NEWS ANALYSIS: Details

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/28/climate/trump-executive-order-climate-change.html? &moduleDetail=section-news- 0&action=click&contentCollection=Science®ion=Footer&module=MoreInSection&version=Whats Next&contentID=WhatsNext&pgtype=article Trump Signs Executive Order Unwinding Obama Climate Policies Published on: March 28 On Tuesday, President Trump signed an executive order to cease climate change efforts and strengthen the coal industry. He asked the EPA to rewrite Obama’s Clean Power Plan. Obama pledged that the United States would cut its emissions about 26 percent from 2005 levels by 2025. The Clean Power Plan was an important part of meeting this goal. By signing this order, the US no longer meets its end of the 2015 Paris agreement, whose goal is to lower emissions by at least 26 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/27/science/fusion-power-plant-iter-france.html? em_pos=large&emc=edit_sc_20170327&nl=science-times&nlid=76603710&ref=headline&te=1&_r=0 A Dream of Clean Energy at a Very High Price Published on: March 27 ITER is an expensive physics experiment that would use nuclear fusion to generate power. ITER, short for International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, will create heat not electricity. If it works, it will produce more energy than it consumes. This could lead to power plants that generate electricity without emitting CO2 or hazardous waste created by nuclear fission. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/03/28/climate/trumps-executive-order-pushes-the-us-climate- pledge-further-out-of-reach.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=g-artboard%20g- artboard-v3%20&module=b-lede-package-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=1 Trump’s Executive Order Pushes the U.S. Climate Pledge Further Out of Reach Published on: March 28 This article talks about the greenhouse gas regulations Obama implemented and what has happened that them under Trumps administration. The Clean Power Plan, which aimed to lower CO2 emissions for coal and natural gas burning power plants, was reversed on Tuesday. Fuel economy standards have been reopen for review. A rule that required oil and gas well operators to provide information about methane emissions has been nullified. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-rural-alaska-can-teach-the-world-about-renewable- energy/

What Rural Alaska Can Teach the World about Renewable Energy Published on: March 26 This article talks about the Renewable Energy Alaska Project, REAP. This project is more financially driven because electricity is expensive in remote villages in Alaska. This is due to fossil fuels having to be flown in to generate power since there are no railroads, highways, or power lines. Many villages have integrated wind turbines into their existing, diesel-based power grids. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/u-s-salamanders-threatened-by-deadly-fungus/ U.S. Salamanders Threatened by Deadly Fungus Published on: March 16 This article talks about flatwoods salamanders, which are an endangered species. Their population has declined by 90 percent since 2000. Habitat loss is a major contributor to this. Only a small portion of their natural habitat remains. Flatwoods larvae is being raised in captivity to attempt to bring back the species. Bsal, an Asian fungus that causes ulcers and skin necrosis, has had devastating effects on salamander populations in Europe. As a result, interstate travel and importation of 201 salamander species have been banned. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/23/world/asia/china-to-plant-green-necklace-of-trees-around- beijing-to-fight-smog.html?_r=0 China to Plant ‘Green Necklace’ of Trees Around Beijing to Fight Smog Published on: Thursday 23 March 2017 This article discusses the horrible air pollution levels in China. There had been efforts to decline the high pollution level but there has not been any drastic changes. Some of the efforts were fining polluting companies, sponsoring alternative energy sources and enforcing the laws. Now officials in Hebei Province have decided to create a “green necklace”. The “green necklace” is to increase forest coverage by using rivers, reservoirs, wetlands and farmlands. The problem with this plan is that Beijing has chronic drought and Hebei is filled with coal-powered steel factories. The plan for the “green necklace” is to reduce pollution levels. The officials of Beijing also want to create ventilation corridors that would take in wind and air movement to help disperse smog. http://money.nj.com/dynamic/stories/U/US_OIL_PIPELINE? SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-02-09-16-38-26 Tribes' battle over Dakota Access pipeline not over Published on: Tuesday 28 March 2017 This article talks about a oil pipeline placed under a Missouri River reservoir that is upstream from the Rock indian Reservation in North Dakota. The decision to build this pipeline has resulted in the American Indian tribes suing the 3.8 Dakota Access billion pipeline. Chairman of the tribes argue that the pipeline will threaten cultural sites, drinking water and religion. North Dakota is the second-biggest oil producer after Texas. If the pipeline plans follow through the pipeline will transport half of the state's oil production. http://www.enn.com/sci-tech/article/50922 Solving the mystery of the Arctic's green ice Published on: Wednesday 29 March 2017 This article discuss the huge amount of phytoplankton under the Arctic sea ice. This is interesting because the phytoplankton needs sun for photosynthesis. Being under the Arctic sea ice means there will darkness so it's mind boggling how phytoplankton can grow. Scientist came up with the conclusion that the melting and thinning of Arctic sea ice may be responsible for the phytoplankton blooms. This is an environmental issue because it messes up the Arctic food chain. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/23/europe-poised-for-total-ban-on-bee-harming- pesticides Europe poised for total ban on bee-harming pesticides Published on: Thursday 23 March 2017 This article address the potential ban on insecticides that cause risks to bees. The bee population had been declining because of habitat loss, disease and pesticides. The insecticide neonicotinoids have been the suspect of the decline of bees. There is a temporary ban on the neonicotinoids thiamethoxam, clothianidin and imidacloprid.The European commission wants to ban and cite “high acute risks to bees”, and this ban should be put into place this year if approved. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/29/nearly-extinct-tigers-found-breeding-in-thai- jungle Nearly extinct tigers found breeding in Thai jungle Published on : Tuesday 28 March 2017 This article talks about the Indochinese tigers found breeding in Thailand and Myanmar.They used to range in Southern China, Cambodia, Vietnam. This is good new because the Indochinese tigers were critically endangered with only having a few 221 of their kind left. The species was confirmed by photograph of its existence and is the world’s second breeding population. The first being Huai Kha Khaeng wildlife sanctuary in western Thailand. The Indochinese tigers were on the critically endangered list because of poaching and loss of habitat. In asian countries their bones are used in traditional remedies. Luckily the Indochinese tiger species has been resilient and is now increasing its population .