Natural Gas Extraction

The controversy around the process used to extract natural gas is back in a big way. A top aide for energy and the environment to President Obama, Joseph Aldy, is urging the natural gas industry to disclose the composition of “fluids” used in hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, injects water, sand, and “fluids” into shale rock which enables gas to move to the surface. Recently, claims that the process contaminates groundwater have sparked the debate for disclosure of the fluids used. A bill called the “Frack Act” has been proposed that would require companies to disclose that information to the Environmental Protection Agency. The industry is currently regulated by individual states.

Learn more: Reuters

IPCC Science

The United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s science has come under fire recently after inaccuracies were found. The first was an inflated estimate of when the Himalayan glaciers would melt and the second was an exaggerated account of the sea level in The Netherlands. The U.N. announced that an independent panel would review all of the science published by the IPCC. The UK’s Royal Society recently has confirmed that it will evaluate the climate science along with a dozen other science academies around the world.

Learn more: Reuters

Tracking Greenhouse Gas Emissions

A new company has come forward with software that will allow companies to track greenhouse gas emissions within 60 days. The program from Enviance comes at a crucial time. The Environmental Protection Agency plans to regulate greenhouse gas emissions soon making tracking those emissions highly relevant.

Learn more: Environmental Leader