Environment, definition of

Capacity factor is a ratio (usually expressed as a percentage) of power actually generated by an installed wind turbine compared to its theoretical maximum power output.

This is important as the available wind varies considerably by location and you want to pick a location that ensures maximum utilization. Although typically the maximum capacity factor achieved in practice is around 30%. This can be compared to the typical capacity factors of 15% for solar and nuclear which ranges in 60 to 100%. Base load thermal power plants (i.e. fire fired) often achieve 70 to 90%.

When capacity factor is combined with cost of production you get the effective cost of power production for a given energy producing technology; i.e. cost divided by capacity factor. This figure you can use as a basis for a ROI (Return on Investment) comparison.

• The Great Reset - what does it mean?
  The Great Reset is a new initiative from the World Economic Forum (WEF), how just meet in Davos. We look at what it is trying to do and can it succeed.
• COVID-19 infections and low vitamin D - is there a link?
  More and more trials and studies are being published that are demonstrating a possible link between your likelihood of catching and suffering serious outcomes from a COVID-19 infection and having low levels of Vitamin D.
• Home Ventilation Techniques
  Home Ventilation improves the quality of living in your home, we look at the ventilation system options available.
• Mould Prevention, do it yourself tips
  Preventing mould in your house without using expensive chemicals or solutions, managing it the DIY way.
• Buying a House
  Buying a house can be one of the biggest financial decisions you will make, we provide some advice on how make it go more smoothly and how to ensure you find a property that is good for you and the environment.
• wind power generators, are they right for you?
  Wind power generation sounds like a possible way to offset rising power bills, we look at the issues involved and if it is practical for you.
• Global Warming, climategate, big business and being green
  The theory of man made global warming is turning into an excuse to derive profit from peoples good nature, what is going on?..
• Climategate, what is going on?
  Global warming, climate change, greenhouse effect and climategate; how 'valid' is the climate science?
• Trans fats - why they are bad for you and the environment
  Trans Fats are know to be very bad for your long term health, we also explain how Trans Fats are also bad for the environment too.
• Solar Energy - how you can use the Sun
  The Sun's Energy can be used in way different ways, we look at the various options available.
• Solar Power - the facts about setting up Solar Power
  Solar Power systems installed at the home or office can reduce environmental impact. How solar panel systems work is described and how you and the environment benefit.
• Eco Tourism, how to minimise your effects
  Eco tourism is about enjoying remote places and destinations whilst minimising your environmental or cultural impact. This article goes into some detail on this subject.
• Carbon Offsets, what they are and how they help
  Carbon offsets can help with reducing overall carbon emissions by possibly balancing out the carbon impact on the environment. This article goes into more detail on the subject.
• Ecologically Sustainable Development, what it is and how you can do it
  Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) is defined and explained in detail in this article; and how it helps you to be more green and eco friendly.
• Solar Water heating, how it works and the options available
  Solar hot water heating uses the sun to heat hot water. We explain what the hot water heating options are, their advantages and costs.
• DIY Decking Oil
  Decking oil can be expensive, we explain how to make your own timber decking oil cheaply and apply it.
• What is R-Value, U-Value and how do they relate to insulation?
  How the R-value of a buildings insulation or home is calculated and the factors that effect the final R value, and how to use it.
• Is using a wood fire to heat being Green?
  We look at whether using a wood fire to heat your home is being really green or not.
• Michael Jackson and his Green legacy
  The King of Pop is dead - but what is his Green legacy? In this article we have a look at what he has really done for the world and its environment.
• Food toxicity and how it effects you
  Foods we eat can contain health risks by toxic environment contamination where they are grown or processed. This article discusses the various issues around food toxicity and how to minimize health effects.
• Whats the fuss about Biochar?
  Biochar - what is it? This article explains what biochar is and how it will help us with carbon capture and improving the soil.
• What is convection and how it effects your heating costs
  Convection directly effects the cost of keeping your house warm in winter. This article explains what convention is and some practical tips on how to battle convection.
• Low Allergen Building Design
  Low allergen design is a whole building approach that aims to reduce and avoid all known allergens, and to minimize the conditions in which they occur. This article shows you how.
• DIY household cleaners
  How to make household cleaners with simple and green recipes; make your own cleaners and save money as well as the environment.
• Water for Melbourne via pipe from Tasmania
  Discussion over why its far better for the environment to pipe water from Tasmania to Melbourne than building the Wonthaggi desalination plant
• Top Ten Going Green Tips & Tricks
  Top ten green tips and tricks you can do to be Green and more Eco friendly in your day to day life.
• The importance of building orientation
  Building orientation to the Sun is important to reduce energy consumption, keeping comfortable and saving money. This article explains how best to get building orientation correct. Through a combination of benefits and opportunities the correct building orientation could save you thousands.
• What is Passive Solar?
  Passive solar building design is explained and how passive solar principals are used to design green homes and buildings, and save you money.
• Green Home Building and Ecology in Australia
  Info and sites that help with building a sustainable and green home in Australia and useful government agencies to be aware of. Also advice on dealing with architects and builders.
• Green Christmas, is it possible?
  Christmas and being green don't often go together, we provide advice on reducing your environmental impact to be more Green for Christmas.
• Efficient Water Usage and Storage
  How to improve your water harvesting and collection with water tanks and how to use the water efficiently and be ecologically sound.
• Keeping your home Cool in Summer or Warm in Winter for free!
  How to keep cool or warm in your home by design, either in Summer or Winter, whilst reducing costs to you and the Earth..

