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.

China's timber use ravages forests

Many Chinese products using imported stolen lumber from endangered forests are ending up on US shelves
Tim Johnson
March 7, 2005

Kyoto Protocol Misplaced Priorities

We can make global change our first priority, or we can choose to do a lot more good first, writes Bjorn Lomborg
Bjorn Lomborg
February 15, 2005

Tsunami's Legacy Includes Airborne Toxins

Stirred-up hazardous waste now threatens coastlines, from Indonesia to Somalia
Ochieng' Ogodo
March 3, 2005

G8 "Must Lead Climate Control"

Tony Blair will go over President Bush's head tomorrow to appeal directly to US business leaders
Matthew Tempest
January 25, 2005

Local Tricks to Tackle Climate Shifts

When dealing with the changing environment, developing countries can learn best from each other
Mustak Hossain
February 4, 2005