"Caves are home to some of the planet's most unusual creatures and important drinking water supplies. Now these underground resources are being polluted by surface activities, ranging from sewage spills to old factories. Experts call the problem 'extensive and serious.' Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky, Crevice Cave in Missouri and Whispering Canyon Cave in Alaska are examples. 'People need to be aware that there’s a subterranean ecosystem and that what happens on the surface impacts these unique ecosystems in a very real way,' said David Culver, a biologist at American University."

"Government researchers have confirmed the ideal testing ground for electric cars: the U.S. Postal Service. Now all they have to do is find the money to pay for it."

After the dolphin hunt in Taiji, Japan, was covertly filmed in the award-winning documentary, "The Cove," no hunting seemed to be going on on the opening day of this year's hunting season.

Island Press, which succeeded as a specialized publisher-of-record of environmental books for decades, faces hard times as philanthropies cut back.

The natural gas industry has been on a winning streak as the fuel has come into greater use, partly because of its advantage in fighting climate change. But raw political clout may help climate-warming coal steal gas' lunch money in the coming climate bill.

Birds on the North Slope in Alaska may be threatened by predators whose populations are encouraged by oil exploration and production.

"An important opposition deputy this week accused Chile's government of being less than candid with the public about alarming levels of fine particulate pollution found in the nation’s leading cities."

"Japan's prime minister-elect said on Monday he will forge ahead with a tough 25 percent cut in emissions by 2020, despite growing opposition from industry which says the target will hurt the world's No. 2 economy."

"Differences between rich and developing countries prevented G20 finance ministers from agreeing measures on Saturday to curb global warming, casting more doubt on U.N. efforts to agree a new climate treaty."

"The American West is losing its autumn colors as global warming begins to bite and there is far more at stake than iconic scenery."