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.

World Agriculture Suffers From Loss of Wild Bees

Wild bees are better at pollination than managed bees
March 18, 2013

UK Seabed Resources Joins Deep-Ocean Mineral-Mining Rush

Assessing environmental impacts may take a century
David Shukman
March 15, 2013

As Sea Ice Melts, Storm Surges Batter Arctic Coasts

Climate change melts away buffer against ocean storm surges
Becky Oskin
March 7, 2013

The Coal Monster: Pollution Forces Chinese Leaders to Act

Smog delivers new transparency, underscores the costs of growth
Bernhard Zand
March 7, 2013

Wildlife at the Mercy of International Trade Politics

China-US propose trade ban on rare turtles; Russia-US act on polar bears
March 5, 2013