Main | Green Living | Outdoors | Water | Energy

Recognizing the sensitivity of the Edwards Aquifer, San Antonio has set aside vast tracks on the city's western side to protect aquifer recharge.These undeveloped lands not only protect our water, but clean the air, too. While our traffic exhaust and warm weather create ground-level ozone, more affectionately known as smog, open green spaces absorb pollutants and keep smog from forming. Such spaces offer our cohabitants — the deer, foxes, porcupine, and quail — a place to thrive beside us. Protecting nature, means taking careful stock of where we put our roads and develop our neighborhoods and industry. 'Outdoors' is your window on San Antonio land-use — where all politics is wild.

Tips on Promoting Good Air Quality Practices

• If you can't afford to go carless, maintaining you vehicle helps.
• Explore rideshare, telecommute, and Walk & Roll solutions.
• Report smoking vehicles.
• And, yes, plant a tree to clear the air.

Planes Train Endangered Cranes To Migrate

January 26, 2010 · Carbon dioxide usually gets most of the blame for global warming, but a dramatic increase in methane gas emissions is worrying scientists. Global warming is causing the world's wetlands to produce more methane gas — which in turn is causing more global warming. -more-

New Anti-Smog Restrictions Could Warm Planet

January 25, 2010 · The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed tightening the standard for smog to protect human health. The result would be cleaner urban air. But because of a quirk of atmospheric chemistry, the pollution control measures could contribute to global warming. -more-

Planes Train Endangered Cranes To Migrate

January 23, 2010 · Experts say there are only 350 whooping cranes left in the world. Operation Migration, a nonprofit organization, has been using ultralight aircraft to train the birds to migrate south for the winter. They have succeeded in boosting the species' numbers in recent years. -more-

Hacked E-Mails Add Fuel To Climate Naysayers' Fire

January 21, 2010 · Scientists attending the American Meteorological Society meeting in Atlanta say the field has weathered a storm created two months ago when hackers released e-mails from some prominent climate scientists. They say the e-mails revealed bad behavior by a small number of researchers and revealed some weaknesses in the scientific process. But the scientists say the e-mails did nothing to undermine the data showing that climate change is real. -more-

Research Finds Link Between Sir Pollution, School Absences in Texas

January 18, 2010 · Children in Texas are more likely to miss school when certain types of air pollution increase — even when the levels are below the limit set by the federal government, a new study says. The research also shows that absences decrease significantly when pollution decreases. [Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram] -more-

Frozen In France? Thank The Arctic Oscillation

January 16, 2010 · From Britain to Beijing, folks have been shivering their way through a remarkably cold and snowy winter. Meanwhile, in parts of the Arctic, it's downright balmy — though still below freezing. What's behind all this unusual weather? It's the Arctic Oscillation — and it's gone negative. -more-

What Happens To Polar Bears As Arctic Ice Shrinks?

January 16, 2010 · Former editor-in-chief of New Scientist magazine predicts that the killer whale will usurp the polar bear as the king of the Arctic by the year 2050. -more-

Cold Snap Strands, Kills at Least 38 Sea Turtles

January 10, 2010 · Officials say at least 38 endangered sea turtles stunned by cooler water from the recent Texas cold snap washed up near the Gulf Coast and couldn't be saved. [Source: Houston Chronicle] -more-

Tighter Smog Rules No Longer Just An Urban Concern

January 9, 2010 · The Environmental Protection Agency released new smog rules this week in an effort to improve air quality around the nation. The tighter regulations have many suburban and rural areas concerned that they will not be able to comply, which means they may lose federal dollars. -more-

Stashing Carbon Dioxide In Rocks

January 8, 2010 · Basalt formations off the East Coast of the U.S. could suck up a billion tons of carbon dioxide, according to a new study. Paleontologist Paul Olsen, of Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, explains how to get the CO2 into the rocks, and why scientists believe it won't leak out. -more-

S.A. May be Facing Tougher Air Rules

January 8, 2010 ·The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday proposed a stricter standard on smog, which likely will lead to vehicle emissions testing in San Antonio. It also could mean tighter restrictions on business growth and federal highway projects as well as more support for public transit.
San Antonio is the largest city in the country that currently meets all federal air quality standards, but barely. [Source: San Antonio Express-News] -more-

Experts Urge Officials To End Mountaintop Mining

January 7, 2010 · A group of hydrologists, ecologists and engineers analyzed years of research and found that mountaintop removal as a way to mine coal is more damaging to the environment and public health than the law should permit. They're urging federal and state authorities to halt or alter the practice. -more-

Behind Mass Die-Offs, Pesticides Lurk as Culprit

January 7, 2010 · Ever since Olga Owen Huckins shared the spectacle of a yard full of dead, DDT-poisoned birds with her friend Rachel Carson in 1958, scientists have been tracking the dramatic toll on wildlife of a planet awash in pesticides. Today, drips and puffs of pesticides surround us everywhere, contaminating 90 percent of the nation’s major rivers and streams, more than 80 percent of sampled fish, and one-third of the nation’s aquifers. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, fish and birds that unsuspectingly expose themselves to this chemical soup die by the millions every year. But as regulators grapple with the lethal dangers of pesticides, scientists are discovering that even seemingly benign, low-level exposures to pesticides can affect wild creatures in subtle, unexpected ways — and could even be contributing to a rash of new epidemics pushing species to the brink of extinction. [Source: Yale Environment 360] -more-

Chevron Threatens To Leave Longtime Home

December 28, 2009 · Officials in Richmond, Calif., want to raise Chevron's taxes and are blocking refinery upgrades, pending environmental review. Chevron is California's largest greenhouse gas producer. While the company tries to improve its image, it's also hinting that it might be time to relocate. -more-

U.S., China Step Forward In Climate Debate

December 24, 2009 · As the Copenhagen talks neared collapse last week, President Obama cut a last-minute deal with leaders from China and three other nations to curb greenhouse gases. It's unclear how they'll do that, but one thing is clear: The U.S. and China have become leaders that may shape the new climate diplomacy. -more-

Reporter's Notebook: Harris On Copenhagen

December 23, 2009 · President Barack Obama hailed the last-minute accord at the U.N. climate summit in Copenhagen as a breakthrough. But many delegates left disappointed. NPR science correspondent Richard Harris talks about what was and what was not achieved in Copenhagen. -more-

Nine Texas Mussels Considered for Endangered List

December 16, 2009 · The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering adding nine species of Texas freshwater mussels to the federal endangered species list — a development that could change the management of rivers and watersheds across the state.