• The Australian Carbon tax is no more
  Yesterday in the Senate the Carbon Tax was removed. This was a great victory for common sense as concerns realistic environmental policy.
• Second hand building materials
  Second hand building materials offer an excellent way to reduce environmental impact, we show you how.
• Fringe Benefits Car tax change bad for the environment
  The changes proposed by Labor to the fringe benefits car tax will be bad for the environment actually.
• Shale Oil in South Australia, problem or opportunity?
  Potentially massive amounts of shale oil exist in South Australia, is this a good thing or a bad thing?
• Updated Green Directory
  Our Green Dictionary App has undergone an upgrade.
• Greenland Ice Sheet Melt
  We look at reports regarding the rate of Greenland ice sheet melt.
• CO2 global levels rising, is this a problem?
  According to recent reports in the media it looks like 2010 is 'expected' to be a record this year. We look into the actual facts and find this is just speculation prior to Cancum.
• Solar Panel Calculator
  Solar Panel Calculator, given the size, power and number of panels works out total power, rated voltage and amps.
• A Rational Discussion of Climate Change: the Science, the Evidence, the Response
  US House of Representatives Science Committee has a meeting today titled 'A Rational Discussion of Climate Change: the Science, the Evidence, the Response' - we give you the details.
• Green Blogging Sites
  if you run a green or eco blog, we would be interested in hearing from you
• Green gardening tips
  Just some simple tips I've found that make it easier to maintain a green garden.
• Plug pulled in French “Super Ministry of Environment”
  Its seems the French have given a big fat 'Nill Points' to the plans to set up a “Super Ministry of Environment” in France.
• ClimateGate Anniversary
  ClimateGate is just about to celebrate being one year old. We look at what has changed over the last year.
• Green Guffs of the week
  Quick summary of some major 'green' snarfs of the week in terms of not really doing the right thing to save the environment.
• Carbon trading is dead
  Carbon trading in the US is dead - the market set up to trade it is about to close down for lack of business.
• Biofuels destroying Rain Forests
  Biofuel producing crops are replacing rain forests, resulting in the silly situation that there is a net increase in carbon.
• Qantas A380 no crash in Singapore
  For those wondering about the Qantas A380 flight from Singapore, it did not crash.
• Climate Fools Meeting in the UK
  The UK just had a meeting at parliament of key climate skeptics and MPs to help educate other MPs and interested people in the real issues.
• Surry Hills Library wins Sustainable Architecture Award
  The Surry Hills Library and Community Centre in Sydney, Australia was recently awarded the 2010 National Award for Sustainable Architecture by the Australian Institute of Architects.
• Ocean acidification $15B NGO cash grab
  The NGO Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans (POGO) is after $15B upfront, then $5B a year to improve our ability to measure ocean acidification on the basis of a 0.1 change in pH from 8.2 to 8.1. This is monumental waste of money and we explain why.
• Solar Panels for your home, with the reduced feed-in tariff, are they a sound investment?
  We take a more detailed look at solar panels and help you work out if investing your money in solar is the right thing to do for you and the environment.
• Feed-in tariff for NSW reduced to 20c/kWh
  New South Wales has reviewed its feed-in tariff and reduced it to 20c/kWh, we look at what this means.
• energy efficient homes and energy saving
  Energy saving is something we all want to achieve at home through better efficiency. We look at the options available to you.
• Compost Toilets or Waste processing system?
