Nature News

Environmental Health News
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	Description	Links to articles in today's press about environmental health. Many more links available today at www.EnvironmentalHealthNews.org
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Carbon trade or carbon con?
Description:	In the carbon market, a good deal for the environment needs to also be a good deal for the bottom line. Vouching for environmental credibility isn't easy: Who verifies the verifiers?
Mining the truth on coal supplies.
Description:	A new study seeks to shake up the assumption that use of coal, the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel, is bound to continue its inexorable rise. In fact, the authors predict that world coal production may reach its peak as early as next year, and then begin a permanent decline.
Global mining companies are forceful about exporting coal through Northwest ports to China.
Description:	While Oregon works to shut its only coal-fired electricity plant and reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions, global mining companies are increasingly bullish about exporting that very same coal through Northwest ports to China.
China takes lead in clean energy, with aggressive state aid.
Description:	Until very recently, Hunan Province was known mainly for lip-searing spicy food, smoggy cities and destitute pig farmers. Now, Changsha and two adjacent cities are emerging as a center of clean energy manufacturing.
Canada helps create an oil sands world.
Description:	Huge unconventional fuel reserves, like oil sands and oil shale, lie untapped worldwide. These emit much more carbon than regular oil, causing green groups to call them climate killers. Most countries lack the necessary capital, technology and expertise to tap them. But Canada is helping to change that.
Shun oilsands, save 'billions': Greenpeace.
Description:	Canadians could save billions of dollars while reducing greenhousegas emissions and creating thousands of jobs if the country plots a new energy strategy that turns away from the oilsands industry, says a new report to be released today.
Offshore drilling agency overwhelmed, says report.
Description:	The federal agency that regulates offshore drilling rarely conducted unannounced inspections, allowed oil-rig operators to shop around for favorable decisions and gave its inspectors financial incentives for speeding up application approvals, according to an Interior Department report.
Fires flare up as Russia pledges better forest protection.
Description:	Fresh fires destroyed more than 400 houses in the Siberian region of Altai, officials said, as flames spread across the region's border with the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan.
Fighting dirty water is world's new ecological battle.
Description:	A primary topic of discussion at a weeklong international water conference here can best be summed up in two words: "dirty water".
Arctic melt extreme in 2010, again.
Description:	The extent of Arctic sea ice is reaching the third-lowest point ever recorded, as the annual summer melt slows. Both the Northwest Passage and the Northern Sea Route are open, and ships are navigating the once ice-locked channels.
Obama's climate image blurs as he nears last half of term.
Description:	Nearly two years into Barack Obama's term, the president's climate image has changed. He is no longer a champion to some, and others are astonished at his administration's unenthusiastic support of a climate bill in the Senate this year. It failed without a vote.
Chevron sits out Big Oil's Prop. 23 fight.
Description:	In California, big business groups - and even bigger oil companies - are keeping their distance from the Yes on 23 Campaign. For an oil company like Chevron, Prop. 23 might just be bad for the company's image.
Calgary scientist develops controversial tools aimed at reducing climate change.
Description:	A Calgary researcher has developed two new approaches to the controversial science of geoengineering – a tool its proponents say could one day prevent global warming, but which some environmental groups dismiss as a coverup of political inaction.
Kyoto Protocol to continue past 2012: UN climate chief.
Description:	As hopes for any deal on global warming dim at the Cancun meet later this year, UN climate chief Christiana Figueres today made it clear that the Kyoto Protocol will continue post 2012 as a second protocol since it does not have a "sunset" clause.
Analyst says carbon market would work here.
Description:	The cap-and-trade system of reining in greenhouse gas emissions is working in Europe and would work in Canada as well, says a London-based carbon trading research analyst.