- After more than six years of review, President Obama announced on Friday that his administration has rejected the Keystone XL pipeline.
- Experts say the Exxon Mobil investigation may spur legal inquiries into other oil companies.
- Through a new collection of studies, scientists have examined extreme weather events looking for signs of climate change.
Obama administration rejects Keystone XL pipeline [USA Today]
After more than six years of review, President Obama announced on Friday that his administration has rejected the Keystone XL pipeline. He said the pipeline was neither a “silver bullet for the economy” nor “the express lane to climate disaster.”
Checking food labels is good for health and forests [The Malaysian Insider]
You may check the nutrition labels on your food for health reasons, but have you checked product labels for sustainability reasons? Experts say checking labels and purchasing the right products could make a difference in saving the world’s forests.
These scientists are experimenting with growing ‘super coral’ [The Guardian (UK)]
At a time when environmentalists are warning about the rapidly declining health of the world’s coral reefs, scientists have embarked on a quest to breed coral that can withstand the hotter and more acidic oceans caused by global warming.
China and France release joint climate commitment [Mongabay]
France and China released a joint statement to “reaffirm their strong conviction that climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity” on the first day of French President François Hollande’s official state visit to China last week.
How snakes are helping beetles to invade Guam [USA Today]
The brown tree snake, one of Guam’s most notorious invasive species are assisting the Guam coconut rhinoceros in an unexpected way, making it easier for the beetles to breed in the crowns of coconut trees.
See this increasingly popular journey through a photographer’s lens [The Washington Post]
More and more tourists are making the trip through the mountains of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park with the hopes of catching a glimpse of the endangered mountain gorillas. A photographer with the Associated Press traveled to witness this phenomenon, and we’re glad he did.
Not all certification schemes are created equal [Mongabay]
Four major consumer brands in the US — Xerox, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Delta Dental and Bigelow Tea — have just taken ForestEthics’ advice to heart and expanded on their commitments to support responsible forestry by distancing their brands from the controversial paper and wood certification scheme.
Why we shouldn’t overlook the subtle signs of climate change [TIME]
We tend to focus a lot on the large-scale effects of climate change to learn about the phenomenon, but research shows we can learn just as much from the more subtle changes – like looking at why 1,5000 insects gathered on a single rooftop in Denmark.
BP oil spill could be cause of failed dolphin pregnancies [Mongabay]
Hundreds of dead bottlenose dolphins continue to wash ashore, five years after the catastrophic Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Of the dolphins that have managed to survive in the oil-contaminated waters, many are failing to reproduce.
International anger may put a leash on Indonesia’s runaway deforestation [Yale e360]
In case you haven’t heard, Indonesia is on fire. The burning of forests and peatlands for agriculture has created massive fires are enveloping large areas of Southeast Asia in smoke. The choking haze has resulted in sharp protests from Singapore and other nations that are tired of breathing in Indonesia’s dangerous fumes.
It’s a beautiful thing when art and science unite [The Guardian]
The project of an award-winning Dutch photographer to capture the oldest life forms on Earth has led him all over the world. For years he’s been traveling around the world in search of specimens as old as the planet itself.
SeaWorld allegations sign of a broader pro-animal shift [Christian Science Monitor]
Some say there’s a larger interest in what’s going on with animals. While SeaWorld continues to struggle years after allegations of abused and neglected orcas, circuses, zoos and grocery stores face public criticism for unfair treatment of animals.
The spotlight on Exxon Mobil may spill over onto other companies [NY Times]
The New York attorney general’s office has opened an investigation on Exxon Mobil’s records on climate change. Experts say the investigation may spur legal inquiries into other oil companies.
How much of extreme weather is caused by climate change? [NY Times]
Droughts, floods, heat waves, hurricanes…just how much of an effect does climate change have on our weather? Through a new collection of studies, scientists have examined extreme weather events looking for signs of climate change.
MONGABAY HIGHLIGHTS
Greenpeace released dramatic photos of Indonesia’s haze
Emissions from fires burning across Indonesia’s peatlands and forests have now surpassed Japan’s annual emissions. Greenpeace recently released images showing conditions in Central Kalimantan, where pollution has registered at record levels.
“We’re at a critical crossroads in the fight to save tropical forests”
Financing from both the public and private sectors intended to protect forests and their ability to mitigate global warming has been ramping up, but future success depends greatly on the outcome of the climate negotiations in Paris.
Getting up close and personal with the effects of climate change
Polar bear populations are threatened by the loss of Arctic sea ice they use for hunting, and filmmakers and researchers are using remote cameras to better understand how the bears use ice and respond to the novel conditions resulting from global climate change.
Wildlife trafficking now on par with drugs and weapons trafficking
On Monday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Global Anti-Poaching Act. The legislation aims to introduce tougher penalties for wildlife traffickers, hold foreign governments accountable and supports increased professionalization of park rangers.
A powerful new weapon for this village’s anti-palm arsenal
Residents of Punan Adiu village in North Kalimantan, Indonesia have refused overtures from palm oil companies because they want to hold onto their forest. With the assistance from NGOs, they have finished mapping their customary territory.
Washington gives a resounding yes to anti-wildlife trafficking
On Tuesday, an overwhelming majority of Washington voters, around 71 percent, passed an anti-wildlife trafficking initiative called Initiative 1401 (I-1401) that bans trade in wildlife parts and products.