  If you happen to live 'off grid' you often have to make the choice over what form of human waste disposal system is best suited. We give you some advice on this smelly issue...
• Hebel Wall Systems, what are they..
  CSR Hebel Wall Systems are a class of wall cladding that has some unique properties that makes them useful in certain building situations.
• climate scientists: no consensus
  A post in "The Australian" indicates that the consensus on climate change among climate scientists is a fiction.
• 10:10 - 10 reasons carbon emissions trading does not work
  Carbon emissions trading does not work, we give you 10 solid reasons why it won't.
• resignation from American Physical Society over global warming scam
  Prof Hal Lewis has just resigned from the American Physical Society after 67 years membership in disgust at the corruption around the 'global warming scam'
• carbon trading does not reduce emissions
  Carbon trading will not do a thing to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment; in fact it could end up doing the exact opposite as businesses use it as a way to create profit.
• 10:10 cut carbon emissions video, the links
  A quick summary posting giving links to the coverage so far online and in the media.
• Landfills May Be Greener Than Recycling, finds study
  Recycling plastic bottles might not always be the most environmentally-friendly option for disposal, according to a study by an independent consultancy based near Zurich, Switzerland.
• 10:10 cut carbon emissions viral video nightmare
  The 10:10 global campaign to cut global carbon emissions has demonstrated in a video they just pulled of their website (but has gone viral, so too late) exactly what they think of those who disagree with them...
• Royal Society acknowledges significant uncertainly in climate predictions
  A recent report from UK Royal Society (layman's guide to the science of climate change) has actually acknowledged that there is significant uncertainly in future climate models and predictions.
• Is Cap and Trade really the way to care for the planet?
  I reckon Cap and Trade is not the way to go..
• Is Climate Change caused by Photoshop?
  We look at the images used in the media to portray climate change and find quite a few have been run through PhotoShop..
• Home Sustainability Assessment - do you really need one?
  Home Sustainability Assessments, are they actually assessing your home or assessing your ability to pay for more green modifications...
• Most convinced global warming not man made
  It appears that down in Australia that there is an outbreak of common sense occurring.
• Hot Water Heat Pumps - are they a rip off
  We have a quick look at the cost benefits behind heating hot water using a heat pump...
• Lets the climate models tell the truth we want to see..
  Climate models are just that, a model, based on assumptions and theories. Their accuracy is limited not only through the complexities of the climatic systems they model but also by the conclusions researchers want to see from them..
• More exact monthly means...
  Following up with more data set pairs showing the difference in accuracy between min/max daily monthly means and taking the mean of all hourly measurements in that month..
• What exactly is a monthly mean?
  A lot of climate analysis is done using the monthly mean temperature. Given that data is quite often available for hourly measurements I thought I'd have a look at whether creating a monthly mean straight off all the hourly measurements would produce a difference; initial findings indicate it does.
• Australia has a growing obesity problem
  Australia has a big problem, obesity is now the #1 preventable cause of death..
• Global Warmings unscientific method
  Peer review seems to be more about peer pressure when trying to publish anything that goes against the Global Warming group think.