“It's going to open up probably a really big sore politically, because water is already an issue,” said Fish and Wildlife Biologist Charrish Stevens, who's leading the evaluation. “But what people forget to remember is that (mussels) are what help us have clean water.”

Some of the species are found in the San Antonio and Guadalupe rivers. Officials with both river authorities said an endangered species listing would have dramatic impacts. Ultimately, cities and towns could be forced to limit development to control pollution and reduce water use. [Source: San Antonio Express-News] -more-

New Mexico Dairy Pollution Sparks 'Manure War'

December 9, 2009 · The picture on many milk cartons shows cows grazing on a pasture next to a country barn and a silo — but the reality is very different.

More and more milk comes from confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), where large herds live in feedlots, awaiting their thrice-daily trip to the milking barn. A factory farm with 2,000 cows produces as much sewage as a small city, yet there's no treatment plant. -more-

Perry Urges EPA to Back Off Plans to Regulate Carbon Dioxide Emissions

December 9, 2009 · Gov. Rick Perry fired another volley Wednesday at federal regulators in Washington, demanding that the Environmental Protection Agency scrap a declaration that could lead to broadened government controls of pollutants that many experts believe contribute to global warming. Perry, whose relentless denouncements of Washington policies have become a staple of his 2010 re-election campaign, told EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson in a letter that her agency’s mandate is possibly based on distorted scientific claims and could wither jobs and the economy. [Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram] -more-

French refiner Total tops Texas' list of fines for pollution

December 9, 2009 · In one industrial accident alone, Total Petrochemical's sprawling oil refinery in southeast Texas sprayed tons of sulfuric acid and carbon monoxide into the sky. The French company's 62-year-old facility also has released toxic substances such as cancer-causing benzene, regularly surpassed allowable pollution limits and failed to report dozens of emissions – or even fully identify what or how much was released. Such incidents helped make Total the most heavily fined polluter in Texas in fiscal 2009, according to a year-end report summarizing how companies were punished in the state that produces the most industrial pollution. Total, assessed $1.58 million for 11 violations over several years, says it has resolved many of the problems at the Port Arthur plant and continues to look for ways to improve. [Source: Dallas Morning News] -more-

Texas Group to Sue Over Whooping Crane Deaths

December 8, 2009 · A conservation group says state regulators are to blame for last year's record die-off in the world's only natural flock of endangered whooping cranes, alleging water-use policies dried up food and water supplies in their drought-stricken South Texas winter habitat. [Source: Houston Chronicle] -more-

Scientist Explains Earth's Warming Plateau

November 22, 2009 · Research shows that over the past several years, Earth's temperature has not been heating up. Climate change skeptics claim this as evidence that global warming is overexaggerated. But the man who did the research, climate and ocean scientist Mojib Latif, says "not so fast." Latif talks to host Guy Raz about the Earth's temperature plateau and what it means for global warming. -more-

Berry Bad: Threat To Trees Lurks On Holiday Tables

November 22, 2009 · Its alluring crimson fruit makes it an enduring star of the Thanksgiving centerpiece, but Asiatic bittersweet is strangling trees across New England. In many states, it's illegal to collect or move the invasive vine. -more-

Reef Conservation Strategy Backfires

November 18, 2009 · Conservationists worried about overfishing on the Pacific island of Kiribati persuaded fishermen to pick coconuts instead. The strategy backfired: Coconut oil production increased, but so did fishing. It turns out, fishermen who earned more money in coconut agriculture had more leisure time — which they spent fishing.. -more-

Higher Temperatures May Be Behind Pine Growth

November 18, 2009 · Ancient bristlecone pine trees found in certain parts of California and Nevada have been growing at an unprecedented rate in the last 50 years. According to a recent study, this growth has most likely been caused by warmer temperatures. Malcolm Hughes, one of the study's lead researchers and a professor of dendrochronology at the University of Arizona's Laboratory for Tree-Ring Research, offers his insight. -more-

Environment Or Economy? Obama's Balancing Act

November 17, 2009 · To sell Congress and others on the idea of taking bold steps to curb global warming, President Obama casts his arguments in terms of job creation. Many environmental activists say they wish he'd do more to push the "green" agenda. -more-

Lower Tuna Limit Still Too High, Researchers Say

November 16, 2009 · An international commission meeting in Brazil has voted to sharply reduce the fishing quota for bluefin tuna, but biologists say the step probably doesn't go far enough to save the species. -more-

China, U.S. Can Slash C02 By Storing It

November 4, 2009 · The Center for American Progress is releasing a study on how China and the U.S. can cooperate on slashing carbon-dioxide emissions. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports. -more-

Kilimanjaro Glaciers May Vanish In A Few Decades

November 3, 2009 · The glaciers atop Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro may be gone entirely in the next few decades. A new study shows that 85 percent of the ice cover that was present in 1912 has vanished, and the ice continues to melt rapidly. -more-

San Antonio’s Air Quality Passes EPA Muster in 2009

November 2, 2009 · The San Antonio area survived another ozone season to remain in compliance with federal air quality standards, according to the Alamo Area Council of Governments. This distinction means that San Antonio will likely maintain its status as the largest city in the United States with the cleanest air. This is despite the fact that the Environmental Protection Agency tightened its standards for ozone pollution in 2008. The 2009 ozone season officially ended Oct. 31. [Source: San Antonio Business Journal] -more-

How Do We Live With a Warmer Planet?

