A pair of researchers discovered 15 methane-filled bubbles in Siberia’s Bely Island last July that wobbled like a waterbed when stepped on. Well, we really hate to burst these bubbles, but further research into the wider Yamal and Gydan peninsulas has uncovered about 7,000 more of these mysterious mounds. Scientists believe that these bumps are […]
It’ll be a big week on the Hill for Republicans looking to undo Obama-era environmental regulations: Interior Department rules on methane emissions and stream protections from coal mining waste, signed late in Obama’s last term, are both up for review by the House this week. The rules are being singled out under the controversial Congressional […]
Before Inauguration Day, the Trump era has opened with an extremist agenda that poses an alarming threat to our people, our environment and the core values we share about justice, fair play and our commitment to leave future generations a livable world. Already, we’ve seen a set of cabinet nominees dominated by fossil fuel advocates, […]
By Bruce Melton Our planet’s systems have a tremendous capacity to absorb punishment before they begin to show signs of degradation. Earth’s ecology self-heals like a cut on a finger. It assimilates pollution by chemical, physical and biological means—it changes pollutants into non-hazardous materials and proceeds upon its merry way as if there had been […]
By Alex Kirby One year ago today, with huge relief, scarcely able to believe their achievement, world leaders finally agreed to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide. But a bare 12 months later comes sobering news: Atmospheric concentrations of another gas, methane, are growing faster than at any time in the last 20 years, putting further […]
By Caroline Mosley The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced a final rule on Tuesday to cut natural gas waste and methane pollution from oil and gas operations on public lands. A new federal rule seeks to curb significant waste and benefit our nation by reducing the output of one of the largest contributors to […]
Methane emissions from the global fossil fuel industry are up to 60 percent greater than existing estimates, according to a new comprehensive analysis of global methane emissions. Map showing global methane concentrations in January 2016 at a pressure of 400 hectopascals, or roughly 6km above the surface. Concentrations are higher in the northern hemisphere because […]
Over the last two years, I’ve written four articles about the massive problem with methane emissions from hydropower dams and reservoirs. Finally, the mainstream media covered this story Thursday after an international team of scientists released a new study that synthesizes more than 100 scholarly articles on the topic. The Seattle Times headline read, “Hydropower […]
Methane emissions from the fossil fuel industry are responsible for the majority of the recent rise in global atmospheric methane, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Leonid Ikan / Shutterstock This research adds to the growing body of evidence that disputes the fossil fuel industry’s assertion […]