Free Republic

Paper straws are not quite the eco solution many had hoped for. Not only do these liquid slurping alternatives tend to wilt in a frustratingly fast manner, they contain low levels of forever chemicals, according to new research. How that impacts the health of an individual slurper is unknown, but because forever chemicals – also known as poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (aka PFAS) -- can take centuries to break down to a fraction of their concentration in the environment, these straws are not necessarily 'biodegradable'

Famed anthropologist Jane Goodall is blaming humans’ abuse of Mother Nature for the global coronavirus crisis. “It is our disregard for nature and our disrespect of the animals we should share the planet with that has caused this pandemic, that was predicted long ago,” the 86-year-old animal expert told Agence France-Presse (AFP). The British scientist, best known for her lifelong study of chimpanzees, argued that destroying habitats has forced animals into closer proximity, spreading diseases — and ultimately infecting humans. She said the deadly crisis also highlights the dangers of “meat markets for wild animals in Asia, especially China, and...

CIA director nominee Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) said Thursday that he would rather not wade into the climate change debate during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee. “I frankly as a director of CIA would prefer today not to get into the details of climate debate and science. It seems my role is gonna be so different and unique from that. It is gonna be to work alongside warriors keeping Americans safe, and so I stand by the things that I’ve said previously with respect to that issue,” Pompeo said. Sen. Kamal Harris (D-Calif.) asked Pompeo, “CIA...

Former NASA scientist Dr. Roy Spencer is sick of being labeled a global warming ‘denier’ by politicians and environmentalists. So sick of it, in fact, that he’s going to start calling detractors “global warming Nazis” until he is no longer called a “denier.”

Days after introducing a bill into parliament repealing a carbon tax introduced by his Labor predecessor, Australia’s conservative new prime minister stoked fresh controversy by opposing plans for a fund to help impoverished members of the Commonwealth deal with climate change. At a summit in Sri Lanka of leaders of the 53-member Commonwealth – a grouping of Britain and its former colonies – Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott rejected a decision to launch a “green capital fund.” The only other country opposing the move was Canada, whose prime minister was one of three Commonwealth leaders boycotting the gathering to protest...