In 1970, the United States produced an estimated 65 billion eggs annually, increasing to an estimated 110 billion eggs a year in 2023. Until about the 1960s, our eggs mainly came from hens that roamed around farms or backyards.
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Far removed from the traditional livestock practices of the old west, industrial-like Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) now dominate U.S. livestock production. These CAFOs, commonly referred to as factory farms, are operations in which: (1) animals are kept and raised in confined situations; (2) animals, feed, manure and urine, dead animals, and production operations are maintained on a small land area; and (3) no grazing is allowed; feed is brought to the animals.
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The usual biodiversity hotspots in the United States are thought to be Hawai’i, the Rocky Mountains, and maybe even Alaska; however, conservation biologists are looking closer at the Southeastern United States, describing it as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. E.O. Wilson reported that the central Gulf Coast states “harbor the most diversity of any part of Eastern North America and probably any part of North America.”
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Known for its commitment to sustainability, Sweden has consistently ranked among the top 10 countries globally for exceptional environmental performance for over a decade. Being the first country in the world to pass an environmental protection act in 1967 and host the first ever UN Conference on the Human Environment in 1972, Sweden was a pioneer in sparking conversation related to the treatment and conservation of the environment.
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The UN Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, also known as the BBNJ, was convened in late 2017 to develop a new legally binding instrument under the UN Convention for the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
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Artificial intelligence (AI) has grown exponentially in both its development and use, and in many ways has become inescapable. AI is technology that collects, processes, and uses data to simulate human intelligence processes via technological machines, most commonly computers.
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During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, river otters and other Rocky Mountain wildlife faced severe challenges because of the rapid increase in industrialization and development in the region. Mining, agriculture, and ranching significantly polluted and destroyed the clean waterways that otters and their prey, including fish, crustaceans, and amphibians relied on.
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Chemicals have been incorporated into daily life as they serve many advantageous uses. Over time, and with rapid technological advances, it is difficult to identify items in our day-to-day lives that do not utilize or benefit from the addition of chemicals. Despite their advantages, these chemicals can pose serious hazardous risks that consumers are unaware of.
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Adaptive reuse is the process of modifying an existing building to serve new uses. This form of redevelopment presents an exciting opportunity to adapt existing properties to meet the current needs of the community. Adaptive reuse could promote sustainability in Denver by redeveloping empty office space as housing.
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The Social Cost of Carbon (SCC) is a metric used to determine the economic value of one ton of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This metric is an important tool for estimating the broad economic impacts of each additional ton of GHG emissions that are released into the atmosphere.
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The loss of wetlands within the continental United States is not a new phenomenon; still, little has been done to slow the progressive loss of wetland habitats successfully. Since the 1780s, the continental United States has lost nearly 50% of its wetlands, and since 2009, the rate of wetland loss has increased by another 50%. Much of this historical loss was due, in part, to a misunderstanding of the significant roles wetlands play in filtering pollution, providing habitat for numerous plant and animal species, and providing natural flood control.
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A Colorado watchdog group has filed a federal lawsuit to prevent the construction of the Rocky Flats Greenway due to the risk of plutonium contamination. The Greenway would connect Westminster Open Space to Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge.
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Greenwash is a verb defined by the Marriam-Webster Dictionary; “to make (something, such as a product, policy, or practice) appear to be more environmentally friendly or less environmentally damaging than it really is”. The environmentalist Jay Westervelt, coined the term in a law review article in 1986 describing marketing that intentionally deceived consumers into thinking a product or company was sustainable.
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While Colorado is known for its unique landscapes and environmentally conscious approach to climate-related issues, Denver ranks #6 in the nation for being one of the most polluted cities by ozone, following California and Arizona. Even more concerning, the US EPA has classified the Denver metropolitan area and North Front Range area as being in severe nonattainment for ozone and ground level ozone.
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Both surging interest and investment in nuclear energy as a way to meet net zero goals and to diminish the worst effects of climate change, as well as the US commitment at COP28 to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050, are reasons to pause and examine how “green” nuclear power really is. It is important to consider the carbon life cycle of a typical, light-water reactor nuclear power plant (NPP). If nuclear energy is not truly lower in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over that life cycle than other power sources, then nations choosing it as a way to meet legally-binding Paris Agreement NDCs regarding GHG reduction requirements may open themselves up to climate litigation.
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When imagining vast, biodiverse, tracts of land in the United States it is easy to imagine the expansive rainforests of the Pacific Northwest, the hard-to-reach peaks of the Rocky Mountains, or maybe even the sprawling deserts in Arizona and New Mexico. However, the southeastern United States from Texas to Georgia and Florida up to Virginia can claim a spot on that list . . . or least they used to.
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Pollination is an ecosystem function that serves as the foundation for all life on Earth. Pollination occurs when the pollen grains from the anther of one flower are transferred to the stigma of another flower. Often facilitated by insects, bats, and birds, this process is necessary for plants to produce seeds. Unfortunately, the importance of pollination in our lives is often overlooked and undervalued.
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Governor Polis signed Senate Bill 24-005 into law on March 15th, 2024, which prohibits landscaping practices for water conservation. The bill prohibits nonfunctional turf, artificial turf, and invasive plant species from being planted on applicable property.
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While plastics have been around for over a century, it was not until 1971 that plastics were discovered in the middle of the ocean. Today, plastic is synonymous with pollution. There is nowhere in the world that plastic has left untouched.
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Climate activists gained a major victory in the fight against climate change this year in the case Held v. Montana. This case was the first of its kind to reach trial in the US and could pave the way for future climate litigation. The case hinged on the right to a clean and healthful environment, which is protected as a fundamental right in Montana’s Constitution.
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