October 30, 2009 · Even if we develop all the renewable energy we need, Earth will still warm more than it has in the history of mankind. Sam Eaton and Sarah Gardner look at how governments and businesses are planning to adapt to radical changes in our environment. -more-

NASA Launches Mission To Track Polar Ice By Plane

October 30, 2009 · Climate scientists are about to lose a satellite that helped show how global warming affects the Earth's polar ice caps. A replacement won't be in orbit until at least 2015, so NASA will use a DC-8 aircraft instead to track whether the process of melting and subsequent sea-level rise is accelerating. -more-

Senate Hearing On Climate Bill Heats Up

October 29, 2009 · A Senate committee has begun hearings on a massive climate bill that would remake the energy economy. Supporters say it will protect the environment and create a new green industry. Opponents say it will kill the fossil fuel industry — costing millions of jobs. -more-

U.S. Envoy: No Bilateral Climate Deal With China

October 28, 2009 · President Obama's envoy for climate change has dashed hopes of a bilateral deal on climate change during next month's presidential trip to China. "There is no agreement per se," said Todd Stern, adding that there had been no intention of cutting a separate bilateral deal. -more-

Plan B For Climate-Change Agreement

October 28, 2009 · Negotiations leading up to December's climate-change summit are not going smoothly. So what can the summit still achieve? John Dimsdale reports. -more-

Bioengineered Plants Gone Wild

October 27, 2009 · A study shows the effect of what happens when genes from bioengineered plants get lose. A gene that protects a squash from a viral disease also protects a wild gourd from this disease but it makes it more susceptible to other threats. -more-

Concern About Climate Change Waning

October 27, 2009 · [Talk of the Nation] It's been three years since An Inconvenient Truth put climate change on the agenda. But a Pew survey of what Americans believe about climate change shows that concern about global warming is waning. Guests examine what could be behind the change in attitude. -more-

Electric Grid to Get a Stimulus Boost

October 27, 2009 · Greenpeace senior adviser Harvey Wasserman talks with Bill Radke about the Obama administration's stimulus grant that will go toward updating what the White House calls the smart electric grid. -more-

Aspen Die-Off May Hurt Colorado's Economy

October 27, 2009 · Almost a third of Colorado's aspen trees could be dead in the next few years. The white-barked tree is suffering from what scientists call "sudden aspen decline" or SAD. The die-off troubles environmentalists and business owners. The number of tourists checking out the fall foliage is down this year — partly due to the aspen die-off. -more-

For NFL, L.A. Considers Trading Environment For Jobs

October 24, 2009 · Lawmakers in California are so interested in getting an NFL team back in Los Angeles, they've just passed a bill that would exempt a new stadium project from any environmental regulations. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the bill this week at the site of the future stadium. Many residents are angry at the environmental bypass, but the city stands to gain some thousands of jobs. Rob Schmitz of member station KQED has the story. -more-

Using Trees To Curb Climate Change Not So Simple

October 22, 2009 · Forests are fast becoming a great green hope for slowing climate change. Climate planners are keen to create forest carbon banks, places designed to store carbon and keep it out of the atmosphere. But banking carbon in forests turns out to be something of a mystery. -more-

'Critical Habitat' Set Aside For Polar Bear

October 22, 2009 · The Obama administration is setting aside 200,000 square miles in Alaska and off its coast as "critical habitat" for polar bears, an action that could add restrictions to future offshore drilling for oil and gas. -more-

Forest's Death Brings Higher Temps, Researchers Suspect

October 21, 2009 · Tony Tezak has watched in horror the past three years as mountain pine beetles have infested an estimated 900,000 acres of lodgepole pines in the forest. "The threat shows no signs of abating," he said. The infestation turns the pine needles brittle and leaves the dead trees pockmarked with hundreds of tiny boreholes where the beetles tunneled in to lay eggs and eat the moist inner bark. Tezak estimates more than a third of the national forest's 3 million trees could be dead by the time the current outbreak subsides.

But there might be a more consequential impact to the carnage: The beetle kill could be accelerating regional climate change by increasing temperatures and decreasing rainfalls in Colorado, Wyoming and northern New Mexico. [Source: Daily Climate] -more-

U.S. Chamber Disclosure Report No Hoax

October 20, 2009 · At a news conference Monday, a fake group announced that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reversed course to endorse climate change legislation, an issue that has divided its membership. Chamber officials interrupted the meeting to expose the hoax. But in an announcement that wasn't fake, the chamber disclosed a dramatic jump in its lobbying activity. -more-

1800s-Era Sea Logs Chart Course Of Climate Change

October 18, 2009 · Climatologists don't just use the latest, cutting-edge data to map the future of weather. They're also cracking open logbooks kept by sailors during the early, harrowing naval voyages of the likes of Capt. Cook and Charles Darwin. -more-

Top Official: 'The EPA Is Back On The Job'

October 18, 2009 · Lisa Jackson says the Environmental Protection Agency under President Bush concluded greenhouse gases were dangerous, but the White House refused to regulate them. Now that President Obama is in office, she says, the agency is going to take action. -more-

Endangered Sea Turtles Return To Mexico's Beaches

October 16, 2009 · Mexico has deployed its navy to several beaches in the Pacific Coast state of Oaxaca. Its mission isn't to fight the drug cartels or protect European tourists, but to guard the nesting grounds of an endangered sea turtle. -more-

Forecasting Climate Change Legislation

October 16, 2009 · With Congress focused on Afghanistan, the economy and health care, will there be any action on domestic climate policy before the Copenhagen climate summit in December? Eileen Claussen, of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, talks about what to expect in the coming months. -more-

Future Unlikely For Kyoto Climate Treaty

October 16, 2009 · Despite dissent from developing countries, the U.S. and Europe seem to be abandoning the idea of extending or revising the Kyoto climate treaty when it expires in 2012. Instead they will form a new treaty, but some doubt it will be ready in December, when diplomats meet in Copenhagen. The news leaves many countries in the developing world frustrated. -more-

Do Offsets Really Help Reduce Emissions?

