April

High and Dry on the Great Lakes: "The fastest decline in water levels in the Great Lakes in nearly a century and a half is creating havoc… [T]he middle Great Lakes-Michigan, Huron and Erie-and Lake St. Clair… have each fallen 3 ½ feet… and could soon hit all-time low water levels, scientists predict." William Claiborne, Washington Post, 4/3/00

Cyclone Flattens Madagasgar: "Cyclone Hudah leveled almost all buildings in the northeastern city of Antalaha before leaving Madagascar… on a course for flood-wear Mozambique." AP, 4/3/00

Despite Deregulation, New Jersey Residents Tend to Keep Electric Company: Since August 1, 1999, New Jersey consumers have been able to buy electricity from any non-traditional supplier. However, as of March 16, only 63,757 residential customers have chosen to do so. "People are just not used to buying electricity," said Ratepayer Advocate Blossom Peretz. ENN, 4/4/00

Texas Utilities Map Out Their Futures Under Deregulation: Texas electric utilities have submitted plans to the Public Utility Commission describing in detail how they will be structured after 2002, when the industry by law will be deregulated. Terry Maxon, The Dallas Morning News, 4/4/00

Arctic Warming Signals Dire Straits for Birds: "Climate change could eliminate 50 percent of rare Arctic bird populations, according to a study released… by the Worldwide Fund for Nature… In the next 70 to 100 years, scientists predict… the concentration of carbon dioxide in the environment could double," drastically impacting the Arctic habitats of such rare species as the red-breasted goose, tundra bean goose, spoon-billed sandpiper and emperor goose. Margot Higgins, ENN News, 4/5/00

Arctic Ozone Layer Rapidly Thinning: "The most comprehensive study ever undertaken into ozone levels over the Arctic has found that two-thirds of the Earth's protective layer has been destroyed… said NASA and the European Union in a joint report." MSNBC, 4/5/00

Early Fires Related to Global Warming: "The forest fire season in Canada has begun much earlier than usual this year, which experts say may be related to global warming. There are 11 major fires burning across northwestern Ontario… Bob Johnson, a fire boss [said] that severe fires are becoming the norm now." CBC, 4/6/00

Dust Storm Blast Beijing: "Fierce winds laden with desert dust … the worst such storm in 10 years…`The vegetation in the northwest is sparse and the climate is rather dry,' said Lei Zhenfa, director of the Beijing Meteorological Bureau." AP, 4/6/00

Greenland Glacier Warming Feared: "Scientists fear that a rise in the Earth's average temperature could make the oceans rise and swamp low-lying coastal cities in the coming century. 'A 2-degree global warming doesn't sound like much, but you have to realize the consequences can be really quite disastrous,'" said Kurt Cuffey, co-author of a study published in the April 6th issue of Nature. AP, 4/6/00

Jamaica Ends Use of Leaded Gasoline: "Jamaica… officially ended the use of leaded gasoline… following decades concern about health and environmental hazards resulting from its use… Jamaica's petroleum industry welcomed the lead-free era as consistent with [its] commitment to environmentally sustainable development." ENN, 4/6/00

Cambridge Professor Develops Better Light Bulb: Metallurgy professor Colin Humphrey has developed a "longer-lasting, low energy light bulb" utilizing the gallium nitride computer chip. "Without a doubt, this is the most important new invention in electrical materials since silicon," he said. ENN, 4/6/00

Tree-city Projects Improve Quality of Life: "Tree-city projects in noisy, congested, fast-paced urban areas have distinct scientific as well as psychological effects on people, [such as] diminish[ing] street noise two or three times, reduc[ing] heat by 10 to 20 degrees, decreasing] dust levels by as much as one third [and contributing] a sense of natural beauty in landscapes dominated by buildings and roads." ENN, 4/7/00

No Deadline for Global Warming Pact: Representatives at talks in Otsu, Japan regarding the Kyoto Protocol of 1997, have not set a target date for implementation, and have only agreed to doing so "as soon as possible." Japan and Europe have supported ratification by 2002, but the United States does not want to set a specific deadline without Congress' permission. AP, 4/8/00

Ford to Sell Electric-gas SUV in 2003: "Ford Motor Co. will sell a versions of its Escape small sport utility vehicle powered by gas and electricity in 2003, with fuel economy close to 40 miles per gallon in city driving. 'This will be the most fuel efficient, cleanest SUV on the planet,' said Rick Eagle, Ford Escape project management supervisor." AP, 4/7/00

