Caption: This visualization shows the hole in the ozone layer over the South Pole is getting smaller each year thanks to efforts by international negotiators back in the late 1980s. Credit: Stuart Rankin, FlickrCC. Dear EarthTalk: Has anyone calculated the positive health and/or economic impacts of international efforts to protect the stratospheric ozone layer beginning […]
Caption: Believe it or not, blimps are making a comeback as a green short hop commuter travel option. Dear EarthTalk: Is blimp travel really making a comeback? Is it eco-friendly? – J. Roe, Islip. NY The blimp, forever besmirched due to the Hindenburg explosion in 1937—when one of the first commercial blimps caught on fire—never […]
Caption: Solar farms may be the next battleground for environmentalists. Credit: Pexels. Dear EarthTalk: Has there been any backlash against the installation of rooftop solar panels or the development of big solar farms across the U.S.?— B. Jackson, Longmeadow, MA Incentives like the Solar Investment Tax Credit and increased affordability in the cost of solar […]
Caption: If you are looking for a lower price tag and a decent amount of range in a new EV, Chevrolet’s Bolt is among the better bets. Credit: Stephen Rees, FlickrCC. Dear EarthTalk: I am looking to finally ditch the old minivan and upgrade to an EV. What are the best choices out there nowadays […]
Caption: Yellowstone’s gray wolves, reintroduced to the region in the 1990s, are now at risk from hunting outside of park borders. Credit: Patrice Schoefolt, Pexels.com. Dear EarthTalk: Is the recent lifting of quota restrictions on wolf hunting in Montana north of Yellowstone National Park a threat to the reintroduced wolf population there? — J. W., […]
Caption: Dark sky havens are places where nighttime light pollution is limited to non-existent and the stars can truly shine in the night sky. Dear EarthTalk: What are “dark sky havens” and are there any near me? — D. Morris, Troy, MI A bright moon hangs over the clear, terrestrial night sky permeated by winking […]
Caption: The smoke from Western wildfires can carry for thousands of miles and affect communities far from the burning. Credit: Pixabay. Dear EarthTalk: How has all the wildfire smoke in the West over the last few summers impacted human health? And what can we do to stay safe amidst the smoke?— B.K., Philadelphia, PA Blanketing […]
Caption: GPS nav apps may be good for individual drivers’ commute times but may be slowing traffic overall and ruining neighborhood vibes across the nation. Dear EarthTalk: What are the environmental pros and cons of so many of us relying on GPS apps (Waze, Google Maps, etc.) to get around these days?— B. Rogers, Newark, […]
Caption: The richest 1% of humanity produces 15% of total carbon emissions, while the richest 10% is responsible for more than half. Credit: Pexels.com. Dear EarthTalk: Do wealthy people generate more pollution and/or carbon emissions than the less fortunate?— George P., Greenwich, CT In a word, yes. The richest 10 percent of humanity was responsible […]
Caption: Despite efforts by Amazon.com to achieve net zero emissions, environmentalists still have plenty of beefs with the e-tailing juggernaut. Credit: Soumit, FlickrCC. Dear EarthTalk: Is Amazon.com an environmental hero or villain?— J. West, Orange, CA Not surprisingly, Amazon.com’s environmental performance is a mixed bag. One charge often levied by critics is that Amazon’s low […]