October 14, 2009 · The climate bills working their way through Congress are the biggest effort ever to limit greenhouse gases for the U.S. One huge concession to industry is a system of offsets, by which companies that need to lower their carbon "footprint" can pay to reduce carbon emissions somewhere else. But offsets are seen by critics as a dodge for companies that don't want to clean up at home. -more-

Climate Bill Would Bring Incentives to Change Farming Practices

October 12, 2009 · Farmer Brown might get paid to become Farmer Green. If Congress passes controversial climate change legislation, some farmers might earn extra money by trapping carbon in their soil. [Source: Victoria Advocate] -more-

Aussie Frogs Try New Pickup Line

October 11, 2009 · Australia's frogs are having trouble hooking up. Traffic noise and other sounds of city life, like air conditioners and construction noise, are drowning out the mating calls of male frogs in urban areas, leading to a sharp drop in their populations. But one scientist has found that some frogs have figured out a way to compensate for human interference in their love lives. -more-

Cement maker TXI withdraws request to burn tires in Midlothian

October 2, 2009 · TXI, the largest cement maker in Midlothian, has withdrawn a request for state permission to burn about 145 million pounds of scrap tires a year as fuel for its cement plant in the Ellis County city south of Dallas.

The decision Tuesday by the Dallas-based company comes during a standoff between Texas officials and the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA contends that parts of the state's air permitting system violate federal law.

Texas environmentalists have hailed the EPA pressure on the state as means of correcting what they call an industry-friendly permitting system. State environmental regulators say their system complies with federal law and protects the public from pollution. [Source: Denton Record Chronicle] -more-

Special Series: Traveling Down the Amazon Road

September 15, 2009 · When completed, the Interoceanic Highway will stretch from Brazil's Atlantic coast to Peru's Pacific ports. It is creating economic opportunities for locals. But conservationists worry about the risks to the Amazon rainforest and its unrivaled biodiversity. -more-

Stimulus Money Hits The Waves In Hawaii

September 13, 2009 · In Hawaii, millions of dollars of stimulus money is going to restore marine and coastal habitats. Wilma Consul visits two of the sites and reports that these projects go a long way in helping ailing local economies as well as ailing marine habitats. -more-

Good For Acid Rain, But Can It Slow Climate Change?

September 13, 2009 · The House's recently passed version of a climate change bill is a charged issue. Even the bipartisan duo behind the original cap-and-trade program doesn't agree this version will work to slow climate change without burdening consumers. -more-

Polluted Kansas Town Seeks Federal Buyout

August 25, 2009 · Local and state officials are trying to get a federal buyout to move residents from Treece, Kan. Treece was once a prosperous mining town, but is now nearly deserted. The roughly 100 residents left complain of widespread contamination from lead and zinc waste. Dion Lefler, a reporter for the Wichita Eagle, who was in Treece last week, calls the town "a very sad place." -more-

Saving Grassland A Matter Of Getting More Green

August 15, 2009 · The Conservation Reserve Program pays farmers, primarily in the Midwest, an annual subsidy to leave their most easily-eroded land in grass, instead of using it for crops or cattle. But last year's farm bill cut back on the acreage covered in the program and, starting this summer, roughly two million acres — mostly in Texas, Kansas, and Colorado — will be turned back into farmland. Megan Verlee reports from Colorado Public Radio. -more-

Plan Seeks to Map out Habitat for Area Species

August 12, 2009 · Since 2001, Bexar County has lost some 10,000 acres of what researchers working with the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance believe was probably golden-cheeked warbler habitat. Environmentalists say the current system doesn't protect endangered species. Developers say compliance is time consuming and expensive. [Source: San Antonio Express-News] -more-

Tiny Damselfish May Destroy A Caribbean Reef

August 11, 2009 · Damselfish and coral coexist in the waters off the Caribbean island of Bonaire. But now that humans have overfished their natural predators, a booming damselfish population could eventually lead to the collapse of the coral community. -more-

Zoning Busy Ocean Waters To Avoid Conflicts

August 10, 2009 · Both the federal government and the state of Massachusetts are making plans to zone the oceans, much like planners zone our cities. The goal is to balance the needs of fishermen, wind farmers, aquaculture developers, freighters, and the rich sea life that depends on this space for survival. -more-

Mountain Critter A Candidate For Endangered List

August 8, 2009 · The pika, a relative of the rabbit, could become the first critter in the continental U.S. to be declared threatened or endangered because of climate change. The petition to list the pika has raised concerns among industries that produce greenhouse gases. -more-

Engineering Earth's Climate Could Be Dangerous

August 7, 2009 · Presidential science adviser John Holdren said this year he wouldn't rule out engineering the Earth's climate as an option to slow global warming. Rob Jackson, director of Duke University's Center on Global Change, discusses the dangers of modifying Earth's climate. -more-

Economics On Climate Change's Side

August 6, 2009 · A Senate hearing will attempt to shift Washington's attention back to climate change. A new report says reducing greenhouse gases would have a modest impact on the economy. Sam Eaton reports. -more-

