March 22^nd is the United Nations World Water Day, a day to call attention to water issues around the globe. 2013 is also the International Year of Water Cooperation, highlighting the importance of water as a global resource. Check out this list of worldwide events to find something near you!

No Deal: Obama Administration Won’t Trade ANWR Drilling for Energy Fund

The Obama administration says that drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge is not an option as they seek support to launch an Energy Security Trust Fund. The proposed fund aims to support the research and development of automotive technology that doesn’t rely on oil.

Creative Commons image courtesy of ali_pk via flickr

Wind is Picking Up

The wind industry appears to be experiencing an uptick following the renewal of a tax credit. In late 2012, the U.S. Congress allowed the production tax credit to lapse and the industry experienced a lull of uncertainty. The credit (which provides 2.2 cents per kilowatt hour for the first 10 years of a wind facility’s operation) was renewed in January and as a result many delayed projects are being picked up.

Something Fishy Going on in Coronel, Chile

Locals are baffled by the thousands of dead prawns washed up on the shores of Coronel, Chile, this week. Fishermen speculate that local power plants using seawater as a cooling fluid may be to blame, but an investigation into the water temperature and oxygen levels is still underway.

Coral Reefs: A Delicate Balance at Heron Island

National Public Radio launched a weeklong news series on coral this week, focusing on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Scientists at Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef are simulating potential future scenarios to determine what’s next for coral and other reef organisms if current trends in ocean temperature and acidity changes continue.

Noble Discoverer by jkbrooks85 via flickr

Shell Oil to suspend drilling for 2013

Big news this week as Shell Oil Company announced the decision to suspend drilling in the Arctic Ocean for 2013. Give them some applause, if you’d like, for taking safety precautions, but hold off on the standing-ovation; they plan to resume drilling in 2014.

Big Food = Big Problems

Research by Oxfam America shows that big food companies like General Mills and Kellogg’s are “failing the poor.” This negative impact is a direct hit to their supply chains, which are made up of the folks in developing countries that supply the land, labor, water and commodities needed for production.

Shanghai, China adopting urban farming practices

Shanghai, China turns to urban farming as the city grows and demand for food rises. This is just one aspect of the Sustainable Urban Masterplan for Shanghai, which includes plans for vertical farms and community gardens.

Australia reef shallows at risk

Increasing evidence points to global warming as a major contributor to the impending extinction of the coral reefs. The Great Barrier Reef is “likely to pass critical damage thresholds in roughly 30 years” due to extreme changes in acidity and temperature shifts.

shore crab by Diving Ben via flickr

Crabs bothered by noise pollution

Did you know that ship noise affects crab metabolism? A study out of the University of Bristol found that reducing harbor noises may lead to higher yields per season, as there’s no evidence of crab adaptation in the form of noise acclimatization.

feature coral image: Great Barrier Reef by Phil Camill via flickr