Seahorses vulnerable to environment

A new species of seahorses has the fishing port of Mar del Plata talking about the environment, as Diego Laje reports.

How to Care for the Ocean

Watch this video with your family and friends to learn small steps that have a big impact on the well-being of our oceans.

Shipping goes green

Shipping isn't known for being environmentally-conscious, but Nissan's new car carrier is packed with eco-friendly tech.

Being self-sufficient with urban farming

The GreenDesert.org is dedicated to sustainable living in the city by using simple techniques that lessen the footprint on the environment. The goal is to encourage, inspire and inform people about the benefits of a simpler, less materialistic lifestyle, and to teach the importance of protecting our natural environment. If we can make the desert green, we can be green anywhere.

China to answer rare metals complaint at WTO

A dispute over rare metals which has been building for years has come to a head: China has been challenged for restricting its exports. It provides 97 percent of the global output. The US, EU and Japan have fired off a formal complaint with the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The objection includes lower prices for Chinese manufacturers. Foreigners pay up to twice as much, yet cannot shop elsewhere. As in Brussels and Tokyo, the White House said Beijing must play fair.

President Obama said: "American manufacturers need to have access to rare earth material which China supplies. Now, if China would simply let the market work on its own, we'd have no objection. But their policies currently are preventing that from happening, and they go against the very rules that China agreed to follow."

The rare earths case is the first to be jointly filed by the European Union, the United States and Japan. Rare earths are crucial for the defence, electronics and renewable-energy industries.

Beijing set an export quota of 30,258 tonnes in 2011, but it shipped only 16,861 tonnes last year, official data shows. Export prices over the past two years have quadrupled, encouraging buyers to shift operations to China

Beijing said the complaint was unfair and that it would defend itself in the WTO, citing environmental and supply control problems.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "Exploiting rare earths effects the environment. China is implementing some management policies governing the environment and resources, working on sustainable development. We believe these policies are in line with WTO rules."

Refining rare earths requires large amounts of acid. It also produces low-level radioactive waste. Extracting the stuff is harmful for the land, for water supplies and for people.

Rare earth metals are generally dispersed. China has them in concentrated and economically exploitable forms, therefore enjoying a monopoly position. The metals go into hi-tech magnets, lasers, batteries, phones, x-ray machines, lamp bulbs and munitions.

Other countries closed their own refineries over concern for pollution, as well as rare earths mines when China undercut world prices in the 1990s, partly thanks to cheap labour and looser standards.

New Designs for Nuclear Reactors

Innovations in nuclear design are tackling problems like the ones that contributed to the Fukushima Daiichi disaster in Japan. WSJ's Rebecca Smith reports.

Affordable and sustainable living is at the heart of a recent convention held in Israel, bringing together architects and designers from Europe, North America and the Middle East. Our local correspondents bring us the story.

Japan tsunami debris: How scientists track it

Environmental advocate Philippe Cousteau, president of EarthEcho International, speaks to the "CBS This Morning" co-hosts about how scientists are tracking the Japan tsunami debris, as well as its potential impact on the environment.

Tavis Smiley: Author Marsha Coleman-Adebayo

The author shares the story of what she calls "one of the darkest days at the EPA."

New Ecologic Stickers Unveiled at Washington Auto Show

Since 1976, the only way a consumer has been able to reliably compare the environmental merits of a new car or truck was from the EPA fuel economy data on the sales sticker.  But now, a new decal has been unveiled giving potential owners much more information about the car they are about to purchase.  The sticker will detail how the car is made, its potential fuel efficiency and its ecological benefits. It will also tell you what percentage of it can be recycled after the car's lifespan.

Tavis Smiley: Author Marsha Coleman-Adebayo

The author shares the story of what she calls "one of the darkest days at the EPA."

Gas Mileage

Lauren Fix the Car Coach explains how to save up to $100 a month at the pump.