Recent trends in agriculture, restaurants and “sustainable” farming have given eco-friendly meat lovers everywhere ways to continue enjoying their barbecues while preserving a guilt-free conscience. 

In today’s New York Times,  James E. McWilliams asks whether there in-fact is any way for there to be sustainable industrial agriculture with minimal cost to the environment and our health. 

In his OpEd he expresses that the real environmental questions is not HOW do we produce animal products but “whether we should produce them at all”. 

An article that is sure to inspire a heated debate. 

Read it here. 

18 Mile Crack in Antarctica Glacier Discovered by NASA, first showing signs in early October

In the second episode of MyConservation Heroes, I speak with Jon Hoekstra, a senior scientist on the Nature Conservancy’s Central Science team and the director of conservation science for The Nature Conservancy’s Washington State program.

Jon is a global science leader who collaborates with experts from around the world to develop innovative, practical solutions to conservation problems based on top-notch science and real-world experience. Previously Jonathan served as the science lead for the organization’s efforts to restore the Gulf of Mexico in the aftermath of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and also has at various times directed the Conservancy’s Global Climate Change Program, Emerging Strategies Unit, and Global Habitat Assessment Team. He is the lead author of The Atlas of Global Conservation and more than 30 other scientific publications. You can follow him on Twitter @JonHoekstraTNC.

Jon was kind enough to take time out of his schedule to discuss his responsibilities, the necessity of conservation and his passion for salmon, among other topics. Listen to the interview with the streaming audio player above or read the transcribed interview here.

Researches estimate that there are between 22,000 and 40,000 polar bears in the world. Polar bears are critically endangered due to overhunting, global warming and destruction of their habitat. 

(via tvd-love-sucks-deactivated20120)

A new study on Northumberland’s Chillingham cattle, published in the British Ecological Society’s Journal of Animal Ecology, shows climate change is altering when the animals breed, and fewer calves are surviving as a result.

Current UN definition of “refugee” does not include those displaced by environmental catastrophes and global warming, but with 50 million predicted environmental refugees by 2020, the world community needs to act now.

Global warming has led to a 90% decrease of Adélie penguins in some areas and the extinction of the Antarctic Peninsula’s only Emperor population but penguins that can survive without ice such as the Gentoos have seen population surges of 14,000%. What happens to such fragile ecosystems when balances are tipped so drastically?

Very interesting report on the risks to coral reefs and the consequences to nations economically dependent on them. Left unchecked experts believe nearly ALL reefs will be threatened by 2050!!

“75 percent of the world’s coral reefs are currently threatened by local and global pressures. For the first time, the analysis includes threats from climate change, including warming seas and rising ocean acidification. The report shows that local pressures— such as overfishing, coastal development, and pollution— pose the most immediate and direct risks, threatening more than 60 percent of coral reefs today”

Ana Sherpa, who has climbed Mount Everest 20 times, has just embarked on a 21st expedition… to clean up the trash!