• Australian Bureau of Meterology tweaking the climatic data?
  Its seems that the Australian Bureau of Meteorology might have been tweaking the data a bit to show false warming..
• Climategate Parliamentary Inquiry in the UK, the whitewash results are in
  The parliamentary inquiry into ClimateGate has just published its report, we have a look.
• heathrow expansion stopped due to climate change?
  It appears that a UK judge seems to have swallowed hook line and sinker the 'settled science' of climate change and stopped Heathrow from being expanded..
• Green Environment Blog Network - a closed blog ring?
  It appears that the Guardian and sites like realclimate.org have been engaging in closed content sharing ring..
• Earth Hour - the flop?
  Although Earth Hour left people with a nice warm glow, did it actually make a difference...
• Climate Change caused an island, erm sand bar to disappear..
  "Climate change sunk my sandbar..." hmm
• Earth Hour - lights out, minds alight
  On March 27th, 115 countries will put their lights out for one hour. We discuss what this means and what you should do long term to help the environment.
• Missing, one weather station
  It seems Australia is having a bit of a problem with missing weather stations.
• WWF's Amazon carbon trading cash cow
  It appears the World Wildlife Fund could be on its way to securing up to $60 billion in carbon credits from 'saving' the Amazon - more like 'cashing in' on the Amazon if you ask me..
• Costs overruns for school buildings
  It appears that the Australian school building program is having its fair share of 'cost overruns'..
• Climate Rage
  Climate Rage - don't get mad - get even.
• The Green Web Directory is Online
  Our Green Directory is up and running
• Solar Power - hidden costs
  Solar power is all the rage at the moment, we had a look at some quotes and found it is not as good a deal as it looks.
• Climate Change killed my cat..
  It seems that everything from Floods through to Fires through to droughts is being blamed on global warming and climate change. I think this is oversimplifying the story and ignoring local changes we have caused.
• Is keeping data private 'normal practise' in climate research?
  It seems Phil Jones thinks its perfectly normal to do research and publish said research whilst withholding data.
• Yet another Climate Change department?
  Seems the AU government are busy producing yet more Co2 via civil servants for climate change.
• Act on Co2 - the advert..
  Ofcom in the UK is investigating a climate change advert which really takes things too far.
• Met Office proposes to make Data Set Verifiable
  The UK Met Office want to put in place a collation of station data that is publicly accessible.
• Cover-More, you drink and its cover-less..
  If you have Cover-More insurance, don't travel and do any drinking if you want to remain insured - thats the finding of a recent Today Tonight special.
• Is ETS a lame duck?
  The Emissions Trading Scheme looks to be stuck in the Senate. Does this mean it will fail?
• A failure to insulate
  It appears the Rudd governments insulation rebate scheme is beyond repair...
• Climate Change bullies?
  Climate Change Scientists seem to believe they are being bulled...
• Sydney transport - oh what a fine mess!
  Yet more politically motivated tweaking of the Sydney transport system..
• National Climate Change Forum response
  This is in response to the National Climate Change Forum being held in Adelaide.
• What is the fuss with biochar??
  Given the sudden interest in the media on biochar one would think a way of really saving the world has been discovered...
• Bush Fires and being Green, can you do both?
  Given that bush fires cause a lot of destruction and environmental damage, can we manage them and be green at the same time?
• Is the Australian Stimulus package green enough?
  

