Environmental News Roundup: BEAT’s Media Survey

Some of the more interesting environmental stories from the nation and the world.  For news with a more local focus, visit our BEAT News page, or subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter, the BEAT News.  Links open in a new window so that you can easily return to this page.

Puffin populations in danger as climate change disrupts their food source. Also see here.(9/22)

California wildfire becomes the most expensive in history. (9/22)

United Nations special envoy for the rights of indigenous people calls on US to halt Dakota pipeline. (9/22)

Insects develop resistance to one of the most-used, insect-resistant GMOs. (9/22)

Liberated goldfish are causing problems in natural waterways. (9/22)

China’s entire annual increase in energy demand has been fulfilled by wind turbines, but their coal-fired power stations are given priority access to the grid. (9/20)

Northeast still in drought, but the rain helps. Also, here. Before the rain, western Massachusetts was in moderate to severe drought. Eastern part of state was in extreme drought. (9/20)

The secret and controversial Trade in Services Agreement (Tisa) aims to liberalise trade between the EU and 22 countries across the global services sector, which employs tens of millions in Europe alone. It could also make it harder for countries to favor renewable energy sources over fossil fuels. (9/20)

Nearly 500 horseshoe crabs have washed up dead on Japan’s southern beaches near Kitakyushu, mystifying experts. (9/15)

A study by Environmental Working Group says that the drinking water of more than two-thirds of Americans contains hexavalent chromium (remember Erin Brockavich?) at levels above the California state standards. (9/20)

The world’s biggest polluters have released their fossil fuel subsidy peer reviews. The obstacles to elimination of US subsidies are Congress and a lack of public pressure from citizens. (9/20)

Preliminary numbers say that Arctic ice cover in 2016 reached the second lowest minimum on record, tied with 2007. Record low was reached in 2012. (9/15)

Increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria hinders treatment of kidney infections. Another sign of the growing problem related to the increase in illnesses and deaths linked to medication-resistant bacteria.  (9/16)

President Obama creates Atlantic Ocean’s First Marine Monument off the coast of Cape Cod.. (9/15)

Scientists find evidence that the ozone hole is healing, though the October 2015 hole was the largest on record. (6/30)

In an effort to fight air pollution, Paris has banned cars built before 1997 from driving in the city. Tighter controls to follow soon.  (7/2)

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is working to wring commitments out of 55 nations to ratify the Paris Climate Change treaty.  (9/18)

EPA Weighs In On Glyphosate (aka Roundup), Says It Doesn’t Cause Cancer (9/17)

PFCs In Drinking Water Prompt Inspections Of U.S. Military Bases. (9/15)

A U.S. federal appeals court ordered a portion of the Dakota Access Pipeline to halt construction on Friday, while the court considers an emergency request from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe arguing that the pipeline’s construction would damage sacred lands. (9/17)