"Special genes inserted into crop plants have a way of leaking into the environment. That much scientists know for sure. What they're less certain about is what effect those genes have on plants growing in the wild."
"Last month, President Obama nominated Islam 'Isi' Siddiqui, vice president for governmental affairs at pesticide industry trade group Croplife America, to the post of chief agricultural negotiator at the U.S. Trade Office." Now that nomination may be in trouble.
"Even as the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee took up its climate bill for the first time Tuesday, the Environment Protection Agency proposed requiring thousands of greenhouse gas emitters to install stricter pollution control technology."
"Federal officials plan to ban sales of raw oysters harvested from the Gulf of Mexico unless the shellfish are treated to destroy potentially deadly bacteria -- a requirement that opponents say could deprive diners of a delicacy cherished for generations."
"President Obama's envoy for climate change has dashed hopes of a bilateral climate-change deal during next month's presidential trip to China. Todd Stern says a wide gap remains between Chinese and U.S. officials. China and the U.S. account for 40 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions."
"The Obama administration and some Senate Democrats expressed fresh urgency on Tuesday about the need to address climate change and refashion the nation's energy economy."
As debate over climate legislation rages, reporters will encounter many confusing and seemingly contradictory statements about the costs of changing US energy practices. You may help your audience with an understanding of how incomplete the cost figures cited by companies and politicians often are.
"Nearly identical bills to prevent cruise ships from discharging raw, untreated sewage in U.S. coastal waters were introduced Wednesday in both Houses of Congress."
"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced six grant awards totaling $800,000 to fund research into the cause and control of white-nose syndrome, a wildlife health crisis that has now killed more than a million bats in the Northeast and remains unchecked."
"The latest mass escape from a British Columbia fish farm has led to renewed calls from the New Democratic Party to change how the farms are run."
