Hole in Ozone Layer Shrinks 30 Percent
The gaping hole in Earth’s ozone layer has shrunk 30 percent in size compared to last year, according to new measurements made by the European Space Agency’s Envisat satellite… Researchers are not certain if this year’s smaller ozone hole means the radiation-blocking layer is healing.

Fact sheet: Perennial Ice, Sometimes thick enough to Defy Icebreakers, May be Key to Predicting Arctic Thaw
Loss of sea ice that is more than a year old — called perennial ice — may be the key predictor for how much Arctic ice melts each summer, a University of Washington polar scientist says. He says the loss of perennial ice in the last two years led to this summer’s record-breaking ice retreat.

Australian Fires Add to Fears on Climate Change
As the first bush fires of the year rage through Australia’s national forests, concern over climate change and its effects is intensifying.

Brazil urges world support for Amazon
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazil’s environment minister said on Wednesday the international community was failing to honor pledges to help protect the Amazon and other tropical forests but that her government rejected specific deforestation targets.

EPA Asked to Regulate Ship Emissions
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Environmental groups and California Attorney General Jerry Brown asked the federal government Wednesday to require oceangoing ships to limit emissions of heat-trapping gases blamed for global warming.

The Promise and Perils of Taking Green Products Mainstream
In this episode of GreenBiz Radio, Columbia Forest Products’ John McIsaac discusses the ups and downs of developing and marketing green products in a conservative industry: “What we call green building right now, in five years that will just be building.”

Make Hay (and a lot more) While The Sun Shines
A team of MIT students, faculty and volunteers has taken on the challenge of designing and building a house that relies entirely on solar energy to meet the electricity needs of a typical American family, from drying towels to cooking dinner. 

U.S. promotes swap to energy-saving light bulbs
WASHINGTON – The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday kicked off a campaign to get U.S. consumers to switch to energy-efficient light bulbs as a way of reducing energy spending and greenhouse gas emissions.
Why spend money to “promote” the new bulbs?  Why not just pass a law that bans incandescent bulbs?

US To Spend Nearly $1 Million Promoting “Fresh And Local”
WASHINGTON – Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner Monday announced 23 grants totaling $900,000 to promote under the Farmers Market Promotion Program.