Climate change having ‘worldwide, widespread effects’
[BEIJING] Many physical and ecological systems are being affected by the world’s warming climate, researchers say. Scientists from across the world applied statistical models to published data on changes in 829 physical systems and around 28,800 plant and animal systems —on both global and continental scales — some with data going back to 1970.

Giant kangaroo gives clues on climate
CANBERRA (Reuters) – Scientists in Australia hope a giant cardboard image of a kangaroo, photographed from space on Tuesday, will help them better understand how the earth reflects sunlight and give them new clues about global warming. 

Brazil’s sugar cane mills race to keep up with ethanol boom
ORINDIUVA, Brazil — Just a decade ago, the giant Moema ethanol and sugar mill in this corner of southeastern Brazil covered less than half of its current 173,000 acres. It produced mainly sugar.

USDA head downplays calls to cut biofuel mandate
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer said ethanol is not having a “major” impact on food prices, and downplayed calls by lawmakers and industry groups to make changes to programs that promote increased use of biofuels.

Hydrogen fuel cells are future, says WWM boss
USING fuel cells powered by hydrogen will help the next generation of harbour tugs to cut emissions, according to Michiel Wijsmuller, managing director of WorldWise Marine Engineering (WWM). Part of the Offshore Ship Designers group, WWM is working with tug operators Ijmuiden-based Iskes and Rotterdam-based Smit to develop a 50 tonne bollard pull harbour tug that will have zero emissions when on standby and very low emissions in service.

Restaurants Serve New Sustainability Initiatives
CHICAGO, Ill. — The National Restaurant Association unveiled the “Conserve: Solutions for Sustainability” initiative at its annual trade show Monday, the same day PepsiCo Foodservice entered a partnership with the Green Restaurant Association (GRA) to help customers become more sustainable. A Chicago culinary school also said Monday it would incorporate sustainability education into its curriculum.

Adding the Environment to the Scales of Justice
In a move playing out largely behind the scenes but gaining quick momentum, law firms are using simple and inexpensive tools to evolve from notorious resource hogs (think a half-ton of paper per lawyer, per year) to models of eco-stewardship.

Greener offices make happier employees
SAN MARCOS, TX — According to the 2000 census, Americans office workers spend an average of 52 hours a week at their desks or work stations. Many recent studies on job satisfaction have shown that workers who spend longer hours in office environments, often under artificial light in windowless offices, report reduced job satisfaction and increased stress levels.

Los Angeles Proposes Plan to Conserve Water
Los Angeles officials discussed Thursday a plan to conserve water which includes limiting water use, punishing water wasters and recycling waste water, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times. Officials say the City of Los Angeles will have a 15 percent increase in water demand by 2030. To accommodate the robust need, 32 billion gallons of water will have to be saved or recaptured each year.

Environmental protection vital to reducing natural disaster impact
Environmental degradation is a key factor turning extreme weather events into natural disasters, a new WWF report has found.

Elephant seal population boom creates chaos on California coast
Catching whoever shot and killed three elephant seals at Piedras Blancas is only the latest challenge the burgeoning seal colony is posing for park rangers and wildlife managers in San Luis Obispo County, Calif.