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The article discusses the use of clean energy and the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the U.S. private sector, so as to prevent global warming, including in regard to the relationship between economic growth and GHG mitigation. An overview of the role that U.S. government policy plays in encouraging the use of clean energy is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article looks at the proposed goal of India to reduce the emissions intensity of its economy, or the amount of carbon dioxide emitted per unit of gross domestic product, by between 20% and 25% by the year 2020. Topics discussed include the country's climate pledge, or Intended Nationally Determined tribution (INDC), per capita emissions, carbon intensity, and annual emissions.

The article offers science news briefs as of February 16, 2018. Topics include the development of immature human egg cells in the laboratory reported online in the "Molecular Human Reproduction" journal, the dismissal of astrophysicist Christian Ott before his position start at the University of Turku's Tuorla Observatory in Finland amid protest, and a revised process for environmental impact assessment fo development projects released by the Canadian government.

A summary is presented of the article "The uncertain future of protected lands and waters" by Rachel E. Golden Kroner, Siyu Qin, Carly N. Cook, and others which was published in the same issue concerning a decline in protected areas and the impact of downgraded protected areas on biodiversity and species richness.

Focuses on the implementation of policies in Sweden to ban any chemicals that persists in the environment and accumulates in organisms. Guidelines placing a heavier burden on industry to prove the safety of various chemicals; Threat of polychlorinated biphenyls.

The article discusses the use of retrospective analysis on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules and regulations, including in gauging the accuracy of regulatory impact analyses (RIAs) on environmental policy. An overview of the use of RIA on the EPA's 1998 Cluster Rule, which was created to reduce pollutants and emissions from paper and pulp mills, is provided.

The article discusses the global carbon trading market, focusing on analysis of its successes and failures and an outlook on carbon market policy as of March 2014. Topics include the European Union's (EU) Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS), the opening of carbon trading programs around the world including in California, Quebec, and China, and efforts to link programs and mix policies.

The article discusses the international treaty Minamata Convention on Mercury, which is scheduled for ratification in Japan in October 2013. The treaty includes goals such as cutting emissions from power plants and factories, phasing out mercury-containing consumer goods, and closing mercury mines. It is noted that the accord will promote research into mercury pollution monitoring technologies, movement of mercury in various ecosystems, and development of exposure sampling databases.

The article discusses China's government work plan for 2010 and funding it allocates to correction of environmental problems, public health protection, and food safety. The role in doing so of the so-called Liang Hui, the combined resources of China's National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), is noted. It mentions Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his report to NPC that documents intentions regarding development and use of low-carbon technologies, energy-conserving technologies, and renewable energy technologies. Pollution of the freshwater lake Taihu is noted as an example of the side effects of China's rapid economic growth.

The article examines environmental policies that are being sought to bolster international cooperation that will mitigate ways in which global environmental change affects the Arctic Ocean. The prospect of such change has promoted interest in energy production, fishing, and tourism. While the Arctic coastal states are asserting their sovereignty and jurisdiction in the region, non-Arctic states are also seeking an enhanced role in the Arctic Council. Challenges that may face the governance of the Arctic Ocean are discussed, including aspects of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Canadian Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act.

The article focuses on the goals of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in response to the challenges that the country faces that have major implications on the conduct and direction of natural science. The USGS proposes six integrated multiscale strategic directions that will help the U.S. address complex environmental problems. The difference of this effort from the previous ones is that the vision of integration across and among each of the science directions. The vision will be flourished by the USGS workforce of biologists, hydrologists, geologists and geographers. The six directions include understanding ecosystems and predicting changes, climate variability and change or energy and minerals for the country's future.

The article discusses the possibility that the changing weather in the U.S. can drive the government to act on global warming. According to former U.S. Vice President Al Gore on his documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," it takes a sudden jolt before people become aware of a danger. In addition, Michael Oppenheimer, a geoscientist at Princeton University, states that weather forecasts could have an effect to government actions, which could also be robust. Key information about the contributing factors of global warming are further discussed.

The article discusses the agreement between U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping on domestic climate policies that seek to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and speculates on whether China's meeting the emissions targets is possible. Topics include computer simulation modeling of emissions stabilization, the Chinese government's financing renewable energies, and potential effects of emissions reductions on Chinese economic growth.

Examines shortcomings of habitat-conservation plans (HCPs) in the United States. Research by Kareiva, University of Washington, et al, into the validity of the science used to support HCPs; Argument that HCPs are flawed and actually promote species extinction; History of HCPs; Views of Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt; Four keys aspects of HCPs researched; Flaws in HCPs uncovered; Benefit of analysis.

The article reports on the release of the evaluations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding climate change. It calls for health-surveillance systems to include climate sensitive pathogens and vectors as well as recommendations for research to model the health impacts of climate-related events. The report was written by a team of government and independent scientists under the guidance of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). CDC was under a U.S. government's climate change science program.

This article focuses on the termination of a package of programs designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by Canada's new Conservative government. Canada's Environment Minister Rona Ambrose says that Canada's Kyoto Protocol commitments are unachievable.

This article reports that activists are criticizing a proposal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to speed up its regular review of air-quality standards. By law, EPA must revisit its National Ambient Air Quality Standards every 5 years. Staff scientists evaluate the latest research and propose ranges for new standards, which are then reviewed by the agency's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee. Because EPA regularly misses its deadline and gets sued, an internal EPA committee proposed several suggestions in for speeding up the process. EPA chief scientist George Gray said that the idea behind this proposal is not to have the policy drive the science.

Criticizes United States President George W. Bush for turning his back on his campaign commitment to regulate carbon dioxide emissions. Overview on Bush's comment that his promise to regulate carbon dioxide emissions was a mistake; Factors that possibly prompted Bush to turn his back from his environmental protection campaign commitment.

Describes the support of biologists for a proposed law to protect the United States' last original virgin forests. Details about bill; Support for bill from Harvard entomologist E.O. Wilson; Other recent bills on this matter; Need for changes in logging policies; Co-sponsors of the bill.