Emergency Declared In Flood-hit Hungary: "Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared a state of emergency today in eastern Hungary, threatened by the worst flooding in years of from heavy rain and melting snow. 'The situation is really very serious.' Transport Telecommunications and Water Minister Kalman Katona told Reuters earlier." Sandra Peto. Reuters, 4/9/00

Argentine Vessel Able to Get Closer to Southern Antarctic Base: After the icebreaker Almirante Irizar completed its mission of retrieving the icebound cruise ship, "Clipper Adventurer" in Antarctica, it continued on to another southernmost base Belgrano II and was able to get within sight. This had been impossible until now since ice had previously kept any ship from passing any closer than 65 nautical miles, " supporting the theory that rising temperatures are melting the ice shelf." Justin Ratcliffe, Reuters, 4/9/00

G8 Ministers Agree on Global Warming Accord: "In a joint communique issued after the three-day meeting in the western Japanese city of Otsu, the ministers agreed that an early ratification of the Kyoto Protocol was necessary… The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 commits industrial countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5.2 percent from 1990 levels by 2008-12."
Kazunori Takada, Reuters, 4/9/00

Six Day of Flooding in Hungary, Romania and Serbia Killed Ten: "Six days of floods along major rivers in Hungary and Romania killed at least 10 people and caused millions of dollars worth of damage, officials in the two countries said." AP, 4/10/00

Three U.S. Companies Become Climate Neutral: "Through cooperation with the Climate Neutral Network, Shaklee, Interface and Saunders Hotels have taken the lead to entirely eliminate the greenhouse gases that result from their products and enterprises in order to achieve a zero net impact on global warming." PRNewswire, 4/10/00

Secretary Albright Proposes Global Alliance for Safer Water: "Secretary Madeleine Albright announced a global initiative… to protect world water supplies and reduce the 5 million deaths caused every year by drought or water-borne disease. 'Our citizens cannot be secure if the air we breathe, the food we grow and the water we drink are at risk because the global environment is in danger,' she said." Elaine Monaghan, Reuters, 4/11/00

Dominion Generation Announces Major Environment Project for Cleaner Air in Northern Virginia: "Dominion Generation, a unit of Dominion, announced… it will stop burning coal at its Possum Point Power Station in Northern Virginia and construct an environmentally cleaner combined-cycle unit that generates electricity with natural gas." PRNewswire, 4/12/00

Flood of the Century Hits Hungary: "The Hungarian government called an emergency session… declar(ing) a state of emergency for eight states in eastern Hungary." Xinhua News, 4/12/00

Mexican State Plagued by Drought: "Mexico's interior secretary declared Sonora a disaster area on Monday to allow officials in the drought-stricken border state access to federal aid." AP, 4/12/00

Global Warming Warnings: "Scorching summers, higher rates of infectious diseases, more weather-related disasters, disappearing farmland, vanishing species-these and other grim scenarios are all possible effects of greenhouse gases, say global-warming experts." Wynne Brown, ENN, 4/12/00

Seattle Mayor and City Council Adopt Environmental Commitment to Clean Energy: [T]he Seattle City Council unanimously adopted a proposal by Major Paul Schell and City Council member Heidi Wills to meet Seattle's future electricity needs with no net emissions of "greenhouse gas." Business Wire, 4/12/00

Amazon Tree Loss Continues: "[T]he rate at which [the] Amazon rainforest is being destroyed is… unchanged." Alex Kirby. BBC, 4/12/00

Report Says U.S. Power Plants Emit Tons of Pollution: "[T]he dirtiest US. Power plants… pump 2 billion tons of pollution into the air, causing smog, global warming and scores of health and environmental problems. 'Americans choke on smog and soot pollution, eat poisonous fish, and confront the real life consequences of global warming because of these dirty power plants,' said Rebecca Stanfield, staff attorney for The U.S. Public Interest Research Group." Patrick Connole, Reuters, 4/13/00

New Animal Feed Cuts Gas at the Source: Scientists in Scotland have discovered that by adding a bacteria supplement to feed for farm animals such as sheep and cattle, it is possible to cut the amount of methane the animals produce. ENN, 4/13/00

