In The News

China Tightens Grip on Rare Minerals

Keith Bradsher September 2, 2009
While one might not have heard of dysprosium and terbium – these elements are rare – they are critical ingredients in green technology and military hardware, and China, the country with some of the largest deposits, wants to limit their export. Though not as precious as gold or platinum, rare earth elements can fetch hefty prices. Some of their primary uses include components for the electric...

China’s Incinerators Loom as a Global Hazard

Keith Bradsher August 13, 2009
China’s garbage-burning incinerators have become a contentious issue not just for local residents in an uproar over the smoke, but also for communities and lakes halfway across the world. China’s gigantic economic growth has spawned a monumental garbage problem. And with China’s landfills nearing capacity, the alternative has been to employ incinerators. But the incinerators across China and even...

Driving Out of Germany, to Pollute Another Day

Carter Dougherty August 12, 2009
Old polluting German cars meant to be destroyed are being smuggled into the developing world, particularly Eastern Europe. Started in January 2009, Germany’s “cash for clunkers” program pays people up to $3,500 to give up an old car for a more environmentally-friendly one. Unlike the US program, which stipulates that engines be destroyed, the German program only requires clunkers to be left at...

Developing Responsibility

Nayan Chanda August 7, 2009
The two-pronged solution to climate change proposed by the G-8 at the summit in L’Aquila has left much to be desired. First, it calls for an 80 percent reduction in emissions by 2050. While the proposed reduction seems encouraging at first glance, the reality is that it lacks a concrete plan to get to the target. Second, the G-8 agrees on a two-degree warming target for the planet. Yet, if...

The Last Straw

July 17, 2009
Pakistan’s biggest problem may not be poverty or insurgency, but potential conflict due to climate change. Current estimates suggest that in as little as 25 years, climate change could wreak havoc on the rivers in Kashmir, the source of 90 percent of Pakistan’s supply of irrigated water, creating significant food security hurdles. Pakistan’s options to address the possible crisis are to let its...

Iraq Suffers As The Euphrates River Dwindles

Campbell Robertson July 15, 2009
Iraq currently faces one of the worst droughts in years, as the Euphrates River, one of the country’s main sources of fresh water, is in danger of drying up. Below average rainfall combined with poor water management policies both in Iraq and throughout the region have led to the present conditions. In many areas, there is not enough water to grow crops, leaving Iraq dependent upon grain imports...

Arctic Meltdown Could Hurt Singapore

Joshua Ho July 7, 2009
Although climate change affects the entire world, one region in particular is feeling the heat: the Arctic. Rising temperatures have caused significant melting of the Arctic’s ice during the summer months, leading to a nearly navigable Northern Sea Route during this season. Such a phenomenon is welcome news to many shipping companies, as using the Northern Sea Route could cut as many as 5,000...