Mims Warns of Future Air Quality Restrictions

August 5, 2009 · Guadalupe County’s representative on a key technical committee addressing the air quality issue says this area could face federal sanctions for not meeting clean air standards — through no fault of its own. [Source: Seguin Gazette-Enterprise] -more-

Ala. County: Coal Ash Site Environmental Racism

August 4, 2009 · Residents of a poor, predominantly black Alabama county say the decision by the Environmental Protection Agency to dump toxic coal ash in a Perry County landfill amounts to environmental racism. The toxic substance is from December's massive coal ash spill in Tennessee. -more-

Taking Stock of Aquifer’s Species During Drought

August 2, 2009 · The slender salamanders lurking in the depths of San Marcos Springs and the tiny beetles paddling around Comal Springs probably don't jump to mind when San Antonians scan their crunchy lawns.

But they should. [Source: San Antonio Express-News] -more-

Scientists Say Some Fisheries Are Recovering

July 31, 2009 · A new report in the journal Science, crediting good management, says some over-fished ecosystems are improving and fish numbers are up. Marine biologist Boris Worm — who in 2006 warned that without action many fish populations could be gone by 2048 — describes the study's findings. -more-

Navy Task Force to Study Climate Change

July 31, 2009 · With climate change come the possibilities of changing ocean currents, rising sea levels and shrinking polar ice caps. The Navy has created a task force to examine how climate change might affect national security. Rear Admiral David Titley, heads the task force, and he talks with Steve Inskeep about the challenges of climate change. -more-

Jellyfish May Help Keep Planet Cool

July 30, 2009 · Researchers believe that some small marine creatures may help curb global climate change. A new study suggests that jellyfish and creatures like them play an important role in circulating ocean waters, mixing nutrients, and helping to reduce CO2 levels in the atmosphere. -more-

California Parks Seek Sponsors

July 30, 2009 · Roy Stearns, spokesman for the California Department of Parks and Recreation, talks with Bill Radke about how the department is coping with the Golden State's budget hole by asking people to sponsor its parks. -more-

Human activity is Driving Earth's 'Sixth Great Extinction Event'

July 28, 2009 · Earth is experiencing its "sixth great extinction event" with disease and human activity taking a devastating toll on vulnerable species, according to a major review by conservationists. Much of the southern hemisphere is suffering particularly badly, and Australia, New Zealand and neighbouring Pacific islands may become the extinction hot spots of the world, the report warns.-more-

Development of Land Near Bullis Gets Initial OK

July 22, 2009 · The city Zoning Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a developer's bid to transform the last large tract of unimproved land in north Bexar County into a commercial and residential area, frustrating Army efforts to put strict requirements in place before the project goes forward. Sitting on green space only three miles east of Camp Bullis, where the Army trains combat medics, Steubing Ranch got the go-ahead to develop 390 of 651 acres into homes, apartments, offices, and commercial and retail centers despite opposition from Fort Sam Houston. [Source: San Antonio Express-News] -more-

Gulf Waters Imperil Tribes' Way of Life In Louisiana Bayous

July 20, 2009 · The Houma and several other tribes, which are recognized by the state but not the federal government, settled in the outer fringes of Louisiana in the early 1800s, fleeing other hostile tribes and U.S. military forces farther north. Now, the tribes are losing their land again — this time to the Gulf of Mexico, as thousands of acres of wetlands vanish each year, hurricanes do increasing damage without these marshy buffers, and saltwater intrudes into the bayou water and soil. [Source: Washington Post] -more-

KSTX Town Hall: Air Quality

July 1, 2009 ·With the arrival of summer and triple-digit temperatures come the Air Quality Health Alert days that are becoming all too frequent in San Antonio. San Antonio is teetering on earning a non-attainment designation from the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to meet federal standards on ambient air quality. Many air quality experts and government officials agree that the area will earn that status before summer’s end, leading to costly consequences for our government and citizens. Click here for more details about the KSTX Town Hall series.

Ten Simple Tips to Improve Air Quality:

• Walk or ride a bike.
• Combine errands for fewer trips.
• Fill your gas tank after 6 p.m.
• Carpool or use public transportation.
• Maintain your vehicles. Make sure your tires are properly inflated.
• Run diswashers and washing machines only when full.
• Use energy-efficient lightbulbs and appliances.
• Avoid idling.
• Turn off lights, computers and TVs when not in use.
• Choose environmentally-friendly consumer products.

Listen to the KSTX Town Hall on Air Quality:

TPR's Dan Skinner Explores the Air Quality Issue on our Living Green in San Antonio Podcast:

Related Links:

Ozone 101

Air Quality Health Alerts

Tips to improve your carbon footprint when you're on the road: www.cleanairdrive.com

Maintain your Vehicle: www.drivecleanacrosstexas.org

Cement Plants Being Asked to Sacrifice for Clean Air

July 12, 2009 · Burning at a minimum of 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit, the fire inside the kiln at Capitol Cement is hot enough to melt steel.

Flashing orange and white as they soar through a rotating tunnel the size of two semi-trucks, the flames change the chemical structure of the crushed limestone inside and vaporize almost everything else.

Fueled by a mix of coal, petroleum coke and sometimes tires, the operation never stops unless something goes wrong. [Source: San Antonio Express-News] -more-

Climate Change Could Boost U.S. Dengue Fever Cases

July 9, 2009 · Climate change could push dengue fever into all corners of the United States, as the mosquitoes that can carry the traditionally tropical virus survive warmer U.S. winters, researchers said on Wednesday. Known colloquially as breakbone fever for the aching bones that are one symptom of the disease, dengue fever can be treated effectively with bed rest and liquids, but it often goes undiagnosed in the United States. [Source: Reuters] -more-

Filibuster May Slow Climate Change Bill

July 7, 2009 · Senate passage of a climate change bill may be tough because of the Senate rule that allows a minority to block a vote by filibuster. Sarah Gardner explores the main potential conflicts in the debate. -more-

Can The Mississippi Delta Survive Rising Seas?