North China Suffers Severe Drought: "Four consecutive years of severe drought have evaporated the drinking water of nearly 1.5 million people in north China's Hebei Province… Hebei is facing a shortage of 800 million cubic meters of water." Xinhua News Agency, 4/14/00

PG&E Breaks Ground for Madison Windpower Project: The first step in the construction of the largest wind generating facility in the Eastern U.S., was initiated today by PG&E Corporations' National Energy Group. "The seven-turbine, 11.5 megawatt project is slated to be operational by September 2000… In an average wind year, Madison Windpower will save 12,00 tons of carbon dioxide, 65 tons of sulfur dioxide, and 19 tons of nitrogen oxides." ENS, 4/14/00

Warm Weather Causing New Hazards: "This new century is already showing signs of a record-beater when it comes to the weather. There's been short-term damage to California and there are long-term prospects for more climate altering weather conditions." Robert Hager, MSNBC, 4/18/00

DOE Unveils Hybrid Fuel Cell Turbine: The U.S. Energy Department announced the development of a new hybrid furl cell turbine that would generate electricity more efficiently. "The new power plant… would combine a state-of-the-art fuel cell with a gas turbine… one of the cleanest and most efficient ways to produce electricity… [and] will be able to generate electricity at 55 percent efficiency, [meaning] 55 percent of the energy from the natural gas it uses as fuel will be converted into electricity." Reuters, 4/18/00

First Three Months Warmest in 106 Years: "The first three months of the year were the warmest in the nation in 106 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration… June 1999 through March 2000 was the warmest June through March period ever." AP, 4/19/00

Storm, Wind Rip Los Angeles: "High wind ripped through part of the city… upending mobile homes… toppling trees… [following a] record rainfall." AP, 4/19/00

Nine Mexico States Declared Disaster Zones Due to Drought: "Mexico announced… nine of its northern states natural disaster areas due to drought… making them eligible for emergency funding." Bridge Information Systems, 4/19/00

Drought Plagues South Korea: "A drought has hit South Korea over the past two moths, the Korea Meteorological Administration said. The KMA forecast… drought will continue for some time." Xinhua News Agency, 4/19/00

Effects of Global Warming Clear in Canadian Arctic: "Inuit[s] whose job it is to brave snow and ice to find caribou, seal and other animals say the signs of a gradual increase in temperature are everywhere. '[N]ow I just wear a light parka. It is so hot… my snowmobile often overheats,'" said Steven Kooneeliusie, resident of a small town, Pangnirtung, nearly on the Arctic Circle, 1,500 miles north of Ottawa, Canada. David Ljunggren, Reuters, 4/19/00

Gore Still Wants Traditional Car Engine Eliminated: In a new introduction for the re-release of his book, Earth in the Balance, Vice-President Al Gore "warns global warming is more of a threat than ever… the world must... protect the ozone by reducing pollution.' … In his 1992 book he wrote 'It ought to be possible to… completely eliminat[e] the internal combustion [in] twenty-five year[s].' [Continuing in his new introduction]… 'I am proud that I wrote those words in 1992, and I reaffirm them today.'" Thomas Ferraro. Reuters, 4/21/00

Europe Needs 85 New Nuclear Plants to Beat Global Warming: "At least 85 new nuclear power plants must be built in Europe in order to prevent carbon dioxide emissions from increasing, say a new European Commission report… Under the Kyoto Protocol, the European Union is committed to reducing carbon dioxide levels by eight percent from 1990 levels by the five year period 2009 to 2012… Europe's nuclear power stations are due for decommissioning after 25 to 30 years service." Helen Andre, ENS, 4/21/00

Tornados Destroy Kansas Homes: "A line of severe storms stretching form Kansas to Missouri unleashed at least four tornados that destroyed homes and businesses and flattened a carnival." AP, 4/21/00

Hundred of Thousands of People Facing Drought in Western India: "Hundreds of thousands of villagers are battling acute shortages of food, water and animal feed with the worst drought in 100 years hitting parts of western India." AP, 4/21/00

Earth Charter Sets Course for Sustainable Living: "[E]nvironmental leaders from around the country are gathered in Washington, D.C., to find way to implement the Earth Charter for sustainable living... 'It's a declaration of widely shared values and common goals. It sets forth fundamental ethical principle for protecting the environment, building a strong community locally and globally, and a sustainable way of life. It's an expression of hope and a call to action," said Steven Rockefeller, chairman of the Earth Charter international drafting committee." Robinson Shaw, ENN, 4/21/00

