NRDC

Protecting our land, air, and water since 1970.

[nrdc]

On May 19, the Discovery Channel will premiere an important new NRDC film that documents this shattering underwater peril. Sonic Sea calls on us to turn down the volume before it’s too late. To quiet the world’s waters, though, we all need to raise our voices. That’s what Sonic Sea is all about: increasing awareness of this growing threat and building a worldwide community of citizen advocates to help us turn down the volume on undersea noise.

[nrdc]

Beneath the surface of our oceans lies a finely balanced, living world of sound, most of which we never hear topside. But to whales, dolphins, and other marine life, sound is survival, the key to how they navigate, find mates, hunt for food, communicate over vast distances, and protect themselves against predators in waters dark and deep. 

Our oceans, though, have become vast junkyards of industrial noise — often louder than a rock concert — from commercial shipping, military sonar, and seismic blasts that test for oil and gas. The seas have become so loud, in places, that these great animals are drowning in noise that threatens their health, their future, and their very lives.

On May 19, the Discovery Channel will premiere an important new NRDC film that documents this shattering underwater peril. Sonic Sea calls on us to turn down the volume before it’s too late. 

Read more: Sounding the Alarm on Ocean Noise

[usatoday]

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station see sunrises like this several times a day

[nrdc]

(via The Full Picture of Our Lead Problem | NRDC)

Two years ago this month, officials in Flint, Michigan, flipped the switch on the faulty new water system that led to the tragic lead contamination of the city's drinking water. Yet Congress has failed to provide the city's low-income families with the clean water they desperately need. 

Making matters worse, we've learned that Flint isn't alone: People in cities across America are exposed to lead-tainted water. Enough is enough. Tell Congress to provide the urgent aid needed to fully address Flint's drinking water crisis and make sure all Americans have access to clean, lead-free drinking water.

[nrdc]

When Flint, Michigan, switched its water supply on April 25, 2014, it sparked an unprecedented public health crisis. Its residents are still in dire need of help. The water in Flint, Michigan, is still unsafe to drink — two years after the crisis was set in motion. Badly needed federal assistance has been marooned by a handful of congressional Republicans. And the larger national problem of lead in too much of our drinking water is yet to be addressed. The tragedy in Flint, and the largely feckless response so far, make for a sorry testament to government’s falling short on this issue at every level — state, local, and federal. These failings, though, are not an excuse for government inaction or a reason to hamstring our national response, as the usual critics of commonsense safeguards have claimed. The situation, instead, calls us to do better going forward. We owe that to the people of Flint. We owe it to Americans everywhere. via Two Years of Tragedy in Flint

[nasa]

Happy Earth Day!

It’s Earth Day, and what better way to celebrate than to show you a glimpse of our various efforts to protect and understand our home planet.

We’re able to use the vantage point of space to improve our understanding of the most complex planet we’ve seen yet…EARTH! Our Earth-observing satellites, airborne research and field campaigns are designed to observe our planet’s dynamic systems – oceans, ice sheets, forests and atmosphere – and improve our ability to understand how our planet is changing.

Here are a few of our Earth campaigns that you should know about:

KORUS-AQ (Korea U.S. - Air Quality)

Our KORUS-AQ airborne science experiment taking to the field in South Korea is part of a long-term, international project to take air quality observations from space to the next level and better inform decisions on how to protect the air we breathe. Field missions like KORUS-AQ provide opportunities to test and improve the instruments using simulators that measure above and below aircraft, while helping to infer what people breathe at the surface.

This campaign will assess air quality across urban, rural and coastal South Korea using observations from aircraft, ground sites, ships and satellites to test air quality models and remote sensing methods.

NAAMES (North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study)

Our NAAMES study takes to the sea and air in order to study how the world’s largest plankton bloom gives rise to small organic particles that influence clouds and climate. This study will collect data during ship and aircraft measurement campaigns and combine the data with continuous satellite and ocean sensor readings.

IceBridge

Operation IceBridge is our survey of polar ice, and is kicking off its eighth spring Arctic campaign. This mission has gathered large volumes of data on changes in the elevation of the ice sheet and its internal structure. It’s readings of the thickness of sea ice and its snow cover have helped scientists improve forecasts for the summer melt season and have enhanced the understanding of variations in ice thickness distribution from year to year.

GPM (Global Precipitation Measurement)

GPM is an international satellite mission to provide next-generation observations of rain and snow worldwide every three hours. We launched this mission with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in 2014. GPM contributes to advancing our understanding of Earth’s water and energy cycles, improves forecasting of extreme events and extends current capabilities of using satellite precipitation information to directly benefit society.

Find information about all of our Earth-studying missions HERE. 

Celebrate Earth Day with Us!

