http://www.econewsnet.com EcoNewsNet is a portal to the latest news and information about our environment from the innovators in the industry Copyright (c) 2008 - EcoNewsNet.com Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:00:01 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:00:01 en-us null-241499002 Unchecked global warming could threaten public health and increase health costs by exacerbating ground-level ozone, according to a peer-reviewed report released today by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-240555059 Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) had it backwards when he suggested that trees cause global warming and that climate change could be combated by “subsidizing the clearing of rainforests.” Thu, 26 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-239969019 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced requirements for new fuel economy window labels that U.S. auto dealers place on new cars and light trucks in their showrooms. While a good step to help consumers save money at the pump, stronger vehicle standards are still needed. Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-240003732 UCS, CSPI, FACT, NRDC and Public Citizen filed a lawsuit today to compel the FDA to take action on the overuse of non-therapeutic antibiotics in animal feed. Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-239750691 A Senate proposal for a federal clean energy financing bank would expose U.S. taxpayers to excessive risk, eliminate proper congressional oversight, and fail to guard against undue industry and Wall Street influence, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. Tue, 24 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-238564069 Extreme weather events likely will occur more frequently in the future, prompting local governments to prepare for the impact of climate change. Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-237799021 The Chinese government is not trying to reach numerical parity with the U.S. nuclear weapons arsenal and does not have the nuclear material to do so, according to UCS. Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-236898681 Scientists have determined that loading the atmosphere with increasing carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping emissions is raising global temperatures and triggering heavier precipitation events. Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-236030204 Renewable energy is likely to become the world’s dominant climate change solution by the middle of the century, according to a new study by the IPCC. Mon, 09 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-235253983 Sen. Brown, (R-Mass.) is unreasonably attacking the League of Women Voters for running an ad criticizing his recent vote to block the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating carbon pollution. Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-234976694 The Union of Concerned Scientists lays out the facts (and myths) about rising gas prices and how greater vehicle fuel efficiency can lead to long-term relief at the gas pump. Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-232793488 University of Virginia (UVA) President Teresa Sullivan last week pledged to use all available exemptions under current law to uphold academic freedom and protect a range of private records from a freedom of information request filed with the university. Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-232789903 UCS experts recently revisited one of the nagging questions about Chernobyl’s health impact. Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-230250655 One year after the tragic explosion at BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil rig led to the worst oil disaster in U.S. history, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) reminded Americans that we have a valuable resource for curbing U.S. oil consumption: Detroit ingenuity. Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-229323903 Twelve public interest organizations today sent a letter to University of Virginia (UVA) President Teresa Sullivan urging the university to “[balance] the interests in public disclosure against the public interest in academic freedom” in its response to a Virginia Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA) request related to the work of a climate scientist who used to work at the school. Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-227008742 According to internal NRC documents obtained from FOIA, there is doubt among NRC technical staff about the efficacy of nuclear plant safety measures adopted after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-227106071 The House of Representatives today is expected to vote on a bill that would stop the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating carbon pollution from power plants and oil refineries. Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-226760959 UCS is offering climate-friendly gardening tools in celebration of national garden month. Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-225122835 President Obama delivered a speech today on the nation’s energy security that offered strategies to cut a third of U.S. oil imports by 2025, including plans to strengthen fuel efficiency and global warming pollution standards for new cars and trucks. Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-224831502 Nearly 1,300 scientists today urged members of Congress to oppose efforts to undermine the scientific authority of the Endangered Species Act, which they fear would threaten the long-term survival of all species protected by the law. Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-224783839 In a bold move to bolster one of the few bright spots in California’s economy and set a precedent for strong renewable electricity standards nationwide, the California Legislature today approved a bill that would require utilities in the state to obtain at least 33 percent of their electricity from clean, renewable sources, such as the wind and sun, by 2020. Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-221268154 The Union of Concerned Scientists has released a report on Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) oversight of nuclear power plant safety in 2010. Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-221314944 The Union of Concerned Scientists released a statement on March 17, 2011 recommending that the Japanese people be given priority access to potassium iodide (KI) pills used to guard against thyroid cancer following radioactive iodine inhalation. Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500 null-219678482 The massive earthquake off the northeast coast of Japan has caused a potentially catastrophic situation at one of Japan’s nuclear power plants. The situation is still evolving, but below is a preliminary assessment based on the facts as experts at the Union of Concerned Scientists currently understand them. Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0600 null-219686047 President Obama held a press conference today where he addressed rising fuel prices and the administration’s plan to tackle the nation’s long-term energy challenges. Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0600 null-218975742 The cost of constructing or retrofitting coal-fired electric power plants and the rising cost of coal have made coal power an extremely risky long-term investment, according to a report released today by UCS. Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0600 null-219064263 Legislation reintroduced today by Rep. Slaughter (D-N.Y.) would help protect Americans from widespread antibiotic overuse in food animal production, according to UCS. Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0600 null-217594070 The WSJ published the results of a new opinion poll, conducted with NBC News, that found 57 percent of respondents said cutting nuclear subsidies is either totally or mostly acceptable. Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0600 null-216708800 Global warming is likely to increase the frequency of major snowstorms, according to UCS. Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0600 null-215591244 Forbes.com recently published a column by book author Larry Bell that recycled a discredited, 15-year old myth about Benjamin Santer, a climate scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. When presented with evidence to the contrary, Forbes refused to correct the story. Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600