Tagged: Environment

The controversies generated by climate science in recent years center around the human relationship with the natural world and with natural resources. This month, historian John Brooke puts that critical question in historical perspective—deep historical perspective. For most of human history, our species had to struggle to survive powerful natural forces, like climate and disease. In the past three centuries, however, things have changed dramatically: that struggle has been reshaped by the unprecedented growth of the human population—from under one billion to now over seven. John Brooke's essay forces us to ask whether our population can continue to grow given the current Malthusian pressure on resources and on the earth system itself.

The National Center for Water Quality Research says the mild winter and spring temperatures could mean toxic blue-green algae will make its appearance in western Lake Erie earlier than usual.

Dr. David Baker says the algae will show up sooner if the water heats up more quickly. Another critical factor will be rainfall and the amount of fertilizer that runs into the lake from nearby farms.

The large, odorous, algae blooms were the worst in memory on Lake Erie last summer.  It’s believed they are fed by fertilizer and manure run-off.  At their worst, they've forced beach closures and driven away boaters and anglers.

Ellen Belcher, who's filling in for Emily McCord, interviews Jack Shaner, a lobbyist for the Ohio Environmental Council. Shaner talks about Gov. John Kasich's new energy plan and insists that Ohio's "fracking" regulations are woefully weak.