Graph of the Day: National Current-Account Balances as a Percentage of World Gross Product, 1996-2013

The large and persistent external imbalances in the global economy that have developed over the past decade remain a point of concern for policymakers. Reducing these imbalances has been the major focus of consultations among G20 Finance Ministers under the G20 Framework for Strong, Sustainable and Balanced Growth and the related Mutual Assessment Process (MAP) […]

Canada plays down embarrassing oil sands document

By David Ljunggren, with additional reporting by Jeff Jones in Calgary; editing by Peter Galloway26 January 2012 OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada disassociated itself on Thursday from an embarrassing official policy paper that said the country’s independent energy regulator, now studying a controversial oil pipeline, is in fact a government ally. Critics have long charged the […]

USDA ignores pesticide ravaging bee population, threatening global environment

By Mike Barrett, NaturalSociety12 January 2012 It has recently been reported that certain research was suppressed concerning the bee decline which has been occurring over the past few years. It seems that the large sum of money raked in by Bayer, a maker of pesticides, was enough to kick research under the carpet that linked […]

Southern plants find fertile ground farther north as climate changes in the U.S.

By Janice Lloyd, USA TODAY26 January 2012 Southern magnolias, lovers of sultry weather, braving the chillier Northeast? Camellias, a New Orleans trademark, staking out in North Carolina and higher latitudes? It’s true, gardening experts say, and expect similar oddities to represent the new norm. It is now safe to plant new species in many parts […]

California cattle range to decrease as climate changes

By FELICITY BARRINGER23 January 2012 To see how thoroughly the concept of ecosystem services — the economic analysis of the natural world’s intersection with human endeavors — is embedded in climate change research, check out this forecast from a group led by researchers at Duke University and the Environmental Defense Fund. It examines the future […]

Apple shows us why manufacturing will never return from China

By Michael Santo, Tech Buzz Examiner22 January 2012 Reports such as SACOM’s from May of 2011 have shown us of the stresses, low wages, and unsafe conditions of plants such as those used for manufacturing iDevices and other electronics. Yet, on the surface, a New York Times report seems to point to more than just […]

NASA sees repeating La Niña hitting its peak

Contact: Alan Buis, 818-354-0474, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, alan.buis@jpl.nasa.gov 18 January 2012 La Niña, “the diva of drought,” is peaking, increasing the odds that the Pacific Northwest will have more stormy weather this winter and spring, while the southwestern and southern United States will be dry. Sea surface height data from NASA’s Jason-1 and […]

U.S. releases draft strategy for responding to climate change impacts

Contact: David T. Eisenhauer (FWS), 703-358-2284      John Ewald (NOAA), 202-482-3978      Laura MacLean (AFWA), 202-624-7744      19 January 2012 WASHINGTON – In partnership with state, tribal, and federal agency partners, the Obama Administration today released the first draft national strategy to help decision makers and resource managers prepare for and help reduce the impacts of climate change […]

Roubini: The Straits of America

By Nouriel Roubini, Project Syndicate 13 January 2012 Macroeconomic indicators for the United States have been better than expected for the last few months. Job creation has picked up. Indicators for manufacturing and services have improved moderately. Even the housing industry has shown some signs of life. And consumption growth has been relatively resilient. But, […]

How will global warming negatively affect water supplies in the U.S.?

By Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss 15 January 2012 Q: How is it that global warming could negatively impact water supplies in the U.S.? Climate change promises to have a very big impact on water supplies in the United States as well as around the world. A recent study commissioned by the Natural Resources Defense […]

Social media & sharing icons powered by UltimatelySocial