D.C. could tax bags, plastic and paper

US News & World Report's Fresh Greens blog reports that the D.C. city council voted to approve a 5 cent tax on plastic and paper bags.

If [this tax is] approved in a second vote later this month, [that] would make the District the first city in the U.S. to institute a bag fee.

San Francisco banned plastic bags outright in 2007, and Los Angeles' ban will go into effect in 2010. Several other cities have tried to assess bag taxes, but have not yet been successful: Seattle residents will vote on a 20-cent tax in August, and a measure in New York was blocked. Last month, the Philadelphia City Council a 20-cent tax on bags, citing the recession.

So what does this mean for consumers in D.C., and other cities that may follow suit? Those who choose not to buy reusable bags can look at an additional $7-$15 dollars spent per year, depending on how frequently they shop.

Proceeds will benefit the notoriously polluted Anacostia River in D.C.

Read the full story: D.C. council approves plastic bag fee

Americans fall short on Greendex

U.S. News & World Report's Fresh Greens blog breaks down the National Geographic Greendex study; basically showing how different nationalities are environmental.

The U.S. was number 17 on the list falling behind number 1 India and number 3 China. Why are Americans so unenvironmental? We have big houses and cars, don't like to use reusable bags, and don't claim that the American lifestyle is harmful to the environment...

Read the full story: What does the Greendex tell us about America?

Indian car Tata Nano: small, cheap, environment-friendly?

Ecotravel News is back after a longer than expected hiatus with a post about Indian car Tata Nano.

U.S. News & World Report's Fresh Greens blog has the best insight into the environmental aspects of this hyped car.

The Nano costs the equivalent of $2000, and is barebones meaning it doesn't have things like power steering or windows, or air conditioning. Sounds to me like my old 1960s Volkswagon Beetle...

Read the full story: 10 things you should know about the Tata Nano

Alaska's glaciers retreating and melting, book says

U.S. News and World Report LiveScience reports on the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) new book that documents the thinning and retreating of all Alaska's glaciers.

"The new book on Alaska's glaciers used satellite images, aerial photos, maps and other studies to document the retreat of the glaciers, which began as early as the mid-19th century. Some glaciers have even disappeared since being mapped in the mid-20th century, the report found."

Read the full story: Most Alaskan glaciers retreat and thin

Whale calls heard for first time off NYC

U.S. News & World Report reports on the first recorded whale calls heard off of New York City's harbor area.

Scientists installed recording equipment 13 miles off of New York Harbor and Fire Island and were rewarded with the sounds of three different whale species; fin, humpback and North Atlantic right whales.

"'With data generated by acoustic monitoring, we can better understand New York's role in the life history of these endangered whales and make more informed conservation decisions,' said James Gilmore, chief of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Bureau of Marine Resources. 'This is especially important for the survival of right whales.'"

Whales (like the right whale pictured above) are vulnerable to being killed by shipping vessels. Being better able to monitor the migration patterns of whales will enable shipping lines to avoid colliding and killing the endangered mammals.

Read the full story: Whales heard near New York City

Large numbers of endangered Cambodian monkey

U.S. News and World Report reports that large numbers of two endangered monkeys in Cambodia have been recorded.

There were 42,000 black-shanked douc langurs (pic right) and 2,500 yellow-cheeked crested gibbons tallied in Cambodia by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS); some of the largest numbers of these threatened species.

"'Despite this good news in Cambodia, the [Seima Biodiversity Conservation Area] still remains at risk from conversion to agro-industrial plantations for crops, including biofuels, and commercial mining,' said Tom Clements, lead author of the WCS report."

Read the full story: Threatened monkey populations surprisingly large

Don't be fooled by "eco" label

Ecotourism is a rising travel sector but travelers must be cautious about eco-resorts that are anything but says U.S.News & World Report.

The article claims that some hotels "slap a green label on everything," just to bring in ecoconscious travelers.

It criticizes online travel giant Orbitz about their new ecotourism site because it doesn't have a good system of qualifying and labeling hotels as green:

"I would not be comfortable directing our members to that site," says [Ayako Ezaki, director of communications for The International Ecotourism Society], while acknowledging that a good ecotourism site takes time to build."

Read the full story: Deceptive 'greenwashing' aims to trick ecotourists