Nyheder – North America

US smoking hits record low: Fewer than one in seven Americans now smoke cigarettes; this is the lowest share in 50 years.

Cleaner air saves lives: In the USA, annual deaths from air pollution were nearly halved from 1990 to 2010, according to new data. The change follows action for cleaner air.

Large Arctic ecosystem preserved: Canada has decided to protect an arctic area the size of Germany. Polar bears, narwhals, and seals are some of the creatures living in the area.

Wind surpasses coal in Texas: The state of Texas has for the first time in history produced more energy from wind than coal. Texas is the largest consumer of energy in the United States.

Earth to earth, ashes to soil: There’s now a more environmentally friendly alternative to being buried or cremated. The state of Washington has made it legal to compost bodies after death.

DNA solves poop mysteries: In the USA, DNA testing is now being increasingly used to track down dog owners who don’t dispose properly of their dog’s excrement.

Whales to avoid crab nets: California shortens the season for crab fishing. This is meant to result in fewer whales getting entangled in crab nets during mating season.

Half of US coal mines shut down: In just ten years, half of all coal mines in the USA have been shut down. This is partly due to less demand for coal, due to competition from renewable energy.

Cities act on air pollution: Air pollution decreased in more than half of cities in Europe and in the Americas between 2010 and 2016.

Young Americans want clean energy: In the United States, more than half of young people support the Green New Deal, a political proposal to create jobs by investing in renewable energy.

Oregon beats own recycling record: Recycling rates for bottles in Oregon have increased from 64% to 90% in just two years. The increase comes after the state doubled the deposit to 10 cents.

Rising climate awareness in the USA: More than six out of every ten Americans now realise that the global climate is changing due to human activity. That’s an increase of ten points since 2015.

Rise in use of renewables in the US: Ten American states now get at least 20% of their electricity from sun and wind. In four of the states, renewable sources make up over 30%.

New law sets renewable target: California has passed a law committing to use only electricity from renewable sources by 2045. The American state is the world’s fifth largest economy.

Girl stops pollution: In Canada, a clean-up project was launched when 11-year old Stella Bowles’ school science project documented that sewage ran untreated into the LaHave river.

Hawaii bans harmful sunscreen: The American state of Hawaii is to ban sunscreen containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. The two substances are known to harm corals.

Promising new way to fight mosquitoes: Australian scientists have managed to decrease the number of zika-spreading mosquitoes in a test area by 80 percent by releasing thousands of sterile males.

Malaria breakthrough: A new type of malaria medicine has been approved in the USA. The drug Tafenoquine removes malaria parasites from the body much faster than current drugs.

Sustainable electricity in California: Due to political demands for green energy, California’s greenhouse gas emissions were lower in 2016 than in 1990, though the population and economy are growing.

Solar panels required on new houses: A new law makes solar panels mandatory on all new houses in California. Building costs increase, in the long run people save $80 a month on their utility bills.