Environmental News: November 26 - December 3, 2009

U.S. 2008 greenhouse gas emission fall 2.2% -EIA
Reuters, 3 December 2009
Man-made U.S. greenhouse gas emissions fell last year as record oil prices and a weak economy reduced demand for fossil fuels, the Energy Information Administration said on Thursday.
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Protected Habitat Proposed For Rare Alaska Whale
03-Dec-09

Yereth Rosen
ANCHORAGE, Alaska
Over 3,000 square miles (7,770 sq kms) in Alaska would be protected as critical habitat for the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale, under a proposal issued on Tuesday by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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Some lobsters, crabs withstand ocean’s CO2 increases
December 3, 2009
Some crabs, shrimps and lobsters build thicker shells despite oceans growing more acidic due to greenhouse gases, report marine biologists Tuesday.
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Most World Leaders To Attend U.N. Climate Summit
02-Dec-09
John Acher and James Grubel
COPENHAGEN/CANBERRA - Most world leaders plan to attend a climate summit in Copenhagen this month, boosting chances that a new U.N. deal to fight climate change will be reached, host Denmark said on Tuesday.
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W. Antarctic Melt To Have Big Impact On Rising Sea
Nina Chestney
Date: 02-Dec-09
Country: UK
Author: Nina Chestney
LONDON - Melting ice in West Antarctica could add tens of centimeters to rising sea levels over the next century, according to a report by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) on Tuesday.
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El Nino Set To Continue Into First Quarter Of 2010: WMO
02-Dec-09
Stephanie Nebehay
GENEVA - An El Nino weather pattern warming the Pacific Ocean and linked to drought in South Asia is likely to continue through the first quarter of 2010, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Tuesday.
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Global Study of Salmon Shows: 'Sustainable' Food Isn't So Sustainable
Nov. 30, 2009
Science Daily
Popular thinking about how to improve food systems for the better often misses the point, according to the results of a three-year global study of salmon production systems. Rather than pushing for organic or land-based production, or worrying about simple metrics such as "food miles," the study finds that the world can achieve greater environmental benefits by focusing on improvements to key aspects of production and distribution.
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How Companies Are Committing to Reduce Toxic Footprints
By Richard Liroff
Published November 30, 2009
Companies need to move towards using greener chemicals because the principal drivers demanding such change -- science, regulation, and B2B environmentally preferable purchasing programs -- are surging and will intensify.
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FDA likely to delay ruling on BPA
Agency may say it needs more time to analyze hundreds of new studies
By Meg Kissinger of the Journal Sentinel
Nov. 30, 2009
Despite months of additional study and a self-imposed timetable, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration likely will not release its ruling Monday on the safety of bisphenol A, a chemical used in thousands of household products that has been linked to developmental and behavioral problems.
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The World's Looming 'Water Gap'
27-Nov-09
Marc Gunther - Greener World Media
There's good and bad news from a sweeping new report on the world's water scarcity out today from McKinsey & Co., commissioned by such water-dependent companies as Coca-Cola, Nestle, SAB Miller and Syngenta, along with the World Bank/International Finance Corp.
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Amazon Forest Schemes Await Strong Climate Pact
November 25, 2009
OA FRENTE - The boat plows on through the brackish green river, taking Jose de Oliveira Quadro on a journey that may have been futile a few years ago.
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Environmentalists Target Foam Food Trays
Date: 25-Nov-09
Country: US
Author: Laura Isensee
LOS ANGELES - Environmentalists and green businesses are targeting foam food trays used to sell vegetables, fruits and meat in grocery stores. The ubiquitous trays, which are made from polystyrene, have a long shelf life in landfills, much like plastic bags which the green brigade also took aim at in recent years.
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Whales save seal from orcas
November 25, 2009
Humpback takes seal under its flipper to cheat predators
There are plenty of stories of cetaceans saving humans. Indeed, Jonah was rescued by a whale when he was thrown overboard, and there have been tales of dolphins assisting swimmers in distress or shielding them from circling sharks.
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Obama Announces 2020 Emissions Target, Dec. 9 Copenhagen Visit
November 25, 2009
By DARREN SAMUELSOHN AND LISA FRIEDMAN of ClimateWire
President Obama today unveiled key details of the U.S. negotiation position headed into next month's global warming talks in Copenhagen, including a provisional greenhouse gas emissions target for 2020 "in the range of 17 percent below 2005 levels" and a new itinerary that includes a personal appearance during the opening days of the U.N. conference.
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