Thursday, January 17, 2013

2012 Conservation Victories

NRDC informs US of the following environmental and conservation victories in 2012:

  • new CAFE standards for cars and light trucks will help double fuel economy and reduce the amount of carbon emissions contributing to global warming;
  • new standards for emissions of mercury, lead and other toxins emitted by coal burning power plants;
  • rejection of the XL bitumen pipeline route as submitted to the State Department for approval;
  • a massive resort development on the coast of the Sea of Cortez was rejected by the Mexican government, saving the only living coral reef in the Gulf of California from destruction, and more protections granted for the grey whale nursery in San Ignacio lagoon;
  • a chain of underwater parks off the coast of California was created, one of the most ambitious marine preservation efforts in history;
  • Iceland was pressured to drop plans to hunt endangered fin whales in 2012;
  • winning a major court case limiting the widespread overuse of antibiotics in livestock;
  • preservation of a pristine region of the Rocky Mountains from Exxon-Mobil plans for an industrial transportation corridor.
See a video of these accomplishments at www.nrdc.org/victories and become part of the fight to make a world of difference.