July 3, 2009 · Reporting in Nature Geoscience, two coastal scientists write that rising sea levels, combined with slow Mississippi Delta growth, could drown the Louisiana coast by 2100. Delta expert Ivor van Heerden, who is not involved with the research, discusses the findings. -more-

Swedes Push for Climate Change

July 1, 2009 · Sweden wants big greenhouse gas polluters to cut their emissions as it takes over the rotating European Union presidency. But will a new climate deal be a tough sell? Stephen Beard reports. -more-

Is Drilling To Blame For Texas Quakes?

June 30, 2009 · People in North Texas worry about tornadoes, not earthquakes. That's not the case in the small town of Cleburne, just south of Fort Worth. They've had six quakes so far this month. Cleburne happens to sit on a huge, recently discovered natural gas deposit called Barnett Shale. There's been a lot of drilling, and some people wonder if that has triggered the earthquakes. Here, a four-story drilling rig can pop up in as little as a couple of days. In the past eight years, 2,000 gas wells have been drilled here. -more-

Paul Krugman Gives Take On Climate Legislation

June 27, 2009 · The U.S. House of Representatives passed landmark climate legislation Friday night, but the details in the bill are vast and complex. New York Times columnist Paul Krugman tells NPR's Guy Raz about his understanding of the bill. -more-

House Narrowly Passes Climate Change Measure

June 27, 2009 · The U.S. House narrowly passed a sweeping climate change bill that's a top item on President Obama's agenda. The measure would put gradually stricter caps on the total national output of heat-trapping gases, based on a system of permits that can be bought and sold. Republicans broadly oppose that cap and trade program, and many Democrats have qualms as well. Proponents say it's key to curbing global warming. It was high drama in the House chamber Friday night as the roll call vote on the climate change bill came to an end and the results were announced — the measure passed 219-212. -more-

No Deal On Whales At Global Meet

June 26, 2009 · The International Whaling Commission has failed to agree on a plan to allow Japan to catch whales in coastal waters in exchange for giving up its "scientific research" catches of hundreds of whales annually. Critics say a proposal begin a slippery slope toward ending a two-decade-old moratorium on whaling. -more-

Climate Change Bill Empowers Farmers

June 26, 2009 · A new climate change bill up would pay farmers for practices that keep carbon dioxide in the soil. But some green groups fear putting the Agricultural Department in charge of the program could weaken oversight. Sarah Gardner reports. -more-

National Pollinator Week Marked

June 25, 2009 · Melissa Block talks to Steve Buchmann, the international coordinator of the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign, about National Pollinator Week, which is marked by the federal and most state governments. -more-

Putting a Financial Spin on Global Warming

June 24, 2009 · A California think tank says global warming will gain more buy-in if it is viewed as an economic opportunity rather than a problem to be solved. -more-

Will the Ocean Reclaim Galveston Island in 100 Years?

June 23, 2009 · What will Galveston look like in 100 years? It’s a question researchers have been trying to answer. Dr. David Yoskowitz believes that global warming is causing the sea level to rise. In 100 years, he predicts the sea could rise 1.5 meters. If that happens, the only part of Galveston that would remain above the water is the area built up around the seawall. [Source: Texas Cable News] -more-

Christmas Mountains: Perilous Trek, Hidden Beauty

June 21, 2009 · There is a new hike starting at Big Bend National Park that leads to one of the best views in West Texas. It is not in any guidebook. Most park staffers don't know about it. Those who do encourage visitors not to go. It's a backcountry hike with no trail markers that follows dry creek beds, extremely narrow canyons and then a steep ridge and ends above a 1,500-foot cliff overlooking the park. [Source: San Antonio Express-News] -more-

Who's On The EPA's Most Wanted List?

June 20, 2009 · We all know that drugs are the business of narco cops, and that murders are treated by the homicide division. But who goes after the criminals who illegally remove asbestos or secretly store hazardous waste? The Environmental Protection Agency's Criminal Investigations Division does. Deputy Director Doug Parker discusses the EPA's most wanted fugitives with Guy Raz. -more-

Scientists Debate Shading Earth As Climate Fix

June 16, 2009 · Some scientists are seriously considering geoengineering experiments — such as spraying fine particles into the stratosphere to shade the Earth — as a way to counteract global warming. All potential strategies are all fraught with uncertainty. The National Academy of Sciences convened this week to explore the risks and potential benefits of engineering the planet's atmosphere. -more-

Texas Counties in Nonattainment For Air Quality Could Increase by Seven

June 16, 2009 · Texas counties in nonattainment for air quality could increase by seven By the spring of 2010, seven additional Texas counties may be designated as violating the revised 8-hour standard for ground-level ozone pollution.

In March, Gov. Rick Perry recommended that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designate the counties of El Paso, Bexar, Travis, Hood, Smith, Gregg, and Rusk as being in nonattainment of the new, more stringent standard. [Source: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality] -more-

Texas Climatologist Warns of Hotter, Drier State in Near Future

June 7, 2009 · In the decades ahead, Texas, like the rest of the globe, appears to be on track to get hotter, water resources will be increasingly stressed and the state will be prone to longer and more severe droughts.

That was the face of global warming in Texas offered Saturday by state climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon, who led a forum at Voelcker Park to talk about climate change. He stressed that while predictions for some parts of the world are stark, the local forecast for Texas is difficult to gauge.

