Environment

Friday, August 16th 2013 - 17:46 UTC
Ecuador ‘forced’ to drill for oil in pristine Amazon rainforest; ‘rich countries have failed us’

Ecuador has abandoned a conservation plan that would have paid the country not to drill for oil in previously untouched parts of Yasuni National Park in the Amazon rainforest. President Rafael Correa said rich nations had failed to back the initiative, leaving Ecuador with no choice but go ahead with drilling.
Wednesday, August 14th 2013 - 20:21 UTC
Shackleton’s Endurance could still be in good conditions on the Antarctic sea bed

Ernest Shackleton's famous ship, the Endurance, which he had to abandon in 1915 on his ill-fated Antarctic expedition, is probably still in very good condition on the ocean floor. This is one conclusion from research that studied how sunken wood degrades in southern polar waters.
Wednesday, August 14th 2013 - 03:13 UTC
Chevron-YPF partnership splits the Argentina/Ecuador ‘progressive’ entente

US petroleum giant Chevron has warned that the continuing legal battle with Ecuador's government over pollution charges could put in jeopardy the company's partnership with YPF to exploit the Vaca Muerta shale reserves in the Patagonian province of Neuquén, Argentina.
Sunday, August 11th 2013 - 21:51 UTC
Beyond pigs in the pipeline: getting ahead of the leaks

The 2010 Kalamazoo spill and the 2013 Exxon leak in Arkansas are the most glaring incidents, but these are just the big leaks that are found right away and reported. Most leaks are found eventually—but there is money to be saved and damage to be avoided by catching them at the smallest rupture. Right now, we rely on pigs in the pipeline to do this.
Saturday, August 10th 2013 - 01:58 UTC
UK opens second largest offshore wind farm in the world

Greater Gabbard wind farm, which is reportedly the second largest offshore wind farm in the world, costing £1.3 billion and generating enough clean electricity to power over half a million homes, was officially opened off the British coast of Suffolk by the Energy and Business Minister Michael Fallon.
Wednesday, August 7th 2013 - 02:30 UTC
China approves first shipment of Argentine GMO corn shaking world markets

China has approved its first shipment of genetically modified Argentine corn, Buenos Aires-based trade sources said, which could mean that the Asian giant may eventually import GMO crops from other producers like the United States.
Tuesday, August 6th 2013 - 10:23 UTC
Falklands’ welcomes “positive step” by Argentina in marine conservation and fisheries management

The Falkland Islands Government has welcomed the announcement by the Senate of Argentina of the establishment of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) within the area of Burdwood Bank which lies within the Argentine Economic Zone, describing it as a “positive step” in the interest of marine conservation and fisheries management.
Thursday, August 1st 2013 - 03:33 UTC
South Georgia company sponsors research on toothfish sustainability

Georgia Seafood is sponsoring pioneering research into the reproductive behaviour of the Patagonian Toothfish in South Georgia. Director of Georgia Seafood Stuart Wallace explained that in a market that demands sustainability it is important to the company that they support the science underpinning that aim.
Wednesday, July 31st 2013 - 16:28 UTC
Norwegian company converts fresh seaweed to dry powder for alginates in 24 hours

Norwegian company FMC Biopolymer converts seaweed to alginate for use in thousands of products with an advanced 24 hour chemical process. ABB has supplied process automation, motors and drives to FMC Biopolymer for more than 20 years.
Wednesday, July 31st 2013 - 05:26 UTC
Canadian town evicts oil sands companies that helped it grow

The Canadian town of Fort McMurray, population 76,000, is the heart of Alberta's oil sands largesse--but the town is bursting at its seams with nowhere to expand because the land surrounding it is owned by oil companies.