Well-being is not just a luxury for good economic times, writes Christine Berry. Reducing poverty and promoting equality are more important economic goals than the pursuit of endless growth.
Well-being, not growth, must be our economic purpose Christine Berry | 30th April 2014 Comment Economics Society Green Economy Consumerism fluffy-kittens-cut.jpg Well-being is not just a luxury for …
Long-disused oil and gas wells in the US have been found to be a 'significant' source of the super greenhouse gas methane, writes Richard Heasman. The climate impact of oil and gas is underestimated, as this long term impact is not included in existing calculations.
Disused oil and gas wells wells a major source of methane Richard Heasman Oliver Tickell | 28th December 2014 News Oil Gas Fracking Climate Change USA UK drake-oil-well-pa-cut.jpg Long-disused oil …
A new report about to be released shows methane leaks from active and abandoned wells in British Columbia are more than twice as high as government estimates making them more polluting than commercial transportation, writes ANDREW NIKIFORUK
One-Third of British Columbia's Oil and Gas Wells Are Leaking Significant Levels of Methane Andrew Nikiforuk | 26th July 2017 News Fossil Fuels Gas Oil Methane Leaks Climate Pollution leaks 1.jpg A …
A new study in the US's 'fracking capital' Pennsylvania has found that pregnant women who live near gas fracking wells are far more likely to give birth prematurely or develop problems during their pregnancies.
Premature birth and problem pregnancies near fracking wells The Ecologist | 9th October 2015 News Health Fracking Energy Science USA pa-gas-well-cut.jpg A new study in the US's 'fracking capital' …
Across the Marcellus Shale, most abandoned oil and gas wells are supposedly harmless. But some are leaking - polluting land, water and air - and now there are concerns about other risks, reports Dimiter Kenarov
Hunting for Pennsylvania’s abandoned gas wells Dimiter Kenarov | 28th February 2013 News Energy Fracking News.politics And Economics gas1.jpg Across the Marcellus Shale, most abandoned oil and gas …
A health study in Pennsylvania, USA, shows that people living near fracking and other natural gas wells are more likely to suffer from skin conditions and upper respiratory symptoms. It calls for further study of the associations, including the role of specific air and water exposures.
Skin, respiratory symptoms increase near gas wells The Ecologist | 25th September 2014 News Gas Fossil Fuels Science Fracking USA Health pa-gas-well-cut.jpg A health study in Pennsylvania, USA, shows …
Sixty-four environmental and community groups have filed a petition to the EPA demanding federal limits on toxic air pollution from oil and gas wells which threaten the health of 150 million Americans.
EPA - we demand oil and gas well pollution limits! The Ecologist | 16th May 2014 News USA Law Fossil Fuels Fracking Energy Pollution nodding-donkey-cut.jpg Sixty-four environmental and community …
Orthodox economic measures like Gross Domestic product fail to measure the things that matter most, write Judith Schleicher & Bhaskar Vira: like human wellbeing and ecological health. This creates a systematic bias in 'development' policies that must urgently be addressed if we are to build an inclusive, equitable and sustainable society
Measures of poverty and well-being still ignore the environment - this must change Judith Schleicher Bhaskar Vira University of Cambridge | 15th March 2017 Comment Economics Green Economy Natural …
The financial cost of the diseases of modern civilization is almost double the budget of the National Health Service, writes Jules Pretty, while the economy has grown past the point of greatest satisfaction. Our over-riding priority should be to move to greener, healthier, more sustainable and satisfying ways of life.
Boost health, well-being and prosperity - not economic growth! Jules Pretty | 21st February 2015 Comment Green Economy Health Society family-cycling-cut.jpg The financial cost of the diseases of …
Water is life, writes Javan Briggs. And it belongs to all of us. California's water shortage is caused, not by 'drought', but by massive long term over-pumping. And as the crisis worsens, the response under the 'water as property' model is just to pump all the harder. We must manage water as a commons - to sustain us all, not to profit the few.
The water is ours! Javan Briggs | 7th October 2015 Comment Water USA Farming Commons Regulation water-tank-california-cut.jpg Water is life, writes Javan Briggs. And it belongs to all of us. …
Gas flaring of natural at shale oil wells is carried out on such a scale in North Dakota and Texas that 'phantom cities' show up at night in satellite photos, writes Sharon Kelly. Billions of dollars worth of gas are going up in smoke, adding to CO2 emissions - but far worse for the climate is when the gas is 'vented'. Regulators are doing too little, too late.