Want to participate in Earth Day with us? Share on social media what you’re doing to celebrate and improve our home planet. We’ll be sharing aspects of a “day in the life” of our Earth science research. Use the tag #24Seven to join the conversation. Details: http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-announces-earth-day-24seven-social-media-event

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com

[obamawhitehouse]

Happy Earth Day! We’re celebrating by signing the Paris Agreement to combat climate change with nearly 170 other countries—that’s the largest number of countries that have ever signed an international agreement in one day.

[nrdc]

This is what Earth Day is all about! We’re fighting climate change today, to secure a safe environment for future generations. Today at the UN, the U.S. and 174 other countries signed the historic Paris Agreement.

Thank you, Secretary John Kerry for signing on our behalf. And thank you President Obama for helping make this happen!

@whitehouse 

GIF via Lorey.

[nrdc]

Do you ever consider the journey your food takes from farm to fridge? It may make you think twice about wasting it. 40% of food in America ends up wasted. Food waste is the single largest contributor to landfills in the U.S.—not to mention that it wastes water, labor, fuel, money, & love! Visit SaveTheFood.com to learn how you can help stop food waste. #SaveTheFood 

[nrdc]

40% of food in America ends up wasted. Food waste is the single largest contributor to landfills in the U.S.—not to mention that it wastes water, labor, fuel, money, & love! Visit SaveTheFood.com to learn how you can help stop food waste.

[nrdc]

“Today we’re speaking with one voice, 170 nations strong, to say enough is enough. This is where we turn the promise of Paris into the action we need to fight the central environmental challenge of our time.

“We won’t beat climate change with a piece of paper. Today marks a beginning, a historic start. We’re leaving the age of Jurassic fuels behind - for good - and moving to cleaner, smarter ways to power our future. The world is watching. We’ll hold our leaders to account. We’ll hold each other to account. And we’ll cut the global carbon footprint today so climate chaos doesn’t overwhelm our kids tomorrow.” — NRDC President Rhea Suh

[nrdc]

BIG NEWS! Today, South Africa dropped its plan to lift the four decade ban on international trade in rhino horn!

Thank you to everyone that signed our petition and helped call on the South African government to do this!

Legalizing trade in rhino horn would have been a disaster for species that are just barely hanging on now as it is. This decision does not fix the plight of rhinos—but it gives space and time to tackle poaching, close down illegal markets and eliminate the loopholes that already help enable the $20 billion market in illegal international wildlife trade. South Africa bought more time for rhinos today—and should follow up with more key actions to keep these animals on the planet.

[nrdc]

40% of food in America ends up wasted. Food waste is the single largest contributor to landfills in the U.S.—not to mention that it wastes water, labor, fuel, money, & love! Visit SaveTheFood.com to learn how you can help stop food waste.

[nrdc]

This Friday is Earth Day, and it will be historic: World leaders will meet at the United Nations in New York to sign the historic Paris climate agreement they struck last December. The signing will officially put the world's blueprint for a clean energy future into motion. 

But now, we must turn the promise of Paris into the concrete steps we need to protect our world. That's why we're looking to the world's five largest emitters of carbon pollution — the U.S., the European Union, China, India and Brazil — to steer this new era in our fight against climate chaos.

You can help! Take action by signing our petition and asking the “Big 5″ carbon polluting countries to deliver on their Paris climate commitments. Click here to learn more and add your name!

[nrdc]

“Newly-released oil industry documents push back the start date of the world’s most successful disinformation campaign to the 1960s, if not earlier. The must-read documents, published by The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), strengthen the hand of the numerous attorneys general investigating whether ExxonMobil engaged in a cover-up to mislead the public and investors about the dangers of human-caused climate change.” via Exxon Exposé Recasts Ironic 1962 Ad Touting Oil’s Ability To Melt Glaciers

[nrdc]

“If the [nuclear] industry were a patient, doctors would privately refer to what’s happening to it as “circling the drain.” People don’t typically descend from perfect health to death in a smooth glide path. They rally, then they crater, then the cycle repeats. The good days become less frequent and less encouraging as days pass. If you’ve watched a hospital patient die, the pattern is unmistakable.

The U.S. nuclear industry is circling the drain. It’s suffering from a large number of problems—public disenchantment, risk of meltdown, fuel disposal issues—but its primary illness is simple economics. Nuclear cannot compete financially with other forms of electricity production. It hasn’t been able to do so for four decades, and there’s no reason to believe it ever will.” via Does Nuclear Power Have a Future in America? | NRDC 

[nrdc]

Satellite view of a river changing course over time

Rivers change course as they flow through the years. This is an animation of the fast-changing Ucayali River in Peru built from

Nature! Look at that oxbow lake form! 

[nrdc]

The Coral Garden explains why recent news of coral bleaching is bad news. This should be a warning sign that we need to demand climate action. 

Tell world leaders to take action.