Report on the Oversight of Existing and Prospective Carbon Markets

Interagency Working Group for the Study on Oversight of Carbon Markets http://tinyurl.com/6z7lb9o [From Overview] On July 21, 2010, the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act or Act) was enacted. Section 750 of the Act establishes an interagency working group to “conduct a study on the oversight of existing and prospective carbon markets … Continue reading »

Food Environment Atlas

Economic Research Service / USDA http://maps.ers.usda.gov/FoodAtlas/ [From Atlas Web Site] Food environment factors—such as store/restaurant proximity, food prices, food and nutrition assistance programs, and community characteristics—interact to influence food choices and diet quality. Research is beginning to document the complexity of these interactions, but more is needed to identify causal relationships and effective policy interventions. … Continue reading »

The United States and China: The Race to Disruptive Transport Technologies — Implications of a Changing Fuel Mix on Country Competitiveness

Accenture http://tinyurl.com/4lyn2b2 [From Overview] In this report, we make the assumption that the future will see increased levels of transport fuel diversity, and we explore the  implications of this assumption both in the United States and China, the world’s two largest economies. To achieve this aim, we have leveraged the expertise of our local Accenture … Continue reading »

Is Public Transport a Risk Factor for Acute Respiratory Infection?

BMC Infectious Diseases / Joy Troko et al http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2334-11-16.pdf [Abstract] The relationship between public transport use and acquisition of acute respiratory infection (ARI) is not well understood but potentially important during epidemics and pandemics. Methods: A case-control study performed during the 2008/09 influenza season. Cases (n=72) consulted a General Practitioner with ARI, and controls with … Continue reading »

Linking Functional Diversity and Social Actor Strategies in a Framework for Interdisciplinary Analysis of Nature’s Benefits to Society

PNAS / Sandra Diaz et al http://www.pnas.org/content/108/3/895.full.pdf+html [Abstract] The crucial role of biodiversity in the links between ecosystems and societies has been repeatedly highlighted both as source of wellbeing and as a target of human actions, but not all aspects of biodiversity are equally important to different ecosystem services. Similarly, different social actors have different … Continue reading »

Growing Wealthier: Smart Growth, Climate Change and Prosperity

Chuck Kooshian and Steve Winkelman / Center for Clean Air Policy http://growingwealthier.info/docs/growing_wealthier.pdf [From Press Release] Efficient urban planning – known as smart growth development – enhances community prosperity and generates economic benefits for local businesses, households and governments, according to a new report published today…reveals how reduced driving and efficient land use planning are strongly … Continue reading »

Arsenic Pollution of Groundwater in Vietnam Exacerbated by Deep Aquifer Exploitation for more than a Century

PNAS / Lenny H.E. Winkel et al http://tinyurl.com/495x3qh [Abstract] Arsenic contamination of shallow groundwater is among the biggest health threats in the developing world. Targeting uncontaminated deep aquifers is a popular mitigation option although its long-term impact remains unknown. Here we present the alarming results of a large-scale groundwater survey covering the entire Red River … Continue reading »