US shale oil drillers flaring and venting billions of dollars in natural gas Sharon Kelly DesmogBlog | 20th September 2014 News USA Oil Fracking Gas Regulation Fossil Fuels gas-flaring-nd.jpg Gas …
Natural gas provides an ideal complement to renewable energy sources - not a replacement, argues Mónica V. Cristina of Shale Gas Europe
Shale gas: the facts beyond the myths Mónica V. Cristina | 28th February 2013 News Fracking Energy Comment Politics And Economics andrew image 3.jpg Natural gas provides an ideal complement to …
Economic growth is destroying more than it is creating, argues the French president as he calls for a new measure of national wealth
GDP should be scrapped, says Sarkozy The Ecologist | 15th September 2009 News GDP Economic Growth Sustainability Happy Planet Index Economics And Politics Society old people.jpg A measurement of …
The US's 'dash to frack' for oil or gas, which has transformed the country's energy market, is seriously depleting and contaminating aquifers and surface water supplies, writes Valerie Brown. The choice facing America is plain - energy, or water?
Fracking boom depletes, pollutes US water supplies Valerie Brown | 20th June 2013 News Water USA Fracking Pollution Waste fracking_site_in_warren_center_pa-cut.jpg The US's 'dash to frack' for oil or …
A new study in Pennsylvania, USA shows that fracking is strongly related to increased mortality in young babies. The effect is most pronounced in counties with many drinking water wells indicating that contamination by 'produced water' from fracking is a likely cause. Radioactive pollution with uranium, thorium and radium is a 'plausible explanation' for the excess deaths.
Fracking kills newborn babies - polluted water likely cause Oliver Tickell | 25th April 2017 News Fracking Health Water Pollution USA Science judys-water-cut.jpg A new study in Pennsylvania, USA …
The massive methane leak at Aliso Canyon in California tell sus everything that's wrong with fossil fuels, writes Pete Dronkers: toxic, under-regulated, unsafe, and climate destroying. But the catastrophe also brings us a timely message: this is the time for the California, the US, and the world, to begin a rapid transition away from fossil fuels and into our clean, green, renewable future.
Aliso Canyon methane catastrophe is telling us: go renewable, now! Pete Dronkers | 14th January 2016 Comment Fossil Fuels Gas Climate Change USA Renewables Pollution Health aliso-canyon-cut.jpg The …
The dash for unconventional gas may have brought financial benefits to some, but for struggling dairy farmers in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, the arrival of drilling wells could be the final nail in the coffin. Dimiter Kenarov reports
Dairy farms suffer in US shale gas fracking boom Dimiter Kenarov | 28th January 2013 News Fracking Gas Dairy Food And Farming Politics And Economics gas1.jpg The dash for unconventional gas may have …
Turkey's shooting down of a Russian jet near its border with Syria has just revealed the real nature of the war, writes Oliver Tickell, and sharply illustrates the dangers of getting involved in a conflict that is driven more by a battle of two gas pipelines than a clash of ideologies. The message for the UK - keep well out! Or if we are serious about crushing IS, best join in with Assad and Putin.
Russia's shot down jet is sending us a powerful message: keep well out of Syria! Oliver Tickell | 24th November 2015 News War Energy Oil Gas Politics Syria Turkey Russia US UK France su24-cut.jpg …
The way food is produced has a profound impact on its nutritional profile, according to research published in the British Journal of Nutrition. Not only is organic farming better for animal welfare, the environment and wildlife, writes Peter Melchett, but organic meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables all have tangible health benefits for the people who eat them.
Organic food is well worth paying for - for your health as well as nature Peter Melchett Soil Association | 4th March 2016 News Food Farming Regulation Organic UK Health organic-boxes-cut.jpg The way …
From weeding, to digging and composting, watering and mulching, get to know the good earth better
Looking after your soil: Clarissa Dixon-Wright's top tips Clarissa Dixon-Wright | 10th September 2009 Ethical Living Green Living Gardening Soil Clarissa Dixon-Wright cdwsoil.jpg A Greener Life by …
As fracking hits the headlines UK protests against the practice of blasting natural gas from shale rock are on the increase. Jan Goodey reports on the latest flashpoint in the urgent - and escalating - anti fracking battle
The UK's anti fracking movement is growing Jan Goodey | 1st August 2013 News Climate Change Energy Society protest.jpg As fracking hits the headlines UK protests against the practice of blasting …
As well as local outrage over 'fracking' drilling there is new evidence its greenhouse gas footprint may be higher than that of coal. Tom Levitt reports from the centre of this potential gas boom near Blackpool
UK gas fracking boom 'may be dirtier than coal' Tom Levitt | 13th April 2011 News Shale Gas Fracturing Energy Coal Methane Greenhouse Gas Emissions Investigations fracturing.jpg Methane emissions …