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
Old ship logs help predict weather patterns
Climate scientists want to use weather reports made by British sailors in World War I but they are hidden in handwritten ship logs, and impossible for computer scanners to read. So the scientists have enlisted online volunteers to grab that weather data for computer analysis. Along the way, transcribers are reading about sea battles and daily life nearly a century ago on a British war ship. The World’s Clark Boyd has more.
California climate law under fire
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Download MP3Supporters of California’s climate change law say it will spark a green technology revolution and boost the state’s economy. But, critics say it will hurt the state’s economy at a time when it can ill afford it. Rachael Myrow has this story from San Francisco.
Update on Hungary’s toxic sludge tragedy
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Download MP3Anchor Marco Werman gets an update from the BBC’s Nick Thorpe on the toxic sludge spill in Hungary.
Sludge spill in Hungary
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Download MP3The BBC’s Nick Thorpe is in Kolontar, in southwestern Hungary, where caustic sludge broke through a waste reservoir at an alumina plant and appears to be headed toward the Danube River. The event is being called Europe’s worst environmental disaster in decades.
Avatar director on environmental mission
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Film director James Cameron wants to shine a light on a dangerous and environmentally damaging oil-extraction process in Canada. The ‘Avatar’ director set out on a fact-finding mission this week to the oil sands in Alberta, meeting with government officials and local residents. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with Cameron about his latest off-screen project. Download MP3China’s pork boom
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China’s appetite for pork is growing fast, and so is the size of Chinese pig farms. The government says that’s good for food safety, but it’s not so good for the environment. Elise Potaka reports from Beijing. Download MP3
Whale rider wanted by Australian officials
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An Australian teenager allegedly went on a dangerous joyride. An eye-witness says the boy climbed onto the back of a southern right whale off the western coast of Australia and “rode” on its back. The report has caught the attention of the authorities, and they are not amused. Anchor Lisa Mullins gets details from the BBC’s Phil Mercer in Sydney. (Photo: electropod/Flickr) Download MP3Jobs a mantra for Ohio Congressional races
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The state of Ohio has several Congressional races that are up for grabs. Like everywhere in the country, the economy is issue number one in the Buckeye State. Even the issue of global climate change comes down to jobs. The World’s Jason Margolis has more from Wellston, Ohio.Download MP3Global food prices spike
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Download MP3The United Nations’ food agency held a special meeting to discuss the rise in food prices worldwide. Anchor Marco Werman asks Alex Evans, who’s studied the causes of food price fluctuations, to explain the upward trend.
Limits of endangered species treaty debated
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Download MP3The only international treaty for protecting endangered species has shown its limits recently. Critics say the treaty has flaws, but supporters urge that it’s still a vital tool in the battle against extinction The World’s Gerry Hadden reports.
Greener gadgets from Belgium
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Our ever-increasing reliance on electronic gadgets comes with certain environmental side-effects. Those gadgets often contain all kinds of things that are potentially harmful to the environment. It’s also a tough industry to evaluate when it comes to fair trade practices. Clark Boyd reports on how one small company in Belgium is trying to address both of those issues. (photo: Clark Boyd) Download MP3Greener electronics for the globe
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The US based non-profit Green Electronics Council is trying to make the electronics industry more environmentally friendly. Sarah O’Brien (pictured) is the communications director of the council, she speaks with Lisa Mullins about efforts to green the electronics industry. Download MP3O’Brien is also the guest in our online Science Forum. >>>Join the discussion here
Geo Answer
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The answer to our Geo Quiz today is the Kingdom of Bhutan, where a team of researchers has discovered tigers living more than 13,000 ft up in the Himalayas. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with the BBC’s Steve Backshall about some rare footage of the animals shot by a hidden camera in the mountains of Bhutan. Download MP3Geo Answer
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The answer to today’s Geoquiz is the Lomonosov Ridge, a 1200-mile long ridge at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean that stretches from Siberia to Canada. It plays a key role in the scramble to claim sovereignty over the Arctic Ocean. Anchor Lisa Mullins finds out more from Klaus Dodds, an authority on the Geopolitics of the Arctic. Download MP3Arctic underwater ridge
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We’re looking for an underwater ridge that’s part of the continental crust below the Arctic Ocean and crosses the North Pole. From the New Siberian Islands, the ridge runs across the Arctic Ocean all the way to Canada’s Ellesmere Island. What is it called? Download MP3
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