Shell announced today that it is suspending its plans to drill exploratory oil wells in the turbulent Arctic waters off the coast of Alaska. And while environmentalists are ecstatic about the decision, the celebration may be premature. Shell has every intention of solving the regulatory problem and resuming its plans for offshore drilling in the Alaskan Arctic.
On the other hand, the oil giant has been trying to get this done for five years and has met resistance at every turn, so maybe the delay won't be temporary after all. Learn more about Shell's ongoing efforts to drill for oil offshore in Alaska, and find out what's stopping the company from proceeding with its plans.
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Every day you hear more and more about the environmental problems mankind is facing. You wonder what you can do to help, and how you'll ever find the time.
Take heart. You may not be able to reduce global warming, end pollution and save endangered species single-handedly, but by choosing to live an earth-friendly lifestyle you can do a lot every day to help achieve those goals. And it won't require you to give up your job or ignore your family.
To get you started, here are five simple things you can do--in 30 minutes or less--to help protect the environment and save this little blue ball we call home.
And if you've already adopted green living, how about sharing your ideas with us? Look for Readers Respond: How have you adopted green living? at the end of "Five Ways to Help Save the Planet in 30 Minutes or Less." Your ideas could encourage others to follow your example.
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Want to help the environment? Get a roommate, get married, or find some other way to expand your household.
People who live alone consume considerably more energy and other resources than those who live in households of four or more. And younger, more affluent singles use more resources than their older counterparts.
Get the details and learn more about the links between your lifestyle and the environment.
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In his third State of the Union address tonight, President Barack Obama reaffirmed his belief that America's economic future is inextricably linked to innovation and clean energy.
Obama said it is time for America to reinvent itself, starting with its national energy policy. He challenged Congress--Republicans and Democrats alike--to join him in setting and working toward a 25-year goal to derive 80 percent of America's electricity from clean-energy sources by 2035.
Obama reminded Congress and the nation that government has long been an active economic partner of American industry, often providing the funding scientists and inventors need to conduct the basic research that leads to breakthrough innovations such as the Internet and computer chips, which in turn create millions of new jobs.
"What America does better than anyone is spark the creativity and imagination of our people," Obama said. "In America, innovation doesn't just change our lives. It's how we make a living."
To help pay for the clean-energy investments that will lead to the innovations needed to create a brighter economic and environmental future for America, the president tonight asked Congress to eliminate the billions of dollars in taxpayer-financed subsidies the government pays to oil companies every year.
"I don't know if you've noticed, but they're doing just fine on their own," Obama said in reference to oil companies. "So instead of subsidizing yesterday's energy, let's invest in tomorrow's."
Environmentalists will appreciate Obama's commitment to create a clean-energy economy and his pledge to enforce regulations that will ensure clean air and water, food safety and public health. On the other hand, they are sure to be disappointed by his insistence on continuing to include clean coal and nuclear power as part of America's clean-energy portfolio--as he did in his first State of the Union address in 2010.
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