Sierra Club Awards Toyota Prius: The Sierra Club has given its Excellence in Environmental Engineering Award to the Toyota Prius, a hybrid car that gets 50 miles to a gallon of gasoline by utilizing two sources of power, a zero-emission electric motor and super-low-emissions gasoline engine. In addition, it also harnesses energy each the time brakes are applied. ENN, 4/21/00

APS Announces Solar Energy Expansion Plans for Earth Day 2000: "APS will nearly double the size of its solar facilities in Arizona over the next year to further reduce air emissions and to advance the development of renewable energy… 'APS is proud to be leading the way toward furthering the development of the earth-smart technology,' said Ed Fox, Pinnacle West vice president of communications, environment and safety." Business Wire, 4/21/00

Cyclone Victims in India's Orissa Hit by Heatwave: "[A] million people [recently hit by a devastating cyclone]… are enduring over 40 degree Celsius (104 degree Fahrenheit) temperatures… 'It's getting hotter by the day… it seems as if we are being burned alive,' says Renubala Patro… sole survivor of the [most recent] cyclone in a family of five." Reuters, 4/24/00

Sandstorm Sweeps Inner Mongolia: "For the eighth time this spring, a sandstorm has swept the central and western part of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The sky in Hohhot, the capital of the region… was covered with floating sand." Xinhua News, 4/25/00

Deadly storm Hit Northern Bangladesh: "A tropical storm tore through northwest Bangladesh… killing… 16 villagers." AP, 4/25/00

Central China Suffers Severe Drought: "Hubei Province in central China is suffering its most severe drought in half a century. More than 980 reservoirs in the province have reported alarming drops in water levels." Xinhua News, 4/25/00

Hurricane Forecaster Sees Unprecedented Damage in Next Decade: "The nation's top hurricane forecaster [Bill Gray]… predicted increased storm activity over the next 15 to 20 years, with damage five to ten times worse than ever before in the Gulf and Atlantic Coast states." AP, 4/25/00

Severe Drought Hits 50 Million in India: "[S]evere drought is punishing 50 million people… The desert state of Rajasthan and adjoining Gujarat are the worst affected. The water table has been dropping since November the region endures its third year of drought." Neelesh Misra. AP, 4/26/00

Proposal for Burying Carbon Dioxide: A unique alternative to controlling carbon dioxide emissions has been getting more attention lately in the U.S. The U.S. Energy Department is spending about $29 million to study carbon sequestration, disposing of carbon dioxide after it's produced. Suggested places for disposal are: "Oil fields…Coal seams… soil… Deep underground… [and] The ocean." Many areas could benefit from the injection of carbon dioxide. It could make hard-to-reach oil pockets more easily accessible, turn coal seams into sources of natural gas," and feed plants and trees. Malcolm Ritter. AP, 4/28/00

U.S. Agencies in Denver to Utilize Wind Power: "All U.S. agencies in the Denver area will be powered in part by wind under the biggest- ever federal contract for "green power," [according to] Energy Secretary Bill Richardson. The agencies have agreed to buy 10 megawatts of power yearly from wind farms operated by Public Service Co. of Colorado and other utilities." AP, 4/28/00

Study Proves Green Power Most Effective in Cutting Pollution: A study by Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future offers proof that "switching to green power is the single best action Pennsylvanians can take to cut pollution and protect human health. The report established that each family that switches to renewable energy removes an amount of pollution equal too planting 950 trees or not driving 20,000 miles." PRNewswire, 4/28/00

Heat Wave Could Bring Summer Blackouts in California: There is a very real possibility that a heat wave in California, lasting more than four or five days this summer could result in blackouts, or rolling brown-outs, due to a "short-term power shortage." The rise in demand for electricity in order to support technology, such as computers, has resulted in its increased demand, and has not been met with increased providers. As a temporary solution the Independent System Operator, who manages most of the state's energy use, will ask customers to "reduce usage and refrain from any nonessential power use… 'When we start calling, we're not crying wolf,' said Terry Winter, the ISO's chief executive officer." MSNBC, 4/29/00

Drought Grips Pakistan and Afghanistan: Pakistan and Afghanistan are in the grips of their "worst drought for a century." With little rain forecast, official are concerned "the problem will worsen." BBC, 4/30/00