Related Tags: environment, biosphere

A search for moral values and ethical principles in human relations with the natural world.

• Can Pope Francis halt climate change with new papal document?
  Pope Francis is causing quite a stir with news that he will soon publish a historic document that details the Catholic imperative to curb global warming. While some pundits believe the encyclical, which will be published in early summer, has more power

Where a substance ends up after it is released into the environment. Environmental fate depends on many factors, including transport (e.g., wind, runoff) and transformation processes (e.g., degradation).

Capacity factor is a ratio (usually expressed as a percentage) of power actually generated by an installed wind turbine compared to its theoretical maximum power output.

This is important as the available wind varies considerably by location and you want to pick a location that ensures maximum utilization. Although typically the maximum capacity factor achieved in practice is around 30%. This can be compared to the typical capacity factors of 15% for solar and nuclear which ranges in 60 to 100%. Base load thermal power plants (i.e. fire fired) often achieve 70 to 90%.

When capacity factor is combined with cost of production you get the effective cost of power production for a given energy producing technology; i.e. cost divided by capacity factor. This figure you can use as a basis for a ROI (Return on Investment) comparison.

• Solar Power - the facts about setting up Solar Power
  Solar Power systems installed at the home or office can reduce environmental impact. How solar panel systems work is described and how you and the environment benefit.
• Eco Tourism, how to minimise your effects
  Eco tourism is about enjoying remote places and destinations whilst minimising your environmental or cultural impact. This article goes into some detail on this subject.
• Carbon Offsets, what they are and how they help
  Carbon offsets can help with reducing overall carbon emissions by possibly balancing out the carbon impact on the environment. This article goes into more detail on the subject.
• Ecologically Sustainable Development, what it is and how you can do it
  Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) is defined and explained in detail in this article; and how it helps you to be more green and eco friendly.
• Is using a wood fire to heat being Green?
  We look at whether using a wood fire to heat your home is being really green or not.
• Being Green in your Bathroom
  How to be more green in your bathroom from saving water to bathroom cleaning.
• Water for Melbourne via pipe from Tasmania
  Discussion over why its far better for the environment to pipe water from Tasmania to Melbourne than building the Wonthaggi desalination plant
• Top Ten Going Green Tips & Tricks
  Top ten green tips and tricks you can do to be Green and more Eco friendly in your day to day life.
• Green Home Building and Ecology in Australia
  Info and sites that help with building a sustainable and green home in Australia and useful government agencies to be aware of. Also advice on dealing with architects and builders.
• Keeping your home Cool in Summer or Warm in Winter for free!
  How to keep cool or warm in your home by design, either in Summer or Winter, whilst reducing costs to you and the Earth..

• Second hand building materials
  Second hand building materials offer an excellent way to reduce environmental impact, we show you how.
• Kids test with added global warming propoganda
  The recent NAPLAN test in Australia has caused an outrage due to it containing an inaccurate article that pits roo meat against beef & the coal industry in terms of environmental impact.

• A mega energy project would bring 8,000 workers to the outback. What are the odds of it going ahead?
  Plans lodged with WA's Environmental Protection Authority this month will bring wild transformation to an ancient desert landscape. Experts, who note the proposed scale is "incredible", say the idea has a lot going for it.
• Thousands of hectares of koala habitat are cleared every year, including for renewable energy projects
  We examined approved and proposed projects under federal environment legislation to look at how much koala habitat is being slated for destruction across several industries.
• Climate Change Weekly #514: 🦇 Evidence Mounts that Green Tech Is Wiping Out Species 🐦
  I and other Heartland Institute scholars have written before about the bird, bat, and marine mammals that industrial wind is killing around the world. The Heartland Institute has also written concerning industrial solar’s threat to desert species,...
• How do you cool a reactor and does Australia have enough water for nuclear power?
  Nuclear power relies on millions of litres of cooling water. The federal opposition's plan to build reactors on seven sites raises questions about water use and the effect on the environment.
• Nuclear plants are thirsty. Can the driest inhabited continent on Earth support them?
  Nuclear power relies on millions of litres of cooling water. The federal opposition's plan to build reactors on seven sites raises questions about water use and the effect on the environment.  
• Massive SunCable solar project spanning more than 12,000 hectares gets environmental tick in NT
  A project to develop "the world's largest renewable energy precinct" in a remote stretch of the territory receives crucial environmental approvals, but a final investment decision for the $30 billion-plus project is not expected until 2027.
• Rural residents told to 'get over' look of powerlines as Victoria's renewable targets face barriers
  Andrew Balfour has seven transmission towers on his farm. He doesn't recommend it to others — but sites for new power infrastructure will be needed across the state as renewable energy projects take off.
• University clears hundreds of trees to build solar farm
  La Trobe University's plan to clear trees for a solar farm in Melbourne's north has raised questions about renewables coming at the cost of native habitat.
• Is it worth investing in a battery for your rooftop solar? Here's what you need to know before you buy
  In some cases, adding a battery to your rooftop solar system will pay off. But to be sure, households need information about many factors — and there's no single reliable place to find it, write Asma Aziz and Daryoush Habibi.
• Going from gas to all-electric is cheaper and greener. Here's how governments can help more of us make the switch
  Switching from gas to all-electric has significant financial and environmental benefits, but many households face hurdles that make it hard or impossible to do...

