87,000 NASA Images Show a Greening Arctic

EcoWatch

Golfing in Greenland. Photo by Graphicos

The northern edge of North America is getting steadily greener. In the most detailed study so far of plant growth across Alaska and Canada, scientists say that about a third of the land cover now looks less like tundra, and more like a warmer ecosystem. Story here.

Whistleblower Says EPA Officials Covered Up Toxic Fracking Methane Emissions for Years

Nation of Change

Why has the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) failed to take adequate action against disastrous, climate-warming methane emissions from the fracking industry? An environmental watchdog alleges that the answer may be…Story here.

Paris Floods Made Almost Twice as Likely by Climate Change, Say Scientists

theguardian

Manmade global warming greatly increased the risk of extreme rain affecting the French capital, analysis shows. Story here.

Shell’s Retreat From Canadian Arctic Creates Space for Arctic Protection

Greenpeace Canada

Earlier this week on World Oceans Day we were greeted with some wonderful and exciting news: Shell announced it was giving up all its offshore exploration permits in the Canadian Arctic! Story here.
RELATED: "Shell Relinquishes Canadian Arctic Drilling Rights"

Atrazine and Glyphosate More Harmful Than Scientists Once Thought

EcoWatch

Monsanto marketed its potent weed killer glyphosate—the active ingredient in Roundup—and the corn and soybeans genetically engineered to withstand it, by claiming it would replace other, more toxic weed killers such as atrazine. But, it didn’t happen. Story here.

"Mother is ill." Earthwatch - Video.

I Get My First Response to My Proposal to Take Climate Action in Fort McMurray

Alberta's Premier, Rachel Notley, has responded to my proposal to replace all buildings destroyed in the Fort McMurray wildfire with the most energy-efficient ones possible (see letter, below). While her answer to my specific suggestion seems to be a polite "no," she outlines other steps her province is taking to achieve a carbon-free future.

Larry 

For the background to this story, click here.

Norway Becomes the First Country to Ban Deforestation

Nation of Change

A clearcut in BC. Wikimedia Commons.

The Norwegian Parliament has pledged to be deforestation-free. They are the first country in history to ban deforestation. Story here.

Nasa to Map Coral Reefs From the Air to Show Impact of Climate Change

theguardian

Scientists hope large-scale maps will offer new insight into effects of warming and pollution as previous studies have almost always been done up close in the water. Story here.

Shell Relinquishes Canadian Arctic Drilling Rights

NATIONAL

OBSERVER

One of the planet’s largest oil companies has just walked away from a large swath of oil and gas reserves in the Canadian Arctic. But it says it hasn't given up altogether on the prospects of drilling for the fossil fuels in the pristine waters of the North. Story here.

RELATED: "Shell’s Retreat From Canadian Arctic Creates Space for Arctic Protection"

Increased Extreme Weather Events Predicted Due to Effect of Climate Change on the Arctic

Greenpeace

MADRID - The effects of climate change on the Arctic — including melting ice and sea level rise — may possibly alter weather patterns in the northern hemisphere. These effects could include hotter, drier summers in some areas, wetter summers in other areas, and cold, stormy winters in others, according to studies compiled by the Greenpeace Research Laboratories in the report, “What happens in the Arctic doesn't stay in the Arctic” which is published today. Story here.