“We're going into territory we haven't seen in millions of years,” said Nielsen-Gammon, who spoke as part of a monthly series of presentations hosted by the city's Parks and Recreation Department to generate interest in the developing park. [Source: San Antonio Express-News] -more-

Heading to Texas, Hudson’s Toxic Mud Stirs Town

May 30, 2009 · There are not many towns in America that would welcome the 2.5 million cubic yards of toxic sludge being dredged from the bottom of the Hudson River in New York, but to hear Mayor Matt White tell it, Eunice is one of them.

Storing waste nobody else wants means more jobs, Mr. White said, and the oil workers here are used to living with hazards. After all, there are several oil wells in the town itself. One of them is a block from City Hall.

"We have deadly gases in the oil fields," he said. "It’s more deadly than any of the stuff they are going to put in the ground out here." [Source: New York Times] -more-

Tree Rules OK in Zone Outside City Limits

May 28, 2009 · For years, developers have tried to ignore San Antonio's tree preservation ordinance on the city's outskirts.

And for just as long, City Attorney Michael Bernard and other officials have insisted San Antonio has a right to protect trees in a 5-mile buffer zone outside city limits known as the extraterritorial jurisdiction, or ETJ.

On Wednesday, the 4th Court of Appeals weighed in on the debate and sided with the city. In a legal opinion signed by Justice Sandee Bryan Marion, the court knocked down every argument raised by a developer, and stated San Antonio is entitled to enforce the tree rules in the ETJ. [Source: San Antonio Express-News] -more-

A Green Trade War Over Climate Change

May 26, 2009 · Congress is debating a climate change bill to limit greenhouse gas emissions. But it would impose extra costs on U.S. companies foreign competitors may not have to bear. John Dimsdale reports on a potential green trade war. -more-

Climate Change Bill Heads For House Vote

May 22, 2009 · The Waxman-Markey bill sets ambitious targets for curbing greenhouse gas emissions through a cap-and-trade system. But some critics say the proposal could actually encourage pollution. -more-

Concrete And Global Warming: A Mixed Bag

May 22, 2009 · [Talk of the Nation] Concrete may be responsible for as much as five percent of the global carbon footprint, taking into account the energy required to make it and the CO2 emitted by the kilning process. But a new study by engineer Liv Haselbach finds that concrete may also be an important CO2 sink. -more-

Business Heats Up Over Climate Bill

May 21, 2009 · The House is poised to approve the first ever climate bill, and that achievement hasn't come without some heated political debate. But Sam Eaton reports some of the fiercest battles are between businesses and their lobbying trade groups. -more-

How a 'Cap and Trade' System Will Work

May 20, 2009 · A House committee is weighing legislation to slash greenhouse gases. The centerpiece of the strategy will be a 'Cap and Trade' system. Sustainability reporter Sarah Gardner breaks down how it'll work with Kai Ryssdal. -more-

Global Warming Could Be Twice as Bad as Forecast

May 19, 2009 · Global warming's effects this century could be twice as extreme as estimated just six years ago, scientists reported on Tuesday.

Earth's median surface temperature could rise 9.3 degrees F (5.2 degrees C) by 2100, the scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found, compared to a 2003 study that projected a median temperature increase of 4.3 degrees F (2.4 degrees C).

The new study, published in the American Meteorological Society's Journal of Climate, said the difference in projection was due to improved economic modeling and newer economic data than in previous scenarios. [Source: Reuters] -more-

Environmentalists Attack House Global Warming Deal

May 16, 2009 · With the greenest lawmakers in charge and the President cheering them on, the prospects of sweeping controls on greenhouse gases seemed rosy. After a month of fighting among themselves, however, House Democrats announced an agreement Thursday that reflects more about the legislative process than the need to stop the planet from heating up.

The announcement indicates that sponsors have enough Democratic votes to push a bill past its first legislative hurdle, the House Energy and Commerce Committee, as early as next week. But the patchwork of concessions necessary to win over champions of industrial and regional interests weakened the initiative, leaving it far short of the global warming gas reductions that scientists insist are necessary to stave off catastrophic climate change. [Source: Time] -more-

Compromise on Climate Bill would Delay Carbon Auctions

May 15, 2009 · Legislation to reduce global warming moved closer to House passage Thursday as lawmakers announced a compromise that could soften the bill's impact on consumers and businesses.

Utilities, manufacturers and other businesses would have to reduce carbon dioxide emissions but would get valuable credits to cover those targets. President Barack Obama had called for Congress to auction the credits, which would have raised money for clean energy research but could have resulted in higher electricity prices.

Under the latest House plan, companies would have until 2025 before having to purchase pollution credits on a carbon market. The compromise appeared to settle the concerns of utilities, which lobbied against an auction. [Source: Dallas Morning News] -more-

Obama Stays Course with Bush Polar Bear Rule

May 8, 2009 · The Obama administration said Friday that it would retain a wildlife rule issued in the last days of the Bush administration that says the government cannot invoke the Endangered Species Act to restrict emissions of greenhouse gases threatening the polar bear and its habitat.

In essence, the decision means that two consecutive presidents have judged that the act is not an appropriate means of curbing the emissions that scientists have linked to global warming.

The bear was listed as a threatened species under the act last May. But the special rule, adopted in December, said this designation did not give the Interior Department the authority to limit greenhouse gases outside the bears’ Arctic range. [Source: New York Times] -more-

Global Warming Could Wipe Out Clean-Air Strides in Houston

May 5, 2009 · Houston’s elusive goal of meeting clean-air standards could become more difficult because of global warming, according to a new government report.

In a recent study, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that the projected effects of rising temperatures could worsen smog levels in certain regions, particularly in the Southeast.