A environmental management system (EMS) is a standard system of business operation that considers all aspects of sustainable business in the day to day running of a business, such as ISO 14001.

Related Tags: green business, business

A major environmental category that surrounds or contacts humans, animals, plants, and other organisms (e.g. surface water, ground water, soil or air) and through which chemicals or pollutants move.

Environmental Pollution refers to the presence or introduction of known pollutants into an environment that result in a degrading of the environmental biosphere in terms of size, variety and longevity/sustainability.

• Climategate, what is going on?
  Global warming, climate change, greenhouse effect and climategate; how 'valid' is the climate science?
• Carbon Offsets, what they are and how they help
  Carbon offsets can help with reducing overall carbon emissions by possibly balancing out the carbon impact on the environment. This article goes into more detail on the subject.

• CO2 global levels rising, is this a problem?
  According to recent reports in the media it looks like 2010 is 'expected' to be a record this year. We look into the actual facts and find this is just speculation prior to Cancum.
• Solar Panel Calculator
  Solar Panel Calculator, given the size, power and number of panels works out total power, rated voltage and amps.
• A Rational Discussion of Climate Change: the Science, the Evidence, the Response
  US House of Representatives Science Committee has a meeting today titled 'A Rational Discussion of Climate Change: the Science, the Evidence, the Response' - we give you the details.
• Green Blogging Sites
  if you run a green or eco blog, we would be interested in hearing from you
• Green gardening tips
  Just some simple tips I've found that make it easier to maintain a green garden.
• Plug pulled in French “Super Ministry of Environment”
  Its seems the French have given a big fat 'Nill Points' to the plans to set up a “Super Ministry of Environment” in France.
• ClimateGate Anniversary
  ClimateGate is just about to celebrate being one year old. We look at what has changed over the last year.
• Green Guffs of the week
  Quick summary of some major 'green' snarfs of the week in terms of not really doing the right thing to save the environment.
• Carbon trading is dead
  Carbon trading in the US is dead - the market set up to trade it is about to close down for lack of business.
• Biofuels destroying Rain Forests
  Biofuel producing crops are replacing rain forests, resulting in the silly situation that there is a net increase in carbon.
• Qantas A380 no crash in Singapore
  For those wondering about the Qantas A380 flight from Singapore, it did not crash.
• Climate Fools Meeting in the UK
  The UK just had a meeting at parliament of key climate skeptics and MPs to help educate other MPs and interested people in the real issues.
• Surry Hills Library wins Sustainable Architecture Award
  The Surry Hills Library and Community Centre in Sydney, Australia was recently awarded the 2010 National Award for Sustainable Architecture by the Australian Institute of Architects.
• Ocean acidification $15B NGO cash grab
  The NGO Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans (POGO) is after $15B upfront, then $5B a year to improve our ability to measure ocean acidification on the basis of a 0.1 change in pH from 8.2 to 8.1. This is monumental waste of money and we explain why.
• Solar Panels for your home, with the reduced feed-in tariff, are they a sound investment?
  We take a more detailed look at solar panels and help you work out if investing your money in solar is the right thing to do for you and the environment.
• Feed-in tariff for NSW reduced to 20c/kWh
  New South Wales has reviewed its feed-in tariff and reduced it to 20c/kWh, we look at what this means.
• energy efficient homes and energy saving
  Energy saving is something we all want to achieve at home through better efficiency. We look at the options available to you.
• Compost Toilets or Waste processing system?
  If you happen to live 'off grid' you often have to make the choice over what form of human waste disposal system is best suited. We give you some advice on this smelly issue...
• Hebel Wall Systems, what are they..
  CSR Hebel Wall Systems are a class of wall cladding that has some unique properties that makes them useful in certain building situations.
• climate scientists: no consensus
  A post in "The Australian" indicates that the consensus on climate change among climate scientists is a fiction.
• 10:10 - 10 reasons carbon emissions trading does not work
  Carbon emissions trading does not work, we give you 10 solid reasons why it won't.
• resignation from American Physical Society over global warming scam
  Prof Hal Lewis has just resigned from the American Physical Society after 67 years membership in disgust at the corruption around the 'global warming scam'
• carbon trading does not reduce emissions
  Carbon trading will not do a thing to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment; in fact it could end up doing the exact opposite as businesses use it as a way to create profit.
• 10:10 cut carbon emissions video, the links
  A quick summary posting giving links to the coverage so far online and in the media.
• Landfills May Be Greener Than Recycling, finds study
  Recycling plastic bottles might not always be the most environmentally-friendly option for disposal, according to a study by an independent consultancy based near Zurich, Switzerland.
• 10:10 cut carbon emissions viral video nightmare
  The 10:10 global campaign to cut global carbon emissions has demonstrated in a video they just pulled of their website (but has gone viral, so too late) exactly what they think of those who disagree with them...

