The Earth’s environment is the source of economic, social, cultural activities, with nature shaping human life over the centuries. The rapid growth in the world population, from 1 billion in 1830 to 7 billion today, add pressures for air quality, oceans, land use and resources as basic as water. Awareness is building about over-reliance on fossil fuels, how carbon and other emissions contribute to global warming and volatile weather. Every industry requires energy, and cross-border industrialization, transportation and other economic activities contribute to environmental degradation. Yet globalization also spurs awareness and activism over the need for global cooperation and standards to promote sustainability and environmental protection.

Southeast Asia Could Have Power to Spare

Bureaucracy and fears hamper development of geothermal energy sources
March 16, 2007

Wal-Mart Unveils Plans to Score Electronics on Environmental Sustainability

Major retailer tests the notion of how much a buyer can influence a seller’s product
March 16, 2007

Rice Industry Troubled by Genetic Contamination

The US biotech industry fails in promises to segregate experimental pollen from neighboring crops
Rick Weiss
March 16, 2007

Debating the Price of Global Warming

Public policies must rely on the soundest of scientific research and economic analysis
Ernesto Zedillo
March 19, 2007

Poor Nations to Bear Brunt as World Warms

Wealthy nations’ plans to adapt may protect only a generation or two from climate change
Andrew C. Revkin
April 2, 2007