The findings prompted the federal agency to urge that climate change in 2050 and beyond be considered in the development of any smog-fighting plans. The report’s release came on the same day that the EPA took its first step toward regulating carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases that contribute to climate change. [Source: Houston Chronicle] -more-

U.S. Coal Power Plants Scuttled, Sierra Club Cheers

May 1, 2009 · Cancellation of a coal-fired power plant in Michigan announced on Friday brings to 97 the number of plants scuttled since 2001, said the Sierra Club, an environmental group that opposes coal plants because they are major emitters of gasses blamed for global warming.

Plans remain active for only 59 of the 220 coal coal-fired plants planned and in various stages of permitting since 2001, said Bruce Nilles, head of the Sierra Club's campaign to eliminate coal-fired power plants in the United States. [Source: Reuters] -more-

Dems May Lack Votes to Move Climate Bill

May 1, 2009 · Prospects of a House subcommittee markup next week on a major energy and global warming bill appear dim as the panel's Democratic leaders head into the weekend without a clear signal that they have enough votes to move the legislation.

"I think it's a real open question, don't you?" Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) told reporters yesterday when asked about Democrats' plans to mark up a bill in the House Energy and Environment Subcommittee. [Source: The New York Times] -more-

EPA Administrator Optimistic About New Laws

April 28, 2009 · EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson tells NPR that the country is "overdue" for climate and energy legislation. And she is optimistic Congress will help pass new environmental laws. -more-

Mexico Outbreak Traced to 'Manure Lagoons' at Pig Farm

April 28, 2009 · Sixty percent of Americans live in areas with unhealthy air pollution levels, despite a growing green movement and more stringent laws aimed at improving air quality, according to a new study on air pollution. The study to be released Wednesday by the American Lung Association ranks cities and counties as the most and least polluted. [Source: AP] -more-

Utilities Concerned Over Cap-and-Trade

April 24, 2009 · House lawmakers may have a new version of a climate change bill this week. But American power producers are worried about the expense of a proposed cap-and-trade system. Jennifer Collins reports.-more-

'Major Emitters' Meet To Tackle Climate Change

April 26, 2009 · Just 16 nations are responsible for a whopping 80 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. These 'major emitters' are convening Monday and Tuesday in Washington, D.C., to develop a plan to deal with climate change. Representatives from these nations are hopeful that they'll have the political force needed to reduce emissions. -more-

Earth Day Aerials

April 22, 2009 · Today marks the annual celebration of Earth Day that started in 1970. Here's an interesting look at our planet: aerials taken by GeoEye satellites. -more-

Smog Deaths In 1948 Led To Clean Air Laws

April 22, 2009 · On Oct. 27, 1948, the people of Donora, Pa., awoke to a thick yellow blanket of smog. They soon learned that 20 people were dead and half the town was sick. A museum has opened to commemorate an event that many say was the genesis of clean air laws. -more-

TCEQ Permit Process Questioned

April 17, 2009 · A fundamental question in the Las Brisas Energy Center debate is: If the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality approves the power plant, does that mean it’s safe? Las Brisas and its supporters have hung their hats on the TCEQ decision, saying the process to receive an air permit is stringent and protects public health and the environment. [Source: Corpus Christi Caller-Times] -more-

EPA Moves Toward Regulating Greenhouse Gases

April 17, 2009 · The agency issued a proposed finding Friday stating that six greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution that can threaten the public health — a first step toward regulating those gases. -more-

Forecasting a Warmer World

March 23, 2009 · [Living on Earth] Predicting the changes that could accompany rising global temperatures and what the future might hold. -more-

Trees May Dry Up With Global Warming

April 14, 2009 · Warming global temperatures could cause massive tree die-offs. That's the gloomy conclusion of a new study by scientists at the University of Arizona. They've discovered that trees exposed to temperatures warmer than those in their native environment were less capable of tolerating drought. -more-

Clean Air Comes At A Price In California

April 13, 2009 · The air in California should be getting cleaner, thanks to a new law hitting the state's gas stations this month. But fresh air does not always come cheap. In fact, many gas stations say the expensive new gear they're being forced to install is going to put them out of business. For good. It's a problem that many gas stations across the country may eventually face. -more-

Can Obama Push Climate Policy Forward?

April 10, 2009 · [Talk of the Nation: Science Friday] President Obama vows to move ahead in combating climate change. What hurdles will the administration face? U.S. News and World Report reporter Kent Garber discusses cap-and-trade, other climate mitigation proposals and the challenges to getting climate policies through Congress. -more-

Even 'Green' Trade Not Immune To Economic Woes

April 10, 2009 · With the world in recession, many factories are producing less — and emitting less carbon dioxide pollution. This means the carbon trade market — where companies buy and sell the right to pollute — is experiencing a slump. After a bullish 2008, companies are now refraining from selling carbon credits, waiting instead for prices to rise. -more-

China Puts Fizz In Bid To Reduce Carbon Emissions

April 10, 2009 · A power plant in China is experimenting with ways to capture and recycle its carbon emissions, producing CO2 to put the fizz in soft drinks and fill fire extinguishers. Researchers hope the pilot project will lead to wider efforts to cut industrial carbon emissions and slow global warming. -more-

California's Low Carbon Diet

March 23, 2009 · [Living on Earth] California has a strict climate emissions law and the state may soon require refiners to reduce carbon in fuels by ten percent by 2020. -more-

Australia's Wildfires and Climate Change

February 18, 2009 · [PRI's The World] Heidi Cullen of Climate Central says Australia's wildfires might be evidence that when it comes to climate change, the future is now. -more-

Tropical Forests and Global Warming

January 12, 2009 · [Living on Earth] Reasons for deforestation differ sharply across the tropics, but widespread clearing of tropical forests contribute to global warming. -more-

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