The state of the world’s environment is one of the most important stories of the new century. Debates over the impact of climate change reverberate throughout the globe. So do disputes about what actions might be necessary, both to preserve the environment and to develop sources of energy for a growing global community.
The World’s environment coverage, led by environment editor Peter Thomson, examines the health of the planet and explores the impacts of human activity on everything from the earth’s ecosystems to the food we put on our plates.
Environment
French farmland tapped for oil
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Correspondent Anita Elash reports that the world’s thirst for oil and oil-extracting technologies might transform fertile farm land in east of Paris into an oil field. Download MP3
New possibilities for oil drilling
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Marco Werman talks with Robert Kaufmann, director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies at Boston University, about the new technologies which are helping the oil industry search for oil in many areas once considered too difficult or too expensive to drill. Download MP3
Mexico gets kudos for climate summit success
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Mexico played host to the latest round of international climate negotiations earlier this month. And the country’s foreign minister is widely credited with getting the process back on track and moving ahead. Among those praising Mexico’s leadership is Durwood Zaelke. He’s president of the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development in Washington. Anchor Marco Werman speaks to him about Mexico’s role in the negotiations. Download MP3
Researchers analyze pollution effect on Lebanon
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Beirut’s streets are filled with aging cars spewing clouds of toxic fumes in the air. Ben Gilbert reports that researchers hope to find out exactly how much damage those exhaust fumes are doing to Lebanese health. Download MP3
Caribbean reef
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For our Geo Quiz, we’re looking for the “northernmost” country in Central America. The country in our sights is about the size of Massachusetts, but its borders include 240 miles of Caribbean shoreline. Download MP3The next climate change challenge
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Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with The World’s Environment Editor Peter Thomson about what was accomplished at the latest UN environment conference, in Cancun last week. Download MP3
Africa unites for climate change
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Recent climate negotiations have been dominated by disputes between China and the United States, the two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases. But amid all the wrangling by the giants, the concerns of small nations have often gotten short shrift. That is one reason African countries have decided to work together more closely this year. Myles Estey has more from the UN conference site in Cancun. Download MP3
Unique snails suffer under climate change
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Banff springs snails are found in only one place on Earth. That would be Banff Hot Springs, in Alberta, Canada. But climate change may be causing the springs to dry up. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with Dwayne Lepitzki, a conservation biologist with Parks Canada in Banff, who’s been studying the snails for 14 years. Download MP3
The upside to climate change
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Experts often warn of the financial costs of climate change. But some countries could stand to benefit from the warming of the planet. Melting ice caps in the Arctic could lead to new transportation routes. And that could be lucrative for a country like Norway. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks to Norway’s foreign minister, Jonas Gahr Støre. Download MP3Compromise at climate summit
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Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with the BBC’s Richard Black about the unexpected air of compromise at this year’s United Nations Climate Change Summit in Cancun, Mexico. Download MP3Richard Black’s Earthwatch Blog
US may approve more “dirty” Canadian oil
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Native American tribes visited the State Department today to discuss a proposed oil pipeline that would run from Canada right down to refineries in Texas on the Gulf Coast. Environmentalists oppose the pipeline because it would carry “dirty” oil from Alberta’s tar sands. The World’s Jeb Sharp reports. Download MP3
Italy’s campaign against bottled water
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An Italian supermarket chain is urging its customers to stop buying bottled water from far away sources because of the pollution caused when the water is transported from source to store. Megan Williams reports on the ad campaign, and why some are skeptical about the company’s motives. Download MP3China stuck with coal for now
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In the final part of her series on China’s coal habit, The World’s Mary Kay Magistad reports on why China is likely to remain dependent on dirty coal for decades to come, despite the billions it’s pouring into alternatives. Download MP3Reporter’s notebook: the air in China
China’s coal habit series page
US depends on coal, too
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Coal continues to supply a significant portion of electricity in the US. For some perspective Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with journalist Jeff Goodell. He’s the author of Big Coal:The Dirty Secret Behind America’s Energy Future. He’s also taking listener questions in our online Science Forum. Download MP3Join the discussion in the Science Forum
Reporter’s notebook: the air in China
The air in many Chinese cities can be fairly aggressive on the lungs on a regular basis. Mary Kay Magistad explains how people in China deal with the smog and the air pollution.
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