All Environment
Can UN climate summit make real impact on rising temperatures?More than 120 world leaders will attend this week's UN climate summit in New York City, but viewed as a political event, the summit is unlikely to affect real change.
Why estimate for world population in 2100 is now 11 billionThat's an updated estimate according to United Nations data. The new number comes days before the UN Climate Summit, which will take up a range of issues influenced by world population.
Why one senator wants to halt US coal leasesThe federal government is getting ripped off when it comes to leasing coal tracts on federal lands in the western US, one prominent US senator says.
Ukraine crisis: How the US can helpThe war between Ukraine and Russia may appear to be waning, but Ukraine's energy dependence on Russia remains its greatest weakness, Holland writes. As winter heating season quickly approaches, the United States and Europe must build a strategy now for buttressing Ukraine with energy support.
Oil prices at two-year low. Why OPEC might change that.Oil prices have been declining for several months on an abundance of supply and weak demand. Now, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) says the group may cut its production target in an effort to slow the slide in oil prices.
Scottish independence vote: How much North Sea oil is left?The Scottish independence vote is underway, and voters will have to take into account just how much oil is left under the North Sea – and how much revenue it might generate. On Wednesday, a Scotland-based consultancy released a skeptical report ahead of the Scottish independence vote.
BP lawyers scolded for using ‘college term paper’ line spacing tricksA federal judge scolded BP lawyers Monday for tinkering with their line spacing to make a legal brief meet a strict page limit. 'Counsel's tactic would not be appropriate for a college term paper,' the judge told BP lawyers in a ruling.
Why coal is here to stayCoal may be terrible for the environment, but its abundance and low cost make it a tremendously useful fuel around the globe. That means coal isn't going to disappear overnight, which is bad news for the fight against climate change.
Combating global warming: good for economic growth, after all?New study concludes that much of the investment needed to reduce global emissions makes good economic sense irrespective of climate benefits.
Bobby Jindal says Obama denies science of US energy boom. Is he right?Oil and natural gas are booming in the US, and stakeholders across the board are trying to harness the boom to for their own benefit – from lawmakers like Bobby Jindal hoping to push back against gas-rich Russia, to oil companies pushing to export crude and maximize profit.
New Zealand colossal squid: Rare, close-up lookNew Zealand colossal squid sometimes inhabit the world of fiction and imagination, but have rarely been seen in daylight. That changed Tuesday when scientists in New Zealand got a long-anticipated chance to thaw out a colossal squid and inspect it.
Islamic State: Can US cut off its oil sales?The Islamic State is believed to be producing between 25,000 and 40,000 barrels of oil per day, smuggling and selling it on the black market. In its effort to degrade the Islamic State (also known as ISIS or ISIL), the US will aim to cut off the group's oil sales.
Progress WatchClean energy: How the world is cleaning up its actLast year, new global capacity of hydroelectricity, wind, solar, and other renewable power grew more than in any previous year. Clean energy faces daunting obstacles, but the progress on energy and climate to date is notable and likely to continue.
US takes aim at ISIS oil, New sanctions on Russian energy, CO2 levels at new highThe US will aim to cut off Islamic State (also known as ISIS or ISIL) oil sales as part of its broader effort to 'degrade and destroy the Islamic State'; New Western sanctions on Russia energy aim to 'shut down' its most prized oil and gas projects; Record high carbon dioxide levels will add urgency to upcoming global climate talks. Read the latest on energy around the globe with the Monitor's Recharge.
New US sanctions on Russia target heart of Putin's energy empireNew US sanctions on Russia are the strongest yet against Russia. The point of new Russia sanctions on five major energy firms is to 'shut down' Russia's deepwater, shale, and Arctic exploration, according to one senior US official.
Ukraine crisis: Why has Russian gas through Ukraine dropped 20 percent?Russian gas to Poland through Ukraine has dropped by at least 20 percent, but it's unclear who's at fault. Russia's state-owned gas giant Gazprom says that gas flows through Ukraine hasn't changed, and if there's a reduction, it's Poland's fault.
Scotland independence? Why Big Oil votes 'no.'Oil supermajors BP and Shell are closely watching next week's Scotland independence referendum, hoping voters will choose to remain part of the United Kingdom. The reason? Companies like certainty, and a newly independent Scotland could change how the energy firms have long done business in the region.
Ohio Senator: GOP majority would get Obama ‘to the table’ on Keystone XLNo major energy legislation has passed the Senate since 2007, but that could change if Republicans take control in November's midterm elections. Sen. Rob Portman (R) of Ohio told reporters at a Monitor-hosted breakfast Thursday that a majority GOP Senate would 'get the president to the table' on Keystone XL and other key energy issues.
Driverless cars: Good for the planet?Driverless cars are almost certainly a part of our transportation future as companies like Google experiment with autonomous driving. Depending on how you look at it, impact of driverless cars on our energy use could either be incredibly good or incredibly bad, or somewhere in between.
Biofuels: Why this plant could be a game-changer for renewable fuelA new biofuel factory in Iowa uses farm waste to produce renewable fuel on a large, commercial scale. Unlike corn-based ethanol, this so-called cellulosic ethanol doesn't push up food prices or use farm space.
