birds flock. Insects swarm. Fish swim in schools. These are all examples of collective behavior, a concept that has fascinated scientists for decades. For a recent piece in Wired Magazine, science writer Ed Yong explains what this research could tell us about predicting the future.

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]]> Massive Bat Cave Stirs Texas-Size Debate Over Development Every night for thousands of years, bats have poured out of the Bracken Cave Reserve, near San Antonio, by the millions. But conservationists are worried that plans for a housing development nearby will disrupt the bats' rural habitat. Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:16:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/11/190736097/massive-bat-cave-stirs-texas-sized-debate-over-development?ft=1&f=1025 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/11/190736097/massive-bat-cave-stirs-texas-sized-debate-over-development?ft=1&f=1025 Every night for thousands of years, bats have poured out of the Bracken Cave Reserve, near San Antonio, by the millions. But conservationists are worried that plans for a housing development nearby will disrupt the bats' rural habitat.

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]]> To Crack Down On Rhino Poaching, Authorities Turn To Drones Sky-high prices for elephant ivory and rhino horn have pushed wildlife poaching to a fever pitch. So in attempt to outfox the sophisticated poaching operations, conservationists and government rangers are teaming up to launch small, camera-carrying drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, above southwest Africa. Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:05:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/11/188638982/to-crack-down-on-rhino-poaching-authorities-turn-to-drones?ft=1&f=1025 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/11/188638982/to-crack-down-on-rhino-poaching-authorities-turn-to-drones?ft=1&f=1025 Sky-high prices for elephant ivory and rhino horn have pushed wildlife poaching to a fever pitch. So in attempt to outfox the sophisticated poaching operations, conservationists and government rangers are teaming up to launch small, camera-carrying drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, above southwest Africa.

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]]> BP Ends Oil Spill Cleanup In Gulf, Except For Louisiana The Coast Guard will be responsible for any reports of residual oil in areas outside BP's Louisiana patrol zone along the Gulf Coast. There's no end in sight for BP's cleanup efforts in Louisiana, a Coast Guard officer says. Mon, 10 Jun 2013 14:50:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/10/190413988/bp-ends-oil-spill-cleanup-in-gulf-except-for-louisiana?ft=1&f=1025 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/10/190413988/bp-ends-oil-spill-cleanup-in-gulf-except-for-louisiana?ft=1&f=1025 The Coast Guard will be responsible for any reports of residual oil in areas outside BP's Louisiana patrol zone along the Gulf Coast. There's no end in sight for BP's cleanup efforts in Louisiana, a Coast Guard officer says.

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]]> City Life Disrupts Daily Rhythm Of Birds City life can be harsh on people. For example, it pushes people to work longer and sleep less. A new study suggests that city life can have a somewhat similar effect on birds too. It shows urban blackbirds wake up earlier and go to bed later than their forest dwelling cousins. Mon, 10 Jun 2013 04:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/10/190238762/city-life-disrupts-daily-rhythm-of-birds?ft=1&f=1025 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/10/190238762/city-life-disrupts-daily-rhythm-of-birds?ft=1&f=1025 City life can be harsh on people. For example, it pushes people to work longer and sleep less. A new study suggests that city life can have a somewhat similar effect on birds too. It shows urban blackbirds wake up earlier and go to bed later than their forest dwelling cousins.

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]]> Rail Project At Los Angeles Port Draws Environmentalists' Ire In California, activists and environmentalists are seeking to halt construction of a new $500 million rail yard next to the Port of Los Angeles. Activists say the massive project would mean even more pollution for nearby neighborhoods that already have some of the worst air in the country. Mon, 10 Jun 2013 02:57:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/10/189279823/rail-project-at-l-a-port-draws-environmental-group-ire?ft=1&f=1025 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/10/189279823/rail-project-at-l-a-port-draws-environmental-group-ire?ft=1&f=1025 In California, activists and environmentalists are seeking to halt construction of a new $500 million rail yard next to the Port of Los Angeles. Activists say the massive project would mean even more pollution for nearby neighborhoods that already have some of the worst air in the country.

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]]> Report: Accidents Likely In Environmentally Fragile Seas The WWF study says that the delicate South China Sea, Mediterranean and North Sea are also among the most prone to shipwrecks. Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:41:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/07/189587708/report-accidents-likely-in-environmentally-fragile-seas?ft=1&f=1025 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/07/189587708/report-accidents-likely-in-environmentally-fragile-seas?ft=1&f=1025 The WWF study says that the delicate South China Sea, Mediterranean and North Sea are also among the most prone to shipwrecks.

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]]> Plug Pulled On California Nuclear Plant, For Good Southern California Edison announced Friday morning that it will not restart the troubled San Onofre nuclear power plant. The facility has been offline for a year and a half after a leak in a steam tube created safety concerns. Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:54:19 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/07/189598000/plug-pulled-on-california-nuclear-plant-for-good?ft=1&f=1025 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/07/189598000/plug-pulled-on-california-nuclear-plant-for-good?ft=1&f=1025 Southern California Edison announced Friday morning that it will not restart the troubled San Onofre nuclear power plant. The facility has been offline for a year and a half after a leak in a steam tube created safety concerns.

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]]> Salt, Flies, Pickled Tongues: A Perfect Great Salt Lake Swim Open water swimmers in Utah perform weekly marathon swims in water five times saltier than the ocean. They endure blisters, wild currents, a variety of temperatures and water that tastes "like a battery." They treasure the beautiful view and the refuge from boat traffic. Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:02:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/07/188901981/salt-flies-pickled-tongues-a-perfect-great-salt-lake-swim?ft=1&f=1025 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/07/188901981/salt-flies-pickled-tongues-a-perfect-great-salt-lake-swim?ft=1&f=1025 Open water swimmers in Utah perform weekly marathon swims in water five times saltier than the ocean. They endure blisters, wild currents, a variety of temperatures and water that tastes "like a battery." They treasure the beautiful view and the refuge from boat traffic.

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