Quick Key Facts What Is Oil? Crude oil or petroleum is a liquid fossil fuel. We use it to generate electricity, heat our homes, and fuel our cars. Petroleum products supply about 35% of energy in the U.S., with transportation accounting for the largest portion. Burning fossil fuels like oil releases greenhouse gases into the […]
In an effort to bolster Canada’s environmental standards, the country has banned cruise ships from dumping wastewater and sewage close to the shoreline. Measures governing discharge of the pollutants had previously been voluntary.
The nonprofit and environmental advocacy organization Heal the Bay’s annual Beach Report Card is here, and it names some of the cleanest and most polluted beaches in California (as well as farther along the coast, from Washington state to Tijuana, Mexico). The report gives each beach a letter grade, A through F, based on pollution […]
In a new study, scientists have identified high levels of chemicals in the sea off the southern coasts of England. The chemicals include drugs that could be harming marine life. The Clean Harbours Partnership, along with Portsmouth University, Brunel University and local interest groups, collected hundreds of samples along the coasts of Hampshire and West […]
Following the two-day Korea–Pacific Islands Summit, which ended Tuesday, Seoul agreed to double its development assistance to the island nations by 2027. In addition to development, leaders of the nations came to an agreement to bolster cooperation on security. “Korea and the Pacific Islands Forum, recognising shared universal values including freedom, democracy, the rule of […]
Every thirty minutes, a Norfolk Southern train passes through East Palestine. Three months ago, no one in this northeastern Ohio village of just under 5,000 people would have batted an eye at the sight of the long trains passing through. No one would have turned a head at the sound of the train’s whistle as […]
The biggest fossil fuel companies in the world owe at least $209 billion in yearly climate reparations to communities that suffered the brunt of the calamities caused by the climate crisis, a new study has concluded. While substantial, the researchers consider theirs to be a conservative cost estimate, as it did not put a price […]
Satellite data shows methane leaks in a fossil fuel field in western Turkmenistan have caused more global heating in 2022 than all of the carbon pollution from the United Kingdom.
Plunging into the ocean or a lake is one of the great joys of summer. But arriving at the beach to find water that’s green, red or brown, and possibly foul-smelling, can instantly spoil the party.
As a toxicologist, I study health risks from both synthetic and natural substances. I’ve conducted research into early detection of harmful algal blooms, or HABs, which are an increasing threat to humans, animals and the environment.