The Stream, December 21: Raising The Price Of Carbon

The European Union’s environment committee voted to decrease the supply of emissions allowances in Europe’s emissions trading system in order to increase the price of carbon, EurActiv reported. The EU hopes the price hike will provide an incentive for investment in low-carbon technology.

About 87 percent of the world’s population has access to improved drinking water, but 672 million people will still lack improved drinking water sources by 2015, a new study from UNICEF and the UN World Health Organization found, Xinhua reported.

Mercury deposition in lakes is greater close to large cities in the United States, according to a U.S. Geological Survey study that compared remote lakes to lakes near urban centers.

Virginia continues to debate a ban on uranium mining after a new study outlined the possible health and environmental risks, according to The Washington Post. The proposed mining area currently supplies drinking water to local communities.

Persistent drought and rising temperatures due to climate change are killing trees in Africa’s Sahel region, putting local people at risk, the Guardian reported.

Australian mining company Santos could invest $16 billion developing coal-seam gas in New South Wales, according to Businessweek.

The Stream is a daily digest spotting global water trends. To get more water news, follow Circle of Blue on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.

Codi Kozacek

A news correspondent for Circle of Blue based out of Hawaii. She writes The Stream, Circle of Blue’s daily digest of international water news trends. Her interests include food security, ecology and the Great Lakes.
Contact Codi Kozacek