• Forever chemicals PFAS won't be in office supplies from 3M
  So-called "forever chemicals" are hazardous chemicals that don't break down over time and can accumulate in the bodies of humans and animals, causing brain damage and diseases such as cancer...
• Technology uses banana leaves as a biodegradable alternative to single-use plastic
  Plastic pollution negatively impacts the health of our planet. Waste management has led to an irreversible environmental crisis that is felt by wildlife, especially in the oceans. One organization, called Banana Leaf Technology, is helping to address...
• The devastating reason Mumbai dogs are turning blue
  Lately, blue stray dogs have been spotted running around Navi Mumbai, India, and it's no laughing matter. Inadequate waste treatment at a local river has allowed dye to leach into the water, turning dogs who wade in a bright blue color. To add to the...
• Damage report reveals LA methane leak is one of the worst disasters in US history
  A week after the ruptured natural gas well in Aliso Canyon was finally declared sealed, we have a full account of the environmental damage -- and it doesn't look good...
• Researchers Take an Up-Close and Personal Look at What Pollution Does to the Body
  Air pollution is one of those things that we know is awful for our bodies, but it can be hard to see the actual impact. So even though about 3.7 million people died prematurely from air pollution in 2012 alone, it’s easy to forget day-to-day just how...

Related Tags: environment, pollution

Racial discrimination takes many insidious forms. This term refers to a situation in which industrial operations, environmental policymaking, and the enforcement (or lack of enforcement) of environmental laws unfairly impact a particular race of people, either intentionally or unintentionally. Examples include the locating of hazardous waste landfills in minority communities, and the exclusion of minorities in environmental policy-making leadership.

• Comedian John Oliver addresses environmental racism
  TV personality and comedian John Oliver shared opinions on the emotive issue of environmental racism in the US. While delivering his weekly show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, the host took a dive into the history of America and how environmental...
• How will Los Angeles' 2028 Olympics impact the environment?
  Hosting the Olympics is a huge honor for cities. At the same time, it's an expensive burden. As Los Angeles plans for its summer 2028 games, many people say the event will be neither as sustainable or equitable as city leaders have promised.[...]
• New environmental racism scorecard calls out ExxonMobil
  The grading period has ended, and it’s time to find out who got the high scores and who’s failing the class. According to a new environmental racism scorecard released by shareholder advocacy group As You Sow, ExxonMobil came in...
• New study reveals tree disparities across the US
  As anybody who has ever sat under a tree has noticed, these tall, leafy plants provide shade. But what about people who live in neighborhoods without a heat-blocking tree canopy? They're going to be a lot hotter and could possibly face worse health outcomes....
• Texas lawsuit fights environmental racism in highway expansion project
  Starting in the years after World War II, Black neighborhoods around the U.S. were destroyed and replaced with highways in the name of urban renewal. But people in Harris County, Texas have had enough. The county is suing the state to stop an I-45 expansion...
• Could a private car ban make NYC more livable?
  When COVID-19 brought New York City’s traffic to a shadow of itself, Vishaan Chakrabarti, former New York City urban-planning official and founder of Manhattan-based design firm Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU), drafted an ambitious plan...

Products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on the environment.